"Official" 2010 Extravaganza Thread

[Masterlu]

Everyone; feel free to post your impressions & photos here. I will be listing the 2-Channel content that was demo'd shortly.


Here is the list of SACD & Blu-Ray content that was presented:

SACD

Grover Washington – Take Five #1 (2-Channel)
Edgar Winter – Frankenstein #10 (2-Channel)

Big Phat Band – Sing Sang Sung #1 (Surround)
Spyrogyra – Wiggle Room #7 (Surround)
Pink Floyd – Money #6 (Surround)
ELP – Lucky Man #9 (Surround)


DVD-DTS

Eagles – Seven Bridges Road #22 (Surround)
Eagles – Hotel California (Surround)


BR Video


Chris Botti “Live in Boston” – #2
Shakira – Whenever, Wherever #11
The Dark Knight – Chapters #1 & #20
Toto – Africa #5
Iron Man – Chapter #10
Super Speedway IMAX – Racing Tests
Legends of Jazz – Take Five #1
Kung Fu Panda – Chapter #5
Mr. & Mrs. Smith – Chapter #18
Black & White Night – Oh, Pretty Woman #17
King Arthur – Chapter #12
Transformers 2 – Chapters #1 & #9

[MC352]

My favorites were -

ELP – Lucky Man #9 (Surround)

Eagles – Hotel California (Surround)

Shakira – Whenever, Wherever #11 - Got to get myself this Blue Ray! Howard, do you want me to order you a copy while I am ordering mine?

The Dark Knight – Chapters #1 & #20

Toto – Africa #5

Iron Man – Chapter #10

Super Speedway IMAX – Racing Tests - the feel of the rough spots on the track from the subs was very cool

Black & White Night – Oh, Pretty Woman #17 - Just a classic tune!

Legends of Jazz – Take Five #1 - I have listened to this many times, but not like I heard it Saturday.

[hkval]

[QUOTE=MC352;67881]My favorites were -



Shakira – Whenever, Wherever #11 - Got to get myself this Blue Ray! Howard, do you want me to order you a copy while I am ordering mine? :

Val gave me my own copy for my Birthday. Ain't love Grand? She did mention that Shakira could easily be my Grandaughter!!!! A very sobering thought.

[Masterlu]

Until some more of those who attended get back home, and or the photo's get posted; I would like to ask a favor.

For those that did attend, please post your impressions & opinions for all those who were unable to make it.

Regardless how eloquent you think you are, or not your comments are appreciated!

For the repeat visitors to "The Room" please post your thoughts from the previous visit.

The major changes were the addition of two JL Gotham Subs, additional ASC room treatments including Bass Traps, and 12 PS Audio PPP's.

I would also like to know your thoughts; on content, both audio & video; was it played too low, too loud, just right?

Your comments will help me in doing future Demos.

On a small side note, I have gone to hundreds of demos and most often leave dissapointed.

All too often, the content is obscure or generally poor in nature. Rarely does the general presentation do the equipment justice.

I strive for the Maximum Fun & Enjoyment factor.

Everyone, let's chime in! Thanks

[garysrq]

The Dark Knight – Chapters # #20
Iron Man – Chapter #10
Legends of Jazz – Take Five #1
Kung Fu Panda – Chapter #5
Mr. & Mrs. Smith – Chapter #18
King Arthur – Chapter #12
Transformers 2 – Chapters #1 & #9
____________________________________________

I can't believe i missed these - maybe i will have to get that sa-3051 RTA in blue and watch these when I pick up the unit.


I did pick up Pink Floyd -DSOTM - SACD - yes i never owned it, as well as chris botti in boston on my way home.

I want to get the Super Speedway, and Roy Orbinson along with the Edgar Winter SACD


The Dark Knight chptr 1 was amazing , i dont know how many times i have seen that chapter, but it was like hearing it for the first time - the manager shooting the shotgun was very realistic

The Super Speedway demo felt like you were in the car, especially when it entered the turns and the track surface changed - for me , the best demo all all, I hope my system does it justice.

