AudioCircle
Industry Circles => Spatial Audio => Topic started by: BrandonB on 14 Apr 2024, 07:21 pm
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Can anyone speak of the new Revelation Raven preamp give their review. Does anyone have any pictures of what it looks like inside? It is one of the preamps that I am interested in.
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I have one on preorder, but unfortunately have not found any pictures of the insides. The Don Sachs Model 2 sounds great as it is, so I can't wait to hear the new one hopefully by the month of May.
What preamp are you currently using?
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I have one, well it's actually one of Dons prototypes it probably 97% of the production version. I have Dons 300b monos and I had Dons D2 preamp prior to this newest version. The difference between the two is substantial. Blacker backgrounds greater detail and quieter. The biggest thing I noticed was the sense that the music just floating around me. I had a couple of people that know my system well listen and they said this is a no-brainer it's just that good.
Steve
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I have one, well it's actually one of Dons prototypes it probably 97% of the production version. I have Dons 300b monos and I had Dons D2 preamp prior to this newest version. The difference between the two is substantial. Blacker backgrounds greater detail and quieter. The biggest thing I noticed was the sense that the music just floating around me. I had a couple of people that know my system well listen and they said this is a no-brainer it's just that good.
Steve
Thanks for the information. I really look forward to receiving mine.
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Hi, I’m new to AC. I ordered the Revelation Raven in the cherry base. It will be a month or so before it is built but I am anxious to try it in my system. Initially it will be paired with a solid state amp, a Pass Labs X350.5. My plan is to eventually downsize because frankly the amp is a beast and I can’t lift it by myself anymore. Speakers are the legendary Parsifal Encores from Verity Audio.
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Hi, I’m new to AC. I ordered the Revelation Raven in the cherry base. It will be a month or so before it is built but I am anxious to try it in my system. Initially it will be paired with a solid state amp, a Pass Labs X350.5. My plan is to eventually downsize because frankly the amp is a beast and I can’t lift it by myself anymore. Speakers are the legendary Parsifal Encores from Verity Audio.
Run a balanced (XLR) cable from the Raven to your Pass and it will sound great. They are made for each other. I can't help you lift it, but the Raven will drive it with ease. If you have a source with XLR output you will really have tons of gain, and a sound stage and tonality you will really enjoy. Your speakers are very tube friendly and my guess is a good quality tube amp driving them would be a sonic experience you should try and have. Perhaps you have a friend with a tube amp who would bring it by? You might really enjoy it.
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That’s the plan. Thanks!
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I have one on preorder, but unfortunately have not found any pictures of the insides. The Don Sachs Model 2 sounds great as it is, so I can't wait to hear the new one hopefully by the month of May.
What preamp are you currently using?
I am actually building my system. I don't have a preamp yet.
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I have one, well it's actually one of Dons prototypes it probably 97% of the production version. I have Dons 300b monos and I had Dons D2 preamp prior to this newest version. The difference between the two is substantial. Blacker backgrounds greater detail and quieter. The biggest thing I noticed was the sense that the music just floating around me. I had a couple of people that know my system well listen and they said this is a no-brainer it's just that good.
Steve
Is yours the prototype to the raven?
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Run a balanced (XLR) cable from the Raven to your Pass and it will sound great. They are made for each other. I can't help you lift it, but the Raven will drive it with ease. If you have a source with XLR output you will really have tons of gain, and a sound stage and tonality you will really enjoy. Your speakers are very tube friendly and my guess is a good quality tube amp driving them would be a sonic experience you should try and have. Perhaps you have a friend with a tube amp who would bring it by? You might really enjoy it.
Don do you oversee the builds? Are you a part owner of Spatial Audio Labs?
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I have one, well it's actually one of Dons prototypes it probably 97% of the production version. I have Dons 300b monos and I had Dons D2 preamp prior to this newest version. The difference between the two is substantial. Blacker backgrounds greater detail and quieter. The biggest thing I noticed was the sense that the music just floating around me. I had a couple of people that know my system well listen and they said this is a no-brainer it's just that good.
Steve
Steve,
Thank you for your comments. Like you, I have Don’s mono 300b amps and a newer version of his 6SN7 Model 2 preamp. [Until last year, I still had my original Model 2 preamp with gain controls, which I very reluctantly sold.] As wonderful sounding as his 6SN7 pre sounds, it’s hard for me to imagine an improvement — though I expect to hear for myself before much longer.
Oh, Don….😁
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Is yours the prototype to the raven?
Yes it is
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Steve,
Thank you for your comments. Like you, I have Don’s mono 300b amps and a newer version of his 6SN7 Model 2 preamp. [Until last year, I still had my original preamp with gain controls, which I very reluctantly sold.] As wonderful sounding as his 6SN7 pre sounds, it’s hard for me to imagine an improvement — though I expect to hear for myself before much longer.
Oh, Don….😁
We'll get ready for a hell of a ride, it's that good.
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Has anyone seen an output impedance spec for this new preamp? There’s nothing on the Spatial website.
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It is transformer coupled. It will literally drive anything. The 10K IHF standard is no issue at all.
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I figured it had to do with the technology but wanted to be sure. Thanks!
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I figured it had to do with the technology but wanted to be sure. Thanks!
