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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   ?  
vinylnostalgic

Showing 5 responses by dcevans

dcevans
178 posts
 
I second the front ported 8 ohm Focal Aria 906.  I would not pair that great tube integrated amp with a 4 ohm speaker period. The amp will take away the brightness of the tweeter. Great pairing for that medium-sized room. 
dcevans
178 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
178 posts
 
I know that Raven pairs the Avian series integrated amps with their own Celeste, a 4 ohm speaker with higher sensitivity of I believe 90 dB/1 m, and supposedly it is a great pairing. They claim the high current of the amp can drive speakers with a sensitivity of 85 dB/1 m ... so maybe you can get away with the Sonetto. You definitely need a front ported or sealed speaker. Sonus Faber in general tend to be tipped to the yin (warmer in presentation) I believe, and paired with a tube integrated might be too much of a good thing. If you cannot listen to the speakers, the Focal to me seems like a much safer bet. 
dcevans
178 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.
dcevans
178 posts
 
The OP is noticeably absent. The great and almighty MC has spoken. If the Raven is neutral, and he would know, maybe look to the Aerial Acoustic 5T or Sonus Faber to get the warm sound you desire
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