11th annual CKY-DIY is on 11/11/17...

[Wolf]

Date has just been confirmed! Kinda serendipitous that it's the 11th year and on 11/11, but it should be a good time. It will be at FirstBuild (open 9am-5pm, we're usually out by 4pm) in Louisville, KY, thanks to our fellow member Tim Gillespie.

We all know this is only 1.5 weeks out, but I feel it's still going to happen and be a good time for those that can swing it. We currently have some things we need to source like speaker stands, and a CD source and preamp. I will be bringing my Crown amp, speaker switch box if needed, speaker cables, and balanced XLR interconnects. If anyone can help and bring the required items, it would be greatly appreciated.

I'm hoping we can order pizza and somebody can pick it up like normal. It's so much easier to stay on site at 1B than to try and all go and come back. You lose sooo much time that way, and we can still listen while we eat this way, whether background, or critical.

I assume there will be a swap meet table as usual, but I need to get Tim's info on that so we can set it up.

1stBuild address:

1stBuild

333 east Brandeis

Louisville, KY 40208

Later,
Wolf

[scottmc]

Sounds like fun. Haven't been to FirstBuild. I would like to hear my 2 similar 3 ways in the same room to figure out the better pair. I would like to hook both up at the same time side by side. I would bring my own amp as I need 12 channels. This would save time also.

I have an extra set of Dayton 3 tube stands I could bring. I also have some extra stuff I would like to sell cheap to a good home. What is the format?

[KEtheredge87]

Hi Guys,

I might be able to swing this... I'm an hour up the road in Indiana, and Louisville is my home turf. I'm probably due for a visit home anyway. I don't have any of the materials that Ben's requesting (CD player, pre-amp, etc), but I'm happy to be a warm body with a penchant for listening! I'm good to chip in a few bucks for community pizza too. I'm subscribed, so I'll be watching for more details.

[Wolf]

Format in terms of music- house 5 minutes, 5 minutes for exhibitor, and likely a few more. There is usually plenty of time at CKY-DIY.

As to equipment- Dan has stated he has some 24" pedestals that will work as stands in a pinch, as well as a disc player. I'd bring my Denon SACD player if I felt it was reliable enough for the job. So- all open in terms of the gear/stands still. I might be able to bring the old Technics AC-3 decoder/pre in a pinch if no one else has something that will work. It will not matrix to a subwoofer if anyone brings one, but it does 6 channels.

Scott- how tall are your stands?

MAC-DIY link for event:

http://www.midwestaudioclub.com/events/kentucky-diy-2017

Later,
Wolf

[scottmc]

Stands 24" without feet.

I can bring a netbook with a Behringer UMC202HD interface. Bit perfect with balanced outputs. I have measured this interface is excellent, only issue is a slight L-R error (.3dB). I can bring TRS to XLR male cables to plug into Crown. I also have an Omni-mic I can bring to set levels using same netbook. Playback thru Foobar2000. Need to rip any CD's. I have a USB DVD reader. Alternatively can use my DSP as the output device with a flat profile.

[Pete Schumacher]

Fill those tubes with sand (or Ben's choice, cat litter) to deaden their resonances. It will improve them audibly.

[Wolf]

Scott- that would be fine for the house tracks, but an easy swap of listener's music via rip might get a little long in the tooth having to do it for every person there.
Otherwise- that looks like a valid scheme to run the event, even with level matching. I was just planning on ear-balling it... If the DSP flat will be L=R, then that would be better of course, or I can try and see if the detents on the amp will comply.

I think I like the stands you have as a more purpose-driven use, and Dan would not have to bring as much this way. I also agree with Petey in terms of mass loading them.

Any other ideas?

Wolf

[scottmc]

I have a sound meter we could use and not the OmniMic. Be easier and less trouble. This would free up a USB port where I can leave the DVD attached to play from. The DSP is calibrated to better than .03 dB match across all 16 channels. Although .3 dB mis-match is of little consequence left and right. I can bring both, just in case. The DSP is unbalanced. I should have cables for either to XLR. The DSP has a remote control to set volume. DSP and amps will need to be next to speakers. I can drive via a long USB cable. Let me see what I have for that cable.

[Pete Schumacher]

If I bring a thumb drive with my track will you be able to play it?

[Wolf]

The Crown has RCA jacks and XLR, but more gain is had via balanced connections.
Wolf

[scottmc]

Great just use RCA's. The DSP has 2.0V rms unbalanced outputs, should be able to drive to any desired level. The CROWN's are listed at 0.75V rms full power.
Playback: Thumb drive, Audio CD, files on CD or DVD all ok. Prefer: WAV files, FLAC files, Audio CD, in that order.
I have a 25 foot USB cable, should be able to locate the computer up to 25 foot away from the amplifiers. I'll hook everything up over next couple days and verify. Expect good to go.

Now work on that playlist, couple cables, and need to finalize a couple DSP target responses...

[Wolf]

Nope- mine is the XLS2000, not the XLS2002. The 2002 has a gain switch to set for 0.75V or 1.4V. Mine needs 1.4V for full power.

As a contingency, Dan will bring his Oppo, and that has a variable output level via remote.

I think we're good on gear!

Wolf

[ani_101]

usb still good, or do we need good ol' audio CD for the exhibitor tracks?

[Wolf]

Scott said his system will do it. As long as the backup system isn't required, you should be good.

Later,
Wolf

[scottmc]

Tested out the source equipment today. Everything good to go. Playing from optical or flash drive fine.

If Dan can bring a backup DVD player is good. Using a laptop will be more convenient. I have a pink noise track already.

DSP output is 2.0V rms, so should drive the CROWN to full volume. DSP remote has volume.

We can do instant A / B comparison with a push of the remote, if desired.

I will assume someone else will bring a background music selection.