DRC Audiophile Systems' Descriptions ~ They're All GR8 22Mar25

It's been a while and updates have been made to many of the primary systems I use @ Blodgett and @ the Nest to listen to music and movies. Too I've recently added and optimized a new system in the Blodgett living room called the EleFrugalKit; I already described it HERE so won't repeat that. Additionally, no changes have been made to Mobile Nirvana or the Blodgett Theater described HERE, so I won't repeat them either.

Nest Music Theater ~ NestMT 6.2.1 Immersive Sound

The most amazing and complex audio system in my collection is the 6.2.1 NestMT. It's been built out over 4 years through many custom speaker alternatives, as well as adding new sources, and changes in core electronics. It is stable and final and awesome now. The final speaker array is based entirely on efficient Fostex E𝚺 drivers in cool alternative efficient cabinets including the L/R mains of original DRC BLHs (back loaded horns) with 6" Fostex FE168E𝚺s bolstered at the high end by Russian Viawave SRT-7 ribbon super tweeters to hit the highest highs, a center channel pair of DRC Onkens with 4" Fostex FE108E𝚺s, Metronome ML-QQWT (mass loaded quadratic tapered quarter wave transmission line) surrounds with Fostex FE108E𝚺s, and height speakers of MiniOnkens also with Fostex FE108E𝚺s. These high efficiency full range speakers are complimented by a musical 600 watt HSU ULS 15-Mk II subwoofer. Fronts are driven by a hand-built 8W 300B SET tube amp rolled up throughout with a NOS 1958 Tung-Sol 5687s pre-amp and modern Czech KR Audio 300B power; the center is driven by a Willsenton R8 loaded with Mullard EL34s. The height and surrounds are driven by an  oldish Yamaha AVR, TSR7810, in order to get modern derived and discrete Dolby & DTX channel signals as well as center channel pre-amp output for the Willsenton. The Yamaha is also the 24bit/192KHz DAC for the center, surround, and height channels. The fronts are EQed digital to digital with a miniDSP DDRC 22D with Dirac Live (for room EQ) and then D>A conversion is done by the awesome Denafrips Pontious 2 multibit pure R2R ladder DAC. Signal path delays from this multi-amp/multi-DAC configuration are cleverly eliminated using a Felston DD740 which allows synchronization of several outputs from several inputs. Alternative source material in the NestMT is delivered either from vinyl on the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo turntable with Tube Box DS2 pre-amp and Sumiko cartridge, Roku digital streams, or flac files served by my Linux JRiver MC streamer. For all 2 channel PCM material I can play just that on the mains or derive the other channels with Dolby PLIIx or DTX... both sound great.

NestDesk ~ Bamboo Blanda Bowls All Around, With Massive Monitor

The NestDesk has undergone a comprehensive upgrade in electronics recently but is always anchored by some great speakers built from bamboo Ikea salad bowls.  The front 6" bowls are built of 4" Fostex FE108NS drivers and they're supported by an 11" Blanda serving bowl subwoofer carrying a 6.5" Tang Band WS-22536 driver driven by an external 100w class AB plate amp. Yeah, that's a bamboo dog bowl holder carrying the sub. The kit is driven by a Black Ice FX10H tube amp updated with Tung-Sol 7189 power tubes and winning the DAC-off was a Denefrips Enyo 15th R2R DAC. I added a cork-backed desk pad to absorb some bounced mid-high waves but otherwise this has killer near field sound, with some thump. I didn't scrimp on the monitor either, a 42" 4K/HDR LG OLED on a monitor arm. Works for lots of workspace, or killer desktop concerts... that's the amazing Anna Moss on screen. Too, the kit has some nice headphones. Source material is spewed by my MacStudio YouTube/Music, FlacBox or JRiver MC apps.

Blodgett Family Room ~ Front Array Onkens

This is the first mention for the Blodgett FR kit as a righteous hifi system. It's anchored by a front soundfield built by a pair of custom NanoOnkens and the NanoCC, an Onken-like center channel, (all based on the keen 4" Mark Audio Pluvia 7.2HD driver). The 5.1 system's sub for LFE and low end is the closed SVS SB 1000 and the surrounds are space saving in-ceiling 7" 2 way speakers. This speaker array is now driven by a "new" and modest Onkyo TX-NR6100 to assure modern discrete Dolby & DTX decodes for shows and 8K/HDR switching for the TV. The TV/monitor is the great fitting, great showing 42" LG 4K/HDR OLED panel. Source material is supplied to this room, or any of 5 other rooms in Blodgett, by a Roku Ultra or by another mele Linux JRiver MC streamer.

Blodgett Schiit ~ Refinements & Updates

Just a source stream refinement and USB update have been made on this strong headphone system. Mr Speakers EtherC Flow planar magnetics are driven by a hybrid Schiit Mjolinar 2 tube amp. 1960s Amperex "Holland D Getter" E88CC (fun) or Telefunken E88CC (clean) driver tubes are used ~ I can blow my mind either way. The DAC is a Schiit R2R Gungnir with a recent Unison USB update; it's just more musical and warm than delta-sigma DACs. This system is balanced all the way from digital stereo sources to my ears; 4 wire XLR connectors and cabling are used on the headphones and in the interconnects between amp & DAC. Mostly flac files from JRiver (v32) or YouTube (Music) are streamed to the DAC via USB. This is my reference headset and Kala sleeps soundly when I'm on the closed cans.