Shell Shocked at Times Audio Show

[navin]

There was an Audio Show in Mumbai from Nov 11-13. I visited on 11th afternoon.

As soon as I got there I called Sam who promptly left everything he was doing and came to greet me. It was the first time I have met Sam in person and he is a big boy. Even I (at 5' 9" and 75kgs) felt like a "lizard on a tree". Sam's passionate about audio. By his levels I am merely an interested bystander.

There were a number of ICEed cars there. Each was more outrageous than the other. I must say that the only thing that impressed me about some of these cars was the level of fiberglass work done on them. There are still some quality niggles but India's ICE guys have come a long way in the past 2 years. I am sure to see significant improvements/refinements as the learning curve matures.

Aurally not one car, Not the Palio, not the Corsa, impressed me. Sorry guys, I expect high standards. Both cars were pure SPL. SQ was thrown out of the window. I'd like to see these 2 teams (the most promising of the lot) gravitate towards SQ in the future. Unfortunately in India SPL still sells.

Sam also took me to all 3 JBL demo rooms. I gotta say this. Hyatt's rooms are small! very small! and square! ugh! Times should have chosen a better hotel or asked for better demo rooms. Anyway while Sam and his crew were setting up I was making noises about modifying the tweeter on the Infinity Cascade. I wonder if Sam was getting nervous. I bid adieu to Sam who desperately pleading for chairs from the stingy hotel staff.

After the barrage from the ICE'ed cars I needed relief. I desperately found another (home audio) friend who let me use his demo room to soothe my ears. The CD transport he used dumped the CD on to Hard disk and the sound further refined by an excellent DAC and KT88 based amp. 20 mins later i had my ears recalibrated and I went home.

[Steeroid]

Originally Posted by navin

As soon as I got there I called Sam who promptly left everything he was doing and came to greet me. It was the first time I have met Sam in person and he is a big boy. Even I (at 5' 9" and 75kgs) felt like a "lizard on a tree". Sam's passionate about audio. By his levels I am merely an interested bystander.

For a change, somebody is NOT talking about what he wears (or does not). Good to see you guys met - did he speak to you in Hinglish?

Originally Posted by navin

Both cars were pure SPL. SQ was thrown out of the window. I'd like to see these 2 teams (the most promising of the lot) gravitate towards SQ in the future. Unfortunately in India SPL still sells.

Please explain SQ and SPL for normal mortals.

Originally Posted by navin

After the barrage from the ICE'ed cars I needed relief. I desperately found another (home audio) friend who let me use his demo room to soothe my ears.

I agree...that ICEd Palio was a pain from about 20 meters away - I didnt sit in it because I couldnt stand the noise from so far away...may have gone deaf if I sat inside. Thankfully somebody fried an amp and things became a bit more normal soon.

[jkdas]

nice one. navin any pix:P

and thats why sam was busy and someone saw his at some hotel. hope ther aint any surprises this time

[jkdas]

SPL: sound pressure level

SQ : sound quality

me like SPL too

[mclaren1885]

hhhmm..so finally u met the tottooed hairy tree eh navin ..u bet he is massive just like his knowledge about ICE is..ya sams really attached to the guys from the forum,takes real good care of us..good going sam..

btw u are right ICE has come a long way since the last year or so..well by now i think u would have realised how some of the works(read the corsa) were overdone..and ya all these cars are pure SPL..that actually gets on ur nerves at times..i guess the eyeballers been rectified,so must be pumping put some serious SPL..hehe..u talked about moddin the tweeters in the optra,sam must have had his heart in his throat there...anyways good going there..

PS: its about time we get a SQL demo car to blow us off..im sure someone or the other will already be at it for the shows to come..btw the optra was the only car that came close to some neat SQL..

btw hows the pioneer P1Y navin..did u see sam dancing like a child seeing the dolphins swim..hehe..

[mclaren1885]

Originally Posted by Steeroid

For a change, somebody is NOT talking about what he wears (or does not). Good to see you guys met - did he speak to you in Hinglish?

