July 2024

World Premiere Review!
Raven Audio Osprey MK3.1 Integrated Amplifier And Corvus Reference Monitors Review
Classic designs refined.
Review By Paul Schumann

  I grew up listening to music through my dad's Dynaco ST70. My Dad was a DIY guy; it was the best kit available in 1960. I inherited it and the matching PAS preamp my sophomore year of college. I then bought a pair of ADS L620 speakers to go with them. That kept me happy for 20 years. I eventually replaced my ailing Dynaco gear with a Jolida JD202 integrated. The Dynaco and Jolida were very similar, using EL34 pentodes in an ultra-linear configuration. A little later, the ADS speakers made way for the Thiel CS1.5s. These were both two-way bass-reflex speakers. In the last few years, my interest in lower-power amps and high-efficiency speakers has led me away from the pairings I had so long, but I will always have warm memories of listening to music with them.

Let the Show Begin
While attending the inaugural Southwest Audio Fest, I took an interest in the Raptor horn speakers I heard in the Raven Audio room. About one week after the show, I reached out to Dave Thompson of Raven to make arrangements for a review. Dave put me in touch with James Connell. James and I talked for a while and, based on my listening preferences, he thought I should review the Corvus Reference Monitors instead. As their name implies, these speakers are designed to be accurate enough to use in a studio setting. He also suggested I review their speakers with their Osprey Mk3 integrated amplifier. Only a week later, after battling some horrendous traffic, James delivered in person the Corvus Reference Monitors with stands, an Osprey Mk3 integrated, some speaker cable, a power cable, and a pair of interconnects.

The Corvus Reference Monitors use one 1.1" Ring-Radiator Tweeter (within a waveguide) and two 7" Poly Cone Woofers in a D'Appolito configuration. The boxes are sealed and filled with reticulated foam to control resonances. They have an efficiency of 91dB 2.83 V/1m and a very flat frequency response of 32 Hz to 28 kHz (+/-3dB).

The pair I reviewed were finished in a flat black, which looked great. The Osprey Mk3 integrated amp is a 30 WPC tube amp that uses four 12AT7 and two 12AU7 small-signal tubes and four 6L6GC pentodes on the output stage. The Osprey has five inputs and an RCA output for a sub. Five inputs are a luxury for an amplifier in this price range since high-quality five-way selector switches are costly.  A remote control for volume is also provided. The Osprey MK3 is beautifully finished in silver and black. This integrated amp looks and feels like a high-quality product.

Mixing Things Up
My music listening preferences are all over the map. Sometimes I go into phases where I listen to one genre exclusively for about a week before moving on. There are other times when I bounce all over the place. While I reviewed the Osprey-Corvus pairing, I was mixing things up.

I started with my vinyl of Kid AMnesia [XL Recordings – XL1166LP]. The second track of the third platter, "Pyramid Song" was incredibly spacious, While the piano and vocals were up front, and the rest of the instruments and sound effects swirled at the back of the soundstage. On "Knives Out", Phillip Selway's drums realistically filled the room. Who needs drum machines?

After some Radiohead, I was in the mood for Stravinsky, so I dropped The Firebird [Mercury – SR90226] on the Rega Planar 3. This piece starts with the basses and cellos rumbling ominously at pp for two measures before being joined by the violas. The Osprey-Corvus team captured the menace of this opening perfectly with its firm control in the bass region.

Later on, during "Supplication of the Firebird", the two clarinets carry a haunting melody. The Raven gear rendered the tone of these clarinets with haunting beauty. At the beginning of "Collapse of Kaschei's Palace", the French horn triumphantly enters with the final melody over the hushed violins. The Osprey-Corvus pairing delivered this moment with drama.

After The Firebird, I was ready to rock. I put on The Who's Tommy [MCA Records – MCA2-10005], one the first great rock operas. The first track on this album, "Overture", is an instrumental rock masterpiece. For most of the duration of this track, Pete's acoustic guitar is panned to the right and is crisp and clear. The illusion that Pete is sitting there picking and strumming is quite palpable. On the song "Tommy Can You Hear Me?", the multi-tracked vocals are beautifully spread out with each voice easily distinguishable.

Lizzie McAlpine is one of the newer artists I've fallen in love with. Since I came across it last year, I've regularly listened to her 2022 release five seconds flat [Harbour - B09SWRMSJN]. I even eagerly introduced her music to several vendors at the recent Southwest Audio Fest. (The folks in the Soundlab room loved her.) Her new album Older [Indigo Blue RCA on Qobuz] dropped on April 5th. While five seconds flat, featuring the breakout "Ceilings", is a decidedly pop album with elaborate production while Older is a more reflective outing.

Lizzie McApline is a superb artist who always writes from the heart. In the introductory song, "Elevator", the Raven duo renders the amazing quality of Lizzie's voice, a combination of angelic and majestic. On the third track, "Like It Tends To Do", Lizzie laments the growing emotional distance between her and her lover. Singing barely above a whisper, there is a defeated resignation in her voice. The entire album is beautifully recorded and the Raven gear did a great job portraying Ms. McAlpine's creative vision.

Improving on a Great Sound
As I said, I have previously listened to equipment like the Raven Osprey MK3.1 Integrated Amplifier and Corvus Reference Monitors. Having this pairing in my living room was almost like slipping on a pair of comfortable slippers. I said almost because the Raven equipment was much better at unveiling the inner workings of the music than what I had in my living room for so many years. The highs were cleaner, the mids more pristine, and the bass had more punch.

Yes, the Raven Osprey MK3.1 Integrated Amplifier and Corvus Reference Monitors use traditional designs, but they are much more refined than my past similar systems. Thanks, Raven Audio for bringing back memories of the past, but in a sharper focus.

Specifications
Osprey MK3.1 Integrated Amplifier
Type: Integrated Stereo Tube Amplifier
Output Power: 30 Watts per channel, two channels
Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz
Speaker terminals: 4 and 8 Ohm
Inputs: Five Stereo RCA inputs
Sub Output / Variable Out: RCA
Dimensions: 15.5" x 14" x 6.5" (WxDxH)
Weight: 35 lbs.
Price: $5695

Corvus Reference Monitor
Type: Monitor loudspeaker
Frequency Response: 32 Hz to 28 kHz (+/-3dB)
Drivers: 1.1" Ring-Radiator Tweeter and two 7" Poly Cone midrange / woofer
Sensitivity: 91dB/W/m
Impedance: 4 Ohms
Recommended Power: 20 Watt Raven tube amp; 100 Watt solid-state (300 Watt maximum)
Dimensions: 23.5" x 15" x 9.5" (HxDxW)
Weight: 46 lbs. 
Grille: Black cloth over a rigid frame; attaches securely with powerful magnets
Price: $12,500

Company Information
Raven Audio
Denman Lane
Trinity, TX 75862

Voice: (318) 703-4542
Website: www.RavenAudio.com