Motor Controller ugrade for Raven One Turntable

I continue to be amazed at how many responses you can get that have nothing to do with the question that you asked. I just asked if anyone had tried replacing the standard motor controller with the AC controller. I only got 2 reponses that even came close to answering my question.

I spoke with Jeff from Highwater Sound today. The "upgraded" motor controller for the Raven One is the same motor controller used with the Raven AC. It is larger and heavier than the Raven One controller. The motor controller does more than just control the speed of the platter. It has 10,000 times the capacitance of the One's controller. Jeff says the Raven One has more detail, a larger soundstage, and more dynamics with the AC motor controller. Better caps do make a difference. A friend of mine modded my Ayre phono stage with better caps (among other things) and the difference in the sound was dramatic (much more open, clear, and dynamic).

Jeff has never steered me wrong. I will go for the AC motor controller as soon as funds allow.

Thanks for your response Elinor.

Thank you very much Jim! Finally someone who has actually experienced listening to both controllers. Thank you for letting me know your findings. Dev, you have a point about my post. Posting on Audiogon these days is like being on the witness stand in a trial. You have to watch everything you say or the wolves will attack. I can remember when people really tried to help each other . These days they just say you are stupid for liking this product or that brand of equipment.

I agree, Jeff is a great guy to deal with. I met him a few years ago at RMAF. He has never pushed me to buy anything. I have owned several VPI tables, the last being a Aries 2. It was a very nice table, but not as good as the Raven One (in my opinion). The Raven has a blacker background due to the very quiet motor. I plan on trying the AC motor controller in the near future based on Jeff's suggestion. By asking this question, I am in no way questioning Jeff's knowledge or opinion of the AC motor controller/Raven One table. My only reason for asking this question was to seen if others had tried this and what differences they heard. Others may not care for the Raven tables (eveyone has a right to their opinion), but I have been in this hobby for 30+ years and I have learned to trust my own ears and take everything I hear from others with a grain of salt.

Hi Lewm, There are usually only a few reasons someone bad mouths a high quality product line such as the TW Acustic turntables. Many times a dealer of competing products will chime in on a post and bad mouth the product being discussed. Someone may have an ax to grind with the manufacturer for some unknown reason. I don't know the reason for such negative comments on this thread, but many people have hidden adgendas. TW Acustic tables may not be your cup of tea, but to say they are a good starter table is a ridiculous statement. Many of these people have probably not even heard a Raven table in there own system.