Wisconsin - Anyone interested?

I've been wondering the same thing! Who wants to assume the responsibility to establish something like a CAS? I love this game and I know there's lots of others around who would like to sit down and argue the merits of their system over yours, maybe by accident someone could learn something worth knowing. Is this all talk or is there real interest?
Who wants to meet in (?) Madison, Green Bay, Milwaukee, Appleton? What would we do? Who would we lie to? When will we do it? Lets get serious!!! Respond on this site and we can get something set up, or email me with your thoughts and we'll see what happens

I know several other people in Green Bay that would be interested and would be willing to travel if anyone ever gets anything together. Give the ball a good kick and lets see what happens.

I filled up the gas tank on my motorcycle and I'm ready to travel. Where's the first meeting???

I have tried to generate responses from people who have posted on this thread before. It seems people are interested in talking but no one really wants to do anything. If you can put something together I have several people in Green Bay who are interested. Let me know.

I don't know e-mail addresses for the people from Green Bay who are interested. I would certainly let them know if something were in the works though. One of them works Saturday in an AV shop here so availability might be limited.

As I have indicated several times, we have several people in Green Bay who are interested. Our ability to attend would be based on the day or time of the meeting. We would like to see this get off the ground though.

Crap, now I have to go out and buy a new wardrobe again. This happens every time I join a new secret society! Are you sure black hooded robes won't be okay?

I have been looking at the Talon Perregrin X too. Where did you get them?
Saturday the 8th won't work I have commitments until 11:30 and it's a good 2+ hours to Madtown from Green Bay. I hope the meeting takes place though. Next time if I have more warning I will be there.

nathanaelkern@aol.com
I'm in Green Bay along with several friends who are also interested.

Nice work Nanderson. If we can ever get this off the ground your map will be most helpful. I will contact others locally and have them send their onfo along to you.

I'm sorry to have to miss this first meeting, but I hope everyone has a great time. I will be watching for the next!!!

All of these are great ideas. I wonder if any of the other states have this much information available.
Any word on the meeting last Saturday in Madison??? Keep us posted

The following Saturday would be better for me. I will be out east the week you suggested. I'm looking forward to being able to attend a meeting one of these weeks!

Suzy I wish we could get something together in Green Bay, but I'm afraid there aren't very many of around anymore. I bought a Counterpoint SA 5.1 Pre-amp from you (actually I think it was Gregs) several years ago.

I have a few other friends and relatives in town who would like to get together and listen and learn. Nothing seems to be going on with the rest of the people who responded to this initially. Would you be interested in trying to get a meeting together here? We could meet at my house which is only about three miles from you. Anyone else is welcome to show up, although when they see what equipment I have they might not be interested! Squidboy will be there, I think.

Saturdays are good for me. We can meet late morning or early afternoon. I don't know if there should be a format to the meetings or if it's just sitting and listening to everybodies favorites. Let me know what people want to do.

I don't know if anyone is interested, but "The Record Shoppe" in Appleton is having a sale on Friday April 16- Sunday April 18. All LPs $1.00, all 45's $0.50, all CDs $3.00.
Their address is 500 Chain dr. I have bought stacks of LPs from them over the years. Some where better than others but... the price is right.

I am tentatively planning on having a meeting/listen session at my house on May 15th. That's a Saturday. It is just an informal get together. Black tie and Tuxedo is not required (but is prefered).
I have talked to several people in Green Bay who plan to attend. Anyone is welcome although we will be voting on a "No Losers" policy. Until that goes through though anyone is welcome.
Let me know if this is a good day, and what time/times would work better for people.

Since 100% of the feedback I got so far indicated that May 15th will not work the proposed meeting is being moved to May 22. I am still open to suggestions for time though.

He said no losers, not no one without a sense of humor! As a business owner I have always wanted to post a "No Losers" sign on the front door and watch people as they read the sign. I wondered how many people would sigh and turn away. The question isn't whether I think a person is a loser, it is whether they think they are a loser! ; )

This is a formal invitation (but a casual affair) to a listening session in my home in Green Bay on May 22 at 1:00pm. Anyone in Wisconsin, or who happens to be in Wisconsin at that time is invited to join in.

As far as I know there are four people who are already planning to be there.

Please bring along any music you might want to hear. I have a turntable, CDP/SACD player. Sorry no eight track, reel to reel (it's not working right now) or cassettes.

There will be an assortment of beverages, and there is also the possibility of snacks and dessert.

I hope to see plenty of music lover there!

If anyone needs directions for next weekend please let me know from where you are coming and I will give you either directions or an address so you can use mapquest or whatever!

I'm glad people had a good time. There was certainly room for more, but a smaller group allows for more input/choices. Foodman what was the columbia radio cd you had? I didn't write it down, but would like to try finding a copy for myself.

I just got back from Chicago where I had a chance to stop at the Virgin Megastore. I picked up seven or eight LPs including a Fairport Convention LP which I bought because we were talking about them. Next time we can try to spin some of those.

Thanks to everyone who came over 5/22/04! Maybe someone else can plan to do that next month!?!

