The sixteenth annual Rocky Mountain Audio Fest kicked off a month early, and in a new location: The Gaylord Rockies. As with any audio show, there were pluses and minuses, but it never does anyone any good to focus on the negative. Marjorie Baumert again proved herself ready to meet any challenge, and able to handle anything thrown her way. Kudos to her, and her team!
The Gaylord Rockies has only been open since March of this year, and as such there were a few hiccups. Last year during the press and exhibitor mixer it was announced that the venue had eight restaurants, but in reality only half of those were ready and actually open. Besides the bar, which boasts many large screens for watching all kinds of sports, the only restaurants available were Italian, Asian-fusion, and a very pricey steakhouse. Only the Italian place was open for breakfast, and that meant there were long lines on Saturday. You could pick up some quick to-go items in the Marketplace, but even there, the lines were long. My guess is that by next year that will be resolved. We tried the Italian place the first night, and it was decent. The next two nights were at the Asian-fusion place, and it was very good. For your post dinner enjoyment, there is a bar with exceptionally nice staff. It offered beautiful vistas of Denver off in the distance, the Rockies, and a few thunderstorms that were quite spectacular.
We logged upwards of 13 miles walking over the course of the weekend. Granted, many of our colleagues reported greater mileage, but we're old, and my feet hurt just thinking about all the miles logged. By comparison, we walked about 10 miles at AXPONA in April. My suspicion is that next year the show won't be as spread out, but as with anything, change is hard. Growing pains sometimes mean things are getting better, and I firmly believe that was the case here.
Dave here... As Carol said above, this place is huge: 1500 rooms and enough convention space to house any convention, regardless of size (517,987 sq ft or close to 12 acres with 69 event rooms and 78 smaller breakout rooms). Clearly a better venue than the older Marriott Tech Center, and the best venue I have ever been to here in the States for any audio event. Wonderful staff too (we made friends for next year). For sure the food offerings and overall quality need to be addressed, and in speaking to the staff at the various options, they agree... so hoping management takes note of this for the future.
A few hiccups for sure, but then things happen regardless how well one plans. Not always the organizer's fault for the actions of others outside the organization. We had a great time, but with the distances, altitude, and enjoying friends and libations a wee too much on a couple of evenings...well caught up to us. But we soldiered on.
Rooms sounded really good and everyone we spoke to loved the venue and the rooms. Word is that there will be more rooms on each floor with less floors and perhaps a reorganization of where the big rooms were in the convention area to lesson distances; the Marketplace was a walk as was registration and the seminar room. Next year... looking forward to it!
I will say that Marjorie Baumert and staff hit a home run. Signage was really well done, and attention to details and whatnot was evident in how smoothly things ran for Carol and I. Everyone we talked to loved the venue and the show overall. Of course, heard some grumbles about whatever, one will at any show as things happen... but this is a good one; one attendee complained to us that it was too crowded. Uh, yeah. Crowds were solid on Friday with Saturday and Sunday being solid as well. Heard attendance was way over previous years. Hard to tell as the place was huge. Also heard from some of the people at the Marketplace (headphone and whatever) that they had sold enough on Friday to cover their costs of showing... not the usual tire kickers here, but people wanting to spend.
Elevators ran smoothly and there was minimal if any bleed through from one room to another as they were spaced out over nine floors with sleeping rooms spread between. Again, this did require some navigation, but after a few floors it all felt okay.
For sure the show's costs of attending (for both exhibitors and those staying at the hotel) is more than previous years, but this is the cost of doing business at a way better venue with way better options and way better sounding rooms. It is what it is... going to cost more to get more.
Matt Weisfeld of VPI suggested that instead of being RMAF (Rocky Mountain Audio Fest), it should be changed to RMAV (Rocky Mountain Audio Vacation)... this place is a destination. Come for the show, but stay for your vacation. Matt had the time of his life by all accounts of his enthusiasm and energy.
Back to Carol...
A few notes. First, there were not a lot of equipment lists available in the rooms. This will primarily be a gallery of images (if your room does not appear or the images are dark, try using better lighting to show things off... what we had to work with and what you gave us, and I am not a professional photographer in the least - Dave). Second, as always, this report is a joint effort. Dave takes the pictures, and Carol takes notes and types the descriptions.
And, without further ado, on with the show!
Overlooking the Grand Lodge. RMAF registration was quite a hike from the front desk, so the staff helpfully gave us a map. I found the map slightly confusing, but I noticed up in the corner a notification that the Gaylord chain has an app, so I downloaded it. Full of lots of helpful information!
Quite massive! There were waterfalls, pools of water, and artificial vegetation.
Came back on Sunday and played Massive Attack's Mezzanine... slammed the room - Dave.
Ayre Acoustics, Auralic, Dali, and Cardas Audio.
Wharfedale, Cardas Audio, Primare, MoFi Electronics, Isotek, Little Fwend.
Liked this room a lot - Dave.
Manger, Primare, Dr. Feickert, Isotek, Koetsu, Solidsteel.
New near-field speakers.
Sony had a whole array of products, including Walkmen! I heard that the Walkman in Guardians of the Galaxy generated a whole new interest in the product. They featured headphones and earphones, headphone amps and music players, a/v receivers, and loudspeakers. Nice set up!
Liked this room a lot, really good sound - Dave.
Wilson Audio, VTL, Shunyata, Grand Prix Audio, Roon, dCS. Giants among speakers.
In the stairwell....
