45 DAY RISK-FREE GUARANTEE
Are you on the fence about whether or not a Raven Audio tube amp can truly make a difference in your sound? We understand your concern. The best way to know is to try one of our stereo tube amps in your system and hear for yourself. We’re so confident that you’ll love the sound, we’ll give you 45 days to try it. If you decide you’re not in love, just send it back for a full refund, minus shipping.
“One of the finest tube integrated amps I’ve ever heard, regardless of the price!”
~Steve Huff – stevehuffphoto.com
“This integrated amp from Raven, the Nighthawk MKIII, is one of the finest tube integrated amps I have heard, regardless of price. It’s all about the sound right? If so, and you want a human kind of experience with your audio…and by that I mean you want rich, full, 3D, detailed, huge sound that sounds real, organic, human and delicate all at the same time..you must hear a Raven amp.
It’s not just me. Search around the internet for Raven audio opinions and reviews. User opinions and reviewers alike are praising this brand up and down. I tell it like it is, and IMO this company surpasses the likes of Cary Audio, Ayon Audio, and many others when it comes to what you get for the money. “
The Nighthawk Personality
The 20wpc Nighthawk Integrated Stereo Tube Amplifier is Raven Audio’s entry-level amplifier, your taste of tubes on a budget. It handles digital and analog with a no compromising wideband, smooth, detailed and accurate sound. Unlike many stereo tube amplifiers, there is no roll-off in the high frequencies or “fog” which negatively affects high-end detail. You will hear everything that is in the recording but, with pure tube glory. Twenty watts per channel may not sound like a lot of power to some but, in terms of driving speakers, it is equivalent to a high quality one hundred-watt per channel solid-state amplifier.
Engineering expertise from our fifty thousand dollar Shaman Mono amplifier has been employed in the Avian Series in several places. This means bass will be articulate and fast! Raven Avian Series Integrated amplifiers are self-biasing; you never have to adjust tubes for a perfect match.
*Volume Remote Control Included
Click Here to download manual
American Made
Did we mention Raven is American-made? This is directly related to our core culture at Raven Audio. Our quality of construction and sound quality standards means that we must manufacture in America. We hold our partners to the highest level of quality requirements which means we have to be physically near every part of the manufacturing process.
High-Pass Crossover
This addition to the Avian series provides an extraordinary advantage when using a subwoofer. It frees the power amp from 65% of the load it normally has to bear. This is like tripling the power of the amplifier in terms of its ability to drive speakers. It also frees smaller speakers from reproducing low bass frequencies that they really don’t reproduce very well which lowers overall distortion. This is all achieved with a gentle 6db per octave slope making it easy to achieve a seamless transition with a good quality subwoofer.
Proprietary output/power transformers
Because power and audio transformers are essential to the Avian series design, custom transformers for both electrical power and audio had to be designed. Again, these are built in the U.S.A and are designed to last a lifetime.
Studio-Grade Connectors
All of our MK3.1 series Avian integrated amplifiers have upgraded non-pc board studio-grade RCA connectors made by Neutrik for Raven Audio. The copper and other metal alloy combination are the same as Neurtik’s high-end XLR connectors that are in all of the best recording studios in the world. Each connector is individually hand soldered.
Our speaker binding posts are constructed in the same way. They accept banana, spade, and bare wire as large as 8 gauge.
Features and Specifications
| Output | 20wpc |
|---|---|
| Frequency response | 20Hz ~ 20kHz |
| Speaker terminals | 4 and 8 ohm |
| Inputs | 5 Stereo RCA inputs |
| Sub output / variable out | 1 Stereo RCA |
| Recommended speaker sensitivity | 85dB and greater |
| Dimensions | W 15.5" x D 14" x H 6.5" |
| Weight | 35lbs |
| Tube Complement | |
|---|---|
| 2 x 12AT7 - Preamplifier stage | |
| 2 x 12AT7 - Power amplifier first stage | |
| 2 x 12AU7 - Phase inverter/driver | |
| 4 x 6L6GC - Power tubes | |
| Self-biasing (never needs adjustment) |
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7 reviews for Nighthawk MK3.1 Integrated Tube Amplifier
Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review.
