Dear friends: Controversies on the Raven here IMHO could be a little unfair for different reasons but was is unfortunated is that Rsf507 posted that always was interested and that after read this thread he will stay out of Raven!
IMHO we can't or is extremely hard to evaluate a TT as stand alone unit because the TT is only a link/part on a very wide audio chain where all those links in the chain are " culprit " of the final quality performance level.
We have to add here another critical subject and maybe this is the more important one: each one of us music/sound reproduction priorities/targets that normaly are not the same overall.
I know that some people like that german group Syntax always comes to almost any thread with an agenda as Dgdad posted and with Raven he as member of that german group always try to diminish in every way the Raven TT.
Now, one Raven " problem " that some of you are posting is that's unable to match the timeline speed accurately.
That could be or not ( some owners posted it match it. ) but I think there are other subjects that we have to take in count around what we are " hearing " or what we are experienced with our each one TTs:
as audiophiles IMHO no one of us know for sure if all the LPs we own were recorded accurately ( example. ) at 33.3333rpm or some one at 33.3332rpm or 33.34rpm and not only that but if were recorded accurately from the first groove through the last one in each LP.
Now, accuracy is a must to have on TT but as important is accuracy as is speed stability. Is it important that the Raven can runs at 33.3333....rpm? yes it is but in case it can't fulfil accurately and in case only can runs at: 33.33332rpm the most important issue here IMHO is not that speed unaccuracy but that that 33.33332rpm stay with out no single deviation in the short time ( groove after groove ) and through all the LP grooves.
I never had the opportunity to listen the Raven in my system but I heard it many times ( different models. ) and I can't say that something I don't like it was precisely because the Raven.
To follow blame the Raven IMHO do not help any one and could make more harm to some people like Rsf507.
There is no perfect TT and the Raven IMHO is way better than the stock MS RX-5000. I already posted why and one of the last posts here confirm it: Philb7777.
I have no agenda here as more of one here have it.
IMHO there is almost no engeeneering behind the RX-5000 other than " kilñograms " with no mercy. The motor was not made it by MS but Panasonic/Technics, the control unit electronics are really bad and that's why Philb7777 detected that the RX-5000 is worst on that speed subject than the Raven and I know is that way because I own the MS and I know several other RX-5000 ( I have to modify the electronics to stay in a decent way in that regards. ), the platter design is a " shame " for any TT, has no single way to dissipate any kind of resonances generated elsewhere: inside the TT and outside the TT ( kilograms does not works but only makes the things worst. Stupid kilograms!. ). The only " clever " characteristic on the MS is that cantilevered tonearm mount that gives facilities for almost any tonearm and four of them at the same time but because there is no " engeneering " behind the design they put those arm board in the worst place you can put on that design: exactly at the TT footers where those footers has no single way to damp nothing!!!
Yes, even that I own and respect MS items for its looking is one of the worst TT designs I saw in my audio life.
Anyway, Maril555 only can try something different on what he owns and with that target and as I already posted any alternative will be different for him and IMHO the Raven is a good one.
Regards and enjoy the music,
R.
