It's official...

[Grimster74]

Well fello forum members, the time and date have been set and are official. This Sunday, April the 4th at 10 a.m., I will be graced with the presence of Mark (a.k.a., Doro) at my home. He is coming to pick up his new Sony STR-DA4ES receiver. The both of us are really excited about this Sunday and really looking forward to meeting each other. I'm guessing we are just going to kick back and rock the basement for the day, and of course, play with the new puppy.:D

Doro and I have discussed doing a shot out between the Denon and Sony receivers so if interested, stay tuned. If I'm not mistaken, I beleive this will be Doro's first time hearing a PB2+, I'm looking forward to seeing what he thinks about that baby.:D I'm sure there will be plenty of demos going on all day, movies, 2 channel music, SACD, DVD-A just about anything we can throw at the H/T. Anywho, just thought I'd let everyone know. Just looking forward to be able to kick back, drink beer, (at least I now I will be) and have one hell of a time doing it.

[Dr. Spec]

Have a GREAT time. HT/music meets are very cool.

I'd be interested if you can hear any SQ differences between the AVRs (make sure to calibrate to the exact same level).

Even if you don't do the AVR shoot-out, a summary of the meet with some pics would be greatly appreciated. (thumbs up)

Doc

[dorokusai]

I am pretty stoked about the meet for sure. Thank you for the invitation to come meet you, and hang out :) Graced? Ugh you are way too kind :D

I am bringing the Sony SCD-555ES SACD changer, so a shoot out between the Denon 2900, on a SACD level would also be possible.

Due to it having less cables involved, perhaps we should just do the SACD shootout. I don't want you to rip out all the fine work you have done with the AVR. This way its just two cables and easy.

It will be nice to get my ear on an SVS finally, as they get talked about so much around here. I am expecting great things.

See you soon!

[kberg]

From "the sound of it", my bet is that doro will be ordering an SVS the same day. :)

[Tour2ma]

Grimster... four words...

LOCK THE LIQUOR CABINET...

[dorokusai]

I got back from the visit with Rob and family....the Denon family that is :D and it was a great time. Easy trip, and Rob was a real cool guy.

I was really impressed with the thought that went into his setup, and the way he has things arranged. The "cable trenching" that he performed for his surrounds, is even better in person....well done indeed. Very clean, simple HT setup....no uneccesary audio junk all over the place. The entertainment center was modified in a way that gave me an idea for my own, so I also learned something :) It is a classic HT lovers hangout....I love it.

We had to explore a new volume level when I got there, it wouldn't be like me to not drive away the neighbors. I think that Rob was pretty suprised at how sweet his speakers sound, when they are given a chance to open up. The RTi70, SVS combo really starts to sing at a higher than old people level. We had so many things to do and wanted to do, that a shootout did not happen between the Sony ES and the Denon. Maybe next time :)

Demo Material:

Beck - Sea Change (SACD)
Maxwell - Embrya (Redbook)
Peter Gabriel - Melt (SACD)
Keb Mo - The Door (SACD)
Sting - Brand New Day (DVDA)
Pink Floyd - DSOTM (SACD)
Aerosmith - Toys in the Attic (SACD)
Finding Nemo
LOTR - FOTR
Daredevil

DVD-A:

We only had a single selection, I meant to pick one up, but ran late. I honestly thought it sounded great, no loss to my ears between SACD and this format. Perhaps further listening, and matched titles would have some conclusions like therockman has found, but first impression was it was very good. I am universal player bound anyways, so it just made me feel even better about going that route.

PQ(Denon 2900) + Pioneer WS:

WOW, is my main word that will replace the expletive normally put forth. I really like my Sony DVD player, and am very happy, BUT there is so much more picture information available with the Denon. I really don't know exactly how to describe it verbally, but perhaps the best comments would be textures, and the blending of large pixel movement is so...damn...fluid.

It enhanced the sea in FN, to a point that it was stunning to watch. Hard, clean edges...real hardcore definition of objects. Simply put, Awesome.

I saw fibers move on Gandalf's "felt" hat in LOTR, and I was like "No F&cking Way"....Amazing.

SQ (Denon 2900)

I'll keep this brief. It was outstanding, everything I thought Denon had lost over the years is redeemed in this universal player. It is 100% top notch. I played some tracks where I KNEW there is most likely sibilance, and it didn't display that characteristic at all. That isn't to say it doesn't exist on other gear, but Rob is squared away in this department. I had alot of fun listening to this piece, in addition to the PQ.

Pronto TSU3000:

Cool remote, really liked the interface. I think they already have a super product, enhanced by such a fantastic GUI, that it is hard to beat. Impressed.

