AXPONA 2016

[BillyBatts]

Aloha!

Axpona 2016 in Chicago is closer than we think, slated for April 15-17, 2016 at the Westin, O'Hare in Rosemont. I am pre-planning to attend NOW so that it becomes a priority as I sit down on Monday, January 4 and do advance planning by month for the year.

April will be here before we know it. I'm looking at booking my Flight soon for the best possible fare and then will look at accommodations in Chicago. I typically don't stay near O'Hare as I have favorite hotels downtown I like to stay in, and at the show rate of $155 a night, this leaves a lot of possibilities open for me to hop on the Blue line and stay downtown to enjoy Chicago in the evenings for the same cost or less. The Cubs are hosting the Rockies that weekend and I may want to take in a Game at Wrigley, Baseball fan that I am.

Anyone else have plans on attending?

 

[elusive]

Sounds like fun! Yes, Pun intended. I did try to register for information, but the site appears to be down.
Have you gone before? Any idea what the cost is?

 

[Tom Brennan]

I might drive up to visit my kids in town and then get together with same of my old horn pals and go to the show and get over to Gene and Jude's too (screw these east coast Sabrettes hot dogs we get done here). Or 35th St. Red Hots over by Sox Park. Maybe I'll take my camper and stay in a campground out by Joliet.

35th St. Red Hots

 

[ghgreyhounds]

I just bought tickets for the show. Wife going too. Planning on hitting a jazz club one night.

 

[Brian Walsh]

Tom, I know Gene and Jude's has a longtime following but also know it's not what it used to be.

Duke and I will be in room 554 again showing the AudioKinesis Zephrins. It'll be great to see you.

 

[KDAC]

Wow. Talk about a "sign post." I've been floating few questions in my mind regarding this event that I'd appreciate if someone chose to answer.

After having been in this hobby of ours for three decades now, I've felt the urge to finally go to an exposition. It just so happens that I first heard about AXPONA last year via a local "music rag" and it sparked my curiosity. My wife and I have weekly "date nights" and I asked her whether or not she would like to accompany me to this event and she, knowing how much I absolutely LOVE listening to music, said "yes." So, never having attended such an event, I ask the following:

1.) For those who've attended AXPONA (or a similar event) in the past, does the event come off in the manner it's promoted? In other words, will ticket-bearing members of the music-loving public be allowed to meander the designated exhibition space in the Westin so as to check out the music rooms, exhibits, gadgets, etc. without being "persuaded" or outright pressured to buy merchandise that grabs their attention? Or, being that the companies onsite are obviously in the business of selling audio gear and related peripheral items, is the ambiance purely goal-driven? My questions come somewhat from a place of insecurity, for when one reads Stereophile and other related publications, it appears that the vast majority of gear on display will be in the tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars. I'm very happy with my server/integrated receiver/floor-standing speaker two-channel setup for audio (5.3 for HT) and and am only looking to acquire a pair of Polk RTiA7 or RTiA9's depending upon whether or not I can catch a sale on said speakers.

2.) Does attending an event of this sort create a "hang-dog" effect? After spending a day, or two, or even three gazing at and listening to what appears to be outright astounding gear, does one go home, look at their current system and simply say "damn..."? I'm in IT by trade, not a licensed psychologist. On some level I get the feeling that an unintentional attendant effect of these exhibitions is to spark "gadget lust" in the exhibition goers. It goes without saying that in order for these companies to survive, much less flourish, they are under pressure to constantly "upgrade" current products through incremental embellishments or create new ones "from scratch" as often as possible. Given our collective cultural conditioning to consume, how does one come away from such an event without resisting the urge to pull out a credit card or drain his or her savings to "keep up?" I did some initial research on prior AXPONA's and I'm simply wondering if attendees feel the same. Quite a few of the setups I've seen via YouTube cost as much as or more than a single-family detached home.

 

[enjoythemusic]

...will ticket-bearing members of the music-loving public be allowed to meander the designated exhibition space in the Westin so as to check out the music rooms, exhibits, gadgets, etc. without being "persuaded" or outright pressured to buy merchandise that grabs their attention?

Yes. No pressure to buy anything, but if you want something you van ask for a show deal as they love selling things to avoid having to ship them back.

2.) Does attending an event of this sort create a "hang-dog" effect?

That's a personal question depending on you / your system.

Hope to se you at AXPONA, it's going to be fun

 

[fredcohiba]

I bought my tickets online to save a few bucks. I'll see you there.

 

[Wildcat]

Hope to se you at AXPONA, it's going to be fun

So you'll be there? Cool! I wonder how many of our old Compuserve gang will be there. I'm considering going for one day, maybe two (or all three, if I get a VIP pass).

Record Store Day is also on the 16th this year, but after the lousy selection last year, and the crowds, I really don't have a desire to go through that again.

Information for anyone interested: http://www.axpona.com/register.asp

 

[bandg69]

Tom, I know Gene and Jude's has a longtime following but also know it's not what it used to be.

I respectfully disagree! I'm 63 years old and have been eating Gene and Jude's as long as I can remember. They are as great today as they ever were.

I might drive up to visit my kids in town and then get together with same of my old horn pals and go to the show and get over to Gene and Jude's too (screw these east coast Sabrettes hot dogs we get done here). Or 35th St. Red Hots over by Sox Park. Maybe I'll take my camper and stay in a campground out by Joliet.

Tom you can't go wrong at either place but besides being great Gene and Jude's puts you awfully close to Johnny's in Elmwood Park for awesome Italian beef and Italian lemonade. You know, one before the show and one after.

35th St. Red Hots

 

[DC]

I've been several times and am penciling it in, though I can't commit this early this time around, unfortunately.

