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Fezz vs Raven

Hello all. I'm starting to look into adding a turntable to my system. I would like to pair said turntable with an integrated tube amp.  I want to get a set up that is good enough that I won't be looking to upgrade in a year. A Michell Technodec paired with a Fezz Evolution Titania was recomended to me by the gentleman at Auralhifi in Denver. Thinking is that that turntable and integrated tube amp are of high enough quality that they'll provide a listening experience that'll be hard to beat and keep me satisfied for years to come. Maybe not reference level but damn good. At the same price point as the Fezz is the Raven Nighthawk.  Both have good reviews and seem solid. Does anyone have experience with these brands?  What are your thoughts?  My speakers are 95db sensitive with active woofers so won't take much to drive. Thanks for any input. 

sandrodg73
sandrodg73 OP
131 posts
 

Thanks all.  I was hoping that someone had 1st hand experience with Raven or Fezz.  Maybe the lack of familiarity with the products by the members here is a sign......

tkrtrb125
373 posts
 

I have owned only the Raven Blackhawk and Osprey and they are well built fine sounding tube integrated amplifiers. Not that familiar with Fezz. 

jond's avatar
jond
5,852 posts
 

Perhaps not much of a sign Fezz seems pretty new to the market so not many users and Raven is a small boutique shop. The good news is you will hopefully be able to listen to the Fezz amp.

moonwatcher
471 posts
 

A well-designed tube amp has "safety resistors" that will melt long before the tubes redline or "hot plate". Cheaper tube amps might not have this safety feature though.  But "Skunkie Designs Electronics" on YouTube has done tear downs and upgrades of the "cheap" Chinese Willsenton R8 and the Muzishare X7 and they had such resistors in place, although she thought to change the value on one of them for better safety I think. The main thing separating these "cheap" integrated tube amps from the better ones is likely the quality of the transformers. Tube amp circuitry hasn't much changed in 70 years. Of course, anything electrical, even your TV or printer can have an "issue" and burn.

moonwatcher
471 posts
 

Only thing I can say about Fezz is that during a review in Stereophile of one of their amps, the guy found out that one channel was down about 3dB from the other one. He never figured out why but did the review anyway. This issue was hopefully a "one off" that is not indicative of the general quality Fezz devices have. I'd just want to know return policy and costs up front if necessary for any electronics I buy, just in case. 

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