SVS PB2+:

Musically this subwoofer is damn near seamless in application, IMO. It really isn't intrusive, unless you just turn it up too high, which we didn't do really...just enough was the working motto.

I don't say HT, because when this thing hits in HT, you can't get away from it. The bass response in HT was sickening, and could possibly kill you. Strong, effortless and room filling. I thought I was going straight up into space, the room pressurized so hard a few times, good lord.

The sub is evil....pure evil. It is everything they say it is, no doubt. Would I buy one? Duh....Yes, it is a definite addition to my cool list. There are not many products that would warrant a blind purchase, but SVS IS one of them.

Hell, what else can I say, it was awesome. I had a great time, met a new friend, picked up a new piece of gear(Immaculate! TY ROB!), met his wonderful family....and fell in love with a hairy girl who looked alot like a Boxer. :D

Sorry for the length, thanks for reading!

[dorokusai]

Just to clear things up...this is that girl :D

[Tour2ma]

Cool write up. Glad y'all had a good time. Yet to read of a face-to-face meeting of CP members where the parties didn't cement an on-line friendship...

[Dr. Spec]

Awesome write-up!

2900:

PQ and SQ is outstanding. I agree with the PQ being fluid yet with extreme detail; especially with some decent cables.

PB2+:

Blends beautifully with music and rips your face off with HT. Pure evil - yup, that about sums it up.

[Grimster74]

Sorry for the delay in responce time fellas, time change is really screwing with my head. Let me start by saying, if you haven't met Mark yet, do so if you get a chance. He's one hell of a nice guy in my book. The thing that I took notice to most about Mark is, right before we began demos, the first thing Mark asked was, so what levels have you pushed this to before, I knew what I was in for, and I liked it.:D As mark said, you need to now your limits, which I thought we had found yesterday with the SVS, but that has been taken care of. Thats another thread that you can find here.

http://clubpolk.polkaudio.com/forum/...threadid=17696

As I said before, Mark took me to a whole new level yesterday. I'm a casual listener to music, after yesterday, that WILL NOT happen again. Mark and I pushed the 2 channel portion as well as the multi-channel to extreme levels yesterday. After Mark explained what I should have been listening for, as far as sound stage etc., I was floored by my own damn system. I never knew it would sound that damn good. It was just damn nice to have someone else tell me how nice it sounded. My wife is pissed now due to the fact that I need to shop for more music. Mark brought a whole slew of things to jam to and I'm getting ready to shop on Tuesday. :D

As far as the movie demos. Here is what the look on Marks face was when he heard the glass tap scene of Finding Nemo Other than the incident we had with the SVS, see link above, I do believe Mark has seen the light at the end of the tunnel and it says, "SVS KICKS ASS". I'm pretty sure once Mark gets squared away, he'll be next on the ordering list for an SVS. Yesterday, when watching LOTR-EE, I played the famous ring drop for Mark. The room pressurized like never before. After Mark left I had to go back and straighten up everything that was knocked off level, pictures and such. I played the bar fight scene in Daredevil yesterday for Mark also, I just had to let him feel the subsonic bass at reference level, I do think Mark will agree, it feels like someone just flopped onto your chest. Oh what a feeling.:D And finally, I played the car accident scene in Final Destination 2, Mark and I both caught ourselves wanted to jump out of the way, felt like it was us going threw the accident. The explosions, tires screeching, crap flying by us, just a kick ass demo overall.

Mark, once again, thanks for everything bud. Really appreciated the bottle of wine you gave the wife and I yesterday, the pizza you bought for us, and just being one hell of a guy.The wife said you and yours are welcome back any time. She said next time to bring your better half and they can spend the day shopping.:D I know, your welcome.;)

Anyways, as Mark said, maybe next time we can get around to demoing the Sony ES and the Denon. Looking forward to meeting again, next time at your place.:D Oh yeah, next time your in the area, swing on by, have to do the glass tap scene again beings everything is square now, except for the pictures that is.:D

[Grimster74]

Doro, a couple of things I forgot to mention. My better half was thinking last night as she said, a boxer is just what you and your wife need. She said, kinda looks like a pug, and is nearly the size of a doberman. See, then your both get what you want.:D Working on my list of signal cables I need to get this week.:D

[kberg]

Originally posted by Grimster74
The wife said you and yours are welcome back any time. She said next time to bring your better half and they can spend the day shopping.:D

Take her up on that idea...gets them both out of the house so you guys can demo more. :D

[Tour2ma]

See Russ, wasn't just me twisting the volume knob...

Grimster,
You have been exposed to the dark side and can never go back.

Glad you had a blast and got to hear your own system. Cool thing is you still were probably only RMS'ing a couple wpc's or three for a 80-ish dB conversation level, but you unleashed the transients on the good stuff.

Two words I learned from Doc.... truck tape.