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ADS, aDs, a/d/s/ Merit Badges

jdurbin1 said:
this is mostly just an entertaining discussion from my POV, no need for actual flair if you take my meaning.

John
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Sort of why I posted it. I guess a road trip the length of I-5 is worthy of some kind of recognition. Seattle to SD is 1255, I only did 785 to pick up a CWD walnut wall unit for the front of the sound room.
 
I had a pair of ads plate speakers in my car back when I was 17. Do I get a special merit badge for being an early adopter? Second pair was also car audio. I had some 336is's in my '99 Jetta. Beautiful speakers. Today, my 1290's take center stage in my main system.
 
Drugolf said:
Uh oh, what happens when one sells off a TOTL pair?
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Nothing if you have earned the merit badge other than the sound of the main rig where the speakers was will be different. We can't be expected to grab different gear and just keep it piled up in the corner so we can have a merit badge. One needs to earn the badge with the criteria set up in the merit badge manual and once earned...things can be moved along. But note that grabbing and flipping is not a route to the badge if the speakers should have been enjoyed longer than they were around.

I would think that I might qualify for a badge for some speakers I used to own. L420 now in a friend's second system and L520 sold to an AKer that came to one of our get togethers. Both pair had their finish manually stripped and the walnut was redone with Watco Danish Oil Finish and Howard's Feed-n-Wax. But I don't know as I haven't seen the merit badge manual, yet.
 
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Drugolf said:
Okay, good I am safe. In general the 1590's displaced the 910's that are now passed on.
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I know you had them listed, someone bought them?
Just checked your listing, good deal for both parties!
 
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Drugolf said:
Uh oh, what happens when one sells off a TOTL pair?
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This demonstrates the value of my dynamic point system. Flippers would not gain any sort of permanent status simply shuffling speakers between true fans. You'd get the points when you initially purchased the speakers, but if you turned them within a specified time frame, you'd lose the points. Which leads to the point that one's ranking could not be displayed on their fanboy membership card as most audiophiles tend to change their gear more often than they do their shorts.
The only real logistical issues would be:
1. Building a dynamic, automated web site that could maintain itself. That's well beyond my purview, as evidenced by any web site I've ever done.
2. Establishing the point system. As there's no record of production numbers available, there's nothing concrete to base it all on. It would be subjective to the point of lots of potential disagreement amongst the members of the ADS Fanboy Points Criteria Convention (ADSFPCC to all you guys still stuck in the military mindset).
3. Would their be an honor issue with people massaging their numbers to increase their rankings?

Customizations - should deviation from stock, such as replacing walnut veneer with lovely Cuban mahogany, effect standings?

IMG_1077.JPG IMG_1079.JPG
 
Porkloin said:
This demonstrates the value of my dynamic point system. Flippers would not gain any sort of permanent status simply shuffling speakers between true fans. You'd get the points when you initially purchased the speakers, but if you turned them within a specified time frame, you'd lose the points. Which leads to the point that one's ranking could not be displayed on their fanboy membership card as most audiophiles tend to change their gear more often than they do their shorts.
The only real logistical issues would be:
1. Building a dynamic, automated web site that could maintain itself. That's well beyond my purview, as evidenced by any web site I've ever done.
2. Establishing the point system. As there's no record of production numbers available, there's nothing concrete to base it all on. It would be subjective to the point of lots of potential disagreement amongst the members of the ADS Fanboy Points Criteria Convention (ADSFPCC to all you guys still stuck in the military mindset).
3. Would their be an honor issue with people massaging their numbers to increase their rankings?

Customizations - should deviation from stock, such as replacing walnut veneer with lovely Cuban mahogany, effect standings?

View attachment 975071 View attachment 975076
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We could have a category for "Creativity in Approach to the historical preservation of the ADS line"
 
@Porkloin Again, I will say it, we are not looking for a winner. If you serve in Iraq and get the participation ribbon, do they take it away when you go back home??? That said, buying them on Thursday and posting them on BT over the weekend doesn't earn points, you need to have a tour of duty.

@manu et deo yes we need to add forcing a pair of ADS on someone who is then converted. Nothing like a pusher for these things and they need to get some recognition, too.
 
Early adopter should be worth something... would be interesting to see how far back we can get. I won't come away on top for that one; company officially started in 1974 but it was '79 before I put my hands on any ADS gear (installing 300i, P100 amps & other pieces from that first car line) and another 8 or 9 before I bought any for myself. I had an earlier shot in '77 but stuck to buying only the Nak 250 deck and not the matching ADS 2002 powered speaker system on an accommodation deal. My bet is other folks here on AK owned some of the earlier models back in the '70s.

