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The Ultimate MC/MM phono stage, F-117, Nighthawk... - Page 4  

post #46 of 210
1/15/10 at 10:56pm
I know that the phonostage will be at Skylabs house tomorrow morning for a review day
Looking forward to hearing his thoughts!

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post #47 of 210
1/16/10 at 10:59am
Quote:
Originally Posted by shaizada View Post
I know that the phonostage will be at Skylabs house tomorrow morning for a review day
Looking forward to hearing his thoughts!
I'm looking forward to hearing it!!!!
post #48 of 210
1/17/10 at 1:08am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skylab View Post
I'm looking forward to hearing it!!!!
I can't wait to hear your first impression, especially with the LPS cartridge since its the same one I have.

Did you find a setting that optimize it?
post #49 of 210
1/17/10 at 11:55am
Ray brought the Nighthawk over yesterday, and we listened to a couple records, and then after he left I fiddled around with it a bit more, to try a few different settings, but I settled on what I originally used. I then just enjoyed a bunch of records for several hours

I liked the sound best with the loading at 100 ohms, and the gain at the second highest (which was PLENTY of gain). In my system, the Nighthawk was very quiet - quieter than my current combo of the tubed Audio Electronics PH1 DJH and Denon step-up transformer.

My complete review will come later, but initial results show the Nighthawk to be an outstanding product. It offers a clear, grain-free, neutral presentation that is never harsh, but is nicely detailed. It was actually pretty amazing that such a small, inexpensive phono preamp can sound so good in the context of my system which includes a pretty high end turntable/cartridge front-end, and high-end electronics and loudspeakers...and the Nighthawk was right at home.

More later - but the Nighthawk is a winner of a product - of this there is no doubt in my mind.
post #50 of 210
1/17/10 at 4:15pm
Thanks for the feedback! Hopefully Ray's chassis guys comes through soon. I guess I get a nice preview at the end of the month when Rays flies down for the Orange County meet.
post #51 of 210
1/17/10 at 4:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skylab View Post
Ray brought the Nighthawk over yesterday, and we listened to a couple records, and then after he left I fiddled around with it a bit more, to try a few different settings, but I settled on what I originally used. I then just enjoyed a bunch of records for several hours

I liked the sound best with the loading at 100 ohms, and the gain at the second highest (which was PLENTY of gain). In my system, the Nighthawk was very quiet - quieter than my current combo of the tubed Audio Electronics PH1 DJH and Denon step-up transformer.

My complete review will come later, but initial results show the Nighthawk to be an outstanding product. It offers a clear, grain-free, neutral presentation that is never harsh, but is nicely detailed. It was actually pretty amazing that such a small, inexpensive phono preamp can sound so good in the context of my system which includes a pretty high end turntable/cartridge front-end, and high-end electronics and loudspeakers...and the Nighthawk was right at home.

More later - but the Nighthawk is a winner of a product - of this there is no doubt in my mind.
Cool. Thanks for the update! Is your impression that it performs above what you previously could get in the same price range, and how much do you guess you'd have to spend to beat it? Can it stay plugged in all the time for forgetful people like me who don't always turn small gear off so as to preserve the battery power?
post #52 of 210
1/17/10 at 5:00pm
I can't wait to hear this thing in my Analog rig. If it does in fact sound better than my current phono, I'm going to be able to buy more audio goodies. A Stax setup maybe or some HD800 and PS1000's...it's been a while since I've gotten a chance to spend without guilt! Maybe some JH16s Beyer T1?
post #53 of 210
1/17/10 at 5:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict View Post
Cool. Thanks for the update! Is your impression that it performs above what you previously could get in the same price range, and how much do you guess you'd have to spend to beat it? Can it stay plugged in all the time for forgetful people like me who don't always turn small gear off so as to preserve the battery power?
It is my impression so far that it performs above it's price class - for SS you'd have to spend at least double to beat it - from memory, it sounds as good as the Simaudio Moon LP 5.3 I had (and in my system it's quieter).

You CANNOT leave it plugged in, though. It will only operate with the charger disconnected.
post #54 of 210
1/17/10 at 6:19pm
Ray,
Are you planing to make balanced version of F-117? That would end my search for phono stage dead cold. Please let my wish come ture!

That thing is a classy beauty.

Quote:
Originally Posted by mattcalf View Post
Beautiful amp named after a beautiful plane, depending on price point this might be the push I need to get into vinyl.

Nice work Ray.
Something about the airplane. F-117 had already retired form US Military last year, for being too expensive to maintain service and unreliable black radar absorbing paint. They have to be strip and repainted every half to one year or so depent on combat condition. Those paint job/material are very very expensive! B2 bomber have similar issue too.

Also Polits don't really like to fly them compare to other combat airplanes.

So people should order silver one
post #55 of 210
1/17/10 at 11:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skylab View Post
You CANNOT leave it plugged in, though. It will only operate with the charger disconnected.
That is very inconvenient. There should be auto/manual switch of some kind to cut power. So I don't have to dive under my audio rack every time looking for power the plug.
post #56 of 210
1/17/10 at 11:38pm
I believe it works 8 to 10 days if used 8 hours a day on one charge. If it can do even half of that, I don't think it will be much of a problem. I also believe the battery gets charged up to full in 1 hour. I'm sure Ray will chime in further.
post #57 of 210
1/18/10 at 1:11am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skylab View Post
My complete review will come later, but initial results show the Nighthawk to be an outstanding product. It offers a clear, grain-free, neutral presentation that is never harsh, but is nicely detailed. It was actually pretty amazing that such a small, inexpensive phono preamp can sound so good in the context of my system which includes a pretty high end turntable/cartridge front-end, and high-end electronics and loudspeakers...and the Nighthawk was right at home.
Hi Skylab,

I know that there is no way to comment on how the Nighthawk will sound on every turntable, arm, and cartridge combination. In your review, perhaps you can nevertheless comment on and/or speculate how the preamp might sound with a Linn Sondek LP12 set-up like many of us have. My Lingo'd LP12, for example, has an Linn Ekos tonearm and a Lyra Helikon cartridge. I am wondering how this combination would sound with the Nighthawk.
post #58 of 210
1/18/10 at 7:23am
Speculate on the sound? I think that is too difficult if not downright impossible to describe.
post #59 of 210
1/18/10 at 8:13am
Quote:
Originally Posted by shaizada View Post
Speculate on the sound? I think that is too difficult if not downright impossible to describe.
Yeah, "speculate" probably isn't the best word. Just wondering about how the preamp would sound in a Linn set-up. You're right, to take something to be true on the basis of insufficient evidence - that is "speculate" - is not a good idea. Good pick up shaizada.
post #60 of 210
1/18/10 at 9:05am
Quote:
Originally Posted by vo_obgyn View Post
Yeah, "speculate" probably isn't the best word. Just wondering about how the preamp would sound in a Linn set-up. You're right, to take something to be true on the basis of insufficient evidence - that is "speculate" - is not a good idea. Good pick up shaizada.
By the way, you have excellent equipment taste...just checked your profile
If you get this phono stage, I'd love to hear your thoughts in comparison to the Herron Phonostage you have right now.
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