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Brinkman Balance Comparisons

For those who have the Brinkman or compared it to others please chime in. How does it compare to the Avid, TW Raven AC and SME 30? I heard the Raven AC has been compared to the Brinkman in Germany extensively. any thoughts? Also, how critical is a good support stand to achieve it's perfromance?

Thanks for your help,

Andrew
aoliviero
xactaudio's avatar
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xactaudio
156 posts
 
Hi Gladstone,
I hope to hear one of Chris' DD tables in my room next year. I think they are just coming on line production wise. We will see.
I have inspected/heard the Grand Prix tables and listened to Alvin Lloyd explain his newest creation several times at shows but that is all I can say for sure except that I really like the carbon fibre look. My guess, and only a guess, is that they lack the mass to take full advantage of the direct drive. Would love to have one to try in my room, but until then, I will admire from afar.
cjfrbw
148 posts
 
SME 30/2 with IV-VI arm is the best source I have heard. Comparisons across systems and cartridges are probably not valid, but everybody does it anyway, and I would say within the limitations of this kind comparison, the SME 30 is better than the full bore Shindo Garrard and a Rockport Sirius III I heard in far more expensive systems. However, some listeners don't want something that doesn't add or subtract to the signal, they want something that "adds" in a euphonic way, so your mileage and taste may vary.
cjfrbw
148 posts
 
I like the Audio Federation's blog on high end turntable comparison. Their take is that above the $20,000 retail threshold, the difference between high end turntables could be accounted for by adding or subtracting a "tweak" from the system i.e. changing phono cartridges, phono stages etc. With this in mind, all of those turntables would be more or less equivalent in sound quality with minor qualitative or subjective differences. This would make the Brinkmann table with arm and tubed power supply in that kind of estimation just about the best retail "bargain" amongst the various and sundry high end turntables, since it tends to come in at that retail price point. Maybe the Raven, HRX, SME 20, Avid etc. would be "two tweaks" away from this league, which would mean a lot could be equalized by system dependence and synergy.
The Audio Federation blog wasn't entirely impressed by the Caliburn, for instance.
pcosta
241 posts
 
Having owned a SME 30/2 for close to four years, I know it well. I know have a TW Acustic and think it is just as good if not better in some areas, such as pitch stability.
I find it more enjoyable to listen to musically and it was much less money even with buying the SME used. Perhaps the ony advantage the SME has over the Raven is the built in isolation, but still the TW is very quiet and it take a lot to upset the TW.
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pitchperfectaudio
6 posts
 
Hi Carl,

You completely negated everything you said in your comments regarding system and cartridges and how everything is different, and tough to compare - so how can you then say the SME30 is 'better' than the Shindo 301? The fact that I've taken in an SME 30, Kuzma Reference and two Brinkmans in trade toward Shindo 301 Player Systems this year alone, is testament to a particular quality the Shindo has that no other table does.

Sincerely,
-Matt
pitch perfect audio, LLC
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