Jeff's New Music Room, the Return of Jeffrey_t

Hello All!
Due to some welcome and overdue forum changes, I'm happy to return and share my new music room and system. I'll be using my Audiogon user name going forward. Over the last year I built a dedicated room on my property, my last room was a converted garage. This room has the following features:

-Dedicated lines with 10 awg copper wire and separate ground
-Shear walls all around
-Quite Rock II drywall
-Blue Jeans insulation
-Wood roof with slightly uneven rafters to break up the reflections
-Custom built record rack behind the listening position that acts as a giant diffuser
-Bathroom/utility room for record cleaning

The system has also been updated, as I've sold all of the Lamm gear. The major focus of the system is to capitalize on the new quite dedicated lines and have a zero hum system. You can put your ear up to the midrange horn and hear nothing. I listen to 90% analog so the heart of the system is the PBN Garrard 401 which continues to be a stellar performer, I really can't think of another turntable I would want. My new phono stage is the phenomenal Aurorasound Vida Supreme. It is extremely musical, flexible, dynamic, and silent. With some help from two WBF members (thanks @Al M. and @KeithR) digital streaming has been added to the system, really great for rock and finding new music. Blue Node streamer and Schitt Yiggy DAC are a lot of fun to mess with. I've also added a TVC to the system (thanks @213Cobra), the very musical Luxman AT-3000. It also helps with the theme of silent and black backgrounds. Two SET amps give different flavors, 2 watt 45 for clarity and 8 watt 300B for added warmth. Full system list:

-PBN Garrard 401
-LDA Turntable Power Supply
-SME 3012R x 2
-VDH Colibri Stradivarius
-Ortofon SPU A95
-Aurorasound Vida Supreme Phono
-Blue Node Streamer
-Schitt Yiggdrasil LIM
-Yamamoto 45
-Xaio Nan 300B hand made mono blocks
-JBL Hartsfield

Here are some pictures of the project:

Full System 1.jpg Full System with Roof.jpg Record Shelves.jpg Components.jpg Utility Room.jpg
 
I ordered the crossover from I guy I found on-line that calls himself "loudspeaker chef." He has obtained all of the original crossover designs for JBL and sells on eBay and his own website. I used this website to determine what caps to buy, I'm using Jantzen Audio Alumen Z-Caps.

This site is legendary, I hope there is a place where sites like this can get posted for newcomers to find.
 
A few people have inquired about the 300B monos I’m using. They are made by a builder in China that hand winds his transformers with a proprietary blend of metals annd are hand soldered with high quality parts.

View attachment 103826
View attachment 103827
Just got this one for my DIY horn setup...new tweeter amp:

Silvercore_1.jpg
all transformer coupled 2A3 integrated from Silvercore in Germany. I might try it on my Odeons but I think it will be at the lower limit powerwise for that speaker.
 
Just got this one for my DIY horn setup...new tweeter amp:

View attachment 103831
all transformer coupled 2A3 integrated from Silvercore in Germany. I might try it on my Odeons but I think it will be at the lower limit powerwise for that speaker.
Excellent, I don’t see this amp on their website. I had a Silvercore SUT and was very impressed by the build quality. I’d love to try the 833C monos with my horns.
 
Last edited:
Excellent, I don’t see this amp on their website. I had a Silvercore SUR and was very impressed by the build quality. I’d love to try the 833C monos with my horns.
Yes, it predates the current models. The amp was at Silvercore being checked over and the guy who designed it, also built it but he is not directly working for Silvercore. I have seen those 833C monos used once here in a shop but they looked a bit scary and I didn't know the brand at the time, so I passed on them...they make some interesting horn speakers as well as cool electronics...those Germans lover horns...
 
  • Like
Reactions: jeff1225
Yes, it predates the current models. The amp was at Silvercore being checked over and the guy who designed it, also built it but he is not directly working for Silvercore. I have seen those 833C monos used once here in a shop but they looked a bit scary and I didn't know the brand at the time, so I passed on them...they make some interesting horn speakers as well as cool electronics...those Germans lover horns...
Well the build of your 2A3 amps looks very nice. Congrats
 
  • Like
Reactions: cjfrbw and morricab
This site is legendary, I hope there is a place where sites like this can get posted for newcomers to find.
Indeed. I'm all in on whatever this man hears. Every word he's written has been borne out in my experience. Wish that were true of everyone else's listening impressions. What a resource.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jeff1225
Indeed. I'm all in on whatever this man hears. Every word he's written has been borne out in my experience. Wish that were true of everyone else's listening impressions. What a resource.
At this point, capacitor manufacturers should start sending him samples of new products. We would, if we made any :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: cal3713
Jeff, congratulations on your new turntable. Love the look of your system. I like your collection of three SME 30xxR arms. I seem to remember that you had another tonearm but I can’t remember the name of it. It had a curved arm tube. What was it and do you still use it?
 

About us

  • What’s Best Forum is THE forum for high end audio, product reviews, advice and sharing experiences on the best of everything else. This is THE place where audiophiles and audio companies discuss vintage, contemporary and new audio products, music servers, music streamers, computer audio, digital-to-analog converters, turntables, phono stages, cartridges, reel-to-reel tape machines, speakers, headphones and tube and solid-state amplification. Founded in 2010 What’s Best Forum invites intelligent and courteous people of all interests and backgrounds to describe and discuss the best of everything. From beginners to life-long hobbyists to industry professionals, we enjoy learning about new things and meeting new people, and participating in spirited debates.

Quick Navigation

User Menu

Steve Williams
Site Founder | Site Owner | Administrator
Ron Resnick
Site Co-Owner | Administrator
Julian (The Fixer)
Website Build | Marketing Managersing