Theoretically it is the square of the turns ratio of the output transformer. So you have about 3500 ohms on the 6sn7 pair / 4.5 ^2 = 172 ohms give or take. There are some other terms in there as that is a simplification, but it is under 180 ohms. As I said, it will happily drive a 10K ohm IHF standard load with no bass loss, and it is a very custom transformer with almost no measurable phase shift and is flat from below 20 Hz to over 30 KHz. It sounds very transparent and better than coupling caps:) As more of them get out into the world hopefully the owners will chime in with their impressions.
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OK, I talked with Dave Geren of Cinemag today. He designed all the custom small transformers we use in the amps and preamp. I had forgotten that we had ended up going with a 4:1 not 4.5:1 for the final production preamp output transformers. Also you have to add the DC resistance of the primary. So it is 3500/4^2 + 37 ohms = 255.75 ohms. That said, Dave said it will happily drive a 600 ohm load. It also drives a pair of 300 ohm headphones through the headphone jack with ease. The Raven preamp will easily drive any amplifier you choose to connect. It was designed to drive darn near anything and it will also drive a very long pair of XLR cables with ease.
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Hi, my name is Brian and this is my first post on AudioCircle. My Raven delivered today. After I get about 50 hours in, I will report back, but my initial impression is OMFG!!!
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=263514)
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Hi, my name is Brian and this is my first post on AudioCircle. My Raven delivered today. After I get about 50 hours in, I will report back, but my initial impression is OMFG!!!
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=263514)
Brian,
Congratulations on your acquisition! I've always favored walnut over maple. Could I persuade you to snap another photo of your Raven without using the flash?
Michael
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Hi, my name is Brian and this is my first post on AudioCircle. My Raven delivered today. After I get about 50 hours in, I will report back, but my initial impression is OMFG!!!
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=263514)
That is beautiful. Thanks for the picture.
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Here is a photo with the flash off
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=263523)
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Yes please report back after you get 20-30 hours on the Raven. My experience is the 6sn7 tubes and the cathode bypass caps really open up after about 20 hours....
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Here is a photo with the flash off
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=263523)
Nice!
Did Spatial Audio call you before delivery about the wood option?
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Did Spatial Audio call you before delivery about the wood option?
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Currently, the only option is walnut. I would have preferred cherry but didn't want to wait for it to become available.
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Did Spatial Audio call you before delivery about the wood option?
Currently, the only option is walnut. I would have preferred cherry but didn't want to wait for it to become available.
Ah, I see. Thanks!
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Hi, my name is Brian and this is my first post on AudioCircle. My Raven delivered today. After I get about 50 hours in, I will report back, but my initial impression is OMFG!!!
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=263514)
Hey Brian how does it sound compared to other preamps you have owned?
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After two weekend listening sessions, I now have about 25 hours on the Raven. I can honestly say this is my final preamp. sjsfiveo described the preamp as blacker backgrounds, greater detail, quieter and the sense that the music just floating around me. Him, like me, had a Don Sachs preamp before the Raven. I'm in 100% agreement with his review. In fact, the sense of the music floating around was the first thing I noticed when I played it in my system for the first time. The Raven is very transparent. It captures the nuances and subtleties of the music ensuring a lifelike and immersive listening experience. Even though I tell myself on a daily basis to stop spending money on audio gear, I'm 100% happy with my decision to buy the Raven. Now, I wish I had the funds to get the Blackbirds!!
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After two weekend listening sessions, I now have about 25 hours on the Raven. I can honestly say this is my final preamp. sjsfiveo described the preamp as blacker backgrounds, greater detail, quieter and the sense that the music just floating around me." Him, like me, had a Don Sachs preamp before the Raven. I'm in 100% agreement with his review. In fact, the sense of the music floating around was the first thing I noticed when I played it in my system for the first time. The Raven is very transparent. It captures the nuances and subtleties of the music ensuring a lifelike and immersive listening experience. Even though I tell myself on a daily basis to stop spending money on audio gear, I'm 100% happy with my decision to buy the Raven. Now, I wish I had the funds to get the Blackbirds!!
Thanks for posting. To me, qualities of the Raven are transparency, tonal correctness of instruments and voices, and that ethereal sound stage. The absolute blackness helps with all of that. It doesn't really sound like anything except the music. The Blackbird 300b amps have the same sonic signature, or rather lack thereof. It is very different than what you are used to listening to, but you adjust very quickly and then nothing else sounds quite right:) My old preamp and amps, which are quite good, sound a bit veiled by comparison. It is hard to go back once you have heard that level of detail and effortless presentation. I heard that from the first Raven prototype and then we spent a year improving it. Same with the Blackbird amps. Once you hear this level of performance it is very hard to "unhear" it. You get spoiled.
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After two weekend listening sessions, I now have about 25 hours on the Raven. I can honestly say this is my final preamp. sjsfiveo described the preamp as blacker backgrounds, greater detail, quieter and the sense that the music just floating around me. Him, like me, had a Don Sachs preamp before the Raven. I'm in 100% agreement with his review. In fact, the sense of the music floating around was the first thing I noticed when I played it in my system for the first time. The Raven is very transparent. It captures the nuances and subtleties of the music ensuring a lifelike and immersive listening experience. Even though I tell myself on a daily basis to stop spending money on audio gear, I'm 100% happy with my decision to buy the Raven. Now, I wish I had the funds to get the Blackbirds!!
Are you running the new preamp with balanced gear? Or, are you using the RCA’s?
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Are you running the new preamp with balanced gear? Or, are you using the RCA’s?
I'm fully balanced from DAC to preamp to amp.
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I need to stop reading this! I know I cannot afford it so it is pure torture to read about it.