If you're on the fence, just do it. I have flown there, stayed at the hotel, and ate/drink as desired for less than an upper-priced component in my system. (I do not have a top-shelf system.) I also usually end up leaving with a carry-on stuffed with a new book or two and new lots of new music (CDs/SACDs).

I have always booked the full three days (arrive early Friday, fly out late-ish Sunday). I generally get to every room, then revisit those that intriqued me. I take lots of notes in the program book, chat with other attendees and the exhibitors, and return home to hear my own system with a renewed sense of perspective.

 

[enjoythemusic]

Yes Wildcat, i'll be at AXPONA Not sure how many CServe guys will be there yet AXPONA is the best North American spring event. Then comes T.H.E. Show Newport, which is another great show filled with wonderful music systems, welcoming weather and an abundance of live music too!

 

[Wildcat]

Yes Wildcat, i'll be at AXPONA Not sure how many CServe guys will be there ...

Probably a few that we remember. I probably still have an old installation of that software on an ancient hard drive--I'd have to read through those again to refresh my memory!

I've gotten tickets for all three days. Just need to book a nearby hotel (the Westin's way too rich for my blood), or stay with a buddy in town, and I'm all set. I'm only about 4-1/2 hours away by freeway, so I'm driving in.

I'll keep an eye out for you. I'm sure some of us AK brethren will cross paths more than once.

 

[dwaller131]

If you've never been, it's certainly an experience and I would recommend that you check it out.

I've only attended once (last year), but I'll do a quickie (and opinionated) pro-con list:
Pros:
-Excellent equipment, and no one cares if you touch it or play around with it.
-Very little, to no, sales-pitching, unless you ask about something. You're very free to roam about and ask questions. I noticed only one room where there was a hard-sell happening.
-Many rooms have incredible sound, certainly far better than any system I'll ever own.
-You meet some great people. A few remarks I heard from show-goers were pretty great.
-Some fun freebies are to be had
-Very easy-going atmosphere; attitudes seemed to be checked at the door. Everyone was pretty chill.
-Easy to get to, easy parking (but you gotta pay).

Cons:
-You'll be surprised at how bad some expensive equipment can sound.
-It gets stuffy, air-quality-wise.
-Musical choices seem to be limited in scope (lots and lots and LOTS of breathy female vocalists).
-Sometimes hard to get in and out of rooms, particularly if they've got a really nice set up playing (or interesting music; one of the more crowded rooms I came across was the room playing Led Zeppelin last year).
-The merchandise for sale in the meeting rooms on the main level was pretty expensive, at least what I saw

I still think it's a great time, and maybe I'm just a whiner

 

[Wildcat]

I will be there as will a few of the MI contingent (SMAC peeps). Would love to meet Steve R. Maybe an AK meet and greet is something to setup - hmmmm.

Saturday would probably be the best day of the three, Friday second best (in case anyone is attending on the weekend only). With some of us driving in, Sunday is too iffy. I'm hoping to be out of Chicago by 2pm or 3pm so I'm not trying to drive after dark.

The merchandise for sale in the meeting rooms on the main level was pretty expensive, at least what I saw

Music Direct usually puts the MoFi product on sale for the show. I don't know whether to avoid it (temptation, y'know), or bring extra cash.

Parking? I don't know what it will cost--the AXPONA site seems to mention $10...or $25. I don't know if the "special show price" applies only to those who stay at the hotel, or is for all show attendees, or what.

 

[dwaller131]

Parking was $10 last year, not a huge deal. $25 may be for garage parking?

[QUOTE="botrytis, post: 9410818, member: 669"
As for sounding bad - it seems it takes a day to get the big systems dialed in. [/QUOTE]

Probably correct, although we were there all day Saturday and while some rooms were very impressive, others were just bad. Surprisingly so. We asked one of the reps in a room about the 'hollow' sound, and he said "It's not easy making a hotel room sound good."

 

[dwaller131]

I'm not trying to poo-poo the show, just my observations (I had asked some audio friends about the show before I attended last year, and one remarked "I hope you like Nora Jones.")

 

[racca]

I'm not trying to poo-poo the show, just my observations (I had asked some audio friends about the show before I attended last year, and one remarked "I hope you like Nora Jones.")

There always seems to be one recording that gets overplayed each year. You're sick of it by the 3rd room, and by the end of the show you would willingly strangle every single person involved in its production.

I've never attended AXPONA, but I'm an RMAF regular. Ya, you get tired of the female vocals, but more and more rooms are moving toward having a music server with a large selection available, and letting the listener use a tablet to choose what they want. I like that setup because it means I can usually find something I actually like while letting the exhibitor stick to things they know should sound good on their gear. It's a nice compromise between "everything goes" (let me tell you about the time I got stuck following the same guy from room to room, and his love of compressed German industrial music) and "my way or the highway," where the exhibitor plays the exact same dull tracks over and over again at a set volume with no input from the audience.

 

[nailer]

I've been contemplating attending AXPONA or RMAF for awhile, but my fond memories of the Chicago CES keep getting in the way.

 

[Wildcat]

(I had asked some audio friends about the show before I attended last year, and one remarked "I hope you like Nora Jones.")

Heh, and no...I don't.

That's amusing though. I do prefer those singers that sing in a lower register (think Sade, Bebel Gilberto, Diana Krall, Dionne Warwick, etc.) but overall I am not a big fan of female vocalists anyway. That would tend to drive me from a room after a few minutes. Lately I've been more about jazz trios, Brazilian, acoustic recordings, things like that, and even a bit of classical. Most of 60s and 70s rock I could do without--burned out from overexposure. Having played music before, a system that takes me back to situations I've performed in (primarily jazz combo or orchestra, or piano) is what I prefer to audition with. I never expect serious conditions at a show anyway, but at least it helps us weed out what we definitely don't like, or highlight some we may never have heard of.

And yes, to socialize.