Palomino
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I’m getting ready for Decfest again this year. I don’t remember my first one but I think this is year 8 or 9. It’s become a part of my fall ritual which involves dropping my boat off at my brother’s farm for winter storage, lunch with my folks, seeing some friends in Bloomington and then heading to East Peoria for the fest.
I start out by making some playlists that exhibit certain characteristics in music like soundstage, bass, female vocal, etc. I’m on Tidal so I hope Steve still subscribes. As a backup, I may throw some tunes on a thumb drive.
Then I put together my list of gear I want to hear. This year, my main component is the 300b amp. I’m also interested to see if Steve and/or Randy have incorporated any of the new Lii Audio drivers in their OBs. I am interested in a new DAC so I will be listening carefully to what Steve has in his main rig and talking to people about their DACs. I also want to see what Bob has done with the latest iteration of the HR-1s.
On the way to the fest, I stream the live feed and listen to begin getting in the Zen mode.
Upon arrival, it usually is pretty random sequence of events, but I know a good number of people, so I typically catch up with them before heading into one of the listening areas. I’ve made some good friends over the years and its good to see them again.
Then there is that first beer – I love when you open it, the bottle top falls down and sticks to the huge speaker magnet right below it. That’s more or less the official start of the fest for me.
Usually there are 4 or 5 people I need to talk to before I make it into the listening room. About an hour later, I pop my head into the listening room to see what rig is playing and then if I am interested, I patiently wait in back until a seat opens up.
Next, it’s a toss up. Go to hear what Randy or Bob has playing in the small room or go to the workshop to slobber over Steve’s woodworking tools and hang out.
Dinner is next. Last year, Lite Foot Dan and I made pizzas in my portable oven and we are going to repeat again this year on Saturday night. This time we will have another oven or two going so we can pump them out faster.
In the evening, its more of the same until its time to sit around the bonfire. Usually by this time, the BS is at a fever pitch. Following the bonfire, I waddle back to my van and go to sleep.
Breakfast with the guys is another part of the ritual, but sometimes I go into the listening room early to listen to music I pick out on gear I want to hear before heading home.
Anyway, I am looking forward to seeing people and hope its another great fest. Good people, good food, good music. After two of the fests, I have come home and immediately put in an amp order. Trying to resist this year.
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i7 Mac Mini with LPSU/SSD running Audirvana 3.5, Uptone Audio Regen on LPSU, Mytek Brooklyn DAC+, Ven Haus DIY Silver ICs, 25th Ann. Zen, PS Audio P5 Power Supply, PS Audio Power Cords, GR Research Speaker Wire, DIY Big Betsy and Crystal 10 Open Baffle Speakers
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