Please explain SQ and SPL for normal mortals.

I agree...that ICEd Palio was a pain from about 20 meters away - I didnt sit in it because I couldnt stand the noise from so far away...may have gone deaf if I sat inside. Thankfully somebody fried an amp and things became a bit more normal soon.

haha there u go sams good old friend here is reminding us of what sam wears (or doesnt)..after seeing sam i am sure navin would have understood what v1p3r and my signatures meant..hehe..
hinglish ?? im sure navin would have gone well prepared (read threatening to carry a few experiments on the JBL cars) ..that should have kept sam on the tip of his toes..

hhmm..JK has answered your question about the SQL and SPL thingy..

what yaaar..the palio was a pain from 20 yards away..cheche..how can u say this..u should have sat inside it,it sounds much better inside than at 20 yards distance..somebody fried the amp..oye guys its not me..it had happened before i took the car only...btw that drive with steeroids dicor,v1p3rs baleno,wolf vtec and me in the GTX was real fun wasnt it guys..

[Steeroid]

Originally Posted by mclaren1885

what yaaar..the palio was a pain from 20 yards away..cheche..how can u say this..u should have sat inside it,it sounds much better inside than at 20 yards distance..

At 20 yards away, the glass walls of the fuel station were rattling away with the sound from the car. My ears arent made from glass and aluminium, so I didnt want to take the chance.

Yes the ride was fun. The beer @ the Tavern before that was even more fun, as was the music and sound in that place! Awesome!

[gunbir]

The Times AV show was nice when we were there last year. There was a lot of good Home Audio stuff. ICE was dissapointing. Didnt make it this year cuz most of the same stuff would be there.

Navinji you are right yet again. We struggle with this everyday. India is primarily an SPL market. However, things are changing (at a slow pace though) and if given a choice (ABX) most people would choose an SQL setup over SPL.

We as a company dont have any SPL demo cars nor will we in the future... Its always SQ. Watch this space...

[gkrishn]

Does Sound Pressure Level means... how much noice you can make out of it???

[mclaren1885]

Originally Posted by gunbir

We as a company dont have any SPL demo cars nor will we in the future... Its always SQ. Watch this space...

hhhmm is that an indication of the things to come in the future...i guess my prayers are answered finally..hehe..

[mclaren1885]

Originally Posted by gkrishn

Does Sound Pressure Level means... how much noice you can make out of it???

yup its like playing it as loud as possible..boom boom..
PS: the highest SPL in india has been clocked by JBL's palio better known as the eyeballer..it clocked around 147db and yet is the loudest car in india..was atleast when i last drove it..

[muni]

Originally Posted by navin

It was the first time I have met Sam in person and he is a big boy. Even I (at 5' 9" and 75kgs) felt like a "lizard on a tree".

Finally, The Papa bear and the Mama bear of audio meet each other. It shud have been a sight to watch u ppl meet. A couple of pearls rolled down my cheeks as i read this post. My tear sack is as wet as a Thar desert normally but this year's monsoon has definitely influenced.

Originally Posted by navin

Anyway while Sam and his crew were setting up I was making noises about modifying the tweeter on the Infinity Cascade. I wonder if Sam was getting nervous.

Hahaha.. Sam would have preferred the tweeter's noise to Navin's Noise about the tweeters.

Navin i think you were at the wrong place looking for SQ. Its for the masses..

[gkrishn]

Originally Posted by mclaren1885

yup its like playing it as loud as possible..boom boom..
PS: the highest SPL in india has been clocked by JBL's palio better known as the eyeballer..it clocked around 147db and yet is the loudest car in india..was atleast when i last drove it..

Okie... you can measure the SPL. How does one measure the SQL?

[mclaren1885]

Originally Posted by gkrishn

Okie... you can measure the SPL. How does one measure the SQL?

well the best device to measure SQL is the very well known and something that all of us have..thats our listening and measuring devices known as ears..

[Vivekphadnis]

Finally, the two bigwigs have met.