Hi Chris (as promised):
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In hindsight is there anything you'd change about the way you did things?
Probably, but nothing immediately comes to mind - one is always learning, so nothing one ever does is perfect.
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Has it grown as you'd have hoped?
Pretty much, although I thought we'd have arrived at 1000 members about two months before we did. It's quite difficult establishing and developing an audio forum and community with all the 'competition' that exists now. It was very different, say, six or seven years ago, and some of the forums which started out back then have benefited accordingly.
We've got plans to grow the forum even more, which will hopefully come to fruition in due course. AOS is quite different from other audio forums - we have a very strongly defined 'signature', which some will relate to and enjoy and others won't. There is only a finite audience for this type of thing so we must continue and try to ignite people's interest in hi-fi and music by providing something more varied, in-depth, and challenging than other forums, making sure that it's fun in the process.
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Do you have the members you'd hoped for - I don't mean numbers (hopefully you'll answer the above question in that respect). What I mean is, does the demographic (in the sense of people's interests/predilections/varied viewpoints etc) match what you'd hoped for?
Yes, pretty much, considering the short time we've been going. I think we have a great mix of people here with all manner of experience, which crucially, they're willing to share. We've created an atmosphere of giving, in terms of knowledge, instead of merely being populated by parasites feeding on the experience of others whilst offering nothing in return. AOS is both a very friendly and informative place as a result.
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If not, what type of person would you like to see more of?
I'd like to see more 'objectivist science-types' here with whom to engage in robust debate - people who can't trust their ears but need scientific 'evidence' before believing in something relating to hi-fi, so that I can knock some bloody sense into them! :eyebrows: ;)
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On the whole, its very UK-centric - Is this what you expected?
Yes, as the forum is being pitched to primarily a UK-based audience. However, more and more people out with of the UK are joining on a daily basis as the hits we get on Google, Yahoo, etc, continues to grow, particularly as 'hot' topics now such as the Beresford DAC, Technics 1210 (and modifications thereof, etc) are widely featured.
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Is this good or not? Do you expect or hope this to change?
I wouldn't say it's "good" or "bad", but given our location it is quite natural. We would like to attract more members from overseas, as quite often people there have a different slant on hi-fi and music which provides some interesting diversity. Hopefully, we can also offer them something different to 'get their teeth into' which they might not get on forums in their neck of the woods.
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Is there too much emphasis on certain topics?
Perhaps - but some of that is intended in order to generate and stimulate interest in the forum by discussing key products which will attract a suitably large audience. Although there are many discussions on certain popular products, we feel that there is sufficient diversity in the topics discussed overall to accommodate a wide range of experience and opinions. The balance isn't perfect yet but we're hopeful we'll get there.
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Is there not enough emphasis (or not as much as you'd expected) on certain topics - if not, then what would you like to see more of?
I think there's enough emphasis on certain topics, but personally I'd like to see more people think 'outside of the box', forget mainstream hi-fi and some dyed-in-the-wool preconceptions, ignore 'badges' and choose bespoke kit from smaller, more specialist, manufacturers, or go the (quality) 'classic hi-fi' or D.I.Y route. I think this is where the 'real deal' lies and where things start to get interesting.
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The highest number of users at one time was 201 - a figure, that to my eyes, seems to be almost never even approached since. What do you attribute this to? What caused it?
It was from during the time we were featured in an article in HFW - people were reading the article and checking us out. We gained quite a few new members from that, some of them remaining as regulars, not least of which is Neil, Dalek DL :)
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Is the balance between pure hi-fi talk and other topics (especially music) about right?
We would always like to see more discussion about music, but that area of the forum is pretty healthy due to the invalable input of people like your good self and others. 'Abstract Chat' could be more in-depth and diverse in its topic content, and used a little more often than it is.
However given that AOS is predominantly (and unashamedly) a hi-fi forum, activity in the off-topic sections is more than satisfactory. In terms of the quality and diversity of hi-fi content we believe that AOS is second to none amongst audio forums in the UK; a bold statement perhaps, but it's what we genuinely feel. AOS may not be the biggest in terms of membership, being a relatively new forum, but what we lack in numbers we make up for in the quality of contributions, which have genuine substance and are often of high technical merit.
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...............finally, (and this is something I've never been able to quite work out) what turntable/arm/cartridge combination does Marco use?
LOL! I thought it was obvious - read my signature; it's all in there. I just switch cartridges from time to time depending on my mood and/or the type of music I'm listening to :smoking:
Marco.