Anyway, Yesterday's NE Bot meet was one for the record books. 20 people were in attendance. Steve C. was smoking ribs on the deck, there were more obscure varieties of beer than you could shake a stein at, and more projects, particularly speakers, than you could shake a stick at.

Bill and Chris Martinelli were the first to arrive, having left Rochester at some absurd time like 6am! He brought his Arezzi speakers, 12" horns w/Eminence driver and a few other goodies that didn't get played. They sounded very good running off an all Bottlehead system, but the WannaGlows got pusehd over the edge by the bass/drums on a Bela Fleck CD. (Mind you, it was loud, and Steve's LR is pretty big.) A 2A3 amp would do fine in a smaller room at saner levels.

We popped my TADs in 17" horns on the Arezzis, and they sounded excellent, smoother, but higher output, so we attenuated them a touch and the combo really sang.

(I've already gotten out of sequence - Steve's Straight 8's were first, and sounded excellent as always.)

A pair of ProAc 2.5 clones were up next, and sounded very good, although smaller in scale. A Dyna Stereo 70 booted them along very nicely, though.

My TADs were up next, causing a break in the music while I wrestled with a preamp change, multiple amps and active xover. They sounded much better to me in a larger room than they had in my shop. (Steve concurred; I think he was trying to convince me to leave them there!) If you want to do audiophile quality arena rock in a living room, this may be the way to do it.

Several other speakers were still waiting to be heard when I had to take off, including a pair of Pioneer 8" FR, Dave Jacobesen's Fostex FR and a pair of Klipsch Cornwalls.

I know John LaPaire took great notes, so I'll quit while I'm ahead and leave to him and other attendees to report in on what they heard. (Ate, drank, etc....)

Keep your ears and your mind open.