Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.
Product Strengths
- Designed with simplicity and economy in materials, resulting in a stark and striking look that avoids superfluity
- A sense of precision and luxury in both operation and overall design
- The tonearm's effective mass of 14gm makes it compatible with a wide variety of contemporary MC cartridges
- The VTA adjuster operates smoothly and precisely, enabling VTA tuning by ear on the fly
- Exceptional clarity, sparkle, and organic flow, bringing out inner detail and natural flow from note to note
Product Considerations
- The arm-lift assembly seems out of keeping with TW-Acustic's usual level of quality, its tiny screws may work loose
- The headshell feels delicate and requires caution during cartridge mounting to protect the black anodizing
- No lock protects the arm in the rest position, so some care is required
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Tri-Planar Mk.VII Ultimate II: The Raven 10.5 has better imaging, transient agility, snap, and precision, while the Tri-Planar had the edge in soundstaging depth and breadth, and its calibrated tower and vernier dial make VTA adjustments much more easily repeatable
Takeaway: The Raven 10.5 tonearm provides exceptional clarity, speed and precision, letting listeners easily hear differences between recordings. It offers a direct mechanical connection in the analog chain for a purer signal and more visceral musical experience.
What are hifi reviews useful for? (1) Identifying products you should demo in person at a dealer. (2) Learning which products reviewers unanimously praise as the best they've heard (this means they probably are legitimately great). (3) Identifying a product's attributes that satisfy your idiosyncratic needs and tastes. Beyond that, we often discount what reviewers say because they heap praise on most products—and are often apprehensive about publishing strong criticism or comparisons between products. Further, they seldom have more than a few products on-hand, often relying on their memories to compare past products. Always listen for yourself.
All
Raven 10.5
reviews
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An excellent review of a great product
/
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
An excellent review of a great product
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
Video Review
Manufacturer details
Features
Specifications
- Effective length: 267 mm (10.5 inch)
- Mounting distance: 251.2 mm
- Overhang: 15.8 mm
- Offset angle: 20.5 degrees
- Geometry: Löfgren B drawn on IEC radii
- Null points: 70 mm (inner) and 117 mm (outer)
- Effective mass: 14 gr
- Bearing: Dual pivoted type - using high precision bearings
- Material: Special black anodised aluminium
- Counterweight material: stainless steel
- VTA adjustment: via VTA adjuster (+/- 5 mm)
- Azimuth adjustment: Via rotation of headshell
- Overhang adjustment: Via positioning of cartridge in headshell slots
- Antiskating: Magnetic Antiskate adjuster
Description
For a long time we have received enquiries about suitable and adequate tonearms for use with our Raven turntables. Until now, we have had to recommend the finest arms from other manufacturers. But finally, we build it. The arm was created in collaboration with the civil engineer Michael Wiedemann Dipl. Ing, who for several years has applied himself to the science of tonearm construction. The result is an arm that truly reflects the same philosophy as TW ACUSTIC turntables: simplicity and user-friendliness.
For a long time we have received enquiries about suitable and adequate tonearms for use with our Raven turntables. Until now, we have had to recommend the finest arms from other manufacturers. But finally, we build it. The arm was created in collaboration with the civil engineer Michael Wiedemann Dipl. Ing, who for several years has applied himself to the science of tonearm construction. The result is an arm that truly reflects the same philosophy as TW ACUSTIC turntables: simplicity and user-friendliness.
From the very beginning it was established that the concept would be a straight, pivoted-type arm. The rigorously selected precision bearings are ultra-precisely adjusted during the production process in order to eliminate any interference in the pick-up process through stiction. To keep effective mass to a minimum, the tonearm is predominantly constructed from a special black-anodised aluminium alloy which intrinsically ensures the necessary stiffness and torsional strength.
The effective mass is approximately 14g, which allows partnering with the majority of currently available MC and MM cartridges. This universal compatibility is further underlined by the inclusion of three different polished stainless steel counterweights as standard, allowing any cartridge with an operating weight of between 5g and 20g to be perfectly counterbalanced. Of course, thanks to its 4-hole fl...
From the very beginning it was established that the concept would be a straight, pivoted-type arm. The rigorously selected precision bearings are ultra-precisely adjusted during the production process in order to eliminate any interference in the pick-up process through stiction. To keep effective mass to a minimum, the tonearm is predominantly constructed from a special black-anodised aluminium alloy which intrinsically ensures the necessary stiffness and torsional strength.
The effective mass is approximately 14g, which allows partnering with the majority of currently available MC and MM cartridges. This universal compatibility is further underlined by the inclusion of three different polished stainless steel counterweights as standard, allowing any cartridge with an operating weight of between 5g and 20g to be perfectly counterbalanced. Of course, thanks to its 4-hole fl...
Release Timeline
Manufacturer Site
Brand highlights
Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:
Select products
Select product comparisons
Raven GT
- Positioning: A compact turntable engineered for dual-tonearm setups at a reasonable price.
- Description: Features a black anodised aluminium chassis and an extremely short belt design that achieves wow and flutter values as low as 0.02%, a technical achievement uncommon at entry-level. In comparison to the later models, it offers reliable performance and flexibility without the added complexity and cost found in the higher-end Raven AC, Black Night, and Anniversary series.
Raven AC
- Positioning: A mid-range model that introduces advanced motor control and multi-motor drive options.
- Description: Uses a three-motor drive with a highly precise motor control unit and finely toleranced pulleys, setting it apart from the GT's simpler design. Compared to both the GT and its successors, it strikes a balance by adding technical sophistication and improved drive stability while keeping costs moderate.
Raven Black Night
- Positioning: An upgraded version in the lineup that refines drive performance and stability.
- Description: Builds on the AC's innovations by offering further enhancements in motor control components and upgraded feet for improved vibration damping, ensuring a tighter tracking performance. Relative to the Anniversary, it focuses on practical improvements in drive precision and operational stability.
Raven Anniversary
- Positioning: The flagship model designed for buyers seeking top-tier technical performance and build quality.
- Description: Combines the advanced elements of the Raven AC and Black Night with premium materials and refined craftsmanship to maximize sonic accuracy and stability. In contrast to all other models in the lineup, it provides the most sophisticated drive mechanisms and structural design.
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Avg. Product Price
$500
Used For Sale
0
Available (Scroll Down)
Brand Popularity
517
of 900+
Badges
Top 50 Brand
Top 250 Brand
Products Listed
6
Founding Year
2004
Our take on the brand
TW Acustic is renowned for its meticulous engineering, particularly in their turntables which feature unique materials like jet-black compound plinths and copper-dust-enriched polyoxymethylene, developed over years of research. Their turntables use proprietary composite platters filled with special gel and capped with copper plates, while their power supplies are often battery-based to minimize interference from the power grid.
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