Leaderboard

Yes, excellent food guys thank you. Wish I was there the night before to sample some of the drinks. It was interesting running into you all Saturday morning at the hotel. I just checked out, looked over and saw 5 strangers sitting and chatting, I instantly knew they were the Klipsch gang (instantly recognized Carl from a Pilgrimage photo) didn't take long to figure out who was who (Seadog in this Seadog shirt) These guys instantly made me feel at home. Even though I only spent about 7 hours with them, I know enough to want to go back again. Great people, good tunes, spectacular sound, awesome venue, hard to beat.

Glad to hear you're almost home and safe. Glad everyone else is home and safe. Just got home about an hour ago(long enough to clean up) Magela and I are safe and sound. I'll post my amateur pictures tomorrow or Tuesday. It were a blast....What'd Yasgar say......nothing but fun and music.

Great night indeed.

Carl and Jerry performing surgery on a Klipsch Chorus, with Bill supervising.

This was the Friday lineup with the 396's included.

First leg done! Made it to Bardstown exit in KY about 40 miles south of Louisville. 1 traffic jamb/accident for about an hour, another accident that happened about a minute in front of me, an additional leg in the trip to deliver gear to Dave. I will post much more and had a blast with everyone. Running to Dave's added about 3 hours but I got to see the shop, meet Dave and listen to the Super MWM's with 402's. I will tell you my impressions in detail over the next couple of days, and somehow, they will be at the next event.

Some of the electronics used.

This venue was perfect for outdoor audio, and the weather could not have been any better.

The “Little Surprise” mono parallel SEP spud amp. Maynard

Hated that I could not make it after all the anticipation. I love to see the look on peoples faces when I fire the big boys up and never get tired of listening to them myself. Talking to tweeter buyers at times is fun as they describe their really "big" speakers like Fortes and Cornwalls and Chorus. I just bite my tongue and think they have no idea. If you guys think the cannon in the 1812 Overture is good wait until you hear Japanese Fireworks. Good to see that Chorus I there as of all the Klipsch vintage speakers I get or have played with I think they respond the best to a couple of simple upgrades. They are my all time veneer Klipsch favorites. By the way I never mind visitors and will make time for anyone who wants to stop in, just call first. Somehow it is more fun to listen with fellow enthusiasts then it is by myself. Pete even got to see one of the dreaded trip destroying donut fryer lift forks.

And the 396's were in the building along with a set of JBL's that I wanted to hear but it didn't happen.

I believe all of those bottles on the table got kicked and there might have been a couple more kicked or at least dented pretty bad.

The Mini Punches with the Devastator sounded freaking awesome! But so did the EV's and the LSI's.

Close up of Pete's Mini Punch base bin, mid and HF.

You haven't seen the speaker cabinets on the opposite side of the building. 😀

Well yea, all the snarky members couldn't make it

It sounded really nice. I recapped the crossover for Jerry and we installed the MAHL tweeters with B&C drivers. @rockhound seemed to like how they turned out. He originally had an issue with one tweeter cutting out. I found a cold solder joint where one of the wires attached to PCB and fixed it while I was recapping them. It never cut out the whole time we played them.

Last one for the evening, but I was way too keyed up from the drive to just go to sleep. @kirby said I really needed to try and get by @Dave A to listen to the supers and he was correct. Understand that what we had at SWAG was great, but the supers and the 402's were the best pair of speakers I've ever heard, period. Funny how we were chatting at SWAG about how all speakers really need a sub and we were listening to different speakers with and without the sub just to hear on the fly what they were all like without a sub. The Super MWM's, don't need no freaking sub and I would be shocked if you all don't agree when you've had an opportunity to hear them. Obviously, they aren't going to be in many home applications due to the size, but I've got to hear these things in the same type of setting where they can really be opened up. Absolutely amazing, IMHO. Thanks Dave, I wish I would have had more time, but we're going to do it at the next event.

Have a safe final leg home tomorrow.

Glad you made good time Pete, some crazy drivers on the roads these days. Glad to have met you.

There's a ton of awesome reviews out there for RF-7s. They are many, many times better than the 8000s.

I cant believe you found the one time that @rockhound was doing something and I was watching.. lol.

Ahh, what it used to be. I am truly sorry that I missed this. While some things suck (not getting to SWAG) spending time with the hormonal teenage female is a blessing.

