House of the Holy-My visit with Ivan (MasterLu)

[bodiezaffa]

Being a financial and estate planner, the problem with most wealthy individuals is they have no spare time. Regardless, I pm’d Ivan a few months back to inform him I was vacationing close to his Florida home in August and if time allowed, would love to meet him and see “The Million Dollar Room”.
Ivan responded quickly, thanking me for contacting him and would let me know asap whether he would be in town at that time.
As luck would have it, he was flying in a few days prior and suggested yesterday (Sunday August 7) at 1pm.
What’s going on here? He has time? Maybe he’s not wealthy. Maybe the Million Dollar Room was exaggerated by a few too many zeros and the 40 min drive was going to be a waste of my vacation time.
I had to know. I had to go.
The question of wealth was immediately quashed as I approached the guard house of the gated community where he resided. After identifying myself and succumbing to a full body scan (just joking about the scan), the guard lifted the gate and I entered.
Lush grass, beautiful homes, very nice automobiles adorned the path to Ivan’s address.
I expected someone dressed like Thurston Howell the 3rd to stroll out but instead I was greeted by this tall guy, wearing jeans, running shoes and a red Audio Aficianado golf shirt.
Must be the Gardner, I surmised.
It wasn’t the Gardner.
It was Ivan and it was clear to me that he was genuinely happy I had arrived and was excited about the time we were going to spend together.
After a few minutes meeting his family (all very warm and REAL people), we hopped in his golf cart to the East Wing where Shangri-La awaited. (again, just kidding about the golf cart...not Shangri-La)
There has been enough threads here that discuss The Room, its compliment of McIntosh gear such as the awesome XRT2k’s speakers, the FOUR 1.2k amplifiers as well as many other s that fit perfectly into his $35k custom built cabinet. Suffice it to say, I was illuminated by the blue/green glow of Mcintosh insignia...and was at peace with earth and sky.

In a few days, I am taking my family to Disney World for the 1st time. I have never been myself but friends have told me how much fun Ill have. Until I actually step foot on the property and experience it myself...
It’s the same thing with Ivan’s room. I’ve seen pictures, read the threads about others who have been, but until you sit in the 1st row, middle chair (there are 2 rows of 4 reclining leather chairs), and let Ivan fire up the system, you can never truly appreciate the culmination of 5 years and a million bucks.

Whether it was the listening to the Doors, watching a Toto concert or Mario Andretti driving a formula 1 car around a race track, every demo Ivan selected was the best my eyes and ears ever heard.

However, there was something other than his room and equipment that caught my attention, it was Ivan himself. I can’t imagine how many demonstrations he has given to people just like me. And yet, it felt like we were watching everything together for the 1st time. Ivan is a passionate person and it shows in whatever he puts his attention towards. He is genuine, generous and easy going and during my 4 hour visit (which included a great lunch with LuJr), I had a truly wonderful time and will remember it fondly.

As quoted by Howard (hkval) when I asked him about an appropriate gift to bring, he replied
“Hi Mark,
Ivan is truly one of the special people for whom giving is greater than receiving.
You are going to have a MEMORABLE experience. He is a terrific person and THE ROOM is incredible”.
Howard, I couldn’t agree with you more.

Thank you Ivan. You are “cut from a different cloth” and it has been my pleasure to meet you and I look forward to spending more time with you in the future.

[Masterlu]

Mark... I really enjoyed meeting you yesterday, and showing you my Room. Time sure flew once we fired up the system.

In answer to your question above, I have done hundreds of demo's and enjoy every one of them.

Your kind gestures, and words here are priceless. Thank you, for taking time away from your family on Vacation to visit an aging, obsessive audiophile.

My Best!

[-E-]

Aging, obsessive audiophile?








You probably left compulsive out, too.

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by Vesuvius

Aging, obsessive audiophile?








You probably left compulsive out, too.

And forgetful

[hkval]

Ivan enriches all of our lives. Beautifully said Mark.

[jwhite613]

Great Post Mark! I too hope to be able to meet Ivan and listen to one of his wonderful houses of sound and video.

Ivan... would you also include videophile?

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by jwhite613

Great Post Mark! I too hope to be able to meet Ivan and listen to one of his wonderful houses of sound and video.

Ivan... would you also include videophile?

Absolutely!

[Vintage Pete]

I like to read these stories, these get togethers with fellow AA'ers are great fun. But it is indeed special when one is treated to a visit at Ivan's....I know just what Mark is saying about that first meet with Ivan.

My first meet with Ivan was not at his house but rather at the Marriot in Coral springs the night before his 2008 extravaganza. There was a meet and greet there that night, and I had spoken with Ivan earlier in the day and he met me downstairs in the lounge a bit before the rest of the guests started filing in. It was just as Mark described-though he wasn't dressed in jeans-here was this fellow who really made you feel like a friend right off the bat, not at all condescending or ostentatious, just completely friendly and obviously passioned about the hobby that we all share here. Really not at all what one might expect. That really made and a huge impression on me, and still does. The same holds true for his family, whose hospitality is second to none, and who go to great lengths to assure that all of us have a great time when we visit.

Of course, then there is the ROOM, and all that it entails...an experience one has to live in order to understand. Anyone here who has experienced it knows what I mean. And anyone here who has met Ivan knows what I mean, and what Mark means.

Thank you Ivan for your friendship, for all you have done and for all you continue to do for all of us here.


Pete

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by Vintage Pete

I like to read these stories, these get togethers with fellow AA'ers are great fun. But it is indeed special when one is treated to a visit at Ivan's....I know just what Mark is saying about that first meet with Ivan.

My first meet with Ivan was not at his house but rather at the Marriot in Coral springs the night before his 2008 extravaganza. There was a meet and greet there that night, and I had spoken with Ivan earlier in the day and he met me downstairs in the lounge a bit before the rest of the guests started filing in. It was just as Mark described-though he wasn't dressed in jeans-here was this fellow who really made you feel like a friend right off the bat, not at all condescending or ostentatious, just completely friendly and obviously passioned about the hobby that we all share here. Really not at all what one might expect. That really made and a huge impression on me, and still does. The same holds true for his family, whose hospitality is second to none, and who go to great lengths to assure that all of us have a great time when we visit.

Of course, then there is the ROOM, and all that it entails...an experience one has to live in order to understand. Anyone here who has experienced it knows what I mean. And anyone here who has met Ivan knows what I mean, and what Mark means.

Thank you Ivan for your friendship, for all you have done and for all you continue to do for all of us here.


Pete

Thanks Pete... some things never change, and neither will I

[jdandy]

Mark.......I thoroughly enjoyed reading about your visit. Your sense of humor made me smile, too. My experience meeting Ivan for the first time, and being treated to a full blown demo in THE ROOM, I can say without reservation it created a life time memory. Glad you made the journey. Ivan is a terrific person, and we are most fortunate to be able to call him our friend.