We had so much fun last month, but several people who wanted to attended, or did not know about the meeting have expressed interest in getting together so we will be sitting around and listening to music as a group again on June 19th.

Anyone interested is welcome. Again, it is a low-key, casual affair. Bring some music!

There is a good chance that we will be visiting a few homes this time around. Squidboyw said he would be glad to have people come over and listen there too.

I hope to hear from you soon.

There are several of us in Green Bay who have been meeting on a regular basis, sometimes as often as once a week. We just listen to music and swap wives, I mean gear!!! I know most of us would enjoy a road trip, even if it was to Madison. If no one has any objections we'll tag along if anything gets organized.

Let us know what to bring along as far as gear or food and libation.

I placed a notice in Stereophile, and possibly will do the same in TAS that there will be a meeting of the Northeast Wisconsin Audiophile Society on October 9, 2004 in Green Bay.

This is not limited to people from any particular area. It's just more a means of identification. Everyone is invited, welcome, whatever. We have had several get-togethers over that last five months and met several new friends. Even more importantly we had a good time.

Please let me know if you have any interest (or if you don't have any interest but are still planning to attend) and we will plan accordingly. Beverages and snacks are typically provided.

Last Saturday we had someone new drive up from Milwaukee. It was nice to get to know another audiophile, but if I get enough responses from certain areas I can try to coordinate things so people can carpool if they are interested.

Let me know.

Pburke, I'm pretty sure Boss302 will be coming up from Madison for the get together. I don't want to offer rides for anyone, but it might be easier if the two of you can work something out.

Anyone who wants to come for the October meeting is welcome. I'm still working on a format and possibly someone to speak for a moment or two. Rooze and I have been talking about getting a semi-permanant location for a group to meet, but this seems to be down the road a little still.

If anyone has ideas or suggestions for a meeting please let me know.

The announcement appeared in Stereophile in the October issue. I haven't seen the October issue of The Absolute Sound, but it should be there too.

I got one response already from a Gentleman who plans to attend for the first time.

Hope to see the rest of you there October 9th, except of course for Boss302 (who is wimping out on us!!! Not really.)

Can't you get a younger date Greg? Eighty three is old even for you! I wish you were going to be there, but maybe next time. Have fun.

Everything seems to be falling into place for the meeting on Saturday the 9th. I have had several responses from people who saw the announcement in Stereophile. TAS did not post the announcement, I'm not sure why, but... what can you do?

Anyone who needs directions, please contact me. I'm looking forward to meeting some new folks on Saturday!

I have to 'pile on' Rooze's post. Wow, did we have a good time! Lots of good music, plenty of good company, and too much good food! Thanks Rooze!

The ride in the snow was worth it to hear a few real quality products from Ridge Street Audio Design. More info is available at http://www.newaudiosociety.com I hope to see you all next month at the February meeting.

Like many of you, I have wanted to be in an audio group my whole life. Up till now the petition has prevented this possibility. Since the statute of limitations expired about three years ago, this club is now a reality. I have had the opportunity to meet some of the most interesting people since the organization has been established including manufacturers, and other audio lovers. Several of these new acquaintances are even worth knowing. One of the most knowledgeable fellows is the gentleman who established the NEWAS website. I have learned many things from him that the average reader would not care to know. I have learned his friends call him Ol’ tin ear,” but I would never presume to be so informal. To me he will always be known a Mr Tin Ear. I remember a time when we were out for dinner... but I guess this would not be the right time to talk about something like THAT.

Meetings of the Northeast Wisconsin Audiophile Society in many ways remind me of college lectures. A mass of humanity is prepared to attend, others are caught up in the swarm of excitement, and anticipation. A whirlpool exercises less of an impact on the sea around it than the possibility of a meeting of the Society. Then somewhere between the threshold and the door, the mass dissolves, leaving a smaller group of flotsam than one might have preferred. There is the wonder of where everyone else went, but once inside it would be impolite to get up and walk out. I generally show up for the food and beverages. Once the both of them are gone and/or someone starts talking about collecting money to cover the host’s costs, it time for me to make a sudden and secretive exit. Windows are an excellent and often overlooked (other than by burglars) escape route. I include that for your own future reference. My windows are sealed for this very reason.

Steve Sammet is a gentleman in every sense of the word. He is kind, patient, and willing to share his experience with anyone. While he is not much to look at, he does possess a lack of finesse and refinement that immediately endeared him to the entire NEW AS group. In a manner such as a person would have for a brother, or a grandfather, or like the kindly neighbor who just does not know when to go home. Fortunately for us Steve lives in Illinois. He fit in altogether too well.

Steve was kind enough to bring his SAS Audio Labs 10A Active tube linestage and his monoblock tube amplifiers for the NEW AS to audition. Better people than me have reviewed Steve’s pre-amp, but it would be a waste of time to read their review once this one has been digested and then, well never mind.

