Bottlehead Forum

Bottlehead Kits => Crack => Topic started by: ironbut on May 11, 2010, 09:53:55 AM

Title: CanJam Chicago
Post by: ironbut on May 11, 2010, 09:53:55 AM: I mentioned it somewhere else but I thought I'd make a formal announcement. (this is a cut and paste from another forum)

It's time again for my annual announcement for the Headfi International Meet.
This year it's taking place at the O'Hare Hyatt in Chicago June 5th-6th.
If you aren't familiar with Headfi, it's an online community of headphone crazies from all over the world. One of the best things about our not so little group (last time I looked, around 60k)are the "meets". At these events many of us bring our gear for anyone to listen and sample the latest gear.
The International Meet brings folks from all over the world (volcano's permitting) and a large number of headphone and headphone related product manufacturers together for a weekend of listening.
So, if you'd like to spend some time listening to a pair of headphones that you're considering purchasing or want to hear what a $20k+ headphone set up sounds like. Come and join us.
Here's a link to the particulars for this year;

* https://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/437304/save-the-date-jun (Open in New Window)
Title: Re: CanJam Chicago
Post by: ironbut on May 11, 2010, 09:55:37 AM: To give you an idea of what this meet is like, here's some photos from last years event which was held in LA.
Be sure and scroll all the way down past the "drinking" and "socializing".

Also, we don't have a firm vendors list yet for 2010 but here's a list from LA.

Affinity Medical Technology
AudioLineOut/ALO Audio
Auduze
Benchmark Media Systems
Beyer Dynamics
Blackbird Audio
Crossroads Acoustics
Donald North Audio
Eastwind Imports
Eddie Current
GR9 Technology
HeadAmp Audio Electronics
Head-Direct.com
HeadRoom
Hearing Components (Comply)
JH Audio
Lavry Engineering
Locus Audio
Manley Labs
Maximo
Monster Cable
Moon Audio
Neko DACs
Ray Samuels Audio
RudiStor Sound Systems
Sennheiser
Shure Inc.
Smyth Research
Todd The Vinyl Junkie
Ultimate Ears
Ultrasone
Westone
Whiplash Audio
Woo Audio

* https://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/426949/canjam-09-picture (Open in New Window)
Title: Re: CanJam Chicago
Post by: levlhed on June 03, 2010, 03:58:49 PM: Will there be Crack?

I'm thinking about making the 2+ hour drive down on Saturday with my Beyerdynamic DT990 600's around my neck....
Title: Re: CanJam Chicago
Post by: Doc B. on June 03, 2010, 05:11:50 PM: What Steve didn't say is that he will have his stock Crack and the very first production prototype Crack with the Speedball upgrade at his table.
Title: Re: CanJam Chicago
Post by: levlhed on June 03, 2010, 06:00:16 PM: sweet
Title: Re: CanJam Chicago
Post by: ironbut on June 04, 2010, 03:16:13 PM: Yup, I'm sitting here listening to the Crack with the Speedball upgrade right now.
Even though I haven't done an A/B comparison of them, the sound of the upgrade seems very significant and way-way more than the price would indicate. The sound seems faster and more focused. And the bass that was already excellent is deeper and tighter I think.
But the main thing that sticks out in my mind is the instrument separation. Could that be the result of the above mentioned improvements? I tend to think so.
These impressions are subject to immediate changes as burn in continues. (about 12 hours on it so far)
I'm also hoping to try as many of the better headphones as I can on it as the weekend goes on (regardless of impedance).

I hope to see some you there in the next couple of days.
Title: Re: CanJam Chicago
Post by: levlhed on June 04, 2010, 03:21:27 PM: Please be nice to the Crack/Speedball!
it might end up being mine ;-)
Title: Re: CanJam Chicago
Post by: ironbut on June 05, 2010, 03:21:00 AM: Quote from: levlhed on June 04, 2010, 03:21:27 PM
Please be nice to the Crack/Speedball!
it might end up being mine ;-)

No problemo.
I'll be sure and take extra good care of it buddy.
Title: Re: CanJam Chicago
Post by: arsun on June 05, 2010, 10:05:29 PM: I was in the Head-fi meet today and was hoping to see Steve in person, however he was not in the room for about 15-20mins I was there. I had the chance of comparing the stock vs upgraded crack with his setup and I must say I am pretty impressed with the upgrade. I think it is very much worth it and I would agree on the findings being the Speedball upgraded one more focused and has lower extension. I think the upgrade is very much wort it. Crack with Speedball upgrade must be the best amp in its price range and IMHO, it even bests a lot of retail amps with much higher price tags with 4 digits. If you are still thinking of getting the amp, I would say you better stop thinking :)
Title: Re: CanJam Chicago
Post by: levlhed on June 06, 2010, 04:18:53 AM: I too got to listen to them and compare. Really a no-brainer there on if one *should* do the upgrade.
Was good to meet the ironbut! And the other guy I talked to, was that you arsun?