Which one is that? 🤐

I am glad I made the trek down to Hope, I had a great time. I was not disappointed at all, weather was great, music was awesome, and everyone was super friendly. I wish I could have stayed longer, but work has me busy. I had an observation earlier today....I was gone for 48 hours, and drove 1500 miles, that's a 31 mph average for the whole trip! I will be back, and will stay longer. It was great to finally meet these guys.

all Technics SL MK1 or MK2 prior to the M5G had thin wiring in the tonearms that were loose non shielded individual wires - the M5G used Cardas OFC wiring , stranded -and shielded for the 1st time -

What a blast. I just got home. It reminded me a lot of the first year the 12 or 13 of us got together at the super 8. No agenda other than hanging out and listening to music. I'm already looking forward to next year. Special thanks to Pete and Dave for bringing some awesome grub and to Jerry for securing that incredible venue.

The 1st SWAG is history, but what a great time. Except for the audio gremlins, the cattle in neighboring pastures, and a stray dog, the photo below from Saturday afternoon includes everyone who attended. L to R: Kirby, Babadono, Ceptorman, Seadog, PeteH, Rockhound, Rockhound's son, Cecaa850.

Trailer is unloaded, blown out, pressure washed and ready to go back, but not today. Truck still has to be unloaded, but started to rain, which reminds me of a Jackyl tune we listened to, but anyway, Huge difference between meeting people and getting to know them, it's my kind of party when you really get to develop relationships with people that will grow over time, and this was certainly that, for those that I had met, but now I've started to get to know. General thoughts, after 4 hrs of sleep and 1100 miles..........................so take it for what it's worth. 1. i tend to agree with @Thaddeus Smith that the number of people can affect the experience and we need to consider that going forward. 2. I'm not driving to Hope next year with all this gear, and we need to consider this as a traveling event, relatively close to a major airport, and the attendees within reasonable driving distance, can bring the gear, while those that have to fly, won't have a 3-4 hour drive after they arrive. 3. We need to find a venue that has outdoor and indoor capabilities, we were fortunate to have weather that allowed us to rock outside for the entire time. 4. Already thinking about the next one, is a wonderful thing and thanks to all that made it, as well as those that were planning on it and couldn't. I can't say enough, what a great time I had.

That's quite literally the entire point of this event. Everyone comes from a very diverse socioeconomic background, the full spectrum of equipment, and a shared enjoyment of sound reproduction. The event is meant to put names to faces, share gear when possible, and otherwise just have a good time to get to know people in a 3-dimensional way. I'd have been quite disappointed in that crew if you reported anything other than what you described.

Some meandering comments & thoughts. 1985. I met a guy at work and we became very close friends. (Indianapolis) I moved away and did what I did....he stayed there & married a local gal. Back when I bought my Khorns (to bring this to a forum related comment) I had to drive to Chicago to get them. I stopped in Indy on way up/down and stayed at his house to visit. Cutting to the chase, he passed away early April, about three weeks prior to his 59th birthday. He had kidney failure, diabetes and if I recall what his wife said, those morphed into some other issue he had. He had lost the upper half of his left hand fingers, pointing finger and second finger. On his right hand, lost top half of three fingers. Was unable to work, unable to get insurance (accrued medical bills exceeded $400,000 requiring them to file bankruptcy). He was on home dialysis for 11 HOURS PER DAY. Unable to lift himself out of a chair as he had lost near 100 pounds in a months time, he lost a lot of muscle mass. He was really ticked at how our system was forcing them to bankruptcy....so ....sat at his PC.... and with his PINKY finger, tapped a letter (not a letter, "Dear John" but a letter as in "T") and wrote his senators, congressman, state reps letters trying to change things Nine years ago, they lost their oldest son. Seems he was working on a truck or something....was under it when the supports let loose and crushed his skull. Now, it's looking like the wife is (and has) going to lose her husband. He was a private guy and I had not an inkling of what he was going through and frankly, whenever I think of all the details (far more than listed here) it still just brings tears to my eyes. He's now gone. She's having to file bankruptcy. She's at risk of losing the house. (let me see if I understand this.... 9 years ago, you lose your oldest son....call it 5 months ago you lose your husband and now....you stand to lose your house. This is shredding me up inside. So I knew I had to drive up for the funeral. There were several of his "angels" there to speak. Gal that cut his hair, his dialysis nurse... one kid struck me as awesome. My buddy had typed a letter to Purdue (with his pinky finger) and asked if they had any means to help his hand mobility.... turns out they had some trials with prosthetics and were going to help a 10 year old girl who played the violin. She had lost half her arm from elbow to hand from an accident......however, because of her lack of developed arm strength, she wasn't a good subject to work with so she didn't make it. They accepted Jim. TWELVE of these engineers came to his house to talk to him, take measurements.... they had a rudimentary "set of fingers" for him to try.... took more measurements.... were back at Purdue working on the revisions when they emailed him for some info. He never responded. Couple days later, his wife frantically reached out to them to let them know what happened and to apologize for not letting them know. They said it was ok.... they knew. When he didn't respond to his email, which was very UNLIKE him, they googled him and found his obituary. Seems he was at home with his wife and their younger son (who's now 22 if I recall). Sitting on his bed...asked her to bring him a nitro pill... she asked if he was ok (as she dialed 911) she got him the pill but, he fell to the floor. Fortunately, their 6'1" or so son was there to help lift him but.... he was just staring at his son. EMS got there, raced him to hospital... called her back with the news that he was gone (she wasn't allowed at hospital initially because of COVID). She asked me if I thought they lied to her that he died at the hospital. I said I didn't know but, from a compassionate point of view, I could see them wanting her to feel he died there rather than on their floor or his bed so that as she goes home, she doesn't have a constant memory of "X" marks the spot where he died. Much nicer to have it happen there. Or, at least, that's my thoughts. I forgot... the engineer student that helped with his fingers, not only showed up at the funeral but, he was one of the speakers. He spoke on behalf of the others who for various reasons couldn't make it. He got into how they always viewed their project with some distance but they got to know Jim and he humanized the (heroic) things they do and this 20 something kid about had the entire place in tears when he tried to describe "what they learned from Jim" A very emotional weekend for everyone involved and I made sure to call Dad on my way home. So, I thank you

