New Ray Samuels Phono Stage/ Nighthawk

tomjtx · « **Reply #20 on:** 17 Mar 2010, 05:13 pm »

Yes, go to lonewolf's link above on page 10 or 11 of that thread.

tomjtx · « **Reply #21 on:** 17 Mar 2010, 09:01 pm »

I'm about 2 hours into listening now.

This thing is so good I am at a loss for words at the moment.

I urge anyone contemplating a phono stage to give this a try regardless of how high your budget may be.

I have a lot of vinyl but haven't purchased much recent releases.
That is going to change immediately.

Mariusz · « **Reply #22 on:** 17 Mar 2010, 09:26 pm »

This thing got me thinking......

I have to censor this thread in my preferences.

Chris
Thanks for link

Mariusz

shaizada · « **Reply #23 on:** 18 Mar 2010, 01:49 am »

Quote from: Sonny on 17 Mar 2010, 05:05 pm

Any "Nude" pictures of the F-117?

Ask and ye shall receive

Here you go Tuan:

Bemopti123 · « **Reply #24 on:** 18 Mar 2010, 02:27 am »

These pics should be X rated.

shaizada · « **Reply #25 on:** 18 Mar 2010, 02:38 am »

Yup!! Prime time XXX baby!

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #26 on:** 18 Mar 2010, 02:45 am »

Purdy pics...quite compact it looks, too

Where's it made - Asia?

Mariusz · « **Reply #27 on:** 18 Mar 2010, 02:58 am »

I could be wrong but it says "Made in USA" on the board.

(anyone needs amp, phonostage, liver for cash?)

Cheers
Mariusz

shaizada · « **Reply #28 on:** 18 Mar 2010, 03:04 am »

Made right here in the USA. Nothing Asian about it. See the second pic I posted on the first page of this thread.

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #29 on:** 18 Mar 2010, 03:37 am »

Quote from: TheChairGuy on 18 Mar 2010, 02:45 am

Purdy pics...quite compact it looks, too

It does look "compact" John...

tomjtx · « **Reply #30 on:** 18 Mar 2010, 04:53 am »

Yep. It's tiny and made in the good old USA.

But there is nothing tiny about the sound.
I spent 6 hours listening today.
This thing will deliver everything your cartridge can get off the disc.
It is very musical and addictive.

My 17 year old came back and couldn't tear himself away from listening. He asked what was different, why did it sound so much better.
He couldn't believe it when he saw the size of the Nighthawk.

It's fun and easy to play with the loading with the front knobs. Got an old LP that's too hot?
Just change the loading on the fly.
OK I'm going to shut up now before I start sounding like a commercial

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #31 on:** 18 Mar 2010, 05:02 am »

tomjtx...

Just as a "point of reference"....what other phono stages have you used or heard ?
Thanks.

shaizada · « **Reply #32 on:** 18 Mar 2010, 07:36 am »

Quote from: tomjtx on 18 Mar 2010, 04:53 am

Yep. It's tiny and made in the good old USA.

But there is nothing tiny about the sound.
I spent 6 hours listening today.
This thing will deliver everything your cartridge can get off the disc.
It is very musical and addictive.

My 17 year old came back and couldn't tear himself away from listening. He asked what was different, why did it sound so much better.
He couldn't believe it when he saw the size of the Nighthawk.

It's fun and easy to play with the loading with the front knobs. Got an old LP that's too hot?
Just dial down the capacitance.

OK I'm going to shut up now before I start sounding like a commercial

The capacitance is fixed at 220pf. I'm sure you meant the impedance loading

It gets even better! Wait till you burn it in past some 100 hours....thats when you get to the juicy part.

tomjtx · « **Reply #33 on:** 18 Mar 2010, 09:42 am »

Quote from: lonewolfny42 on 18 Mar 2010, 05:02 am

tomjtx...

Just as a "point of reference"....what other phono stages have you used or heard ?
Thanks.

That would be a long list if I went back the 40+ years I've had TTs

But I still like my SFP-1 Signature which I re tubed recently.

I've heard the recent Audio Research stages , Sutherland (the 3,000 one) Phonomena (1,000).

I've heard others but not in as much detail as the above.

check out shaizada's list for more extensive comparisons: Manley Steelhead, Einstein and others.

I should point out that I like the sonic signature of Ray's gear.
My favorite headphone amp is one of his and I have had quite a few headphone amps,currently own 6..................
aaarrrgggghhhh I am too lazy about selling.

tomjtx · « **Reply #34 on:** 18 Mar 2010, 09:43 am »

Quote from: shaizada on 18 Mar 2010, 07:36 am

The capacitance is fixed at 220pf. I'm sure you meant the impedance loading

It gets even better! Wait till you burn it in past some 100 hours....thats when you get to the juicy part.

Thanks for that correction, I'm terrible with terms

How are you burning yours in?
By playing records?

2gumby2 · « **Reply #35 on:** 18 Mar 2010, 12:02 pm »

Ray Samuels makes some of the finest Hi-Fi equipment I've ever heard and his workmanship is incredible. I contacted him about the capacitance loading and he replied indicating that he can provide several different options based on your need. I have some very nice phono preamps now, but I'm seriously considering the F-117 because I know the quality of Ray's creations. His customer service is outstanding as well.

Gopher · « **Reply #36 on:** 18 Mar 2010, 02:29 pm »

Ray is one of the nicest guys in the business and I've wanted to buy something from him for a while based on just enjoying his company. His headphone amps aren't necessarily voiced 100% to my taste, but his phonostages have all be right up my alley. I was an inch away from buying an HR-2 when I got the opportunity to audition my Minimax and fell in love. Now, several years later it seems I may come full circle.

Would you guys mind mentioning what cartridges you guys are trying the Nighthawk with. Particularly if there is any VDH use!

I started experimenting with the intention of changing my cartridge, but am thinking of pulling audio equity and changing phonostages too. This disgusting hobby has the best of me again and I'm thinking of shifting money towards speakers.

JakeJ · « **Reply #37 on:** 18 Mar 2010, 02:58 pm »

Quote from: Mariusz on 18 Mar 2010, 02:58 am

I could be wrong but it says "Made in USA" on the board.

(anyone needs amp, phonostage, liver for cash?)

Cheers
Mariusz

Your eye is better than both of mine as I can't see it on either of the two "nude" photos. Still, didn't stop me from ordering one.

DARTH AUDIO · « **Reply #38 on:** 19 Mar 2010, 03:29 pm »

My F-117 was delivered yesterday. Charged the battery(it must have already been charged by Ray). I hooked it up when I got home from work. It does need time to smooth out, but I expected that. Two things that I am able to comment on is how quite the unit is when the volume is turned up. It also has a very black background. Music came out of nowhere!! The variable gain stages was also a main reason I wanted to check out this phone stage. Still need more time of course. I'm looking forward to that 100 hour threshold. More to come. BTW, it is small, but well built.

FYI, I'm using a Benz Micro Glider SL Cartridge.

jtsnead · « **Reply #39 on:** 19 Mar 2010, 03:38 pm »

Ok this thread has sparked my interest, anybody compare this to a Musical Surroundings Nova Phenomana also a battery phono stage, which I think is a great preamp for the price, I replaced a well known 3500.00 tube unit with this one, also compared to a PS audio modified GCPH, the Nova was alot quiter than both, I do use a Benz Micro Ace SL
low output that does need some gain to sound its best