Jim Milton – Secrets of Home Theater & HiFi –
Best tube amp under $3,000!
Dennis Bridges –
I have never written about a product before. However, I love this Nighthawk amp so much, I just wanted to let you guys at Raven know that it is my favorite peace of high-end audio gear that I have ever owned. I have always been a solid-state guy and I have owned Mac, Carver, Creek, Linn, and a couple of others. A friend of mine let me listen to his new Mac integrated hybrid. It was my first experience with tubes. The sound was so warm. I loved it.
A friend told me to look into Raven Audio. So, I began talks with Dave Thomson at Raven. He taught me a lot about tubes and the tube sound. He sent me a Nighthawk MK3 to try for 45 days. He said, “if you don’t like it, send it back”. Well, you are not getting this one back! My Zu speakers never sounded so good. The mid’s and hi’s were so much warmer. The bass was tight. Side by side with the Rouge Sphinx and the Mac… this amp just sounded better. I have since got a few other tubes and love changing them up for different music. All I can say is… give it a try. You won’t be sorry and if you don’t like it you can always send it back if not happy. Thanks to James and Bryant also. This is a great company. It’s easy to reach them anytime and Dave is just a great guy.
dcurtis53 –
I just recently purchased the Nighthawk MK3 and shortly thereafter upgraded to the Blackhawk Mk3 and am very impressed to say the least. I am presently running the Brimar Yellow T tubes in row 1, the Valvo tubes in row 2 and Amperex Bugle Boy 12au7’s in row 3. What clarity, dynamics, soundstage and musical involvement this amplifier brings. It has made my Tekton Enzo XL’s rise to new heights! I believe the Blackhawk is the finest most musical amplifier I’ve owned in my 50 years of chasing this wonderful hobby. I have had some very nice amplifiers including Vac Sigma, Leben, Einstein, Prima Luna and MacIntosh to name of few and I wouldn’t trade the Blackhawk MK3 for any of them!!
allears4u –
Many of us music lovers dream of owning a fine stereo system. We read reviews, visit shops, wander web sites learning, wondering, and wishing. Choices abound…speakers, vinyl, cables, streaming. On each part of my system, I’ve foolishly spent money walking up product lines, discarding often at a loss the half steps until I reach the point of diminishing returns. Buying component after component my old AV receiver was finally left as the obvious weak link. I also knew I couldn’t afford to take missteps since my money would fail me. I really needed to choose the right amp in one shot. Embarrassing as it seems now, I thought I’d made up my mind several times only to read another review which either scared me off or lead me in another direction.
Rogue Audio, Line Magnetic, Leben, Primaluna all caught my attention at one time or another. With each of these stereo tube amplifiers, I obsessively read and reread every review available. I studied each website. My spending limit was to be something shy of $5000. Then I read of Raven Audio. Reviews were excellent but limited in quantity. However, their entry-level amp was only about $3000. And more good news…this amp could be traded in for full credit as an upgrade within a year to move up the product line! Additionally, if it was a complete bomb I could return it for a refund (minus shipping ) within 45 days. I was skeptical it wouldn’t be as good as reviews were saying. Three weeks ago I ordered one. (Thanks for all the help Bryant W.)
I’ve been increasingly amazed as it breaks in. If I had any doubts about this choice (I didn’t), last night while listening, my wife exclaimed, “How can that sound like this?” She was pointing at Raven Audio’s Nighthawk MK3 Integrated Tube Amplifier. We are both mystified how a mere collection of electronic circuits can produce human singing so life-like, so indescribably believable! Does break in make a difference? The first day I got it my wife said from the kitchen, “I don’t hear any difference from the old one!” A week ago she said from the office, “It sounds like he’s playing in our living room!” Referring to the cello we were listening to!
Look, buy this thing. You’ve been dreaming of this sound. You’ve obsessed long enough. The search is over. Do it.
mikeknj1 –
I recently purchased a pair of Raven Audio Celest’ Tower Speakers as part of a package that included a Raven Nighthawk MK3 integrated amp and Soniquil cables. I have had both for around 2 weeks now. The main reason for the purchase was that the room in my new house would not accommodate my existing system. We were using my wife’s 70’s vintage Sony receiver with a set of Wharfedale 225 speakers until I could redo my system.
