2. amps-preamps
  3. 165322-4660

Raven Audio Nighthawk

So the scuttlbutt on the Raven integrated amps is pretty good. But just how good are they? Are they good when compared to other comparably priced tube integrateds? Or are they better than some heavy hitters?

I currently have a NOSvalves ST-45 amp paired with a Don Sachs Model 2 (latest version) preamp and I am extremely happy with this pairing. With that said, I guess there is nothing really that I'm looking to improve. But since we all know how this game goes, I just wonder how much better (or not) the Blackhawk III would be. Consolidating two pieces down to one chasis is an attractive idea too.

I would love to hear from you if you own a Nighthawk or Blackhawk or have auditioned one against something else. I know they offer a 45 day trial period, but from my calculations if I don't like it it will cost me close to 400.00 out of pocket once the dust settles. So I'd like to go into this with a warm fuzzy that it's pretty darn good.

Oz



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millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Your only problem will be a sleep disorder, staying up later and later night after night listening and listening to all your records over and over again. Eventually things will stabilize and you will be fine. But the outlook for the next several hundred hours after delivery is not good.
lak's avatar
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lak
4,680 posts
 
Great news, please keep us posted :-)

facten
2,884 posts
 
Interested ozzy62 in hearing your firsthand and objective assessment regarding the Osprey's musicality and if there are any hum issues or not.
sryeager
125 posts
 
Well, millercarbon has got me reading all I can find on Raven.  My concern is I’ve only used a B&K 200wpc (ex442) for the 15 years I’ve had a real stereo system.  It is driving refurbished Ohm Walsh 4s and two REL T5 subs.  The subs are using the high input and wired to the speaker binding posts.  Speakers and subs are seamless, so switching to rca to the subs and a high pass crossover will be a deal breaker.  It’s hard to just have faith 30 watts (osprey) will manage.  The Ohm Walsh sensitivity is 89.  Moving up to the Reflection puts me over the price of the Brystons I have been considering.  Maybe I should find a used 30wpc tube amp and see how it does?  Are all 30wpc tube amps created equal in terms of speaker driving force?  I’ve never thought about tube gear much.

i could also send the B&Ks to Musical Design for refurbishing.

or continue enjoying what’s not obviously broken
ozzy62's avatar
ozzy62 OP
3,218 posts
 
Are all 30wpc tube amps created equal in terms of speaker driving force?

The answer is a hard "no". The quality of the output transformers can vary wildly from design to design. And transformers are the heart and soul of tube amps. Not having heard a Raven amp as of yet, it’s hard for me to say. But all indications are that they sound much more powerful than their power rating would indicate.


BTW, I  had your amp back in the mid 90s. B&K are fine for a budget design, but nothing great about them. Even if you need a more powerful tube amp than the Raven, I would certainly look to replace that B&K with something else.


Oz


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