RMAF 2011: Packing my bags

I have about a million things to do before my flight out to Denver tomorrow. Eek.

This year, I’m going to do my level best to be a bit more consistent in my approach. This year’s show promises to be even more over-the-top than last year’s, and last year was entirely overwhelming.

I don’t really have an agenda this year. I’m still shopping for a DAC, so I suppose that’s top of mind for me. I’d been hoping to have new Alpha DAC here in time to compare it to the now-returned LampizatOr and Playback Designs MPS-5, but sadly, that wasn’t to be. However, I have heard that my number is nearing the top of the queue, so hopefully it won’t be much longer.

Do I keep the Alpha or move on — that’s my big question. I have some demo DACs scheduled from Burson and Light Harmonic, but those won’t be in till November, I’m guessing. In the meantime, I’m relying on my trusty old HRT Streamer II+, but my current system has clearly outstripped it.

In other news, I’ve sold my entire vinyl front end and replaced it. More on that front soon.

I’ve also arranged with Bobby at Merlin to upgrade my VSM-MXR speakers to full VSM-Master status. I got my VSM-MXR speakers just under a year ago, and at the time of delivery, Bobby was just putting the finishing touches on the Master version. I had considered simply holding out for that version, but Bobby convinced me not to, telling me that he thought my MXR would be better in both the bass and the treble. Time being the funny thing it is, 8 month of exposure and whatnot later, Bobby now is convinced that the Master “trounces” the MXR version. I love it when Bobby goes all hyperbolic on me. But, with a gauntlet like that thrown down, how can I resist? So, all I have to do now is figure out how to shrink-wrap this 200lb box to a pallet so I can call for the freight pickup ….

Did I mention that my AudiAV rack finally showed up? Yep, got 95% of the pieces in now — just waiting on a side-kit, and it’s all good to go. Well, other than the amp-stand, which is still AWOL, but hey, who’s nitpicking? Not I ….

I don’t know exactly what I’m going to be visiting at RMAF this year. I’m going to play it by ear and see where that takes me. I will be at Philip O’Hanlon’s On a Higher Note room on Friday after the “official hours” ends to catch up with some of the folks at Computer Audiophile, and I definitely plan to catch the Dean Peer show on Saturday night. I also plan to look up Gordon Rankin, Jeff Catalano, Bobby Palkovich, and a few other of the rogues in the audio gallery, but that’s about it.

See you there?

I’m off to go find batteries.