Raven LS

*Turntable only

The Raven LS model is a 2020 development that pursued two goals: The high-end turntable should accommodate up to four tonearms while simultaneously fitting on a standard-sized hi-fi rack.

We implemented several clever solutions to fulfill these requirements. To allow the model to be smaller than the Raven AC2 or even the Raven Black Night, the complex motor control system is housed inside the solid plinth, milled from a single piece of aluminum. A modified Pabst motor is also located here, very close to the platter. The unit is operated via spring-loaded metal knobs on the front panel.

The platter rests on the tried-and-tested bearing design also used in the larger models: A 16 mm diameter stainless steel pin with a stainless steel ball pressed into its top sits securely in a stainless steel ring on the plinth, which is anchored with six screws. However, the owner only sees this construction when changing the bearing oil every few years, because the platter appears to rotate without any air gap inside the plinth.

With its 28-kilogram aluminum plinth, the Raven LS has a solid foundation. It rests on four stainless steel feet that are finely height-adjustable. The platter, with its sandwich construction, is similar to the Raven AC2. It consists of a solid copper top and a base made of a special version of POM plastic with high internal damping. At its center, a phosphor bronze bearing bushing with a hard plastic bearing surface is centered on rubber rings. This design has proven itself over decades and is considered virtually indestructible. The platter weighs 12 kilograms.

For the straightforward installation of new tonearms, the Raven LS features the innovative solution first developed for the Raven GT2. The tonearm base has various mounting holes designed for ten common tonearm geometries, allowing for precise adjustments in seconds. Other lengths can also be accommodated by rotating the tonearm base. Users who decide to replace their tonearm can simply swap out the aluminum insert of the tonearm base without needing a new base. The Raven LS also offers space for four tonearm bases, so owners are not limited to a single tonearm-cartridge combination.

But that's not all. The Raven LS wouldn't be a "new" Raven if we hadn't taken things a step further. Based on our experience with the larger turntable models, we've come up with two additional upgrades for the motor and platter. A model like the Raven Black Night benefits enormously from the 3-motor drive, where a microcontroller provides the DC motors with a precise clock speed. However, this solution, if implemented correctly, requires a lot of space. The Raven LS utilizes the solid plinth and allows for the attachment of an additional motor module with two motors at the rear. By means of a longer belt that is wrapped around the three-motor assembly, the Raven LS's permanently installed motor reverses its direction of rotation. The external motor unit, like the base, is milled from a solid block of aluminum. Only an Allen key is required for the upgrade, and installation takes just a few minutes. The effect is clearly audible, even if practically immeasurable.

Upgrading to the "large" platter, which can be retrofitted, offers a clear sonic improvement. This platter is similar in design to the flagship Raven Black Night model, weighs a modest 23 kilograms, and features a solid copper plate several centimeters thick. Ordering this upgrade at the same time as the turntable can save you a little money.