Addressing your question of hum and/or noise with Raven Nighthawk. Yes, at first noisy. Realized with Klipsch Lascalas sensitivity and Raven tube combo I needed to really isolate everything. We all know not to lace AC cords with speaker cables, etc. but with a Klipsch /Tube combo all that needs micro attention. Almost sent Raven back...then I moved the modem and wifi router further away from those amazing transformers at rear of the Nighthawk. SUCCESS! And wow...quiet, lush, warm, deep, organic....The modem and router were about 2 feet behind Raven...I should have known better. And may I add, YOU'VE NEVER KNOWN CUSTOMER SERVICE TIL YOU'VE DEALT WITH RAVEN AUDIO! Bryant W. put me in direct contact with their engineer James C. They all say call me anytime day or night. (I believe they mean it) If you have tube phobia like I had, fear no more. Tubes really do sound way better in realism. No....really better... |
Back in the old days...McIntosh (solid state only), Crown, Luxman, most recently the Cambridge Audio Azur 651r, (which has a direct mode to bypass all the crap circuitry of a AV receiver) ....I knew my amp was my one big weak spot. But I didn't want to repeat my normal practice of buying incrementally with slight upgrades spending a ton of money until I get sonically where I want to go.
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One of the downsides of being an audiophile is the tendency to OCD focus on the slightest flaws in reproduction quality. Yet that also is one of the upsides of this hobby. Refining the sound to meet one's expectations can be extremely satisfying. The fun of ordering upgrades with the expectation of delivery, adjusting gear, tweeking everything. This is the greatest, most rewarding hobby. IMO When I bought my Klipsch LaScalas I said I now had legs, when I bought my Yamaha S2100 CD player I said I had a brain, now with my Raven Nighthawk I have heart. Adding top interconnects and speaker wires has been done. Brothers, this combo simply blows my ears off. No incremental upgrade here. Tubes rule.... |
Raven Audio allows one to return a unit for full credit in exchange for buying up the product line within one year. I thought the Blackhawk sounded more like what I'd be satisfied with but the reviews claimed the Nighthawk was great so why not try it first? And it is really super....with stock tubes no less! I have some Brimars to try eventually. Call Raven Audio and get one to try. You'll be astonished. |
BIG NEWS....my Raven Nighthawk MKIII apparently has gotten broken in finally. Yes, I WAS impressed but now shocked. And something happened that I didn't EVER expect....my system now exceeds what I thought was even possible in any kit. We've all heard super systems at shows or private set ups in shops and thought "How can I get this sound at home?" only to be chasing an apparent mirage. I sit here now totally enthralled and not infrequently stunned at the realism being projected. (Yamaha CD player S2100, all Tellurium Q cabling, Klipsch LaScalas (bass is now super. Apparently was being limited by links, I've removed sub now. Unnecessary) AND then finally the tube integrated Raven Audio Nighthawk MKIII (self biasing, no adjusting. I was originally put off tubes because of hassle. No hassle here) Then there's this, Raven Dave is sending me hand picked tubes to upgrade my preamp section. Really? No one in China, Japan, or even California is going to do that! This company is above the top of the industry. No one else comes close. Find the reviews on line. This amp is true super high end. If you own LaScalas let me say they are capable of so much more being wedded to tubes with the Nighthawk. In musical dreamland ..... |
As to bass bypass... just follow the overly simple instructions in manual EXCEPT do NOT trying switching it back and forth while amp is on. TURN OFF before changing setting. The manual does say this but it bears repeating. With Raven off, and connect your sub(s), set bypass to on and the bass signal is bypassed through raven main speakers to bass sub unit, then turn on Raven. This relieves the amp from having to amplify those demanding lower frequencies and saves your power for mains. The lower frequencies are filtered from mains into sub(s) only. The Raven Nighthawk 20 watts will allow Klipsch LaScalas to be able to blast into rock concert volume WITHOUT using the bypass feature. (Not exaggerating at all!) Plenty of headroom. LaScala's are very low distortion at low volumes by the way. Saves ears! |
