Raven Blackhawk LE... am I going to be disappointed?

@b_limo
So you came back over to the dark side, good for you :) A friend in common shared the news about your incoming Raven. I was about to send you a note to say this, just saw your reply and was about to share thoughts like 1) it will sound very nice, and 2) and won’t go super loud or dynamic. Seems you’ve discovered this already. Your 4-6ohm 88db Salks will definitely benefit from more power IF you still like to listen to music loud. If not, may require getting use to listening at lower levels.
Tip: make sure you are in love with the Raven amp before parting with your Salks for other more efficient speakers. Dave at Raven needs to get with the program and build some affordable KT88 60-80w monos for speakers like yours. Enjoy the tube listening again!

Do not change to KT150s without doing a bunch of research on this tube type. I thought, for my garage system , that the extra power of the KT120s was worth the slight loss of humanity. I have never used KT150s, but have heard a number of users as well as manufacturers that dont like this tube.

To sound their best, the KT150 tube needs to be utilized in an amplifier and circuit designed with higher plate voltage and hefty transformers. 

Sounds completely different in my current amps specifically designed and built to run KT150s properly. Gotta hear the difference to understand and appreciate it.  

If it does not work out as hoped and you want to keep your speakers, trade-up. If you like Raven, the "Shadow MK" amplifier paired with a really good preamp w/two sets of pre-outs would get the job done! AND you get to keep the lovely sounding Salk speakers. Best of Luck.

https://www.ravenaudio.com/product/shadow-mk2/

Its definitely a preference kinda thing. I much prefer lower sensitivity speakers in the 90-93db range when paired with the right tube amplifier(s). It can be a more forgiving and less forced type of sound.

Did the low-watt triode thing with 95+ db efficient (shouty) speakers. An entirely different type of presentation if that’s what you are in to. People with low-watt amps tend to rotate a lot of speakers.

@b_limo  Hey where is the Salk Veracity speakers for sale ad? Thought you listed them... 

Was looking to send the link to a buddy to buy them from you and put them with a pair of his really good tube mono amps.  

@b_limo Im keeping the salks thankfully.  I think I would have been disappointed with the finish and drivers on the tektons.  I more than likely would have liked the sound but...

Good for you and smart move.  Maybe its time for some worthy mono tube or ss amps with a good tube preamp to make those Salks sing properly. Check with JS he was testing different tube amps last time I corresponded with him. 

The nice thing about QS Silver 88s is you can run a variety of output tubes in them. With my QS Mono 120s I’m limited to KT150s or KT120s, higher plate voltages. With really good tubes and upgraded coupling caps, the 88s can hold their own against many tube amps at 2x the price. Not your super fast super dynamic snappy amps with high damping factor some people crave. Best to stay with solid state amps for that. All mono KT88 tube goodness for sure with these :)