Raven Black Night
The Black Night model is the flagship in TW Acoustic's product hierarchy and undoubtedly ranks among the best turntables in the world. Its development leverages the sonic refinement of the Raven AC and builds upon its strengths. The result is such brilliant detail and composure that many Raven AC owners have, over the years, invested in various upgrades to approximate the Black Night's sonic character.
The Black Night is based on a 60 mm high substructure milled from a solid block of aluminum. A 25 mm thick insert made of special plastic sits in a recess in this platform, precisely fitted and screwed into place. This insert acts as a damping element between the platform and the platter's substructure. Together, these components weigh approximately 30 kg. The entire base rests on four very stable feet, constructed with a ball-and-spring system, which further decouple the base from impact noise.
The Black Night bearing shaft is made of 16mm stainless steel with a stainless steel ball at the tip. The bronze bearing bushing is mounted in an elastomer; a special plastic bearing surface is located at its tip. As with the smaller models, a few drops of the supplied oil on the bearing shaft are sufficient for years of operation.
The 60 mm high platter of the Black Night is a special construction, requiring a highly complex manufacturing process. It consists of 40 mm thick solid copper, which must be meticulously shaped into a perfect circle, and a 20 mm thick base plate made of special plastic. The construction is challenging, in part, because it is normally impossible to simply screw two flattened discs together without creating a tiny groove at the edge. Visually, this combination is spectacular, and the sound is equally impressive. The platter weighs approximately 20 kg.
The Black Night comes with a special version of the 3-in-1 motor. The 10 kg motor housing is encased in its own solid aluminum plinth. It mirrors the Black Night's design and also rests on decoupling feet. The combination is a real eye-catcher and sonically surpasses even the excellent "regular" 3-in-1 motor housing.
The battery-powered motor controller for the Black Night will be released in 2019 in a new version with even greater capacity. While one battery bank is powering the turntable, the other is automatically charged. Visually, the current motor controller, with its spherical knobs, is somewhat more discreet than its predecessor.
The Black Night can accommodate four tonearms. It comes standard with a tonearm base compatible with the desired tonearm. The in-house Raven 10.5 or Raven 12 tonearms are highly recommended. Retrofitting tonearm bases is possible at any time.
A Raven Black Night turntable requires space for setup. A sturdy, two-tiered rack is a good choice. A footprint of 79 cm x 42 cm, capable of supporting up to 70 kg, is suitable. Please note that the turntable should be assembled by two people.
Technical Specifications:
- Width of base: 470 mm
- Depth of base: 420 mm
- Height from bottom of base to top of platter: 175 mm (Note: height will be higher with tonearm attached)
- Required installation width for base and motor: 790 mm
Testberichte
With the Raven Black Night, Thomas Woschnik has created his definitive turntable. Built to last, it boasts a timeless design developed from its function, exceptional practicality, and acoustic authority. The sound can be determined by the choice of cartridge; the turntable itself remains tonally neutral, providing a solid foundation for the very best.
Categoryling it within the sonic framework is difficult, as the Black Night seems to unite all opposing characteristics. One could call it neutral, but somehow that doesn't quite capture it. A new dimension, representing the sheer enjoyment factor, would have to be added.
- Knuth Zensen, FIDELITY, Ausgabe 5/2022
Considering that the "regular" Raven AC is already among the best turntables on the market, it's surprising that TW has managed to raise the bar even further. The Black Night performs with such authority and vividness that the number of serious competitors is likely minimal.
- Holger Barske, LP, Ausgabe 4/2009
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Music should touch you – with depth, dynamism, and soul. Our turntables, tonearms, and phono preamplifiers are designed to reproduce this emotion authentically. Every detail, every component is crafted with passion and precision to transform sound back into music – authentic, vibrant, and pure.
