jaytor's Main System

by jaytor on Ever EvolvingDenafripsGR ResearchDIYSonoreUltrarenduIconoclastKimber KableRoom treatmentTube amp300BLine Arrayacoustic treatmentdiffusorsart panelsdedicated roomSETopen baffleSolid TechATS AcousticsGIK AcousticsROONOpinions PleasePS Audio
Jaytor's Listening Room
Jaytor's Main System
GR-Research Line Force Speakers
Main equipment rack
EML-20A DHT Linestage
Linestage power supply chassis inside
Linestage main chassis inside
Line Force Speaker Crossovers
Line Force Speaker Wiring
Quad Subwoofer from back
DIY 300B Monoblock
DIY 300B SET Monoblock under the hood
DIY 300B Monoblock rear view
Kimber Select KS-3035

Description

This is a constantly evolving system. My audiophile passion started in the early 70's and got me to study electronics and acoustics in college. I built my own speakers and power amps in the late 70's, but as my income increased and my free time evaporated, I moved to commercial products. I've owned at least a dozen of every different kind of component (probably more speakers) over the years. In the late 90's, I started focusing on home theater, but my interest in 2-channel has been rekindled in the last decade. 

I ended up spending my career in computers, but have started doing more DIY audio stuff recently. In the past five years, I've built three pair of speakers, two pair of subwoofers, four preamps, three stereo amps, four pair of monoblock amps, a Roon server, a USB streamer, and several speaker cables, interconnects, and power cables. 

My main system, shown here, is built with DIY streamer, preamp, monoblock amps, and speakers. I am hoping to build my own DAC at some point soon, but I have several other projects I'm working on before I get to that.
Read more...

Room Details

Dimensions: 29’ × 17’  Large
Ceiling: 8’

Components Toggle details

    • Denafrips Gaia Digital-to-Digital Converter
    Accepts digital audio from numerous inputs. Buffers and reclocks the data, and outputs on numerous outputs including i2s, AES, SPDIF, optical, coax, USB. Inputs are opto-isolated for improved noise rejection.
    • Denafrips Terminator Plus
    Upgraded from the Terminator in Feb 21
    • Small Green Computer SonicTransporter i9
    Roon core. Optical ethernet connection to streamer.
    • jaytor USB Streamer
    DIY streamer using a Raspberry PI running Roopie as a Roon endpoint. Optimized USB output with super-capacitor discrete regulated linear power supply.
    • jaytor DIY EML-20A DHT Linestage
    This is a two chassis linestage of my own design, employing an Emission Labs 20A-Mesh DHT tube as the active device. The input is transformer coupled allowing balanced connections. The DHT is choke loaded with filament bias utilizing Rod Coleman filament regulators. The output uses a parafeed connected Lundahl 5.8:1 output transformer. 

    A microcontroller provides input selection, relay-stepped attenuation, 12V trigger, and IR remote control. 

    The power supply is a choke input LCLCRCRC supply using polypropylene film resistors. The last RC is duplicated for each channel. An additional microcontroller is used to provide softstart and turn on the filament supplies ahead of B+
    • DIY Parallel 300B SET Monoblocks
    Based on the ANK kit Interstage monoblocks with C-Core transformers. Custom chassis with numerous upgrades including Tent Labs filament supplies, PMillet driver stage filament supply, Neurochrome Maida regulator, soft-start, turn-on delay, balanced inputs, and other upgrades. Using matched quad Western Electric 300Bs.
    • jaytor DIY Line Array speakers
    These are based on a design by Danny Ritchie of GR-Research which he calls  the Line Force. These are open baffle line arrays using six Bohlender-Graebener NEO10 drivers and sixteen NEO3 drivers per speaker.
    • jaytor DIY Quad 12" OB Servo Subwoofers
    I built a stereo pair, each with four 12" woofers. These are based on Danny Ritchie's (of GR-Research) design. They are driven by Rythmik servo-control amplifiers.
    • PS Audio Stellar Power Plant P3
    • GIK Acoustics Bass Diffusors, 242 Panels, Art Panels
    Multiple GIK panels used throughout the room
    • DIY acoustic treatments Tube Traps, wall panels
    • Kimber Kable Select KS-3035
    4ft speaker cable with WBT locking bananas
    • DH Labs Red Wave
    DIY Power cords with Wattgate or Furutech connectors
    • DIY HELIX Power Cables
    I'm using several DIY PCs for my source components using the recipe from Steve Reeve. These are build using Neotech UP-OCC solid core copper in teflon, with Viborg silver-plated copper connectors.
    • Iconoclast by Belden 4x4 OCC Balanced Interconnects
    1M pair between DAC and preamp, 7M pair between preamp and monoblock amps.
    • DH Labs Sub-Sonic II
    Subwoofer interconnect cables
    • AudioQuest Diamond USB
    Connecting Roon ROCK to Gaia
    • Tubulus Argentus i2s cable
    Used between the Denafrips Gaia DDC and the Terminator Plus DAC
    • Solid Tech Hybrid Standard Rack
    Four shelf rack with columns filled with sand.
    • ATS Acoustics 2'x4' QRD Diffusers
    Eight custom (slightly shortened to fit my ceiling height) QRD diffusers (6.5" deep) made from birch. Mounted to the front wall behind the speakers. Wrapped in fabric. Total of 64 sq ft.

Comments 42

Showing all comments by electroslacker.

View all comments

Sign in to comment
Stunning.  What differences did you hear when you added the Gaia to the Terminator?

electroslacker

  • 19.9 Thousand
  • 42
  •  8
© 2026 Audiogon.com