FS: F-117 Nighthawk Phono Stage - MC/MM Battery Powered

[Clive]

I have for sale my Ray Samuels F-117 Nighthawk phono stage. I've owned this from new. It's in great condition - the olny area of comment concerns the hex bolts on the front - they have lost some of their black paint, probably something to do with when the unit was originally assembled. I little black ink or dab of paint would sort it very easily. It's really minor....you can see a fair representation in the top photo. There are no scratches, the odd line is the photos is due to the brushed finish. The battery really does last a long time, for me it's a lot longer than a week. The charger has the original US plug so I'm including the US to UK adapter I've used.

There is info at the Ray Samuels site here: http://www.raysamuelsaudio.com/products/f-117.html

Review here: http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0410/ray_samuels_f_117_nighthawk.htm

It's a great sounding, quiet (battery) flexible phono stage. Small too.

It's new price is $795 and that's without duty/VAT & shipping. I'm selling mine for what I believe is a super bargain £230 including UK insured postage. Someone buy it before I see sense and put the price up! I'm selling in the spirit of trying to give a fellow enthusiast a bargain.

Specifications
Frequency Response: 5 Hz to100 KHz
SNR: 78 dB
THD: < 0.03%
Output Impedance: 60 ohms
L & R rotary switches with 6 gain increments, 40db to 74db.
L & R rotary switches with 6 loads: 30, 50, 100, 500, 1K & 47K ohms.
Power: Rechargeable Lithium ion battery good for ~6 days of playback @ 8 hours per day
Dimensions: 4.4 x 4.25 x 0.8 (WxDxH in inches)


http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e359/cmeakins/front_zpshjkjojv0.jpeg (http://s43.photobucket.com/user/cmeakins/media/front_zpshjkjojv0.jpeg.html)

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e359/cmeakins/rear_zps1bnfgrcf.jpeg (http://s43.photobucket.com/user/cmeakins/media/rear_zps1bnfgrcf.jpeg.html)

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e359/cmeakins/Top_zpsrwfltvey.jpeg (http://s43.photobucket.com/user/cmeakins/media/Top_zpsrwfltvey.jpeg.html)

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e359/cmeakins/package_zps3htiyo6y.jpeg (http://s43.photobucket.com/user/cmeakins/media/package_zps3htiyo6y.jpeg.html)

[struth]

Ah, the nighthawk... very nice bit of kit that...great price

[walpurgis]

I don't know that one Clive. It looks very versatile and well made. Nice item. A good price too.

[ianlenco]

Hi Clive, pm sent.

[opt817]

Hello Cllive, another PM sent to you.

[Clive]

SOLD for a song!

[ianlenco]

:dance:

[struth]

You,ll like that i think:)

[Firebottle]

:dance:

Good one Ian, it's got a very good rep.

[ianlenco]

Thanks, and thanks to Clive's excellent service I should have it tomorrow!

[Clive]

I'm missing it already!

[famoej]

Clive- Woiuld love this in my system- is it still available. I'm in US, but my partner is in London

Phil

[ianlenco]

Hi Phil,
It's happily ensconced in my system and it isn't going anywhere! Good luck with your hunt.

[blackstar]

I've never read a bad thing about the Nighthawk. You'll have to beat me to the next one Phil!

[Firebottle]

Hi Phil,
It's happily ensconced in my system and it isn't going anywhere! Good luck with your hunt.

Do give your opinion on it please Ian, i have only heard good things.

[ianlenco]

Basically it's an all round excellent phono stage. It has to be positioned carefully or it will pick up hum from other equipment but this is not hard to do. At Scalford we had a mini-shoot out against a Graham Slee Accession and a Schitt. The Schitt was a decent enough stage but not in the same league as the other two. The £935 Slee was very good but only its owner thought it better than the Nighthawk :lol: More recently I took it round to Keith's (itsKeith here) to try it with his Lenco/Audio Technica arm and Transfiguration cartridge, my World Designs amp and Keith's Audio Note E's. Using the WD KEL84 we started with his stage - an expensive Allnic valve one and the system sounded very good but I suggested the soundstage wasn't the best feature. Swapping in the Nighthawk everything came alive. Suddenly there was width, depth and a very noticeable amount of height to the soundstage and the bass became very powerful, really underpinning the music without swamping it. I left desperately wanting a pair of AN-E's but very pleased with the Nighthawk's performance. The last separate stage I owned was a Timestep T-01MC currently listed at £1250 and has had great reviews in the hifi press. Needless to say I'd rather have the Nighthawk anyday and if mine ever goes pop I'll happily rustle together the dollars to buy a new one.

Does that give you an idea of how much I like it Alan? :)

[walpurgis]

Every time a spot this thread's title. My immediate thought is that it's about aircraft!