Raven III (Showroom Unit)

"When I got [the position of the speakers] nailed in perfectly, I was really impressed with the full range quality of the sound. [It was] very, very coherent and seamless and the tone quality of this speaker. Whether I was playing electric or acoustic music, it just seemed very natural and organic. Yeah, it just pulled me in to the music.

...The craftmanship in this speaker is exquisite. I love the look of this speaker, it's so simple and so elegant. It's easy on the eyes and exudes quality. "

Watch the entire review here

"Speaking of finishes, the American walnut boxes had even more color, depth and texture in the grain than I remembered with the other two pairs. There are honey-brown highlights in this wood grain that are stunning, and I couldn’t imagine selecting a more beautiful solid-wood enclosure to grace the inside of my listening room. Christopher said he was still using the same source for the walnut, but there will still be differences from tree to tree. This tree, however, must have been glorious in its time.

There’s just one more thing about the wood on the Fern and Roby Raven IIIs. When you touch it, it isn’t perfectly smooth and glossy and hand-rubbed with 44 layers of lacquer. When I said texture, I meant it. You can feel the wood, the grain, the nearly imperceptible heat and energy that comes off the surface. That gives the Raven III a slightly rustic air to it, but it’s rustic like a ranch in Telluride is rustic. It’s rustic opulence, which is a wonderful thing and that’s why these Raven speakers form such a quick personal connection with me.

...

The Fern and Roby Raven III had a more direct approach to my heart. It makes an extraordinary argument for single driver speakers. It’s nicely proportioned and looks fantastic in my listening room. [The Ravens] made friends with every amp it met, which isn’t always the case with high-efficiency transducers. Best of all, it did what the other two Ravens did—I connected with them so deeply that I started thinking about all the things they would add to my life if I went in this direction rather than a more conventional high-end audio path.

Because I can imagine that life so easily, with these friends always nearby, the Fern and Roby Raven III is highly recommended."

There is something so classic about a walnut-encased full-range driver loudspeaker. The Fern And Roby Raven III tap into a look and sound that will appeal to many. It does forgo some of the typical audiophile exterior for a more mid century vibe, but sonically it is so much more than a simple talking piece. It does a fair amount of talking all itself. Midband resolution and a relaxed yet refined delivery produce a good vibe, along with an easy-to-like tonality that harkens back to hifi days of yore. The 94 dB efficiency will allow it to tap into even more old school tech like low-wattage tube amplification. It’s a stellar package that highlights a nice evolution for the brand. Well done

"I just heard [the Raven IIIs] at Axpona 2024 and was blown away. Entirely unique sound and highly recommended. An excellent reminder that you have to hear the gear before you decide what to buy. I loved them."