Hello Folks,
I received my Raven a few weeks ago and I now have about 50 hours on it. I want to share my listening joy of the Raven. Caveat: I don't write very well and hence may not be able to describe with the right choice of words.
My setup is as follows:
Laptop and Yamaha CDS 700 player (transport only) into Schiit Yggdrasil Analog 2 DAC into Schiit Lokius EQ into Schiit Loki Max EQ into Raven preamp into Schiit Tyr Monoblocks. XLR interconnects throughout. Digital coax cable Belden 1694A. Schiit PYST Straight Wire USB AB cable. Speakers Clayton Shaw OB Caladans 93dB. Power cords Anticables Level 3. Interconnects Snake Oil Sound XLRs and SEs. Speaker wires Anticables Level 3.1.
The Caladans OB speakers have about 400 hours on it and placed 5 feet away from the back wall and about 20 inches from the side wall, slightly towed in. Listening spot is about 9 feet from the speakers.
The EQs are used to cut bass response and this tightens the bass (I like it). It is by-passed if not required. The equipment is plugged into 2 surge protectors (4 power cords on each surge protector). No power conditioners or regenerators or other fancy expensive exotic power cords or interconnects or speaker wires (I would rather use the money to buy the Blackbirds Mono Blocks or other good equipment).
The Raven is fitted with Ray Tube Reserve 6SN7.
2) My other setup is using the Yamaha AS2100 integrated amplifier (used as a preamp, SE) into Schiit Tyr Mono Blocks. All else in the chain is the same.
3) There is no room treatment. Just gypsum drywall, a few pots of indoor plants and paintings. Living room measures 25ft (L), 13 ft (W), 8ft (H) It is L shaped. I don't hear any echo when we speak in the room.
Both set ups (the Raven and Yamaha AS2100 integrated amplifier) are very good: there is clarity, accuracy, excellent vocals, and tight bass (can tell a bass guitar, double bass, kick drum). With about 50 hours on the Raven, this setup however sounded more natural, a lovely smoothness, more musically pleasing, clarity without the hard edge. It just sounds just right and real. For some recordings, I hear a different sound presentation that I think should be the correct sound of the instrument. The vocals are really really good, with the right texture (especially CDs with very good recordings). Both male and female vocals are exceptional eg Nat King Cole, Karen Carpenter. Jazz and classical recordings sounded superb. The sound of the piano is so real (of course not like the sound of an actual piano in the room but close).
Opera female vocals in Mozart's composition - Le nozze di Figaro - Canzonetta sull'aria on the Raven is so good I cannot find the words to describe it. The Raven is able to control the high pitch without breaking and sounded just right. You cannot hear anything else in the background, just her vocals. It is so good that I replayed the same track a few times over and over and yet my ears felt so good. The Yamaha AS2100 is also able to do it but somehow the Raven is just so natural and sounded better. That's how good the Raven is.
This Raven set up is also able to handle superbly Sand's Airlock (Still Born Alive album 2001 Track 1 - noise genre). This is a very complex but opulent recording. Yes, it is all noise but beautiful noise that carries you away, over 6 minutes of it. Love it when the air valve is turned off towards the end of the recording. I think few set ups can handle this piece of recording well. It was really noise sounding before I got the Caladans and Raven.
I really cannot comprehend what soundstage, depth, separation, air, fast bass, music floating in the air, and many other terms that are described by other audiophiles in forums.
All I know is the sound of the Raven is just right.
Cheers
