I had a great time at Scalford and exhibited 8 years in succession (starting with the first). Hmm let me see:
Year 1: plain Squeezebox, Naim 32.5/Hicap/250 and Kans
Year 2: Ergo speakers loaned by James/Paul, same otherwise
Year 3: Active Speakers AVI ADM 9
Year 4: Linn Kaber same otherwise (my least successful room I feel)
Year 5: Active Speakers Behringer B3031A (controversial!)
Year 6: Amplifier comparison Naim as above vs Yamaha AS500
Year 7: DSD vs PCM comparison using Teac DSD DAC
Year 8: Raspberry Pi system no separate amplifier
My goal was not to have the best sounding system (can't afford) but to do something interesting and have some fun
It was a lot of fun but also hard work - at first I didn't bother booking a room for the night as I lived within 45 mins drive, but I gradually realised that staying over worked better both for access to the room and for hearing other rooms the night before.
Heaving equipment around is no fun even though I didn't have the heaviest stuff, even so amplifiers, subs and speaker stands are hefty enough. Some of my stuff got a bit bashed about too, scratches etc, no real damage fortunately.
The earliest events were run supposedly at break-even or thereabouts by Chester Audio, the idea was to build some community and exhibit real-world systems with more variety than commercial shows which inevitably are full of the new and shiny. Rooms were free to exhibitors save a contribution to public liability insurance and whatever you chose to spend on accommodation or at the bar. There was little commercial at the early shows save a record shop in the lobby.
I was personally fine with everything as we were doing something a bit different that would not otherwise be possible.
Gradually more commercial rooms appeared and it became harder and harder to secure good rooms (my room in year 1 was brilliant and sounded great as a result).
I also began (speaking personally) to feel a bit unappreciated as it was the exhibitors who made the event worth going to, but we paid for the privilege and if someone managed to make some money (as I believe the Wam did some years) none of it came to us not even a free beer or two.
The trend towards greater commercialism continued and the Wam's current owners now promote the event as "Europe's Biggest HiFi Enthusiasts Show" or something. The cost for exhibitors has increased and now starts at £85. I have fond recollections of the show and hope it goes from strength to strength, but last year felt it was no longer for me.
Scalford was a wonderful venue, quirky and romantic, visitors could still be surprised to open a door or ascend a stairway and find a corridor of rooms they had somehow missed. Of course it was also a bit impractical and the catering rather ho-hum but it wasn't a big deal for me.
The move to a hotel handy for the motorway and airport is another step away from the atmosphere and culture of the initial concept - though of course it can still be a great success and I hope it is.
Tim