This convocation of the NEW AS’s was held in Madison at the home of someone’s wayward child. His own system is in disarray, as is his private life, but I would not mention that in polite company. The host’s Sony CD/SACD/DVD player was used a the single source, as it is the only one he owns. This prevented any confusion as to which source to use. I fact for which I felt a degree of gratitude. His (the host will from this point forward be referred to as: him; his; or he, since as far as I know he does not have a name. There was nothing on the mailbox) Soliloquy speakers were the only speakers used, since they were again, the only speakers he owns. All of this seemed reasonable to me.

Steve had already installed his pre-amp and amplifiers in the system when I arrived. I was actually looking for a girl I met years earlier, and was going door to door when I arrived at the meeting. I had such high hopes for the day, but I stayed anyway.

A few details about the pre-amp are in order, so here they are in no particular order. The unit has five line level inputs, and one tape loop. I don’t know how many people still use the tape loop, but it makes the unit look more full featured, so damn the costs! The 10A Active has two sets of output jacks. I did not have access to the tubes, so I cannot comment with accuracy, just let me say the were JJ 6922's. The powercord was not detachable which was a little disappointing since there are so many expensive PCs on which a person can waste their money. I know, I have six different PC’s collecting dust in my system. There is a switch on the back of the unit which allows the listener to switch polarity. Oddly enough, this is too often an issue, when it ought not to be, that Steve thinks of everything. While the 10A Active is not as beautiful as some of the ultra-high end gear out there, or even as beautiful as me, for that matter, it doesn’t look like something that Steve put together in his garage. He did after all put it together in his workshop, and the distance from the garage is obvious to all who notice it.

I am of the opinion that only bad music should be used to audition gear, and from what I heard, everyone there agreed with my theory. Bad music allows the listener to concentrate on the equipment, and not get caught up in the emotion of the music. Steve had a CD of a trio of women singing that reminded me of grating cheese with the old fashioned wash-board type grater in the sense that hearing them sing was like repeatedly dragging ones knuckles across the grater. Perfect for the situation! The SAS 10A displayed a level of refinement that I had not heard on the hosts system during my previous visits, while he was out of town. The host’s own system consisted of a Krell KBL pre-amp and an older JVC M30/30 class A amp. As anyone with one functional ear will tell you, there is a distinct difference between the sound of a solid state system and a system comprised of mainly tube equipment. Many people with two functional ears will argue this though.

After a litany of bad music, so overwhelming in it’s width and breath I was able to draw a few conclusions. Unfortunately I do not recall what any of them were, so I will have to rely on my memory. Now what were we talking about? Anyway, the equipment from SAS Audio Labs presented a different aural picture than the Krell/JVC combo. The SAS gear seemed a little more laid back and softer. While a tight, defined soundstage is pleasant to hear, it is not often present in live concerts, not to the degree that some gear presents it. My own preference would be for something somewhere between what the Krell/JVC showed, and what was evident from the SAS Audio gear. The SAS gear provided a little less bass than one might have experienced in the hosts system, both in volume and definition. This is not to say that the SAS combo is weak in bass, just that other will provide it in a fuller degree.

A few of the NEWAS’s expressed concern over some of the things which appeared to be missing, like their wallets, but that’s another issue. I was not aware of it at this point but Steve had replaced the host’s Purist Audio Design interconnect, and speaker cables with something of his own manufacture. It was decided to remove Steve’s cable and replace the host’s cable. Purist cable is known to be finicky, and does not respond well to being moved. Just like my own children in the morning With the Purist cables in place, many of my own complaints were eliminated. The softness to the midrange was replaced with something closer to the ‘magic’ that tubeophiles preach about, the bass was stronger, and more detailed. Even the bad music sounded more palatable. The fact of the matter is this...

About this time the Pizza arrived. I don’t recall the name of the Pizzeria from which we ordered, but the food was first rate. Probably too good for a bunch of third rate four flushers in attendance. Five of the six drinks I brought along were gone, so I drank the seventh. After we ate... are getting tired of this also?

...the pre-amp was a very good piece of gear. Steve has spent a lot of time upgrading his proven design. He claims that he can make it sound like whatever pre-amp a listener might want to emulate, but that is not his purpose. He wants to make, and maybe even sell a great quality, neutral sounding pre-amp. He doesn’t want to run with the big dogs, he’d probably rather nap with a small kitten, but he will continue to produce a bargain priced (in my opinion) unit that is bound to please a music lover without a nine figure income. Okay I’ll stop.

If I might point out something I did not like about the unit it would be the dual potentiometers. I’m not sure I understand the need for them, but I trust that Steve has a reason for using them. Maybe they were on sale. I find it more work than needed, to try to get both adjustments set perfectly. I would also like to see balanced inputs, because I like the way they look. I don’t know how much sense that would make since I don’t know if the circuitry is truly balanced. It is difficult to find an aspect of the SAS pre-amp to fault. It’s not as good as the $15,000 pre-amps, but it’s better than many cost a few times as much as the 10A. If you want to pretty pre-amp, keep looking, if you want a pre-amp that beautifies the music, check this one out.

Steve will answer questions at: www.sasaudio@bwsys.net

Anyone who agrees with Rooze on everything is welcome to stop by for a listen, otherwise your opinions are marginalized.