Vacuum State Of The Art Conference And Show 2003 (VSAC)

VSAC 2003: Micro-Watt Amps, Music And Microbrews
By Dave Glackin Part 1

  The Vacuum State of the Art Conference (VSAC) 2003 was held at the Red Lion Silverdale Hotel in Silverdale, Washington. Perched right on Puget Sound, it proved to be a scenic, relaxing locale in which to spend three days among a peculiar sub-cult of high-end audio, namely, that of flea-weight amps, high-efficiency loudspeakers, and DIYers. CES this was not. This was a regional audio show, attended by a mix of exhibitors, the press, and a rather motley ensemble of serious hobbyists and experimenters, none of whom are likely to be found on the cover of GQ any time soon. The chance to hang out with my audio friends, especially David Robinson, Stan Ricker, Dave Clark, and Bruce Edgar, in a relaxed and informal setting was most welcome. A special thanks to David Robinson and Lila Ritsema while staying at their home in Portland before and after the show, where I sampled some fantastic Washington state wines, not to mention the best SACD reproduction I have ever heard. Now let's get to it.

 

Mastering maven extraordinaire Stan Ricker contemplates the unusual design of the Redpoint turntable. If you haven't read it, be sure to see our interview with Stan in the archives of EnjoyTheMusic.com by clicking here.

 

The edge of the Redpoint Audio Design Testarossa's platter, rather than being circular, consists of multiple flat segments. The drive belt being used here is clear leader tape. The Best Quip of the Show came from Alan Kafton when he noted that "This is what you use to record Schubert lieder."

 

Peter Clark of Redpoint Audio Design patiently explains to Stan Ricker that, no, this arm cannot be used to cut LPs.

 

Dr. Bruce Edgar of Edgarhorn proudly shows off his Titan, the Best Sounding Horn Loudspeaker in the show. See our interview with this modern-day horn giant by clicking here.

 

Eddgarhorn Titan and the ready-to-finish subwoofer. The round tractrix midrange, the very effective subwoofer, and Bruce's attention to driver selection has helped to make this system a leading contender in the wild world of high-efficiency loudspeakers.

 

Gorgeous amplifiers from Cyrus Brenneman Audio were used to power the Edgarhorns. Talk about your gold-plated audio designs... 

 

Click here for Part 2.