In answer to how I arrived at the Raven Nighthawk 1) Made in USA 2) Crazy good reviews 3) Total upgrade value within year (Or immediate refund) Primaluna, Leben, and Line Magnetic are made overseas. NOW I know that the personal service from Raven Audio in Texas is way above and beyond anything I've ever experienced from any dealer or audio manufacturer. These guys at Raven really care and help on a level which is simply unbelievable. Klipsch heritage line are hyper sensitive. When I first hooked everything up I had hum. My router, phone, and modem were are way too close to the amp. Once moved all was well. The tech called me to talk about the situation. Offered to ship back. Since then the owner Raven Dave has helped me get tubes, James has called, Bryant calls...Do Raven....these LaScala are totally blowing me away. (No subs necessary any more) Paul Klipsch would be proud....my Mullard preamp tubes up front are truly miraculous. Thanks Raven Dave.... |
The Triton 2's are rated at 92 @ 1 watt so...they are a tad hard to drive but (depending on your volume preference) they should be fine. Room size and brightness will also be a factor. (If you live in a 30' X 30' carpet store it could be a problem.) However, your relatively low efficiency speaker has the benefit of not picking up on the low level hum which can faintly be heard in dead quiet rooms with high efficiency speakers like Klipsch LaScalas. (104 @ 1 watt) I'm told a recent upgrade on the Nighthawk has lowered the noise floor. (Getting mine upgraded to Blackhawk-ish now) (New model is labeled the Nighthawk MK3i) I went from 175 watts RMS per channel to Nighthawk at 20....and let me say, the Raven seems to have more depth, slam, and sheer volume potential. Nighthawk gave me the human realism touch I have been searching for. |
Its a long story....worked at stereo store back in the day. McIntosh dealer, Nakamichi, etc. So we tried everything. Luxman was hot then too. Lived with McIntosh MC 2105 with Luxman C-1010 pre for quite a while. Crook stole my new Bang and Olufsen turntable and when cops almost got him he threw it in the river!!! Even so, he forgot to grab European DIN connecter. LOL Recently owned Cambridge Audio 651r which has direct bypass feature to skip AV junk circuitry. Owned a Class A power amp too but can't remember details. I had previously been afraid of tube stuff. (Not alone on that I don't think!) Anyway, Dave Thompson has personally hooked me up on tubes. Has made an amazing difference. He loves his Raven Heads! And let me say, for any American to try and build USA with all US parts is a commitment which deserves our admiration. The unscrupulous tactics from Chinese companies has changed my mind about buying USA products. (Besides Raven Audio customer service is tremendous.)
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Millercarbon is right again...per usual. I do listen to a wide variety of music, including some Rush, Grand Funk Railroad, J. Geils Band, Aerosmith, but who can beat some Antonio Carlos Jobin, Bebel Gilberto, and Maria Rita? Debussy can shine in amazing ways after some dark Shostakovich. Please don't leave out O2'L, Christine and the Queens, RBTSKT, or Supreme Beings of Leisure. The Raven Nighthawk has earned its 'street cred' with a barrage of eclectic challenges. My comfort zone includes the downtempo/acid jazz/dub chill genre: think Bugge Wesseltoft, Bittersweet, and Sweetback. However, mono LP's with Frank Sinatra and Don Scalatta Band are pure audiophile heaven (despite their often weird and uneven recording methods). My Yamaha S2100 CD player interacts well with the Nighthawk resulting in music so jarringly crisp and quick it often makes my head snap up in amazement. Tube rolling has revealed that the sound textures can be infinitely fine tuned to match personal taste and equipment synergy. This hobby has been a very rewarding one. |
Hey Stonecutter54...do call them. One of my biggest surprises was when my wife (listening from adjacent room) said, "It sounds like the cello is in the room!" She was stunned and coming into the room said (pointing at the Nighthawk Integrated amp) how can a machine create such lifelike realism? I knew I had made the right choice at that instant. I had achieved the audiophile's holy grail.... "Total Wife Approval" {TWA} I flew into the friendly skies of speculation "I wonder what upgrade I can scope out next?" Just Kidding.....wink wink |
