Event Highlights
2021-2022 Events:
Our May 17, 2022 Meeting,
J.R. Boisclair of WAM Engineering!
On Tuesday, May 17th, 2022 at 6:30 PM Central, 4:30 Pacific time, we are thrilled to present a detailed discussion of optimizing vinyl playback with J.R. Boisclair, whose WAM Engineering carries on the works of Wally Malewicz, vinyl enthusiast, inventor, and creator of the Wally Tools line of turntable optimization.
J.R. has greatly extended the efforts made by Wally and will present to us an advanced treatise of turntable setup, outlined here by J.R.:
When Stylus Meets Groove - Advanced Turntable Setup
Fine line contact styli have a notable mechanical advantage over elliptical and conical styli profiles that allow more information to be extracted from the groove, but what is really happening when the stylus meets the groove? What mechanical, electrical and psychoacoustic problems occur when the contact edges of the stylus are not properly aligned? How well are cartridges made today to allow the playback stylus to properly transcribe the grooves made by the lathe's cutterhead stylus? How can we know with certainty when something less than 1/15th the radius of a human hair has been well aligned - and should we even care? What are some of the mistakes and pitfalls common to turntable setup and how to avoid them? Why do we have to be concerned with changes to one setup parameter affecting other parameters? What does your anti-skating setting have to do with cantilever alignment and azimuth? What can be known by setting up a cartridge by ear or by test record?
For additional information, check out in advance of our meeting, https://www.wallyanalog.com/ .
This presentation will not be limited to Tuesday evening, it will be recorded.
Join us via ZOOM:
Topic: ASM Time: May 17, 2022 06:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://umn.zoom.us/j/93626979989?pwd=YlNoMW55a2RMc1M3UWw0SkJYT010QT09 Meeting ID: 936 2697 9989 Passcode: 1XLSQJ
Our March 15, 2022 Meeting, Dan Wiggins of Full Stack Acoustics!
On Tuesday, March 15th, 2022 at 6:30 PM (CST), we proudly present a wide ranging discussion with Dan Wiggins, creator of a number of audio industry innovations and products. Dan is founder and CEO of Full Stack Acoustics, Auresen, Periodic Audio; and also co-founder and CTO of Starke Sound.
Mr. Wiggins is a veteran engineer, innovator, and all around maker. He is currently focusing on headphones and hearing aids, in addition to a wide range of high fidelity mobile and desktop amplifiers, loudspeakers and other transducers
To get the most of this presentation, discussion, and unique insight into many things audio and sound related, check out www.danwiggins.net. Bring your questions!
2020-2021 Events:
February Virtual Meeting: The Audiophiliac!
Audiophiliac! We continue our winter presentations with long-time audio reviewer and Audiophiliac Daily Show vlogger Steve Guttenberg. He will be discussing, in his words, the value or sometimes lack of value in audio reviews. Specifically, how audiophiles can decide what to buy in 2021. Questions will be entertained as time allows.
This event is scheduled for Tuesday, February 16, 2021 at 6:30 PM (CST).
Please join us for this enjoyable and enlightening session!
This presentation will be recorded so you are not limited to Tuesday evening only.
January Virtual Meeting: Stone and Seydor, TAS reviewers.
We welcome the New Year presenting a virtual meeting with Steven Stone and Paul Seydor, both long time contributors/equipment reviewers for The Absolute Sound magazine.
This event is scheduled for Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at 6:30 PM (CST). At this point no topics have been set and they are open to our suggestions, although they apparently will get their heads together to discuss possible subjects. (Seydor prefers by the way that we not ask him to comment on individual pieces of gear we own.)
At the appropriate time we will provide the information to enable your participation in what should be an enjoyable and enlightening session.
This presentation will not be limited to a Tuesday evening.
Via ZOOM:
Topic: ASM Meeting Time: Jan 19, 2021 06:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://umn.zoom.us/j/99108658580?pwd=RjlwYzJzSXZqcE8vR2d5bVVWOXFXZz09 Meeting ID: 991 0865 8580 Passcode: 8z4h2r
This is a must-see for all audiophiles! Viewing is free for all, but you’ll have to be on your own for light refreshments.
November 2020 Meeting - Ken Kessler interview (pre-recorded)
We are excited to present an interview with Ken Kessler, well known hi-fi industry journalist.
