Spatial Audio Raven Preamp

Hope you enjoy it!

Don Sachs, Spatial Audio, and I are right at the beginning of the production curve, with the preamps a little ahead of the Blackbird power amps. The designs are finalized, stable, and several steps more advanced than what was shown at the Seattle Audio Festival last June.

Both are quite different than other tube audio products that mostly date from late 1950's designs. They are a combination of Bell System/Western Electric line amplifiers and 21st Century computer-designed transformers and power supplies.

@wsrrsw Yes, I heard someone bought the preamp in the last of the old style cases, and one of the last two pairs of amps in the old style cases.   The amps are electrically the same and so is the preamp.  Please report back once you have them up and running and have 10-20 hours on them.  Please let us know what other gear  you are using with them.

Thanks!

@donsachs Youbetcha. Initially will use a Lumin X1 w/ Khorns. Was going to treat room before this (major) Amp/pre upgrade but a windfall happened and rather than a spiffy wardrobe (who me?), tango lessons or going to the Tour de France this was the best option. Room treatment on tap. Excited!!! Whee Ha, Daddyoh. 

@wsrrsw Fasten your seatbelt, that will be a VERY dynamic system.   Have you rebuilt the crossovers on the Khorns?  If not, there is improvement to be gained there.   The Khorns are a wee bit bass shy below 50 Hz or so, but the amps will give you everything those woofers are capable of.

Let us know when you have a few hours on it all.

@donsachs I have gone about this room and system a bit bass ackwards. The walls do have resilient channels and quiet board on top. The room isn’t a 100% listening space as I’m a retired (but still doing some work) photographer. It’s a multi purpose room. Currently a small set is up blocking the left speaker a bit and the tunes still sound good. Big imaging not so much.

The Klipschorn’s AK6 sound good smack dab in the middle of the room as well as the far end where I have an editing station. If space would have allowed speakers that were several feet out in the room I would have not used the Khorns AK6es. I have a 9x12 north window that makes for a great natural light source. A daylight studio is tops. The (now translucently shaded) small high windows make it so the room has two light sources as a room with just one light source is off-putting. (A PATTERN LANGUAGE Towns, Buildings, Construction By Christopher Alexander, Sara Ishikawa and Murray Silverstein is a great book)

This is to scribe I know my light stuff but maybe not sound stuff as much.

To divert. Many years ago I had a big party and rented a friends brother’s Khorns. When it was time to take them back his wife told me I could buy them. I said, ‘I could not afford them”. She said, “yes you can”. She was very pissed off at them in their small living room. I paid scant little for them. He got back as his wife with voluminous electro static speakers that went to the ceiling. They are still married. I sold the Khorns to a client and over thirty years later they still are in use.

Diversion #2. Close to fifty years ago my parents had a marital separation and my mom was righteously mad at my father. He moved out and she gave away his beloved chest high Tannoy speakers, MC 275, records and turntable. They reconciled but no more big rig came back. I asked Mom why she didn’t give them to me and she said she never thought of that.

This is the background stuff that forms us. Dad was into stereo. I have been since I can remember ( but with out funds to indulge as I now do until a few years ago ) and now my grown sons are too.

The “plan” was to do sound treatments and then get serious about amplification and a pre. I have been a 300B lurker for years and the Raven/Blackbird’s are on order after an unexpected windfall and well you know the rest.

I never planed to use the Lumin AMP long term but it’s what I had (snarfed up on Agon) with the Khorns but it’s a lot more than Aok as a place holder.

Should I better the cross overs in the AK6’s and if so with what? It took three of us to get the Khons up on special sound dampening blocks and as they still smell new. (a lady bought them and retuned as she didn’t like the color!!!!) Will I void the warranty if different cross overs are put in?

Room treatments should make a considerable difference in quashing the bit of echo. Next week I’m off to find a big rug remnant and get it bound and will order 24-30 panels. VERY dynamic requires that too.

Quote the Raven

No one here can love or understand me
Oh what hard luck stories they all hand me
Make my bed and light the light, I’ll arrive late tonight
Blackbird, Hi. Hi. Helllooooowwww.