Chicago DIY -- any interest?

[Undefinition]

My wife joined me for the Dayton DIY 2008. And hard as it may be to believe, she found it fairly interesting, and said that if I wanted to host an event that she would be willing to help. I don't actually know how many DIYers there are in Chicagoland, but I know there are a ton of us in the midwest. It may also be a good chance to bring some people out of the north (you know I'm talking to you, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan!) to meet the rest of us.

I've been thinking about locations for a while. I wouldn't have it in downtown Chicago, but rather probably in the northwest suburbs. Schaumburg is ideally located and has a lot of very nice hotels and meeting space. I was also thinking of asking my alma mater, Elmhurst College (also ideally located), if they would let me use their recital hall to host. There are lots of possibilities, really. I'm not too worried about that.

My main concern is WHEN. I don't really know when would be a good month to host an event. Iowa happens in October, Shawn's event was in April, Dayton was July... any other good ideas? I know we can set our watch to Iowa, but I don't know about InDIYana or Dayton for next year.

Oh also, one more thing: Wolf (from the PE board) and I have been talking about a "small speaker shootout." Entries would have to be smaller than 6x6x9 (~3 liters max). I'd like to have this as part of the event... even if it's not a contest per se, but just for fun.

So what do you all think? Any comments, suggestions for a date? Who might be interested in attending?

[cjd]

I'd likely attend if it's at a time I can make it. I was asked to emcee the last one that never happened - Dave Ellis was trying to set it up.

C

[Jim Holtz]

I'm definitely interested but it depends on my employment situation. I think later September after vacations and the kids get back in school is the best time. It also gives some breathing room between Chicago and Iowa.

Jim

[CupCak3]

I also interested. I agree with Jim for sometime in the fall... the "full schedule" summer is over and the weather would still be decent to carry around speakers.

[---k---]

I would definitely attend - though I think that Naperville is the "ideal" location. :P

I would even be interested in a smaller "get together" with just a few people and a few speakers, if that is easier.

[CupCak3]

party at k's house

[Rolex]

Depending on when the date is, I would probably be interested in attending. I'm in West Michigan.

[mmoeller]

I would defiantly be interested in this, and would be willing to donate some of my time to the process.

[JonW]

Interesting idea. How about the spring time, like maybe March-ish? That way it's staggered a good ways from Iowa. And after the winter, when more of us might get more speaker work done. Whereas we might be spending more time outside in the warmer months.

[cjd]

Defiantly, eh?

I can haul my monoblocks/pre and such, should be a solid foundation. If I rent a van and some movers, I might even be able to bring the big monsters so few folks have heard.

Prizes, categories, and food options should all be considered.

Venue, best results are going to be in a somewhat acoustically dead space. A cafeteria would potentially work better than a recital hall, which tends to be fairly live.

I'll be busy for most of the next two months, if that makes even the least bit of difference.

C

[Undefinition]

Interesting idea. How about the spring time, like maybe March-ish? That way it's staggered a good ways from Iowa. And after the winter, when more of us might get more speaker work done. Whereas we might be spending more time outside in the warmer months.

<raises eyebrows>
Actually, March sounds really good. As much as I'd love to do one in September or November, it's too soon, and I wouldn't get around to it until next year. But next March, that IS doable. June might be fun, too. Okay, I'm liking where this is going.... I'm also really pleased with the folks who are willing to make the trip. Thanks, guys. Sounds good so far.

[Hdale85]

If someone close to my area was heading out there I'd be happy to tag along if they were willing to take on a hitchhiker :B

[maynardg]

Darn! I was hoping for Sept 27 this year. I would have attended with speakers.

MG

[chasw98]

March would be nice. I can put that in my far ahead calendar.

[Doug Lockwood]

I would be interested in attending.

[Mudjock]

March sounds good to me, too. I got my fill of Chicago for a while this week - sitting on the Tarmack at O'Hare for over 3 hours Monday during the severe storm only to have my flight cancelled anyway. :M

Given that Iowa already has enough/too many speaker entries this year, it would be a opportunity to run some of the designs that didn't make it in time. The small speaker shootout sounds fun, too.

[---k---]

Hey, I got to sit on the tarmac in Atlanta and Tampa last Thursday for 4 hours! :P I finally got to ATL around 12:30 am. There were so many people in baggage claim waiting for their bags, that you seriously could not move. After waiting about an hour, I said screw it. I got my rental car and headed to my hotel. I got my bag the next day when on my way home. Worked out pretty well, except for the fact that the hotel has all personal hygiene products other than deodorant - not good for an outdoor meeting in Atlanta.

After 200,000 flight miles, I've found all commercial airlines / airports suck. ORD and ATL get a bad reputation only because they handle a disproportional number of flights. Sorry for the tangent. I'm a bit protective of ORD and UAL. I'm the oddball, but they've treated me much better than anyone else.

[cjd]

Milwaukee is so different - last time I flew from there, Security was waiting on ME to get my shoes off, laptop out, etc. :P

March could work, to be sure.