Audio Research Corporation commissioned Mr. Kessler to produce a gorgeous anthology, "Making the Music Glow," celebrating the 50 year history of the company. Ken has been writing about audio for 38 years, principally for the British publication HiFi News and Record Review as well as the SoundStream website. A short time ago we interviewed Ken via Zoom to get the inside scoop on the book for Members at our November meeting.
Here is a link to the book: https://audioresearch.com/audio-research-making-the-music-glow/
In addition to an in-depth description of the book's contents and the historical research that went into its production, during the interview Ken also talked extensively about his history as a reviewer of both hardware and software, his process for conducting reviews, and his sometimes controversial opinions about equipment and how other reviewers approach their work.
Please note: In a departure from our usual presentation schedules, this interview is already available for viewing and will remain so through the month of November.
This presentation will not be limited to a Tuesday evening.
Via ZOOM:
This is a must-see for all audiophiles! Viewing is free for all, but you’ll have to be on your own for light refreshments.
This will be the final presentation of the year, and we’ll pick up again in January, 2021.
October 2020: Soundsmith
On Tuesday, October 27 (please see below), we will proudly host a Zoom meeting beginning at 6:30 PM with Peter Ledermann of Soundsmith manufacturing, a leading producer of turntable cartridges.
We will see and hear, within Zoom limitations, a number of Soundsmith offerings. Additionally, there should be no shortage of industry and sound observations from Mr. Ledermann.
To save time during the presentation, please send any questions you might have to me by October 13, (respond to this Email) and we will try to get them to Soundsmith ahead of time.
Please be online with us as we welcome Soundsmith to the Audio Society. Attendance is free for all, but you’ll have to be on your own for light refreshments.
This meeting will be held:
Tuesday, October 27, 2020 at 6:30 PM ç Please note that this is the 4th Tuesday of October.
Also, please know that these and all online meeting dates are fluid and subject to change. We are doing our best to keep meetings on Tuesdays, but changes and even cancellations happen.
We’ll always let you know, as soon as we know.
The 2019-2020 Season so far:
February DAC Shoot out!
On February 18, 2020, we’re comparing, yes, DACs!
Listening tests are some of our most popular and requested meetings. In February we will pit a number of DAC devices head to head in a double-blind test using our new Audio by Van Alstine ABX comparator, which was kindly donated by Frank Van Alstine. We’re pretty excited to have this device and want to hear it in action.
We will have a number of DACs on hand for this evening’s testing, and encourage you to bring any interesting DACs you might have for inclusion in the test. Please also bring along any and all needed connectors, wires, and cords.
January: Bring and Brag
On January 21st 2020, we will proudly host our annual Bring and Brag music fest.
We encourage you to bring an interesting recording or two for listening, -as always, on our "Mostly Minnesota Made" system. We can accommodate many digital disc formats on our multi-format player and we also have an excellent turntable to play your (clean) vinyl records.
As in previous years, if you could please jot down in advance the selection, album title, record label, and record number, we can produce an accurate and complete playlist for later distribution.
November: Shunyata Research
On November 19th we were very fortunate to present Mr. Brandon Lauer of Shunyata Research! Shunyata was founded in 1997 by former military scientists. Based on work in ultra-sensitive data acquisition systems they have become a leading manufacturer of cabling and power conditioning in the audio industry.
We all look forward to an extensive presentation on power conditioning, power cables and interconnects.
Shunyata Research PDF See below
October: Bel Canto
On October 15 we eagerly await this presentation by John Stronczer of Bel Canto, an audio manufacturer well known and respected by Audio Society members and music lovers everywhere.
John will discuss the latest Bel Canto products; their acclaimed Black and Black EX series, and newer; the e.One evolutionary line. All are manufactured here in Minneapolis.
Be prepared for a first look at great new products from Bel Canto and some very nice listening!
And for anyone who hasn’t yet paid their annual dues, there’s still time! As always, it's only $25.
Please join us for this lively presentation.
September : Mill City Sound
Welcome back! On September 17 we opened our new season with a visit from Rob Sheeley of Mill City Sound in nearby Hopkins.
Rob presented on what prompted him to enter the audio industry and then start a record store. We’ll also learn about Mill City’s extensive vinyl LP offerings and their vinyl oriented stereo equipment offerings.
This will be a great way to begin our new season and no one will want to miss this! As this is our first meeting of the new season, please have your dues ready! As always, it's a mere $25.
power essentials.pdf