Texas Audio Roundup July 22-23, 2022 Notice

Jason's post today on Head-Fi
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/sch...most-improbable-start-up.701900/post-16951998



SchiitShow Writ Large
Or, Flushing the Last 2 Years

Well, maybe I'm not being entirely fair here, because this isn't just a SchiitShow. It is, more precisely, the Texas Audio Roundup, a Schiit and Emotiva (and friends) show, coming soon to a mini-California...er, I mean, Austin, near you!

(And yeah, I know, I'm ribbing the Austinites a bit, but it's good-natured ribbing. Remember when we could laugh about things? Yeah, like that. Relax.)

Why our own show? Why with Emotiva? Why not just go to one of the myriad of shows happening soon? Well, at least in part because (a) we're weird, and (b) we thought it might be time for something a little, er, different. A little more, ah, focused on the affordable side of things. A bit more, ahem, direct. Hence we got together with our friends at Emotiva and came up with this crazy thing. (Fun fact: my old marketing agency used to lease space from Dan Laufman before Emotiva was Emotiva...we go wayyyyyyy back.)

Of course it won't be all Schiit and Emotiva. In fact, there will also be customer systems, headphones from our friends, crazy homebrew speakers, and tons of other stuff. We're shooting for a fun, casual show where you can stroll and enjoy, without a ton of pressure.

Now, that's not to say it won't be exciting on the Schiit side. We're definitely bringing the big guns: Tyr, Loki Max, and Folkvangr for sure. Probably at least a couple of other new things too, but I can't talk about those yet. We'll see what makes it for the show...big, small, or in-between!

Texas Audio Roundup
July 22-23
Austin, Texas

Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/texas-audio-roundup-tickets-335542455517

Of course, I'll be there, as well as some other Schiitheads. Hopefully you can come and see us at the first-ever Texas Audio Roundup!

All the best,
Jason

 

Hello, Thank you very much for including us in the Texas Audio Round in July. My thanks to Schiit, Emotiva, and primarily to SBAF for bringing this event into existence.

You are offering a much needed open-minded platform for us to share ideas and knowledge, feelings, and experiences. For AAW this is a seminal event, the launching of the 'Austin Designed and Austin Built' bootstrap start-up performance audio designer and builder. I am honored to participate and meet you all in July.

There has been a considerable dry spell in the sharing of things audio for the last few years. Last year SBAF offered to tour pre-production versions of my Black Swan phono front end and Black AMP headphone amplifier. The comments and remarks along with observations were delightful and focused my thoughts and actions on several improvements. These are now implemented in the newly released production versions which I will be showing at the show.

I believe that I shall also be showing the pre-production BlackDAC, the complimenting DAC for the AAW desktop and room audio system. And possibly a 100-watt version of the Black AMP, no-feedback, current mode power amplifier. Some of you have auditioned the prototype version at 40 watts and have been most complimentary.

As a bootstrapper startup AAW again offers me the fun and enjoyment of a true Austin-only style of tech/art entrepreneurial experience. That's one of the reasons that people are moving to Texas, damn, it is fun!

 

While we have yet to meet I feel that I know you a bit from the culture you have created in SBAF. In saying that I am reflecting how it manifests itself, and thus you, through the actions of its members. From the seduction by Sina through the 'crew' that toured my Black Swan and Black AMP I got incredibly honest and passionate mature feedback. This has been inexplicably vital to me on so many levels and has helped me to focus on what is important and needs to be done. As a one-man 'designed and built in Austin' bootstrap startup this is not my first pass at business. Over 50 years ago I started my first audio business on the money I made from doing the audio for the Jethro Tull "Stand Up" tour. 15 years ago took a medical company I had public, two extremes of capitalism with a bunch of stops in the middle. It has always been political. Bringing dynamic forces together in a competitive environment is an art and craft the few ever gain experience in.

I appreciate the profound complexity of what you have done in getting this Roundup to work. The market can be a corrosively confounding place with many players, interests, passions, and demands upon us to conform and comply. ' Pressure' is more than just a song.

Ahh, such philosophical thoughts are for a cigar and brandy after the event. Thanks for including me in the fun.

 

@purr1n I have a modded Bifrost 1 Multibit I'd like to get ears on. What are the chances of an afterhours blind Schiit DAC comparo with tasty adult beverages, a few close SBAF friends, maybe BBQ or tacos, and Jason & Mike from Schiit? Bifrost needs to warm up for a day before it's ready for action. Will there be a room with a buncha Schiit DACs all warmed up that we could scoop for this event? On speakers, of course.

EDIT: Also do I need to sign up anywhere to get access to the main audio Roundup, or just walk in like I own the place?

 

Hello . I got a call from Mark Cohen of Audeze telling me that we are the room next to them. I must admit that that I was baffled as I have heard nothing from you about this, could you fill me in on the details? Thank you, Barry

 

Thank you for the data. An important point is 1) paperwork, and 2) who do I pay what too?

Mark and I have known each other and worked to together for about 45 years. We met when he joined SAE to create a professional sound division and I came on at the same time as Chief Engineer. Years later he was VP at Fostex and I became their new technology counsel and general researcher. A few years ago Mark sent me a pair of the LCD-X headphones and challenged me to 'un-retire' from audio and design an amplifier to make them sound better. When I realized that everything I knew was wrong I threw it all out I followed the no-feedback current mode gain path and that became the basis for the Black AMP. Now I am meeting a new bunch of folks and looking to start building this little one-man bootstrap startup business into something far more mature. As always its about vision, perception, and execution.

 

@purr1n Can I have my modded LCD-X (the loaner version, not the one I sent to you) sent to the Texas meet? Audeze will be there and they would like to hear them, and it would be great for others at the meet to get to hear them as well. I could have the Liquid Gold X sent as well so there's a rig, and if you need a DAC I could send my Gungnir A1 for a complete rig.

 

I believe I'm next in line for the loaner after one other person, I could leave them with @Erroneous if need be to bring to the event. I'm planning on showing up at least one day but not sure which yet.

 

Happy to help facilitate. I'm also planning to get a ZD, ZDS and ZDSE in the same room to compare (partially thanks to @ColtMrFire) so I don't know if that should go down at the meet or off-site at a private event.

 

Flights/hotel/tickets booked. See ya'll next month.

 

@purr1n Do you know which day the after hours DAC-off/party will be? Maybe we can all hit the Texas Chili Parlor (literally across the street from the hotel) between the end of the meet and the beginning of the later fun.

And whichever day it's not, a bunch of us will want to make dinner plans so would be good to know which day.

Also a bunch of us are planning to gorge ourselves on tacos before the meet Friday so if anyone needs info on that just hit me up.

 

Good news, but this may be a bad development for my wallet...

 

Anyone have a problem with me putting great tubes into the Stellaris instead of stock tubes?

 

I'd only object (as a distant observer) if you kept the identity of those great tubes a secret

 

I would not mind hearing it stock, but beggars can't be choosers and I just want to hear it. As long as you bring a description as to how the stock tubes are different, with exact percentages of audible delta and a spreadsheet of the cost differentials...