Innovative Audio willing to host Phoenix meet & greet

[62vauxhall]

Just throwing this out there.

I visited Innovative Audio (Surrey, BC) this afternoon and got talking to Gord, the owner. When I dropped Nando's name (hope that was OK Nando), Gord associated him with Tapeheads. I asked if he knew of Phoenix Audio Community Forums, but Gord said he did not. I explained that Phase Linear was the mother tongue and that I believed members in addition to Nando may be nearby.

He suggested him hosting a meet and greet (or whatever you want to call it) after hours in his store would be good fun and I told him I'd post about it to find out if there was any interest. Time wise he said said from the later part of January onward and he'd arrange pizza, sodas and chairs. Other than early January, I think he's open to dates but I've no idea how actually picking one can be done.

If this appeals to anyone, send me a PM. Maybe say what dates are not good?

I'll pass on what I learn to Gord and vice versa.

 

[Elite-ist]

Of course, I would be into a social at IA in the evening. There may be about five members living close enough to have some fun there. The premiere event for members to be at is their annual Garage Sale in June.

Was there anything in the shop that piqued your interest, Gary, like these:

Nando.

 

[62vauxhall]

I'll wait to see if any others express interest in a get together there and maybe visit Gord again in a couple of weeks to report.

Well, I did see those when I arrived at the store, they were playing in fact. It was getting near closing time so I didn't do a stroll around the store. My purpose in going there was to pick up a cassette deck I took in for a repair estimate and we got to talking and that ate up the time.

I would not have picked Pioneer as the maker of those speakers as the description on IA's website states it is. A few months ago, on e-bay, I read a fairly extensive description of some speakers that looked a lot like these. They also had a 5 digit price tag but I got the impression they were one of very few pairs made in the US but I seem to remember the "Exclusive" badge. That polished wood horn did look drop dead gorgeous from where I was standing, as did the entire cabinet. I did not want to get too close because a certain depression sets in when confronted by such things. A too stark reminder that my discretionary finances are non-existent.

And yes, Innovative Audio's June garage sale is great. It's where I can actually afford to buy some audio gear and if it works or is within my limited ability to fix - BONUS!!!! There can be surprises too. Where else could I have met and spoken with Bob Carver plus gotten his signature and salutation on my now White Oaked PL 700B's face plate?

 

[laatsch55]

My God Man!!! What happened to the rest of the amp?????

 

[62vauxhall]

A photo on file but it's one of those amps that's so utterly noiseless, it just seems to disappear.

 

[orange]

It was blessed by Bob and raptured, Lee.

 

[laatsch55]

Holy Jesus...

 

[Elite-ist]

Gary: Which cassette deck do you have that you want to have repaired? I may be at IA next Thursday, December 11th, as my son has an appointment in Vancouver between 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.. If we do plan to go to the shop, we would be there at 12 or 1 in the afternoon. I might bring in a couple of pieces to be placed on consignment sale.

Too bad we missed each other at the last Garage Sale. Bob C. signed a lot of Carver components. I hope he comes back next year. Gordon may even have Nelson Pass attend next year's event.

I will have my picture taken right next to those TAD Exclusives with my IA T-shirt on. I hope to have some time to listen to them.

Nando.

 

[Northwinds]

I would love to check IA out, probably the closest thing we have is an AK members joint full of gear in Bethel. Still have not made it out there, I guess it's quite a sight to see

 

[62vauxhall]

Gary: Which cassette deck do you have that you want to have repaired? I may be at IA next Thursday, December 11th, as my son has an appointment in Vancouver between 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.. If we do plan to go to the shop, we would be there at 12 or 1 in the afternoon. I might bring in a couple of pieces to be placed on consignment sale.

Too bad we missed each other at the last Garage Sale. Bob C. signed a lot of Carver components. I hope he comes back next year. Gordon may even have Nelson Pass attend next year's event.

I will have my picture taken right next to those TAD Exclusives with my IA T-shirt on. I hope to have some time to listen to them.

Nando.

The deck I took for IA to estimate was a 3 head, piano key Realistic SCT-30 which is supposed to be a re-branded Hitachi D-850.


I would enjoy introducing myself in person but I can't commit to being there on Thursday. In trying to find a job, I've been training to be a paratransit driver and I'll know Monday if I'm accepted or rejected. If I'm in, I may be asked to do shifts right away. If they say no, I won't be working so could possibly show up there. I'll PM you my phone number which you can call when you get in the area. If I don't answer, it could mean that I've been put to work. But if not working, I'm only about 20 minutes from IA.

