RMAF 2019

Note, RMAF is early this year.
September 6-8

Some interesting notes:

1. It's at the Gaylord.
   1. Pretty pricey room.
   2. No other food nearby.
   3. No food trucks according to the FAQ.
   4. Parking is $18/day (according to the RMAF FAQ)
   5. Wifi is $15/day
2. No CanJam. They will have a "headspace". CanJam / RMAF split up. Interesting.

I have a room at the Baymont, 2 mile walk to the Gaylord. Half the room price, free wifi, free breakfast, and free parking. The Gaylord might be a nice convention center, but the hotel is receiving bad reviews. Also, I just can't see paying $29/day to park in the middle of nowhere.

At any rate, 50/50 that I will go. Wife and I are going to Banff/Jasper the week before, so I might be traveled out. Maybe I'll skip the first year at the Gaylord and wait for the reviews. If I don't go, someone else will need to organize the annual SBAF lunch. Given the crappy reviews of the on-site restaurants and distance to anything else, the lunch just might not happen. :-(

What do you think about the new location?

 

Not sure if the parking rate is correct. Here is what Marjorie sent out recently.

We will have a parking code so in spite of what you've heard, it will NOT cost people $30/day to park. It will cost $18, so if someone wants to drive, they sure can.

Maybe she got a deal on the 8+ rate. The valet price at the Marriott was over that if I recall, but really freaking convenient. Yet the past few years I have never paid for parking, always found a spot within a 5 minute walk.

As for food, as a local, I always skipped eating at the hotel and nearby. Mediocre restaurants and overpriced. I drove down to some ethnic joints nearby. And last few years I brought some "pick a nick baskets" for me and boo boo. I know that does not work so well for the out of towners.

As for hotel reviews, who knows. It is kind of like reviewing a hotel at Houston Intercontinental or Chicago O'hare, how good do you think they rate. I do know I attended a very well run industry event at the Orlando Gaylord and staff there was very good. Let's hope they work out the kinks.

EDIT:

Sad to see only 23 headspace vendors so far with 60 days to go, hope some more last minute folks sign up. Wasn't the last show about 60-70 for the canjam areas.

 

Good to hear about the parking. Still probably cheaper to share a uber/lyft or just walk, 2 miles will be good for me.

As for the Gaylord, I've been to a few, and they are usually stellar (and not cheap, but I was on the company's dime). There is the disconnect with the Denver Gaylord. Still too pricey for me though to spend my own money.

As for vendors, it will be inserting to see the final tally. If the hotel is $500 more for me, it's $500 more vendors too. Since they added an "industry summit" day, even more cost. I should have saved the vendor rates from last year, but this year it looks like $5900-$17,900 for a room. Headspace area is $1500-$5000. Exhibitor registration closes Aug 1, so we'll see what happens.

More expensive with less vendors will definitely seal the deal for me. Time will tell.

CEDIA is in Denver the following week! Another fun show.

 

Really disappointed to see that Canjam decided to not be at RMAF this year. Living in Kansas its really my only chance to demo stuff all year, now I'll have to attempt to go to NYC next February. I reached out to CFA and they said that with the cancellation of Canjam this year they would most likely not be in attendance. Real bummer, hard to get a show that incorporated lots of aspects of audio like RMAF was able to do.

 

They sill have a "head space"; it's just not being run by Head-Fi.

 

Looks like the headspace area didn't fill up too well

https://www.audiofest.net/media/images/docs/HeadSpace19.pdf

 

Agreed, last count I had was 34 vendors but this is close. I think Jude said they were about 65-70 last year.

A few like Shure and Sennheiser are big misses.

 

It is what it is. 30+ is still good.

 

Correct, it is what it is and Senn has now joined the party as well as a few others.

 

I heard from more than one company that they weren't happy with RMAF performance in the past couple of years. It's understandable, the economy is in an awkward place and SoCal and NYC are sucking up most of the attendance. Plus you have a bunch of companies in NY state and the SF-LA area and both groups have to go out of their way to be at RMAF.

In the interest of throwing out ideas, if you can make time and get tickets early on, Shanghai/Singapore could be a ton of fun. Just schedule it as a family vacation...or something. I've found roundtrips from Singapore to LA for less than $400, that's basically what it'll cost you to fly to NYC anyways.

 

Rats, and I prefer going to RM than LA or NY. I guess I'll try LA one of these days, but I hate giving HF money and two I prefer hanging out at Merv's house dressed up in leather blasting Priest.

 

well, don't forget all the two channel vendors too. You don't get those at a headphone only canjam.

 

i decided not go. RMAF even added a shuttle from the Baymont to the Gaylord, and I had a $94/night room since I booked so early, but since I just came back from a week long vacation in Canada (Banff), I'm travelled out for now. Hopefully someone else can organize the annual RMAF lunch.

 

Sorry to hear that we'll be missing you this year Allan, but totally understand the over-traveling.

As in previous years, I'll be attending at least two of the days, if not all three. Also, I wouldn't mind doing the annual lunch on Saturday at the hotel if others are interested as well. I can do some research and help book a table if folks here are interested.

Who here is planning to attend this year? If it isn't very many, we could always just meet up on Saturday around noon and just get a table like everyone else at the show too.

As a side note, Marjorie confirmed to me that there will be a shuttle from 61st and Pena to the hotel, running every 20 min. or so. Parking at the 61st bus stop appears to be only $2 and the shuttle is free. Parking will probably fill up there quick at that price, so I'm going to try to take RTD to Union Station and then the bus from the station that goes out to the airport and stops right before at 61st, instead of driving, etc. Might take the light-rail all the way to the airport and backtrack, but not sure yet as far as the route/price.

 

Unfortunately, I will not be attending. Many, many things to do here still.

However, Mike will be there. Say hi to him if you're going!

 

That's a valid point.

 

Talked to a few manufacturers and they were bummed CanJam wasn't going to be a part of RMAF. I even asked the CanJam guys and they didn't give an exact answer why they weren't a part this year. Shame, RMAF was always a fun show. I won't be attending again this year but hope its fun for people who are going.

Also, for those going. Scout out good restaurants in the area for future reference.

 

Folks, you can find our crew at the Headspace at booth 80. Our latest stuff - Zen machines - on display for demo!

 

What is a “Zen machine”?

 

Seems to be a top secret (and calmly attentive) DAC.

https://ifi-audio.com/products/zen-dac/