Spatial Audio Raven Preamp

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

@phono2024 Congratulations on the new Raven preamp!  You have a very nice system. It's interesting that you "cannot comprehend what soundstage, depth, separation, air, fast bass, music floating in the air..."  I get all of those things to a greater or lesser extent and my Raven preamp is connected to a Pass Labs X350.5 amp which is a warmer sounding amp. It is rare for me to hear any music actually coming from the speakers (Verity Audio Parsifal Encore) as the sound source; the soundstage is open, deep, wide, holographic and as transparent and extended as the Pass amp will allow. I was curious what a more neutral amp like the Tyr mono blocks might sound like.  I have a feeling your system will open up with more hours on the preamp.  I also have Paul Speltz best XLR's and Triode Wire Lab speaker cables in my system.  Thanks for posting your impressions of the Raven preamp!

I would suggest you just try running your DAC straight into the Raven to compare. You may be surprised at what you hear. Just give it a try. 
 

Hi jc4659,

Thank you. It is a very nice set up. Yes, I cannot comprehend those terms, like layered. What makes the music layered? Fast bass, what is fast? Anyway, I don't analyze but only listen and enjoy the music. 

The Yamaha AS2100 integrated is already very good - clarity, accuracy and detailed. But the addition of the Tyrs made the music sounded better and livelier. For example, Chopin's Nocturne in C Minor, one can hear the immediate impact of the hammer hitting on the piano cords and decay with the Tyrs. Now with the Raven paired with the Tyrs, it is even better sounding. According to Jason Stoddard of Schiit, the Tyrs has a huge choke (old school) not capacitors to store power for transient needs and reduce ripple (technically I don't understand this) but the sound coming from the Tyrs tells me it is very good - power and control. According to a contributor in the Tyr forum, the Tyr's performance is at the dartZeel NHB 108 level. I have never heard the sound of the dartZeel but the price tells you something. US$53,000 2022. The Tyr is good enough for me.

One caveat on the Tyrs - some experience a hum. Mine had a very low hum and hiss when I first got it (ears 1 inch away from the tweeter and woofer drivers). I checked with Schiit and was told it is normal for an amplifier with this power. Anyway, after a few months, the hum was gone, with only a very very low hiss (white noise?), audible when I place my ear an inch away from the tweeter. Silent when I moved away. I guess it got burned in. For details and reviews on Tyr, check their website. Read the FAQs. Brings a smile on a not so good day.

Cheers

@phono2024

Congratulations on your new equipment. Thank you for your report. It is great to hear when someone is very happy with their new equipment and the music it produces.