 

[fitz43]

But if not working, I'm only about 20 minutes from IA.

I thought you were in Chilliwack or Sardis or somewhere in the eastern valley?

 

[Elite-ist]

An SCT-30 is one I don't see around much. A friend on the Tapeheads forum owns a few Realistics of that series, and he participated in a recent Travelling Tape. It recorded quite well from listening to his recordings.<br><br>If it works out, it will be great to meet you. How about Doug - are you busy that day?<br><br>Nando.

 

[62vauxhall]

I thought you were in Chilliwack or Sardis or somewhere in the eastern valley?

No, I'm in the Guildford area of Surrey. A few times I've mentioned being close enough to Sumas WA to go get packages - about 40 minutes from home.

 

[fitz43]

How about Doug - are you busy that day?<br><br>Nando.

Busy that day? I'm retired now and never get a day off! haha

Let me look at the day planner..... Yes, so far, Dec 11th at 1:00pm will work.

 

[fitz43]

No, I'm in the Guildford area of Surrey. A few times I've mentioned being close enough to Sumas WA to go get packages - about 40 minutes from home.

I was through Sumas yesterday. I'm about 20 minutes west of you and about 10 minutes away from IA.

 

[Elite-ist]

Well, it looks like there might be a little Phoenix membership get together on Dec. 11th @ IA.

Gary: Hope you get the job. I will phone you and Doug, either, once I am close to IA, or for some reason I can't go.

This will be one of the only times Doug and I meet without me returning one of his borrowed power amps, or a parcel pick-up.

I miss this one, especially - the GAS Ampzilla. It was my favorite of the four amplifiers I had the pleasure of borrowing from Doug. I need to pop up a few more pictures and commentary about it in a new thread.

Nando.

 

[62vauxhall]

It was good today, visiting Innovative Audio and meeting Nando from Squamish, Douglas from Delta and Lyle from Abbotsford. Too bad not everyone's schedule can accommodate Gord's offer of pizza and soda's after store hours. An extended bull session would be fun. Short though it was, it was very cool swapping stories with you guys. After asking today if we were all on Phoenix, I think Gord may soon be checking out this forum to see what it's all about.

 

[Elite-ist]

Our First Phoenix Members Mini Meet @ Innovative Audio 2014

On such short notice, this was a good little meet-up with Phoenix members: Gary, Doug, Lyle and myself. Once the weather is better and there are more daylight hours, I hope that we can take up Gordon's offer to hold an informal meet at his store, after business hours. My son, Matt, was with me and we formally introduced ourselves upon arrival at IA.

There aren't many times, when I have things to do in the city, that I don't find time to drop into the shop. It worked out well with our time off that we could all meet this past Wednesday. We spent about an hour and a half together, chatting about the usual gear stuff. There were about 15 minutes, or so, I was helping a customer out who was demoing a Nakamichi ZX-7, including playback, tape calibration and recording off a vinyl record. I, also, spent some time in the back inventory room where Gordon showed me the latest vintage gear arrivals which were going through initial testing and cataloguing. What a nice haul! Gordon almost didn't make it home on that trip, while hauling all the gear from the B.C. interior, as the heavy rainfall had caused various mud and rock slides closing off access on a few of the major routes.

It was nice to finally meet Gary and Lyle, and Lyle and I were sure we had seen each other at the store in the past. Gary filled me in on some of his latest projects and I found out for the first time he had a Heathkit AA-32 tube amplifier. I have one, too, but have never gone beyond heating up the tubes. I guess the discussion on tube amps kicked off as we were all upstairs in the sound room and I remarked about the Jolida tube amplifier powering the Klipsch La Scala speakers.

And of course, I wanted my picture taken alongside those gorgeous Pioneer Exclusive 240 speakers.

It was nice to see you all and I hope we can do this again not long into next year.

Nando.

 

[Northwinds]

Lots of cool looking gear Nando. I see they actually bought one of those Yamaha PA amps LOL??? I see one in town for $100 now in the local ads. I like the Marantz 500, probably the best thing Marantz ever made and the only piece of Maratz gear I would ever consider owning

Looks like you folks had a cool time!

 

[Elite-ist]

Ron: Isn't that Marantz Model 500 something else. I couldn't budge it from the shelf as it weighs as much as my Pioneer SX-1980 receiver. That one piece, alone, is going to fetch a premium price once it has been restored. There were a number of early 70's components. There was a flagship Sony quadraphonic receiver, an RS branded Concept receiver, and numerous turntables. There was even this cute little Akai all-in-one.

Nando.