C

[timmay1969]

I would love to attend anytime. I could bring my aerial 7b's so everyone could show me why I just need to build my own mains and sell the aerials.
Sub is finished and my center(statement) is in the works.
BTW, the emotiva xpa-5 blew me away at how good it sounds. My rotel amp will be for sale shortly. Your advice has made my system ROCK!

[Mudjock]

In my case, the main problem is the commuter flight from the Quad Cities to Chicago. At the first sign of any kind of trouble, which O'Hare has no surplus capacity to deal with, they begin cancelling the commuter flights. Often, if we have a late flight home, we will book a one-way car rental in advance as a contingency to avoid being stranded at the airport overnight.

Other than that, I didn't have any particular complaints about O'Hare until this week, when they rolled us out into a severe storm and left us sitting out in the open in a tin can full of jet fuel even though they thought the problem was serious enough to evacuate the terminal (not to mention that their press release stated that they evacuated the planes).

[John_E_Janowitz]

I could probably make it for a Chicago meet. Would be able to bring down some woofers and things were working on as well. Hopefully everything will be in full production by that point.

John

[Quwiksilver]

I'd likely attend an event in Chicago. Sounds like fun! :T

[---k---]

I could probably make it for a Chicago meet. Would be able to bring down some woofers....
John

Did I just hear an offer of door prizes. :P


Hahhaha

[mpotoka]

I'm in for a Chicago event, especially since I just moved downtown. Think I could take some speakers on the L?

[---k---]

Was that tongue in cheek? I don't have anything against the L, but the suburban venues will likely not be near an L or Metra station.

We can probably find you a ride when it gets closer.

[mpotoka]

Yah I have a minivan to haul some stuff with

[cjd]

I might have to rent a van and haul the big speakers out... I'd need loading help on the home side though.

[pres589]

If you hold it in May I could make it, as I was planning a motorcycle trip to Toronto from here in Wichita KS, so obviously the biggest speakers I bring might be earbuds. But I'd love to check this kind of thing out. Chicago could be a good middle stopping point for the trip.

[Undefinition]

I might have to rent a van and haul the big speakers out... I'd need loading help on the home side though.

Yes, Chris, the world needs to hear those monsters! (They're worth the listen, everyone. I've heard them. They have a sound that just makes you want to say, "Oh yeah. That's the stuff.")

By the way, CJD, are you still serious about bringing the monoblocks and CD player? I don't have much fancy playback equipment (unless you count pro audio amps and mixers).

I'm gonna have to make some phone calls today. See where/when I can set this up. Boy you all got me psyched!

[cjd]

Yup, I'm serious about providing equipment. I have it all, it's got lots of pretty clean power minus an odd spot or two on the pre, and is low-impedance stable. I can bring the Face amp as well if we need even more power, not sure how the SQ will be different than the Outlaws. Should have final pieces to finish my DAC today, and may finally have ordered a pre for the old TT I have (will do a decent budget pre, and if my wife decides it's worth it, i'll look at new stylus for the TT - it's an old but I think rather good Technics...) The player is a Universal player, does MP3, SACD, DVD-A, you name it.

C

[---k---]

Chris,
I recently bought a Honda Ridgline. If Paul insist on having this up near him instead of in Naperville I could probably help out.

For equipment, I think your Outlaw monoblocks would work great. Not sure what you were offering for the preamp, but I would prefer it to not be your DIY unit. While it is great, there were some minor problems with a DIY preamp at Iowa last year, and several people grumbled. Funny, DIY speaker = great, DIY Preamps = Junk.

[cjd]

The DIY pre-amp is what I run every single day. It's all I have. Well, I probably have a 2 channel that might have pre outs I could use, don't have much cable to support that since most of what I normally run is balanced. My DAC wouldn't work with it... Got time to figure it out.

C

[---k---]

Yeah. It's not a big deal. I just shake my head, but you know there are people who like to find reason why their speakers didn't perform up to expectations. I would hate for your preamp to get blamed.

I'm sure we can find something if you don't have it. There are lots of people interested, someone must have a decent preamp. If nothing else, I could always bring my Outlaw RS2100 receiver (if it ever gets fixed!) and not run fully balanced.

I'm not sure we need an outboard DAC. Your CD player should be fine. Or I could bring my Denon 2900. I don't think people could complain about it.

[timmay1969]

I could bring my anthem d1 if needed.

[cjd]

Eh, if people complain about the pre, they're smoking something. I mean, at one time I had one that even I complained about, but this one's been solid. Let's just go ahead and put it in a nice box, I'll add some official looking logos, nice wooden knobs that get the audiophile seal of approval, fancy schmancy expensive isolation blocks, some sort of "god" figurine on top for good vibes...

C

[timmay1969]

Can we glue some tubes on the back? It'll remind me of my marshall half stack.

[cjd]

Mmmmm, tubes. I'll add some big weights and a space heater, and just put it in a really big box, plus a low voltage light bulb in there...

The attenuator actually takes up more space than the pre-amp part(s)