Planning NVA room at shows - your feedback needed

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savvypaul
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Planning NVA room at shows - your feedback needed

Unread post by savvypaul »

A couple of threads / posts have reminded me that, but for lockdown, we would have been actively preparing, right now, for the North West Audio Show (originally planned for June - now likely to be late Autumn / early Winter).

We'd already been putting together the list of NVA products that we want to exhibit - likely 3 different systems:

Starter System - P50, SC, A20, LS3 with a set of £250 Klipsch R51-M bookshelf speakers

Mid-Range - P50SA, SSP, A60+

Top-Range - P50SA, TIS, A80s - bass, A60+ tweeters

Other spaekers - Cubes and 3 Square Audio

Sources - Audiolab CD Transport / Hi-res files from hard drive RME DAC / NVA TFS / 'Grand Lady' Lenco by BTE Designs (Vinyl-Ant)

Shows will be a major part of how we get NVA in front of more people. To get the most from the investment required, we need your feedback about what makes a demo room that you want to visit, stay a while in, remember as a highlight and, perhaps most importantly, tell other people about.

When you put your head around the door, what makes you want to go in? What makes you decide not to bother?

What sort of information do you want / expect to see?

What makes you relax and stay longer?

What sort of literature / merchandise has made an impression on you?

Are there any particular manufacturers rooms that have really impressed you? Why?

Do you ever buy at a show? If there is a special offer?

Many thanks, in advance, for sharing your thoughts,

Paul & Tomasz
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antonio66 (Sat Apr 18, 2020 6:22 am)
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Re: Planning NVA room at shows - your feedback needed

Unread post by CN211276 »

The most important thing is to exhibit in a room where Cubes will work, this probably most concerns ceiling height. Music wise I think it would be a good idea to play tracks most people will be familiar with and are also well produced. Queen, for one, tick both boxes. I would not go near a room playing rap or hip hop. :angry-screaming: I expect many would say the same about doom metal. :lol:
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savvypaul (Fri Apr 17, 2020 4:04 pm)
Main System
NVA BMU, P90SA/A80s (latest spec), Cube 1s, TIS, TISC(LS7)
Sonore OpticalRendu, Chord Mscaler & Qutest, Sbooster PSs
Network Acoustics Eno, ifi iPurifier3, AQ JB FMJ, Cisco 2940 & 2960
DH Labs ethernet, BNC & USB cables, Farnells cat 8 ethernet cable

Second System
NVA P20/ A20, Cubettes, LS3, SSP, SC
Sonore MicroRendu, Chord Mojo 2 MCRU PSs, AQ Carbon USB cable & JB FMJ

Headphones
Grado SR325e/Chord Mojo, Beyerdynamic Avetho/AQ DF Colbat

RIP Doc

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Re: Planning NVA room at shows - your feedback needed

Unread post by savvypaul »

CN211276 wrote: Fri Apr 17, 2020 3:58 pm The most important thing is to exhibit in a room where Cubes will work, this probably most concerns ceiling height. Music wise I think it would be a good idea to play tracks most people will be familiar with and are also well produced. Queen, for one, tick both boxes. I would not go near a room playing rap or hip hop. :angry-screaming: I expect many would say the same about doom metal. :lol:
Thanks, CN.

We will have Cubes, but we learnt from watching the visitors at the National Audio Show that you also need some 'traditional' or 'point & squirt' speakers. Some people saw the Cubes, said 'I know I don't like those speakers' and went straight out. I they don't want to hear Cubes, we still want them to hear the amps.

Tomasz will be very happy with your Queen suggestion. At that time, I shall be at lunch (with the members of Napalm Death :lol: )
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Re: Planning NVA room at shows - your feedback needed

Unread post by zebbo »

Hmm, when I sat down to reply I thought, that's easy, but, in fact, it's not really. When I do a show I will try and visit all the rooms regardless of what the equipment is. One caveat to that is if the sound pressure levels are blowing the doors off! I always think it's good if the demonstrator is happy, keen even, to play any music the visitor wants or has brought with them. It shows that they have confidence in the overall performance of their equipment. Some thought provoking information presented about the NVA ethos might spark some interesting conversation which could be the time to introduce the Cubes? I was very sceptical about the Cubes and didn't particularly like the look of them at first but now there's not much else I'd want! Rooms often feel a bit awkward and "cold" if the guy is just sat in the corner scrolling through his/her laptop.
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savvypaul (Fri Apr 17, 2020 8:21 pm)
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Re: Planning NVA room at shows - your feedback needed

