The Almost Official 2004 Austin GTG Announcement & Invitation (1 Viewer)

For those of you following the "Small Floor Standing Speaker Shootout" thread, you know that a few of us are planning a GTG (get-to-gather) in Austin, Texas, for the weekend of October 22-24, 2004.

I call this "Almost Official" because there will be nothing really "official" about this GTG at all. This is not a shootout, a contest, or a last man standing winner take all death match. I think Curtis said it best here:



Not to say that there won't be any blind listening comparisions, but if so, I expect it will be strictly for fun and the listener's benefit. I wouldn't expect any exacting scientific standards to be applied. I would, however, expect copious amounts of alcoholic beverages to be applied for those that so choose and who aren't driving.

So this is an open invitation to anyone who would like to come to Austin and who promises to have fun. So far I believe we have commitments from:

Mark Schifter (Mark LS) - Of Rocket/Onix/AV123/Genesis/Audio Alchemy/etc. fame.

Curtis Chang (CurtisSC) - Soon to be known as the "Texas Heartbreaker".

Craig Chase - Speaker and Subwoofer Shootout King. (If he doesn't come we will curse his name at every opportunity. Of course, this may happen even if he is there.)

Victor.Y - Local Austin-nite, local event planner, and possible equipment contributer if we can talk him into it and find a bigger car.

Nhan_H - Nhan's from the Dallas area and has offered to bring some HTD IV bookshelfs and possibly some 550's if they can hitch a safe ride. (I've always been curious about the HTD's but have never had the chance to hear any.)

Chris Quinn - Chris has offered to bring his Ascend 170's and 340C up from Houston. (I'm really looking forward to hearing these.)

David Fabrikant from Ascend also previously expressed interest in coming. Don't know for sure, but we're hoping that he can make it.

Now that we have a date set, we'll start working on gathering equipment, picking a hotel, etc. We may also need volunteers to give rides from and to the airport and a larger vehicle or two (an SUV would be perfect) to safely transport some speakers.

Guys please jump in here and add to or correct anything I've said. I look forward to meeting y'all.

Jimmy

This event should be a lot of fun and somewhat informal -- much like the "laid back" nature of Austin.

------------- this post will be updated regularly -----------

If you are thinking about attending, please e-mail me the following information:
1) Name(s)
2) Where you're coming from
3) Bringing any equipment?
4) Will you need a hotel room?
5) When you know, the arrival/departure times to coordinate transporation as needed
6) Attend dinner Fri or Sat, or both
7) Best contact phone number (include cell phone)

------------- local attendees -------------
Victor Yiu (Austin)
-- Rocket RS750 sigs, RSC200, RS550mk2, UFW-10
-- dinner Fri, Sat
David Hoffman (Cedar Park)
-- has graciously volunteered to assist w/equip moving and airport trans
-- 3 pr speaker wires w/banana terminators; speaker stands
-- dinner Fri, Sat
Steve Furrer (Austin)
-- Axiom M60/M22
-- possible SVS 20-39PC+
-- dinner Fri, Sat, can help with limited trans to AP
Scott Oliver (Austin)
-- possible venue #2 (tubes)
Paul Creel (Round Rock)
-- can help with moving, interconnects
-- dinner+1 Fri, Sat
Dan and Karen Weyant (Kingsland)
-- has 550, 200
-- dinner Fri
Greg/Mary Summers (Schertz)
-- no dinners
Brian Borowski (W Austin)
-- most likely dinner both nights
Danny Mazyn (Round Rock)
David McNett+1 (N Austin)
-- dinner Sat
-- can help with schedule/organization
Odysseas Christou (Austin)
-- Denon 3803
Nils Luehrmann (Austin)
-- dinner Fri (maybe), Sat

------------- flyin/driving in -------------
Curtis Chang (Cali) h
-- dinner Fri, Sat
Jimmy Harmon (drive/McAlester, Oklahoma) h
-- dinner Fri
-- Denon CD changer / possible speaker stands / cables
Mark L. Schifter (AV123) h
Nhan Hoang PhenomeNhan (drive/Dallas) h
-- HTD Level IV bookshelf speakers
-- dinner Fri, Sat
-- can come early to help setup
Arthur Saenz (San Antonio, TX)
-- possible RS250's - please update later
-- dinner Fri, Sat
Po-Ming Fung (San Antonio, TX)
-- Rockets, P-1A, P-3A, 250.2
-- dinner Sat
Chris Quinn (Houston, TX)
-- bringing in lots of equipment from various manufac
-- has 5 pass vehicle
-- dinner Fri

------------- confirmed equipment --------------
Axiom M60, Axiom M22
ACI Titan sub (courtesy of Mike Dzurko at ACI)
Ascend Acoustics CMT-340m's (courtesy of Ascend Acoustics/David Fabrikant), CBM-170's, CMT-340c
Hsu Ventriloquist VT-12 and STF-1 (courtesy of Hsu Research) / STF-2 sub
HTD Level IV
Minipod Speakers (courtesy of Brian/HTD)
Onix Rocket 750/550.2/200/UFW-10, 250.2
Onix Ref 1's
Onix ELT CSE
RAD Micros (courtesy of Brian Bunge)
Sherwood/Newcastle R-965 receiver (courtesy of Jeff Hipps of Sherwood USA)

- speaker switchers (thanks to HTD!)


