Brinkmann turntables are considered by many as the ultimate turntable to own and this can partly be explained because of Helmut Brinkmann’s never ending search for the perfect illusion. Some say that perfect music playback is an illusion. Helmut Brinkmann however, leaves nothing to chance as he works on perfecting this illusion, thus making music playback as real as possible.
Each device, no matter whether a turntable or an amplifier, has a well defined function. Good design is the reduction of the ingredients to their most essential; ideally there is nothing to be found inside or elsewhere on a device that is not directly related to the device's function. Hence we conclude that each single part of the device, no matter how trivial, has an influence on sound. Yes, even the smallest screw. Mechanical engineering by Brinkmann, or the art of extracting colourful soundscapes from black vinyl.
Despite continued advances in digital playback, the vinyl record (in spite of its limitations) remains the foremost important music format in the world. This is also especially true for Brinkmann. As records are cut at precisely 33 1/3 revolutions per minute, they therefore must also be played back at exactly the same speed; otherwise pitch will be off. This explains the most important requirements for proper playback:
Accurate and consistent speed. Gentle groove tracing. High level of immunity from external and internal vibrations. Ultimate quietness and low friction of platter and tonearm bearing. Consider, however, that at Brinkmann, each and every component is optimized to work in synergy, hence your mileage with other components may vary. Put differently, at Brinkmann, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
The Brinkmann Audio Calvin Preamplifier is designed to give the experienced music lover control over selection of whatever digital or analog music sources with extremely short signal paths and...
Brinkmann's introduction to Marconi linestage:
A line stage has three duties. First, it switches the various sources. Second, it controls the playback volume. And third, it conditions the signal...
The »Edison« offers three separate phono inputs, each of which’s loading & gain can be adjusted by the remote control (the settings can be stored in memory), followed by switchable 1:1 input...
The Brinkmann Pi cartridge's Benz-Micro heritage was obvious from the get-go. The motor is built to Brinkmann's specifications by Benz-Micro and includes a Micro-Ridge stylus. The cantilever material...
The »10.5« is considered one of the best tonearms in the world and is used as a reference (and highly recommended) by magazines and reviewers alike throughout the world. The »10.5« is a true...
The Bardo is Brinkmann’s second direct or magnetic drive turntable. It was preceded by the Oasis (...
The »10.5« is considered one of the best tonearms in the world and is used as a reference (and highly recommended) by magazines and reviewers alike throughout the world. The »10.5« is a true...
Interesting details and upgrades:The standard model BARDO with the magnetic motor drive and platter of the Oasis turntable, with acrylic platter top and standard small metal housed power supply. It...
The BARDO features the magnetic motor drive and platter, an acrylic platter mat, the same spindle...
The most prominent feature of the »Oasis« turntable is most probably its direct drive mechanism. In our never-ending search to improve sound quality, we did not stop short of evaluating different...
The OASIS turntable platter is directly motor driven and so offers enormously quiet and stable...
The turntable platter is made from a massive block of a special aluminum that has low resonance because of a mixture of lead and copper. Supported by the 90mm strength of the plate and the firmly...
The turntable platter is made from a massive block of a special aluminum that has low resonance...
Gold Medal” for turntables from the “Image Hifi Millenium Awards
The »Anniversary« consists of a »Balance« turntable equipped with a new tonearm base which for the first time (in 25 years!) allows the use of 12-inch arms on this turntable. Add to this a »12.1« arm...
Helmut Brinkmann has optimized the »Anniversary« in many details such as:12.1" Brinkmann tonearm....
Nothing prepared me for last night's listening evening...
It's been many years since we started our Tuesday night listening sessions alternating between each of our homes.
Over the years we have had many memorable evenings trying out equipment that most people only read about in high-end audio magazines. However, nothing prepared me for last night's listening evening.
As a vinyl and music enthusiast and the owner of three highly regarded turntables I reluctantly agreed to look after your turntable while you move house. Unfortunately, for me, the Brinkman turntable has revealed that the journey isn't over yet. It's not the first time that you have done this to me but last night I expected an incremental improvement and we were stunned by what we heard.
I had expected to hear authority and detail but the musicality of this turntable took me by surprise. To hear such a clear and natural presentation of the music with realistic timbre, separation of instruments and voice and tremendous dynamics - well, it was like being at the musical event.
Another surprise was the impression that I had changed every component in my system. Even my Martin Logans decided to lift their performance and say "I like this turntable!" Gone was the sometimes bloated bass from the active bass unit and the imaging, timing, and speed were the best I've heard.
I could describe how cymbals, drums, bass, wind instruments and strings sounded and the way we were drawn into the words from singers - both contemporary and classical - but this misses the point. The music was presented as a whole with an even, realistic, and believable frequency response across the full spectrum with musical details I have never heard before.
It's interesting that the cartridge I use in my main turntable costs more than the Brinkman modified EMT fitted to the Anniversary Balance. The EMT certainly doesn't sound like a cheaper cartridge.
It is going to be a sad day when you return to pick up the Brinkman Balance and take it to your new home. I thought that looking after your Maserati while you were in Munich was as good as it gets but again I was wrong.
To think that we had one of only 25 examples of these engineering marvels playing in a modest room in Hamilton New Zealand was like a dream.
