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Raven Audio Nighthawk

So the scuttlbutt on the Raven integrated amps is pretty good. But just how good are they? Are they good when compared to other comparably priced tube integrateds? Or are they better than some heavy hitters?

I currently have a NOSvalves ST-45 amp paired with a Don Sachs Model 2 (latest version) preamp and I am extremely happy with this pairing. With that said, I guess there is nothing really that I'm looking to improve. But since we all know how this game goes, I just wonder how much better (or not) the Blackhawk III would be. Consolidating two pieces down to one chasis is an attractive idea too.

I would love to hear from you if you own a Nighthawk or Blackhawk or have auditioned one against something else. I know they offer a 45 day trial period, but from my calculations if I don't like it it will cost me close to 400.00 out of pocket once the dust settles. So I'd like to go into this with a warm fuzzy that it's pretty darn good.

Oz



ozzy62
mapman's avatar
mapman
23,600 posts
 
What is so embarrassing exactly? Trying to represent all people like you signed up to do and the job requires? Trying to do the right thing knowing you won’t please everybody? Being respectful to others and their differing views and perspectives? Not being "perfect"? Leveraging science and expertise of others properly to try and solve big problems and make people's lives better? Not being a know-it-all? A 60%+ approval rating?
ozzy62's avatar
ozzy62 OP
3,710 posts
 
If you don't know, you're beyond help. Let it go and stick to audio.
bigkidz
3,504 posts
 
This is the exact reason to make sure your product is tested in various system especially 100db systems where you can hear tube noise, static, hum, noise, etc., and fix it before you ship a product out.  Last thing you want it to have people complaining about your product no matter how good it may be.  Noise can be fixed cheaply if yuo know what you are doing.
willgolf
964 posts
 

Ozzy, good luck  in your audio journey.  I was really looking forward to your review.  I really wish you could have at least demo'd the Raven and taken advantage of the return policy if needed.  But I understand your concerns. It is my strong opinion in the 3-4k price range no amp is world beater.  The Raven was just tremendous sound and value for the money.  
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
The guys at Raven should ship that amp to @millercarbon free of charge. 

I think it would be wonderful if Dave would ship me Ozzy62's amp for review. Would be such fun to write everything I am sure it will be, including trouble free. Provide a great opportunity to explore just how much damage some of the low-life complainers around here do to our economy and the audio community as a whole. Not that any of them will care. They will go right on fabricating stories about problems they never had (three different ones flat out made up stories while I was waiting for my Moabs, I am sure that is what is going on with at least one of them here) and exaggerating problems that often as not they themselves contributed to. 

Then at the end Dave sells the amp, I ship it to whoever. They are happy to get a tiny little discount on a beautiful amp fully burned in and vetted by one of the best, and Dave gets a full on review by one of the most credible and talented writers around. Plus I get to enjoy a Raven for a few weeks. Not that Dave needs the extra business, but it never hurts to burnish the ol' rep. 
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