FRIDAY
======
afternoon
- I can be at home to receive equipment deliveries
- Scott Oliver (Onix gear)
- Nhan, Chris Quinn drops gear
6:00p Hula Hut
- start the fun and drinks, start meeting and greeting, please arrive by 7:00p
7:30p Hula Hut
- probable dinner time, incomplete parties not seated
9:30p Downtown
- Walk around downtown/6th St/4th St entertainment areas - with lots of bars and live music venues

SATURDAY
=======
AM breakfast at your hotel
- Steve dropping off Axiom
10:30a/11:00a Victor's place
- Meet at Victor's place to start the audio fun
12:00p lunch
- Break for lunch at something local, like Texadelphia, Mangia's Pizza, or Kerby Lane Cafe
1:00p Victor's place
- Resume listening sessions/socializing
5:00p Salt Lick
- Leave for Salt Lick (1 hour drive)
- BYOB, stop by store to grab drinks; need ice chest ready
- All you can eat BBQ dinner... at 6:30p cash only
8:00p
- Leave Salt Lick for some Austin live music
- Options: Tears for Fears, Jimmy LaFave, Asylum Street Spankers
- Options: comedy variety show, like Esther's Follies
- Might run late from dinner, which you can't rush

SUNDAY
======
10:00a optional tour of Austin, or do your own thing
- Tour of Austin... bring your camera! With ideas like Julio's Cafe or Juan in a Million's (breakfast tacos), Mt. Bonnell, 360 bridge, Oasis, Zilker Park, UT Campus... leave when your flight must go, etc...
- Scott Oliver has also kindly volunteered to host an audio session - integrated amp comparison


Suggested Hotel
===============
Amerisuites Austin Arboretum
2 1/2 stars

AmeriSuites Austin Arboretum is an all-suite, limited service hotel located in the upscale Arboretum shopping area of Northwest Austin.

3612 Tudor Blvd
Austin, TX 78759

$65/69+tax single/double

You can book this straight from their website... this hotel is about 30min from the airport without traffic, about 5 minutes to my house, and about 15 minutes to downtown, 10 minutes to dinner on Friday.


I live 5 minutes NW of the 'A' (arboretum) on 183.


-- Please note currently we have a total time of 5 hours for the listening session - is this about right?
-- Things to be done:
--- maps/directions to venues when we have finalized schedule
--- prepare BYOB for Saturday's dinner
--- arrange transportation schedule for those flying in
--- folding chairs

Great!!

We need to get a pair of CMT-340's there as well. Maybe Chris can bring his STF-2.

Victor, can you suggest a couple of hotels in the area that I can start looking into? Also, what electronics do you have?

I will forward this thread to DavidF.

(damn this forum's URL limitation for new registrants making me retype this )

Curtis,

I will compile a list in the near future. Best deals can be found on sites like hotwire - a 3.5 star hotel I saw in the neighborhood of $55.

If you're looking for some local flair and proximity to the hoppin' downtown scene, check out hotel san jose. (Pls do a quick google search -- I can't type URLs)

Thanks,

Victor

What I want is a hotel close by where I can make a quick getaway with some equipment.

Looking forward to hearing your Rockets, especially the 550MK2's and UFW-10. Hoping someone will show up with ELT CSe's. Maybe Mark will be kind enough to bring along SOCS and R-DES. Hope that is not asking for too much.

Nhan's HTD's will also be great to hear.

I can likely bring my STF-2 up also.

I grew up in Austin but haven't lived there in about 5 years so I can be a second string guide.

Victor what part of town are you in?

Sweet. Thanks for starting this new thread, Jimmy. I was opening up my 550s last night, as the new x-overs came in. Looks like a sodering job. I'll need a friend's help with the soldering bit. I'll let you know how easy/difficult the job is. I can always bring the classic 250s (along with the HTDs), instead. They'll certainly fit in my car

Nice. I'll be sure to suggest something near the airport then. I live in northwest Austin, a little past the Arboretum area. Depending on where most of the festivities will be, we have a lot of choices for hotels. Austin's not too big, being only a max of 15-20 minutes from any activities.

Perhaps Jimmy or I will update the top posts with the latest information as this thread progresses, so we can organize transportation and lodging as needed.

--Victor

Good stuff, guys. Curtis, We are going comsume three Texas size martinis and then do some fun listening.

Then we will impress some local women...

I am very loveable after a few drinks....

Jimmy,

I think you need to start another thread for Curtis and Craig, only

Just saw this thread, but would you guys be interested in involving the local HTF Austin group?

Anyway, I would love to attend the meet, always trying to hear new stuff.

Maybe they can share a hotel suite . . . not that there's anything wrong with that. :b

Scott - Before I answer, how many hot babes do you have in your club?

Just kidding. Sure, the invitation is an open one, and we would love to meet you guys. We're still trying to guage interest and work out details. Not sure yet if we'll be doing the listening at the hotel or at Victor's house or a mixture of the two. Of course, if we're at Victor's house we will have to get his OK on the number of people. Please let us know how many people from your group plan on stopping by, and make sure that they understand the informal nature of the event. We only have three ground rules so far:

(1) Everyone has to promise to relax and have a good time.

(2) Contributions to the beer fund are not required but are encourged.

(3) No farm animals please.

Good news and bad news.....

DavidF will not be able to attend that weekend.

Good news is, if needed, Ascend will help facilitate getting CMT-340m's there.

Now look, guys... I am trying to help Curtis meet some women... knock off the "Curtis and Craig" stuff, or I will bring a pair of Bose 901's and a Technics receiver.... and CHEAP scotch....

OK, if we knock it off, will you bring cheap women and good scotch?

hey now.....I don't need help.

Jimmy... I will at least bring the good scotch... as for women, my wife is from Houston, and has family in Midland... One Texas Lady in my life is MORE than enough to keep me happy...

(note to self... make sure wife reads this...)

.....but I would not reject cheap women being at the GTG