Prolly cost me around $1K to fly from Cal., hotel in Hope, rent a car from Dallas. Worth every penny. Just big fun.

Again a Big Thank you to @Seadog and @Pete H for bringing the food to the venue. No one HAD to leave during either day to go back to town for nourishment. The ribs (BBQ or smoked?) and beans were excellent (Seadog) as was the pulled pork and chili(Pete H) No set mealtimes just if you're hungry go grab some chow. And @kirby thanks for the buns and chips to go along with. You safely home?

I was actually going to gift that amp to you if you showed up............................

It was the inner tube around my waist. Yea, that's it.

But "Heel" knows how to spell "manners"......so there!

Naturally I'd agree with this (see admittedly pricey equipment list) but would add Basis. They have a very nice, pure, musical sound, impeccable construction that lasts forever, etc. Their tone arms are truly world class. Robert Harley of The Absolute Sound is over the moon about the line. Sadly, AJ Conti, the analog genius behind the line, wasn't even 60 when he passed away just a few years ago. - Larry

Yes, made a huge difference. What model were we listening to? I was just on their website.....thanks Carl😀

It seems to make everything digital sound better.

Yes, mine was a quick, last moment kind of decision to go. I didn't bring any gear home with me, Carl was alert! I was impressed with his Schiit though.

I just looked at the picture and see why you think that but I weigh the same as the last time you saw me.

, it's a 1 way trip , suicide mission , and the odds of survival are equal to a kamikaze pilot making it back - they should send robots , that would make more sense

Ummmm. No.

Lumin X1

Drivel like this is completely unacceptable here. As a high risk individual under doctor's orders to stay quarantined and wear an N-95 mask when I must be exposed, and who has lost dear friends who drowned with a tube down their throats I find this unacceptable. I've not gone through all the comments as I don't want to be made angry by science deniers and those who somehow are deluded into thinking that it is their constitutional right to spread death as they see fit. This thread will be locked and left as a warning to others who wish to spread dangerous lies. You all know me as a moderate moderator...but don't push it. Dave

I love them both. They are unique in their own ways. Bill

About 7 years ago I replaced my Yamaha T1 & T2 FM tuners with NAD C446 Digital Media Tuner which has AM/FM & world wide streaming. My wife came home before I got it set up and the box put away. She walks into the music room and says "OK, how much did it cost?". I start explaining why I got it and she repeats "So how much did it cost?" I said listen to this......this radio station is playing from Lithuania (she's Lithuanian). She thinks I'm giving her some BS (the station is playing American Rock). When the music stops and the announcer starts talking you should have seen the look on her face!! Then I tell her "It was $600." She says "Oh, only $600? I thought you were going to say 3 or 4 THOUSAND." And I'm thinking, damn, I could have spent another couple of grand before she got pissed?

50 pounds of dual rectified transformer coupled mono triode goodness. I went on a fisher binge 20 years ago. The signature of my sound remains the khorns and they sound their best coupled to these old amps. This the el34 version.