Who's up for a "Cheap as Chips" Challenge?

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Originally Posted by Mains Cables R Us

I must have mis-understood because I thought it was a case of us buying components and assembling them on the day as a system, so for instance we spend the time up to the show scouring for items to put in the system say a cd player that punches well above its weight for good money, them some one else will have found an amp and speakers so instead of 20 people arriving with 20 systems the best items found by the AOS members will be worthy of inclusion in the system up to £100?

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Maybe you misunderstood, maybe I didn't explain it very well! The idea is that each person spends £100 to build a system of their choice, but I did have it in mind that we would also end up doing some mixing and matching, which would be a really interesting exercise in experimenting with synergy in systems. But that then really leads us again to the issue of 20 people bringing 20 systems to Scalford... Oh I don't know - maybe this was a silly idea! :lol:

With regards to the rules i propose the following......

1. The £100 must be able to be accounted for by either a reciept or screen shot from ebay, so if you have a great amp but no proof of what it cost, then it's out.
2. Equipment stands would not be considered part of the £100 system, but speakers, amp, cd player, cables and any sound enhancing mods would be.
3. Only items purchased on or after the start date of this thread will be elligable for inclusion into the system.
4. A formal entry would be needed, give a closing date for enteries, so that you know with plenty of time if it's possible to do it all on the day at Scalford, and the sort of room or rooms that will be needed.
5. A panel of independent judges, say 3 people, mods or trade members who have donated a prize, who would listen to each system and award points on things like sound quality, and asthetics.
6. As far as showing off his or her system, each competitor would be allowed to choose 3 pieces of music that they feel shows the full potential of their system.

Those are just a few ideas, i'm sure everyone has their own take on how it should be run, but it needs to be sorted ASAP...

Great - thanks Mike.

The only one I'm not sure on is the "Equipment Stands" one - I think it would make sense for a main equipment stand to be in place for everyone to use, but I'm not so sure on speaker stands given that the height and design is so particular to each speaker, and of course, some may opt for flooorstanders on the basis that this then negates the need for stands in the first place.

Anyone else like to suggest any rules, please?

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Originally Posted by Jac Hawk

With regards to the rules i propose the following......

1. The £100 must be able to be accounted for by either a reciept or screen shot from ebay, so if you have a great amp but no proof of what it cost, then it's out.
2. Equipment stands would not be considered part of the £100 system, but speakers, amp, cd player, cables and any sound enhancing mods would be.
3. Only items purchased on or after the start date of this thread will be elligable for inclusion into the system.
4. A formal entry would be needed, give a closing date for enteries, so that you know with plenty of time if it's possible to do it all on the day at Scalford, and the sort of room or rooms that will be needed.
5. A panel of independent judges, say 3 people, mods or trade members who have donated a prize, who would listen to each system and award points on things like sound quality, and asthetics.
6. As far as showing off his or her system, each competitor would be allowed to choose 3 pieces of music that they feel shows the full potential of their system.

Those are just a few ideas, i'm sure everyone has their own take on how it should be run, but it needs to be sorted ASAP...

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Originally Posted by Alex_UK

Great - thanks Mike.

The only one I'm not sure on is the "Equipment Stands" one - I think it would make sense for a main equipment stand to be in place for everyone to use, but I'm not so sure on speaker stands given that the height and design is so particular to each speaker, and of course, some may opt for flooorstanders on the basis that this then negates the need for stands in the first place.

Anyone else like to suggest any rules, please?

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That was what i was thinking mate, a "supplied" rack but speaker stands are down to the individual and not included in the £100, also folks may want a dedicated TT stand or isolation platform.

As the original suggested rules said that stands were to be included I have already invested in a rack and speaker stands. I think they should be included in the £100.

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Originally Posted by Dingdong

As the original suggested rules said that stands were to be included I have already invested in a rack and speaker stands. I think they should be included in the £100.

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Yeah, I think you're right Mark - probably provide a bog-standard wooden table or whatever is available in the room, and leave people to invest in a rack if they want to gain the benefits (and from their budget of course.)

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Originally Posted by Alex_UK

Yeah, I think you're right Mark - probably provide a bog-standard wooden table or whatever is available in the room, and leave people to invest in a rack if they want to gain the benefits (and from their budget of course.)

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I was thinking more on space at the venue, think of it this way, 20 entries = 20 seperate racks and 20 sets of stands, where the fcuk are they going to be stored, far better have one stand and a TT isolation table, and 4 or 5 sets of speaker stands that the entrants can choose from, now i realise that mark has spent money, but honestly can you imagine how long its going to take for each competitor to set up his or her system from scratch, much easier and quicker for everyone to use the same rack and have like i said 4 or 5 sets of stands that the competitors can use.

Alex(UK), did you get my email about the bits I have? Not sure I want to take part in exhibiting myself on this (I only need some cheapo speakers to make a set or two up myself...), but the offer's there;)

I'm happy to donate my £5 hifi rack for the challenge then if that suits everybody. It's the one I had a Scalford. I found it sounded best with a crate of beer on the bottom shelf:)

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Originally Posted by Dingdong

I'm happy to donate my £5 hifi rack for the challenge then if that suits everybody. It's the one I had a Scalford. I found it sounded best with a crate of beer on the bottom shelf:)

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Great, i can bring a couple of sets of stands, one set of spiked Atacama SE stands, they are roughly 24 inches in height so great for small speakers, and a set of spiked Mordaunt Short adjustables.