Spatial Audio Raven Preamp

@donsachs mentions the Bottlehead kit as an option for DIY enthusiasts. I would like to note for those of you whose budget won't allow for the purchase of a Raven, and are willing to take on a DIY project, you can purchase an Audio Note Kits (ANK) L3 transformer coupled preamplifier kit for about $2,500. This will introduce you to the benefits of a transformer coupled output as @lynn_olson references above. These kits use very nice parts and are relatively straight forward to build. I myself built the L5 Mentor, and when you look at the price of that kit, it's right up there with the Raven which is sold as a completed build. Which goes to show the cost of the Raven is not unreasonable for what you are getting. In fact, I would have expected a preamplifier of the Raven's level of quality to cost more. So cost wise if I had to do it all over again the Raven would be a serious contender for me.

Personally, I find the tonality and subjective realism of transformer-coupled vacuum tubes to be unmatched by other technologies, but that’s just me.

While I like my L5 Mentor and enjoyed building it. I now use direct coupled preamplifiers and amplifiers. No capacitors or transformers at the output. Which is where I would stray from the comment from @lynn_olson as well designed direct coupled components in my experience take the tonality and realism up another level.

Personally, I find the tonality and subjective realism of transformer-coupled vacuum tubes to be unmatched by other technologies, but that’s just me.

There are class D amps now that easily rival the best tube amps for every quality mentioned in the above post. Every bit as smooth in the mids and highs, depth properly portrayed, good low level detail and so on.

Instead of a 1/4" thick sculpted aluminum faceplate (marketing!), we put the money into custom parts that are in the audio path.

FWIW Dept.: A machined front panel can be used to reduce chassis resonance (by having a different resonant frequency as opposed to the chassis, the two rob energy from each other), making for a lower vibration environment for the tubes to do their work. If a circuit board is used, it can be isomerically isolated from the chassis, further reducing microphonic interaction. If no circuit board is used, the sockets themselves can be isomerically isolated from the chassis with similar results.  Especially if the preamp is used in the same room as the loudspeakers, this has both measurable and audible improvements- bass is better, the mids and highs smoother with greater resolution. Damping materials can be added to most chassis, further assisting to reduce microphonics (distortion).

I spoke with David at Spatial last week, and the time has finally come that I will be placing my order for my Raven Preamp in the next week or two while I am home for the holidays. I've been saving for a very long time being retired now. I will get to enjoy it later this spring after it's made and delivered and I return home again for the Spring/Summer. I started this thread in April. I hope ya'all are enjoying your Raven's!

My Raven only displays a max volume level of 63.  Is that normal?

Thanks 

Richard

@rav6258 

Yes, it is 64 step attenuator, and the first step is 00.  It should be screamingly loud by 50, and most listening levels should fall in the 25-55 range on most systems.  Is that not the case in your system?  63 would blow the speakers out of the baffle in my system