Unread post by Lindsayt »

A big tip is to play something that's really well recorded that most visitors won't have heard before.
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savvypaul (Sat Apr 18, 2020 7:29 am)

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Re: Planning NVA room at shows - your feedback needed

Unread post by antonio66 »

I always thought when bi-amping, the better amp went to the tweeters, you have it the other way round.
1) Don't sit in the corner playing with your laptop.
2) Try and have a list of music you want to play, nothing too outrageous.
3) Allow visitors to play their own music. Care has to be taken here, if well known song ok, if more obscure and would have limited appeal try and say 'ok' after 2/3 minutes.
4) Another one, but not always easy, try and answer questions from individuals outside the room when others are listening.
5) When playing vinyl or cd, leave the cover in clear sight so listeners can see what's playing, not so easy when streaming, but will cut
down the number of questions asked.
6) A clear list of the system used and the prices that can be seen without looking for leaflets.
7) Try not to let visitors congregate at the door, get them in and seated if possible.
8) A nice supply of sweets. :grin:
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savvypaul (Sat Apr 18, 2020 7:29 am)

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Re: Planning NVA room at shows - your feedback needed

Unread post by Twistedheat02 »

For me personally the opportunity to hear my own music is a good thing.

I listen to a lot of dance, drum and bass and generally faster paced music so I'd be keen to hear that on demo (although appreciate its not to eveyone taste!).

I'd also be keen to see price lists out on display as I think that would help drive interest in the products ie if they are affordable!

Good luck!
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savvypaul (Sat Apr 18, 2020 9:11 am)
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Re: Planning NVA room at shows - your feedback needed

Unread post by savvypaul »

All this feedback is super helpful to us. Thank you for taking time to put your thoughts down in such detail. Well chuffed. :dance:

Please keep it coming.

And another question...

...we want to put lots of energy into getting honest and detailed feedback from everyone who comes into our room at each show. Which of these options would you like to use? Which would you not want to use? Which one would you prefer most?

1. A dedicated page for show write-ups on the NVA website with a facility to post comments
2. An NVA post-it-note to write comments on while you're in the room and stick on noticeboards
3. Badges - Love NVA / Hate NVA / I ain't bovvered by NVA - pick one
4. Judges cards - hold up a number out of 10
5. A short questionnaire to post into a box
6. Other -please describe

Thanks, again,

Paul & Tomasz
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Company Name: NVA Hi-Fi
https://nvahifi.co.uk/

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Re: Planning NVA room at shows - your feedback needed

Unread post by CN211276 »

I think no 2 would be best and perhaps no 1 as well.
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savvypaul (Sat Apr 18, 2020 11:16 am)
Main System
NVA BMU, P90SA/A80s (latest spec), Cube 1s, TIS, TISC(LS7)
Sonore OpticalRendu, Chord Mscaler & Qutest, Sbooster PSs
Network Acoustics Eno, ifi iPurifier3, AQ JB FMJ, Cisco 2940 & 2960
DH Labs ethernet, BNC & USB cables, Farnells cat 8 ethernet cable

Second System
NVA P20/ A20, Cubettes, LS3, SSP, SC
Sonore MicroRendu, Chord Mojo 2 MCRU PSs, AQ Carbon USB cable & JB FMJ

Headphones
Grado SR325e/Chord Mojo, Beyerdynamic Avetho/AQ DF Colbat

RIP Doc

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Re: Planning NVA room at shows - your feedback needed

Unread post by BillyBones »

Can't really add too much to what's already been said other than to say that when I've been to shows before I find the volume in some rooms to be far too loud. That puts me right off, I like to listen at levels more akin to my home environment. Loud does not always mean good.

When I went to visit Richard at the NW Audio show in 2018 he was more than happy to play a couple of my CDs that I had brought along, especially when Sly & Robbie were playing on one of them.
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savvypaul (Sat Apr 18, 2020 12:10 pm)

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