[hi_watt]

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!!!

That is beautiful. Thanks for the picture.

[bcon2001]

Here is a photo with the flash off

[dls123]

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....

[hi_watt]

Here is a photo with the flash off

Nice!

Did Spatial Audio call you before delivery about the wood option?

[bcon2001]

Did Spatial Audio call you before delivery about the wood option?
[/quote]

Currently, the only option is walnut.  I would have preferred cherry but didn't want to wait for it to become available.

[hi_watt]

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!

[BrandonB]

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!!!

Hey Brian how does it sound compared to other preamps you have owned?

[bcon2001]

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!! 

[dls123]

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. 

[theclipper]

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?

[bcon2001]

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.

[lazbisme]

I need to stop reading this! I know I cannot afford it so it is pure torture to read about it.

[dls123]

Hi all.. another new owner has his Raven and below is an initial report he posted on a Revelation preamp thread on another site.  I am sure he won't mind me posting it here.  Another data point....



My Raven preamplifier from Spatial Audio Labs arrived today and I thought I would post initial impressions.  More folks should be receiving theirs any day now so additional comments from them will be helpful.  The packaging was first rate and the box itself looked like it had been hand carried from the next town over.  Everything was pristine inside the double box and the finish on the preamp was perfect.  The only change in my system today was swapping my Ayre K-1xe preamp for the new Raven.  Everything else is the same.  The Raven has a cherry base and I upgraded the standard 6SN7 tubes to the Linlai elite version.  I let the preamp idle for an hour before listening to female vocals, then instrumental, then male vocals, female, etc... After only a few minutes listening the word that struck me first was REFINEMENT. There was no grain as one might expect with only one hour burn in.  Initially, I was pleasantly surprised how similar the Raven was to the Ayre; clearly better but not by a wide margin.  However, the gap began to widen over the next several hours.  Music was fluid, clear (like a sense of zero distortion), natural, well balanced top to bottom, and became more beautiful and emotionally engaging with every song I played.  I am astounded how good this thing is after only 3 hours.  I will provide more detail next week after spending more time listening but there is no question in my mind that this is an amazing preamp and I will be keeping mine.  I look forward to getting 20+ hours on it and reading the impressions of other new owners.

[thestatman]

Hi Don,

  May I enquire, what happened to the detailed spec measurements that were going to come from that chap in Ontario, Canada back in December?   Have they been done yet?   Can you post them here?

I know the output impedance is 256 ohms but I'm really interested in the bandwidth ie the -3dB points.   It will also power a subwoofer from the xlr so the -3dB at the bottom end is more important than the 18Hz -0.5dB which was test equipment limit in any case.

   Be great to have the whole lot eg input impedance, slew rate, input sensitivity, input overload, rated and maximum output, distortion graphs, noise level, phase accuracy, channel separation etc etc.

cheers

[dls123]

We are working on it.   We changed the rca transformer design and made the xlr direct after I sent the prototype. I am awaiting the next batch of final transformers and then will modify that one that will be measured.  It is coming, but delayed.  I expect transformers in 2-3 weeks.  Spatial has a batch they are filling orders with.  Mine will be here pretty soon and then I can do that job.  We want to measure the final version.

[Mr. Big]

I hope you make a preamp with a mono switch and absolute phase switch so you can match recordings properly.

[rfluongo]

So I just sent in my Raven deposit for estimated mid-August delivery. It will be used in front of an Enleum AMP-23R that drives GR Research NX-Oticas. That amp has variable gain / volume control and is generally used without a preamp. It will be interesting to hear what the Raven brings to the party.

The Enleum is my SS "summer amp" so I will also be trying some tube amps. I think the Raven will be a flexible fixture in the system going forward.

[dls123]

So I just sent in my Raven deposit for estimated mid-August delivery. It will be used in front of an Enleum AMP-23R that drives GR Research NX-Oticas. That amp has variable gain / volume control and is generally used without a preamp. It will be interesting to hear what the Raven brings to the party.

The Enleum is my SS "summer amp" so I will also be trying some tube amps. I think the Raven will be a flexible fixture in the system going forward.

Was looking at your amp.   Is it possibly to bypass the internal volume control?  That would give best sound.  Or do you simply turn it to max volume?   It says the input impedance is 10K.  That is fine.

[rfluongo]

Was looking at your amp.   Is it possibly to bypass the internal volume control?  That would give best sound.  Or do you simply turn it to max volume?   It says the input impedance is 10K.  That is fine.

As I understand it, the volume control is literally adjusting the gain of the amp, so not a VC in the traditional sense. So I am thinking max-half-etc... shouldn't matter - just pick one that gives good range on the Raven VC. That's about as technical as I can get 

[dls123]

As I understand it, the volume control is literally adjusting the gain of the amp, so not a VC in the traditional sense. So I am thinking max-half-etc... shouldn't matter - just pick one that gives good range on the Raven VC. That's about as technical as I can get 

It most likely is attenuating the input.  It depends on what sort of VC they use.  If it is a ladder then wide open is best.  If it is a shunt, then it doesn't matter much as there is only one resistor you are going through at any volume.  It certainly won't hurt anything no matter where you set it.  The Raven can drive 10K loads with ease.  The advantage of the Raven will be that you can use a balanced source (XLR) as well as rca.  So if you have a DAC that has XLR outs, use those.  Also, you can try any amp with xlr outs because the Raven supports those.  Our system is fully balanced from input of the Raven to the output of the Blackbirds.  It is a truly balanced tube circuit in each.