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.
My sincere thanks for sharing this with me.
David B.