Suspension of disbelief, is the best way to describe the video portions of the demo

Frankenstein and Money are the only reasons i am buying those SACD's


I will add some more thoughts tommorow

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by garysrq

The Dark Knight – Chapters # #20
Iron Man – Chapter #10
Legends of Jazz – Take Five #1
Kung Fu Panda – Chapter #5
Mr. & Mrs. Smith – Chapter #18
King Arthur – Chapter #12
Transformers 2 – Chapters #1 & #9
____________________________________________

I can't believe i missed these - maybe i will have to get that sa-3051 RTA in blue and watch these when I pick up the unit.


I did pick up Pink Floyd -DSOTM - SACD - yes i never owned it, as well as chris botti in boston on my way home.

I want to get the Super Speedway, and Roy Orbinson along with the Edgar Winter SACD


The Dark Knight chptr 1 was amazing , i dont know how many times i have seen that chapter, but it was like hearing it for the first time - the manager shooting the shotgun was very realistic

The Super Speedway demo felt like you were in the car, especially when it entered the turns and the track surface changed - for me , the best demo all all, I hope my system does it justice.

Suspension of disbelief, is the best way to describe the video portions of the demo

Frankenstein and Money are the only reasons i am buying those SACD's


I will add some more thoughts tommorow

That's what I'm talking about! Thanks Gary

You are always welcome back for a private demo too.

[Vintage Pete]

First and foremost, the event was very enjoyable, seeing great friends again and making new ones as well. The demos were extremely impressive, as always.

As to comparing my impressions from this visit to the last, I had visited once since the last extravaganza, after the installation of the second gotham. The large tube traps were in place by then, as well. It would be difficult for me to note the changes with the PPP's without living with the system and making pre and post installation observations. At this level of performance, astonishing is astonishing....

As to too loud or too soft, I'd say just right. As to content, I thought maybe some different content tracks from the artists would have been nice, since there was some repetitiveness in that last demo for what was essentially the same group as the last "scheduled" demo.

And of course, I wished I could have heard KingRT's version of "Lucky Man"....

Pete

[hkval]

REPEAT VISITOR: I met Ivan for the first time at the previous Extravaganza. I had heard some incredible systems at Lyric HiFi in New York and several other places but nothing that had the planning, layout and balance of "The Room". Ivan obviously set a goal for himself to have an Entertainment System that would knock the socks off himself and his many friends. Before visiting the room I never fully realized the potential of musical reproduction and my audio life changed as of that moment.
Val and I went over again to play some CD's that we listen to every day to experience what the Mac speaker might sound like in our own living environment. I brought with me female, male and group vocals such as Rita Coolidge, Vittorio and Cantus. He gave me the volume control and honestly, that system performs like magic at any volume level and with any selection. The first Gotham was not present at that time but I had the opportunity to hear it several months later and was obviously impressed. Bass seems to have no direction so I was very curious how the 2nd Gotham would sound. This event was the first time I have heard them both together and the best description I can give is massive fullness and soundstage. Bass may not have direction but left and right channel Gothams make "The Room" seem twice as large as it is.
I am a big fan of PPP's but had not heard them on Ivan's setup. They add a real human - You Are There - quality to the voice with total naturalness of sound on every instrument. Chris Botti's trumpet was "in the room". To me, the improvement with adding the PPP's was instantly noticeable.
If I were to add anything, it would be a segment on the pure beauty of vocals and possibly an orchestral presentation such as a few songs from Puccini's "La Boheme" or even Tchaikovsky's "Capricio Italian".
If the objective of the extravaganza was to entertain, have fun, bring friends together then it was accomplished 10 fold. I cannot imagine having more fun than this day except maybe the next one in Cape Cod. This presentation/event was from the heart and it showed.

[Vintage Pete]

As I mentioned in the other thread I started on the party, I did take pictures, though I never had a good opportunity to get photos of "The Room" itself. The presentations began almost immediately after I arrived, ran through the day and before I knew it, the day was over.

When I wasn't in "The Room", I did get some good general shots of the good time, and some of the other displays that were going on.


Here's a few to start...


Pete

P.S. Howard and John.....I won't be getting you mixed up any more! John, it was great to see you again, and Howard, it was truly a pleasure meeting you and your
wife!

[Vintage Pete]

There were some reps from PS Audio and Wireworld at the event. In addition, the long-awaited McIntosh MX150 processor was on display, as well as some very interesting vintage Marantz and McIntosh tube amps. Here's a few shots related to these displays.

Pete