What's wrong with this picture? Imagine the elegant Silverdale on the Bay Hotel nestled on the west shore of Puget Sound; audiophiles and hobbyists filling exhibitor rooms focused on cool tube gear and tube-friendly speakers; a series of seminars by industry experts on various audio topics; evenings filled with music, animated discussions, and good food. In my opinion, absolutely nothing! Fun by the Bay is exactly how I'd describe the Vacuum State of the Art Conference & Show (VSAC 98) hosted by VALVE Magazine, August 21 -24, in Silverdale, Washington. This is more than just a regional consumer audio show. The strong emphasis on hobbyist needs makes VSAC worthy of national attention -- in essence a forum on emerging tube art, the seed of tomorrow's high-end designs. I enjoyed myself so much, that I hereby declare my intention to make VSAC an annual pilgrimage.

Are you ready for some highlights? What follows are some of my favorite moments in both words and images.

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The pairing of the Lowther PM2A full-range driver in a Medallion II cabinet kit from Lowther America (Tel.: 503-370-9115) with the Welborne Labs (Tel.: 303-470-6585) Moondog 2A3 monoblock power amps made a strong sonic impression. Note that I have a pair of Medallion IIs on hand for evaluation, complete with Lowther PM2A drivers with silver speech coils. Look for a future report on my experiences with these speakers.