John
 
I agree, flippers don't earn any badges. Maybe a merrit badge if they beautifully restore a set to sell. Something like a Red Cross symbol super imposed over a driver.
Once I start making badge designs, I'm sure the selection will grow, but there will be a point where all bases are covered. So far there's a lot of great suggestions and I have been doing some sketches as ideas come to mind. Onei want to do is Planet ADS. A woofer with little speaker cabs orbiting around it. That may be for the person who has been listening to them since the 70's, or for the person with a large collection. Another idea is a driver with a angels halo ring for the person who saves a pair from the dump or similar.
 
Finjima said:
Your pics are getting better, I never get tired of oogling at that finish of yours
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Thanks Fin. I snapped a ton of photos in attempts to catch with the camera what the eye sees, but it's impossible. Fortunately, the camera also doesn't capture the flaws. The orginal plan was to take them outside when it warmed up and sand and spray some more, but it's been shoved to the backburner by more pressing projects, including a subwoofer/stand for each of the 780's. The combo will basically be biamped via a Denon HT receiver and an additional power amp, so I may have a pair of faux 1290's on my hands. Will THAT upgrade my ranking a bit?

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Porkloin said:
Will THAT upgrade my ranking a bit?
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I will continue to mention this is NOT a competition each and every time you need to upgrade your rank. There is NO rank. Now if folks see all your ADS merit badges and get jealous or believe it bestows rank, that is just fine but for those in the know, the merit badges are a symbol of merit you have earned by accomplishing some a/d/s/ feat of some sort, not a mark of you being better than someone else based on said accomplishment.

But you are very welcome to bow down to those that have more or better (there is not a better) merit badges from this exercise, if you feel so inclined. But you don't have to, you could just look at all those badges and then engage the person that has earned the badge in a conversation about it or some of the other aDs badging they might have.

I'm gonna give you the very shiny ADS speaker badge for that slick finish you slathered all over those 780s but you don't get any ADS picture taking props for having a yellow background on that pic above. White balance might help that, I don't know, I got no photo badges either. Enjoy your first merit badge and remember you got this without there even being a category for that accomplishment, yet.
 
Blue Shadow said:
I will continue to mention this is NOT a competition each and every time you need to upgrade your rank. There is NO rank. Now if folks see all your ADS merit badges and get jealous or believe it bestows rank, that is just fine but for those in the know, the merit badges are a symbol of merit you have earned by accomplishing some a/d/s/ feat of some sort, not a mark of you being better than someone else based on said accomplishment.

But you are very welcome to bow down to those that have more or better (there is not a better) merit badges from this exercise, if you feel so inclined. But you don't have to, you could just look at all those badges and then engage the person that has earned the badge in a conversation about it or some of the other aDs badging they might have.

I'm gonna give you the very shiny ADS speaker badge for that slick finish you slathered all over those 780s but you don't get any ADS picture taking props for having a yellow background on that pic above. White balance might help that, I don't know, I got no photo badges either. Enjoy your first merit badge and remember you got this without there even being a category for that accomplishment, yet.
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Oddly, those settings on the camera is what it took to bring out the grain the best. My kid tried a bunch of settings and that was one of them. I blurred the background in the computer.
Laziness/too busy prevents me from dragging my concept into reality.
But I may get some gumption and start a thread to gather data and hold a virtual campaign for the Emperor of ADS. It will be muddy and brutal, and in the end, we will probably have a winner not worthy of the crown that will be toppled by a well-deserved coup.
That coup will fall to another coup which will fall to another and so on and so on until the ADS kingdom enters a dark age where sticky dome midranges are being replaced with old horns from mid century stereo consoles. Guys that never learned how to wear a baseball cap will be putting single L-1230's in the back of their low rider rice burners. Everything will be painted flat black. Poor Richard So will be exiled.
Your talk of "merit badges" will be your "Archduke Ferdinand" moment. When the audio history books are finally written, it will be BlueShadow that will become the scapegoat for the downfall of the once mighty ADS empire.
Goedhard have mercy on your soul.
 
I'm ok with that. How will you handle those that worked for aDs and their added knowledge, spare parts and gear collections? Those guys seem to have an advantage in your continued desire to have a Supreme being in this game.
 
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Blue Shadow said:
I'm ok with that. How will you handle those that worked for aDs and their added knowledge, spare parts and gear collections? Those guys seem to have an advantage in your continued desire to have a Supreme being I this game.
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Guys in R&D/Design would get some serious points. Marketing and warehouse workers not so much. Richard So would hold a position of high regard, much like Merlin at Camelot, but without a substantial personal collection, he wouldn't be "Arthur."
 
The badges are accomplishments. That's how I see the badges being dealt, nothing more. It's all just for fun.
 
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