It was def. worth my time and energy to hit CanJam yesterday.
Title: Re: CanJam Chicago
Post by: Grainger49 on June 06, 2010, 05:31:27 AM: So if you met ironbut and Arsum, can they report on whether your head is level or not?
Title: Re: CanJam Chicago
Post by: arsun on June 06, 2010, 06:35:13 AM: Quote from: levlhed on June 06, 2010, 04:18:53 AM

Was good to meet the ironbut! And the other guy I talked to, was that you arsun?

Well, I only talked to one guy in that room. He can be very well you :), but I don't know if that is true with you :). I mentioned to the guy that I am a member here and built a modified SEX and posted some pictures and he said he saw them. So, was that you levlhed? :))
Title: Re: CanJam Chicago
Post by: levlhed on June 06, 2010, 03:54:38 PM: Yes, that was me!
Title: Re: CanJam Chicago
Post by: arsun on June 06, 2010, 10:53:14 PM: It was very nice to talk to you. I forgot to ask, are you a local? If so, we can have a Bottlehead meet some time...
Title: Re: CanJam Chicago
Post by: levlhed on June 07, 2010, 02:44:34 AM: I'm about 2.5 hours drive North of Chicago.
Title: Re: CanJam Chicago
Post by: Jim R. on June 07, 2010, 05:01:40 AM: While you folks were having a great time listening, I was hard at work over at my buddy's shop doing some work on the base for the Crack, sanding, dying, and finishing, plus machined the top plate for some hold-down bolts and the filament config switch. Today will begin painting of the plate and when that has hardened, assembly can begin for real. Coming home to read these impressions of the amp was just the icing on the cake and made me feel doubly good about the work I just finished. Also built a new base for the s.e.x. amp out of ply-boo -- both for a better fit and this one is in square. This is a vetical grain carbonized bamboo plywood that my buddy tells me will look great either natural or tinted with a yellow analine dye to give a gold/honey/amber hue. All in all a really productive and fulfilling day working on my BH projects.

If Steve is reading, what were you using for your source at the show?

-- Jim
Title: Re: CanJam Chicago
Post by: ironbut on June 07, 2010, 07:27:55 PM: Hey Jim,

I use a Metric Halo ULN-2 that I've done some upgrading on. It's a pro audio firewire interface with pretty nice converters on board. That goes to my MacBook on which I'm currently using the Pure Music player software. I have a pretty good supply of 24 bit music files that are downloaded and a few that I've recorded myself.
Title: Re: CanJam Chicago
Post by: ironbut on June 09, 2010, 12:33:08 PM: Quote from: levlhed on June 07, 2010, 02:44:34 AM
I'm about 2.5 hours drive North of Chicago.

So are a lot of states!
Having lived in California for quite a while, I forgot what it was like to be in a part of the country where it doesn't take all day to drive from one end of the state to another. On Friday a bunch of us went to a fantastic brew pub called "Three Floyds" . We had a tasty lunch and lots and lots of excellent beers.
While we were driving there, I kept thinking, "Huh,.. all these towns are named after states." It turned out, they were states!
Right off the top of my head, I couldn't tell you which state the "Three Floyds" is located in.
Title: Re: CanJam Chicago
Post by: Paul Joppa on June 09, 2010, 02:28:13 PM: Quote from: ironbut on June 09, 2010, 12:33:08 PM
...
While we were driving there, I kept thinking, "Huh,.. all these towns are named after states." It turned out, they were states!
Reminds me of the time my father flew back east for the first time. After the great plains, he looked down and spotted the first few hills in hours. Thought to himself "Great - foothills! Soon I'll finally see the Appalachian mountains!" Then they landed. In Boston.
Title: Re: CanJam Chicago
Post by: ironbut on June 11, 2010, 10:51:35 AM: For you guys that didn't make it there and would like to know what one of these events is like, here's a a thread with some picture from my pal Peter (who always gets some great shots) on an alternate headphone site Headcase (kind of the Bizzaro version of Headfi).
All the pictures of me look like I'm either asleep or pissed off. (I wasn't mad?)

http://www.head-case.org/forums/meets/7557-canjam-2010-a-71.html
Title: Re: CanJam Chicago
Post by: Jim R. on June 11, 2010, 11:06:55 AM: Hey Steve,

Was that monsterous home-brew amp Nate Maher's "Menace" by any chance? That would be a two chassis, 60 poun beast of an amp. Probably not easy to miss.

-- Jim
Title: Re: CanJam Chicago
Post by: ironbut on June 11, 2010, 12:49:06 PM: Hey Jim,

No, as far as I know, Nate didn't bring a rig to this one. He was one of the guys that took the 2.5 hour lunch with us at Hot Dougs on Saturday though. Funny guy!

The amp I was referring to was the Silver Ghost built by nikongod (Ari) which is a two chassis amp with 6X 6SN7's or their subs.