masterpaul Posted March 6, 2023 Share Posted March 6, 2023 Dear members and friends of Sydney Audio Club, The next Club meeting for 2023 will be held on Sunday 12th March with a spectacular show from the stables of Sound United featuring two systems of Bowers & Wilkins speakers, Marantz amplifier and SACD Player and Audioquest cables presented by John Martin and Charl DuPlessis. The Annual General Meeting will be slotted in at 2 pm. The Covid-Safe Rules as set down by the Epping Creative Centre no longer need proof of vaccination status before entry. It is still a requirement that you sign in the Visitor’s Book and notify me if you contract COVID within the week following the meeting. Wearing a mask is not mandated but it is recommended. The title for the TechTalk session this month is “Hi Fi and Cables” presented by Charl DuPlessis, the Audioquest guru at Sound United, starting at 12.30pm. Please arrive around 12.15 pm for this unique interactive discussion. If you happen to be late just quietly slide into a seat and join the discussion. As our club is based on mutual respect, especially in these open presentations, let us remain respectful towards one another’s views and opinions. There will be a break from 1.30 pm – 2 pm to grab a bite to eat and a drink (tea, coffee, juice and biscuits provided) before the Annual General Meeting starts at 2 pm. Sound United will demonstrate their products following the AGM. Details of the systems for March 12: System 1 planned for use during the TechTalk presentation. Marantz SACD 30N (This is a networking CD player that can stream Tidal connected to the club’s modem router.) https://www.marantz.com/en-za/shop/sacdcdplayer/sacd30n Audioquest Thunderbird Interconnect RCA https://www.audioquest.com/mythicalcreatures/thunderbird.html Marantz Model 30 https://www.marantz.com/en-za/shop/amplifier/model30 Bowers & Wilkins 705 S3 on FS700S3 Stands https://www.bowerswilkins.com/en-au/product/loudspeakers/705-s3 Charl is planning to do some cable comparisons during the talk. Audioquest Speaker cables - Rocket 11 https://www.audioquest.com/cables/speaker-cables/rocket-series/rocket-11 Rocket 22 https://www.audioquest.com/cables/speaker-cables/rocket-series/rocket-22 Rocket 44 https://www.audioquest.com/cables/speaker-cables/rocket-series/rocket-44 Rocket 88 https://www.audioquest.com/cables/speaker-cables/rocket-series/rocket-88 William Tell Zero https://www.audioquest.com/cables/speaker-cables/folk-hero-series/william-tell-zero Thunderbird Zero https://www.audioquest.com/cables/speaker-cables/mythical-creature-series/thunderbird-zero System 2 This system planned for the music audition session. Bowers & Wilkins Formation Audio. https://www.bowerswilkins.com/en-au/product/wireless-speakers/formation-audio Bowers & Wilkins Formation Duo speakers on stands https://www.bowerswilkins.com/en-au/product/wireless-speakers/formation-duo Option below to add on to SYSTEM 1 during the listening session. Bowers & Wilkins DB3D https://www.bowerswilkins.com/en-au/product/loudspeakers/db3d The second half of the music session will be our popular BYO. Members and guests are welcome to offer music to share with us all. So bring along your favourite music on CD, SACD or USB thumb/flash drive can also be played. All we ask is that the music and recordings be interesting. We'll ask you to tell us a little about the artist/recording before it is played. Tracks over 6 minutes will be faded out, to give everyone a fair go. Whether you are a novice or a seasoned veteran, you will have the opportunity to listen, learn and share your experiences with others. Feel free to come and hear the capabilities of the system, or to just share the experience with like-minded music lovers in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Guests are welcome – we are a very friendly club so you don't need to know anyone to join us for an afternoon of fine music and sound. Venue: Epping Creative Centre, Dence Park Address: 26 Stanley Road, Epping When: Sunday 12th March 2023. Doors open from 12.15 pm to meet and chat with members before the TechTalk. Break from 1.30 pm – 2 pm to grab a bite to eat and a drink AGM starts at 2pm followed by the Music Meeting finishing at 5pm. Please sign-in in the visitors’ book. You are not required to wear a mask but you may wish to do so. Hope to see you there on Sunday. John McEvoy Club President Sydney Audio Club Inc. W: http://www.sydneyaudioclub.org/ FB: <https://www.facebook.com/sydneyaudioclub> https://www.facebook.com/sydneyaudioclub E: <mailto:president@sydneyaudioclub.org.au> Notice of upcoming meetings: April 16 – hear an amazing amplifier designed and built by one of our clever DIY members. Note that the normal second Sunday is Easter this year. May 16 – our annual vintage and analogue gear meeting – expressions of interest invited soon. Note that the normal second Sunday is Mother’s Day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
masterpaul Posted March 13, 2023 Author Share Posted March 13, 2023 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.K. Posted March 15, 2023 Share Posted March 15, 2023 In the March meeting of the Sydney Audio Club, in place of the usual "TechTalk" segment, a hands on demonstration of Audioquest speaker cables took place. Charl DuPlessis, an 'old hand' in the HIFI industry, with many years of experience both in sales and manufacturing (http://www.homeentertainment.com.au/plessis.html), and currently with the Audioquest (Sound United group), made a very thorough and enlightening presentation of several Audioquest Speaker Cables, from the 'entry level' to some of the more expensive models. The first minute or so of the well recorded track Spanish Harlem with Rebecca Pidgeon, was chosen in the demonstration. The volume of the music remained the same during the test, ensuring integrity in the evaluation of the cables under test. Speaking personally and being a 'skeptic' on the issue of cables, I was rather surprised to actually hear the difference between the two extremes (pricewise). Given the long history of the cable debate in the Audiophile community, the presentation went smoothly with questions put and answers given by Charl. The overall discussion that followed was informative for many of us. Kudos to a number of members that have a different point of view on the cable debate. They contributed to the presentation by just listening and not interjecting. We were fortunate enough, thanks to Charl DuPlessis to have in place such a large variety of cables for immediate comparison for the ....believers. ............................. This was followed by John Martin's, also from Sound United, presentation of two totally different sound systems, the first with the Marantz amplification and source, the other with a pair of B & W active / wireless speakers that impressed many in the audience. The simplicity of the second system with the sound quality heard was enlightening and, it is perhaps a sign of things to come in HIFI's domestic applications. It also represented good value for a 'total' system when one considers what one saves in components, cables and other peripherals. This of course takes nothing away from the great system heard previously, made of the impressive B & W 705 S3 pair of speakers at the end of the Marantz chain of electronics. The large room difficulties did not stop these speakers shine, especially with their clarity and authority, both in the midrange and the upper registers. These tweeters just love violins and brass instruments! Overall, an entertaining Sunday afternoon with great interaction between the presenters and the members attending. Our sincere thanks goes to both, Charl and John for their continuing support of the S.A.C. as they were presented with certificates of appreciation by our retiring president, John McEvoy. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.K. Posted March 23, 2023 Share Posted March 23, 2023 Just a quick 'trip' down memory lane, with some very amateurish video take with an ancient mobile phone. The speakers on display were the Australian made Neptune towers from Equinox. Hard to believe 13 years have gone by since then! Here it is: 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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