New Ray Samuels Phono Stage/ Nighthawk

tomjtx · « **Reply #40 on:** 19 Mar 2010, 04:01 pm »

I think it would be worth a try to you.

It should have more than enough gain for any cartridge.

Mariusz · « **Reply #41 on:** 19 Mar 2010, 04:20 pm »

Quote from: JakeJ on 18 Mar 2010, 02:58 pm

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.

You aren't zooooooming in enough. (I can see it on my iPhone)

bottom picture - back of the unit
just under the tea bag and between controls
almost death center but just a bit to the right.

Have fun finding it.....

P.S
I might jump on the wagon ones spring cleaning is over and profit made from my hifi garage sell.

Cheers
Mariusz

JakeJ · « **Reply #42 on:** 19 Mar 2010, 04:41 pm »

Got it! Right below that it says "copyright 2009".

Kudos on the sense of humor, sir. A requirement in today's world.

Ericus Rex · « **Reply #43 on:** 19 Mar 2010, 04:46 pm »

Ordered one today. Will compare it to the phono section in my Counterpoint (pretty friggin' nice phono section!) and report. The versatility/price ratio is pretty astounding!

toobluvr · « **Reply #44 on:** 19 Mar 2010, 05:01 pm »

Quote from: Mariusz on 19 Mar 2010, 04:20 pm

bottom picture - back of the unit
just under the tea bag and between controls
almost death center but just a bit to the right.

Have fun finding it.....

Wait! I think I see Waldo in there!

JakeJ · « **Reply #45 on:** 19 Mar 2010, 06:44 pm »

Is it Waldo or the Virgin Mary?

tomjtx · « **Reply #46 on:** 19 Mar 2010, 06:54 pm »

Quote from: Ericus Rex on 19 Mar 2010, 04:46 pm

Ordered one today. Will compare it to the phono section in my Counterpoint (pretty friggin' nice phono section!) and report. The versatility/price ratio is pretty astounding!

Congrats,
I am very interested in other's takes on this this.

Ray says to give it 100 hrs burn in to reach full potential.

toobluvr · « **Reply #47 on:** 19 Mar 2010, 08:17 pm »

Quote from: JakeJ on 19 Mar 2010, 06:44 pm

Is it Waldo or the Virgin Mary?

Hmm.....I'm squinting. I think maybe the Virgin Mary with tears rolling down her cheeks......with Waldo peeping over her shoulder!

tomjtx · « **Reply #48 on:** 19 Mar 2010, 11:11 pm »

OK, I'm on my 3rd day and I'm starting to repeat some discs.
As good as the Nighthawk was the 1st day it does keep getting better with burn in.

Bill Evans " Believe in Spring" the highs on piano are liquid and crystal clear.
The soundstage is opening up even more.

This thing is dead quiet.
Listening to Sergiu Luca on Baroque violin it has the silence of digital with the palpability of vinyl.

Listening now to Warren Zevon "Excitable Boy"

All the punch and excitement you could possibly want.

I hate spending money but this was about the best 650.00 I've spent on speaker based audio.

shaizada · « **Reply #49 on:** 20 Mar 2010, 04:37 am »

My break in is much more difficult. I'm in at about 40 hours on the Nighthawk and I'm actually experiencing lower sound quality. First day was excellent, next few days even better, and then it's going down now in sound.

But I own/owned Rays gear before (B52, Apache, Tomahawk, Hornet, Predator etc.) so I know how some stuff goes through these break in cycles. Every time it ever goes down in sound quality I'm thinking/wondering if and when it comes back up.

It always does!

Waiting is the hard part!

Anyhow, leaving the Nighthawk on (as per Rays recommendation) and switching back to the Einstein. Man the Einstein is absolutely awesome. I just really love the way it sounds.

Nighthawk, please catch up soon!

kgturner · « **Reply #50 on:** 20 Mar 2010, 01:31 pm »

This little phono stage has piqued my interest and I might give it a whirl in the future. Can anybody tell me about the charging connection? Do you have to physically disconnect the charger from the back of the unit in order for it to operate on battery or can you leave it connected continually? I would place the Nighthawk under my Scoutmaster and would prefer to not have to continually move it in order to play an LP. Thanks for any input, guys.

Kevin T

tomjtx · « **Reply #51 on:** 20 Mar 2010, 02:07 pm »

You do have to unplug it from the charger to play.

However , it's said it can play 8 hrs a day for 6 days w/o a recharge so it wouldn't be often.

kgturner · « **Reply #52 on:** 20 Mar 2010, 02:13 pm »

Can you unplug the charger from the wall or do you have to remove the connection at the rear of the unit? Thanks.

Kevin T

tomjtx · « **Reply #53 on:** 20 Mar 2010, 02:16 pm »

I don't know. I think from the unit, not wall.

I'll try when I get back from coffee

Ericus Rex · « **Reply #54 on:** 20 Mar 2010, 02:16 pm »

That's unfortunate. I had planned on sticking it under my table too. Can't do that if I'll have to plug it in every few weeks. Can it run off AC?

Quote from: tomjtx on 20 Mar 2010, 02:07 pm

You do have to unplug it from the charger to play.

tomjtx · « **Reply #55 on:** 20 Mar 2010, 04:22 pm »

OK, just checked, you do have to unplug the charger from the Nighhawk

This thing is tiny so it shouldn't be hard to slide it forward enough to unplug.

I can put mine beneath my TT at the front so I can adjust gain and load.
It's easy to slide it forward and plug in the charger.

I don't have to disconnect any of the ICs.

kgturner · « **Reply #56 on:** 20 Mar 2010, 04:27 pm »

Thanks for the input. Definitely an inconvenience, but not necessarily a deal breaker. Will give it a try and hear.

Kevin T

tnewell · « **Reply #57 on:** 20 Mar 2010, 05:12 pm »

I almost pulled the trigger on one of these yesterday. Curious to see how it compares to my Aesthetix Rhea. Buyers remorse set in this morning and I may hold off for a while.

May use the money instead for a new cartridge purchase.

Tom

Sonny · « **Reply #58 on:** 20 Mar 2010, 06:51 pm »

Quote from: shaizada on 20 Mar 2010, 04:37 am

My break in is much more difficult. I'm in at about 40 hours on the Nighthawk and I'm actually experiencing lower sound quality. First day was excellent, next few days even better, and then it's going down now in sound.

But I own/owned Rays gear before (B52, Apache, Tomahawk, Hornet, Predator etc.) so I know how some stuff goes through these break in cycles. Every time it ever goes down in sound quality I'm thinking/wondering if and when it comes back up.

It always does! Waiting is the hard part!

Anyhow, leaving the Nighthawk on (as per Rays recommendation) and switching back to the Einstein. Man the Einstein is absolutely awesome. I just really love the way it sounds.

Nighthawk, please catch up soon!

Gaurav....
Interesting...could be of the "new" sound that was "different" from the Einstein initially that sounded good. I think sometimes, when one makes a change from one to another "component or anything" that the "new" sound is intriguing and sounds good, but standing the "test of time" is the only way to say "Yeh" or "Neh" about any component and how much one likes it!

I am curious to see what your take is in a week!

Tuan

tomjtx · « **Reply #59 on:** 20 Mar 2010, 06:57 pm »

You make an excellent point, Tuan.

I think "brain burn in " is a significant part of burn in.

I'm on my 4th day now and still loving the sound of the Nighthawk.
This one is a keeper for me.

Tom J.