When everything arrived at first I set up the Nighthawk with the Wharfedale speakers and played a break-in disk for a day. When I started to play music the sound was markedly improved over what it had been. The Nighthawk made the small speakers really fill the room with sound. They throw a front to back 3d soundstage. That told me I was really going to hear something special when I hooked up the Celest’ speakers.
Several days later I hooked up the Celest’ speakers and ran the break-in disk. When I started to play music I could hear not just a front to back sound stage, but also quite a large side to side sound stage. Playing vocals such as John Pizarelli and Jane Monheit the speakers gave a presentation that made you feel that they were in the room right in front of you. I agree with others who say that lyrics really stand out. The music is quite transparent.
For the size drivers, the speakers have bass is very tight and solid. I played the Dave Brubeck Time Out recording and the dynamics were quite impressive. There was more of a separation between the bass and the drums than I had ever heard. It was not just low-frequency notes, but a distinct difference between the bass and drums in terms of timber and location in the sound stage. Latin recording such as the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra are presented in a very dynamic and fluid way. The percussion instruments stand out not just in sound, but in space at the correct height. The air around the instruments is more realistic than I have ever heard in my own home.
I know that Raven offers a 45 day return policy, but this is one person who decided in the first week that they were keepers. If they are not fully broken in, then when they are I can definitely say I will by more than satisfied.
Thanks to everyone at Raven who helped with this purchase.
mikeknj1 –
I recently purchased a pair of Celest’ Tower Speakers as part of a package that included a Nighthawk MK3 amp and Soniquil cables. I have both for around 2 week’s now. The main reason for purchase was that the room in my new house would not accommodate my existing system. We were using my wife’s 70’s vintage Sony receiver with a set of Wharfedale 225 speakers until I could redo my system.
When everything arrived at first I setup the Nighthawk with the Wharfedale speakers and played a break-in disk for a day. When I started to play music the sound was markedly improved over what it had been. The Nighthawk made the small speakers really fill the room with sound. They throw a front to back 3d soundstage. That told me I was really going to hear something special when I hooked up the Celest’ speakers.
Several days later I hooked up the Celest’ speakers and ran the break-in disk. When I started to play music I could hear not just a front to back sound stage, but also quite a large side to side sound stage. Playing vocals such as John Pizarelli and Jane Monheit the speakers gave a presentation that made you feel that they were in the room right in front of you. I agree with others who say that lyrics really stand out. The music is quite transparent.
For the size drivers the speakers have the base is very tight and solid. I played the Dave Brubeck Time Out recording and the dynamics were quite impressive. There was more of a separation between the bass and the drums than I had ever heard. I was not just low frequency notes, but a distinct difference between the bass and drums in terms of timber and location in the sound stage. Latin recording such as the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra are presented in a very dynamic and fluid way. The percussion instruments stand out not just in sound, but in space at the correct height. The air around the instruments is more realistic than I have ever heard in my own home.
I know that Raven offers a 45 day return policy, but this is one person who decided in the first week that they were keepers. If they are not fully broken in, then when they are I can definitely say I will by more than satisfied.
Thanks to everyone at Raven who helped with this purchase.
allears4u –
This past March I sent in a review of my new Nighthawk Integrated Amp. Five stars came easy then being way better than the McIntosh, Crown, and Cambridge Audio I once lived with. It has been almost seven months now since that review and i’ve got to report my opinion AFTER a thorough break in. WOW!!!! The realism is startling/shocking/stunning. Each instrument and singer comes from its own place, distinctly heard in its own texture and environment. Before, music sounded great but was all colored with a similar hue. Now, each part of the music stands cleanly in its own acoustic world. Instruments have an edge, depth, and crispness that rings of reality. Since I own the Klipsch LaScala’s let me hasten to add that the bass has not only gotten louder but fuller, lower, and lusciously mellow. (Got rid of my sub, don’t need it any longer) Crazy good. Super satisfied and continually amazed.