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NO listening sessions posible , bookshelf for a Raven Nighthawk

I have never listening to tube gear until I recently heard a prima Luna  pre amp  hooked to a McIntosh  Mc.252 amplifier ,  I like the sound much better than the same set up with  a ss  McIntosh pream.  ( C42) . So now I  would like to buy a  Raven Nighthawk III integrated amplifier  to use  it  at my office , the space is  3.5  x  4.5 mts,  with a  bookshelf full of books on the back wall . The music I like is  mostly classical and  Jazz , I am looking for non fatiguing sound , warm and not to analytic.  Life is full of compromises  and  unfortunately there is no hifi dealers nearby and  I cannot spent a lot of time looking for  “perfect sound,".  Given that  I need a good pair of bookshelf speakers with sensitivity of  at least 88 db  that  matches the amp.  Budget  around $4.000,  with not only SQ but an appearance to mach  and reliability  .  So far I have on my list :  Tannoy mini anniversary .  Triangle  comete 40 th anniversary ,  Omega  super alnico monitor,  Fritz carrera Be ,  Sonus Faber sonetto II  ; Salk Silk AT monitors  and  Exotica monitor  ( humm  too expensive but gorgeous ),  I am open to more suggestions,  would you help me with  your advice   ?  
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dcevans
180 posts
 
I can see where the B&W 805D3s would be a good pairing for the same reason the Focal would be — higher impedance, front ported, and a treble that can be a little bright and tamed by tubes. From what I have read, the B&Ws still benefit from being pulled out into the room 2-3 feet for proper imaging. 
One bookshelf you might consider is the Aerial 5T (4K new).  It is front ported and was designed to be placed within 2 inches of the wall.  It has specs very similar to the Sonnetto, and definitely is tipped to the yin, so my previous concerns apply here as well.  
dcevans
180 posts
 
Final thought.  Raven is one of the better companies in terms of customer service. Perhaps they could give you some feedback on a good bookshelf speaker to pair with the amp.
verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio
1,500 posts
 
The Raven has 4 ohm taps and I think would work well with the Vienna Acoustic Haydn Grand Symphony Edition.  
They are front ported and are specifically designed to work near wall.  They could work very well for you.  

I am contemplating becoming a Vienna Acoustics dealer but am not one.  I find them very good sounding speakers. 
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
My room is at least 1m bigger each way than yours. Recently we had some small speakers only 87dB sensitivity and the Raven Blackhawk drove them good and loud. 

So no worries about power. Also would not worry about warm speakers being too much of a good thing. Raven is not "warm" other than compared to sterile analytical solid state. My Blackhawk is real nice and neutral, with both great bass and excellent top end. I would call it liquid maybe but not warm. The Nighthawk is the same amp only without the bespoke in-house Raven caps, and a few other little things. But basically the same amp. What you will probably find then is it sounds great when turned on and then after playing music an hour or two gets to sounding downright magical. 

So my only speaker recommendation would be to steer towards speakers that share this same strength. Emotion and inner detail uber alles.
chorus
976 posts
 
A newly formed tube lover, eh? Welcome to the party. Your preferences
mirror my own. I will assume an 8' ceiling? So not a small space really.

There are so many choices of great 2-way speakers for an office use 
that can hardly get a dog. Some of the brands mentioned above are not
in line with your listening preference. I own older Tannoys for the main system and am also perfecting my office system.

My current speaker front runners are:
(not in order)

Spendor 3/1 $1.5+ or - used. Or the old BC1s. Ugly and bigger but
sound is excellent and a collectors item.

Dali Minuete $1.6 -By far the prettiest. Walnut glossy. Loved it.

Rogers/Graham LS3/5A $2.5 Best on the human voice. Easily resold.

Fyne -Smaller Coax  2way. $1.0 -Newer company
that represents the Tannoy brain trust. Value!!

If you live anywhere near Fritz or Decware those two are on my must hear list. Some makers will let you have an audition but freight
fees add up.

Happy Hunting!

Please advise what you buy!











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