Raven Black Night

The table will retail for around $40K. It has some very novel features. I didn't want to post as it would come across as advertising but since some are asking let me go for it. What is a forum for but to share information. That is how I find out about a lot of new product before it is "formally released".

The motor is a different implementation that what has been done in the past. The motor is 3 motors in an individual housing w. both a/c & d/c battery supplied power. Imagine the motors looking like a second baby turntable to the side of the table. Due to the new motor implementation and more massive platter the speed stability is incredible. I would assume the Black Night has increased detail, more top end air and an increase in dynamics. From what I understand the platter doesn't lose speed for several revolutions even after the motor is turned off. It also includes newly designed isolation feet for the turntable that are proprietary and made in house. The plinth is made from a solid block of anodized aluminum. The platter is mostly copper and weighs (if I remember correctly) 50 lbs. The table has something that I consider critical for most VTA tweekers out there. VTA is adjustable from the turntable with zero variation in HTA while adjusting VTA. This for me is the “cats meow”.
It is hard to imagine something being better than the Raven AC but the Black Night is so over engineered that it leaves me lusting. Maybe one day but this is an off year for me. My focus is room treatements, and little doodads (spelling?)

Sonofjim,

I don't doubt the Galibier tables are very nice. But there are a few major differences. These include material selection, certain motor calibration and syncronization differences, and lastly the main point is the bearing. TW uses a very different bearing than every other table that I know of. Also, the adjustable VTA is critical for me. This will help w. some tonearm that are difficult to do repeatable VTA or any VTA such as SMEs, Schroder loses a bit of HTA on adjustment, and my Ikeda which is so difficult to do as it is just a locking collar to move up & down freely.

Pcosta,

I understand the bearing to be mostly similar on the Black Night w. a slight change to accomodate the increased weight. I know the inner part of the bearing is changed compared to the Raven AC. The part inside the platter. I forget what material is used.

Also voicing of the turntable has a lot to do w. cartridge selection and phono stage, preamp etc. I am in the middle of a love affair w. the Colibri.

Sonofjim,

Since I have never personally compared the two tables I would have no comment about anything other than basic engineering principles and design. That is why I consider the Galibier nice. No criticism intended.

My love of TW is based on how it sounds in my system compared to my previous turntable. Also, how easily I hear the differences between cartridges and even the slight changes in VTF, VTA etc I make. Also, multiple comparisons of Mats, arms, cartridges between me & some friends w. the same turntable often came to similar conclusions. These comparisons have allowed me to form my own conclusions about what I consider to be a good product without even listening to it. Of course I love the looks and design etc. It is all about what suits you the consumer.

Mind you, even for amplification, tonearm design etc. etc, a lot con be determined by knowing a bit about the companies sonic bias / house sound and what approaches they use in their design. If you know that it suits you then often you will like other products from the same company. Also, you might like products that from other manufacturers that they use as well. But... there are times where an upgrade isn't necessarily an upgrade. I have experienced that a few times and have learned from it. Quite often in cartridges and more often in digital. The upgrade is just different. The product that lets you hear those differences is critical.

No the arm itself can be raised & lowered at the arm pillar. Some designs, when you change the VTA, the arm's HTA shifts. I don't want to criticize designs but some top arms have this problem. The arm loses its position of pivot to spindle and thereby you need to realign your cartridge at the null points again. I know changing VTA does change some parameters, but what I am referring to is tonear design limits. I need to see the final implementation but for me to change VTA easily & repeatably on an SME V for example or an Ikeda would be great in locking in the "ideal" vta for a specific cartridge.