Kamran
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Planes, Trains, & Automobiles
Steve, Devon, Sarah and fam,
Thank you for hosting another successful Decfest. Your kindness, hospitality, and enthusiasm never ceases to amaze. There is a reason why I flew out to Decfest back to back and the second journey involved multiple cars, trains, a plane, and a shuttle bus. I did this with a smile on my face because I knew I was going home to my hi-fi family and I’d go to any lengths to get there.
I’ve been already asked about my write-up (I guess I am getting predictable?) so here goes:
My experience at Decfest 2023 was starkly different from last years fest. Equally as profound though, but just different.
I was self-reflecting during the fest as to why this event is so compelling?
Is it the gear?
Is it the music discovery?
Is it the human connection?
The answer is obviously “All of the Above”, but for each attendee, I think the weight/importance of these categories varies. Take me for example—I was the one who asked Steve (in my post show write-up from 2022) to provide an iPad this year to make music selection easier and he listened (no pun intended).
Yet—I only managed to grab the iPad for a less than five minutes prior to leaving Sunday morning. Didn’t even complete one song. This is a long winded way of saying that I didn’t participate much in critical listening this year. My heart wasn’t in it, which even took me by surprise.
Why, you may ask, and it’s a fair question.
Because this year, I prioritized social interaction above all else. It wasn’t necessarily premeditated – it’s just the way things worked out and I enjoyed the heck out of it. Reconnecting with folks from last year, as well as making new connections, getting to know their stories, learning from them, and exchanging notes. I couldn’t get enough of it. One of the highlights was getting to know Bob Ziegler, his speakers, and his collaboration with Steve over the past 20 years and change. Also of note, is the opportunity to hang out with Nick and Nigel, reconnecting with all the other Steves and answering questions for Derek as he gets his rig ready while in line for his amp.
This doesn’t mean I didn’t listen at all – I did, (passively) here and there, popping my head in to each listening room. While I’m not going to give detailed impressions on speakers and amps, from a high-level, the Headwreckers were larger than life. I actually experienced déjà vu because last year I thought the house speakers were actually larger than what the pictures suggested and this time it was the big boys. They would be the proverbial straw that broke the camels back with the whole ‘our wives putting up with our hobbies’ comment. In other words, if you brought these puppies home, she would be the one putting you out. That said, the bass from the wreckers was the most visceral I’ve ever experienced and just the general resolution of those platinum drivers is something you really have to hear it to get it. Don’s baffles were meaty and dynamic, but….similar to the T6 last year, a speaker I wasn’t intending to listen to stole the show for me. This time it was the Bob Ziegler designed HDT MK2’s—they were just amazing from top to bottom and I was just floored by the depth of the soundstage. They were equally playful with the Torii MKV as well as the 25th Anniversary amp. I think even Bob was surprised about how well the latter pairing worked out.
Not surprisingly I found myself in Randy’s sound shed multiple times to groove to his great playlist. The sound from his baffles paired with Lii Audio drivers felt like home. But also different. A better different. He was using a Cryotone compliment from Don, and they sounded markedly better to me compared to the NOS tubes that Randy had on last year. Kudos to Randy for working tirelessly, emotionally moving the audience with his tracks, changing the baffles around as per request and doing it all with a big smile on his face. Although I didn’t get to confirm, I’m sure he managed to sell some pairs at the fest and perhaps will get inquiries post fest for a more custom build (does that remind you of someone Randy?)
Don and I actually stayed at the same hotel. Had multiple good convos with him throughout the fest and excited that he is carrying back with him two amps from the fest, for a full cryo treatment. Can’t wait for that dipping to be finished and hear from Nick and Nigel, who gave up their babies for a couple of weeks. I’m already sold on doing that for Sarah, but that is most likely, a 2024 thing.
Speaking of Sarah, I guess it’s not everyday (or every fest) that a participating member’s amp is ready and on display at Decfest. My Sarah (passed quality control—but not shipped) was there on full display and my God, she is a stunner! I came in to the back room multiple times to take a sneak peak or to lead someone there to show her off. We had several conversations around the area, marveling at her beauty and gravitas. And (ahem) I may have given some folks the evil eye for drinking and or perching their beverages on or near the rack.
The fireside chat —— A member asked me Sunday morning whether this is the kind of stuff I do for a living and I was like heck no—-this was completely out of character for me and that I was just caught up in the excitement and opportunity to ask Steve and Don questions and soak in their collective wisdom. So I’ll take it as a huge compliment. Pallet after pallet was burned 3 hrs before the chat, so we had a nice (large) bed of coals by 7 pm, the wind didn’t misbehave and there was not a hint of moisture in the air. I couldn’t have asked for a better setting.
7 pm struck and even though there were only a handful of folks in the beginning, I was astounded by the large crowd that had gathered within minutes—some of them standing for the full hour and braving the cold. Even Randy came out of his shed and I was thinking to myself that I better not screw this up! That said, the fire burned high and bright, the questions kept flowing and the answers from Steve and Don kept us enthralled, amused, and at the edge of our seats. Even the timing of a particular question was on point when I asked Steve and Don, how did they two meet and who fell in love first? Devon had just joined the crowd and was like hey ‘hey hey—-what’s going on here?’ Being the so called troublemaker behind the chat, I’m not going to comment whether it was a success or not. All I can say is that the Audio Gods were in a benevolent mood and smiling…
The fireside chat after party: Only a couple of us were left with Steve after the conclusion of the chat and we had the most amusing conversation (Steve was also properly drunk by that time) including the resilience of trees, a reel to reel deck called woody (I won’t go in to details), taking revenge on oversized pieces of lumber, Steve’s annoyance at the green hue of the light bulb over his wood shop and our plan to rid the world of mediocrity. On the last item, let me just say that if in the future, you notice a kickstarter or Indiegogo campaign to raise money to buy all the shitty speakers and or solid state amps in the world and burn them to ash in Steve’s firepit and or blow them up, the after party participants take full credit for it.
Sunday morning Devon served some delicious breakfast to the remaining folks and one after another, we started taking our leave. I hate goodbyes and this one hurt so I decided to play a track before I left as there was no one in the listening room. I didn’t care what speakers were hooked up, nor what amp and cued up Sara Bareilles’ “Come Round Soon’ from her live album ‘Brave Enough’ on the iPad. Barely a minute in to the song, Steve must have noticed my melancholy mood and walked in to the room to chat. I happily paused the song to eke out one last conversation. Little did I know that another highlight was yet to come. He complimented me on the fireside chat and my room treatments! The fact that he remembers my room from the pictures I shared months ago was just staggering. Here is a guy who has 2000 ppl on his waiting list and talks to hundreds of customers/vendors any given month, and he remembered what I’ve done to my rig.
For the drivers passing by a slow moving Chevy Malibu by on Route 55 North towards Chicago—driven by a guy who couldn’t seem to wipe a stupid grin from his face, I apologize for the inconvenience.
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Decfest 2023 (Read 26051 times)
