Brinkman Balance Comparisons

I have the Brinkmann LaGrange and Brinkmann arm and have listened to numerous cartridges with it, including the Brinkmann EMT, the Koetsu Rosewood Signature Platinum, and Van den Hul Colibri. (I also used the arm and cartridge with a Brinkmann Balance for a time; I tried the Triplanar with that table and went for the Brinkmann instead) Neither I nor anyone else has ever heard the "strange midrange hump" Vetterone refers to--of course, I use a different preamp (Shindo Catherine, as well as an Audiotrium 23 step up) and different amps, speakers and cables, and have a different room (and ears). I have never heard the Bernings and the MBL 111s but based on published information about the Berning's output impedance and the MBL's impedance one might suspect some frequency anomalies centered around 1000hz (which is not to say they don't sound good together)

Do you prefer the lagrange to the balance?

I havent heard any mid range hump with mine ;) With the correct loading its neutrality is startling.

I just looked at (and listened to) the TW Raven AC yesterday. Boy...it is DROP DEAD GORGEOUS!!!!!
A small footprint and it does not take up too much real estate, simple to use and set up (I am not too sure why it's so expensive...guess it's the material?), and although it has a DC motor it uses a filter or controller plugged into your wall so not batteries!!

The sound? Well this is where it is difficult to evaluate.
I was listening to different speakers, per-amp, amp, cartridge, arm etc....and I felt the sound was clear, clean and a bit (and I mean bit) too heavy on the bottom.
Not too sure where that was coming from. However, compared to my ARIES/10.5 arm I have to believe this is a winning table (along with the Glaibier-Glavia).
Oh, the decisions......!!!!!!!!!

Do you prefer the lagrange to the balance

The LaGrange and Balance are slightly different, but I got the LaGrange because I wanted to run two arms. I am not unhappy with my decision

Rick,

The Raven definitely does not have too much bass. If you hear a bass hump it will either be the tonearm match with the compliance of the cartridge. It could be the system but that you will know comparing it to a CD source you are familiar with.

I have played with 3 arms on mine and noticed that you hear everything you put into your system. This means that if the arm has a certain signature it will show. If the cartridge exacerbates the signature of the arm then it will show more. More likely than not if the arm is not high enough in mass the bass will become muddy. If the arm and cartridge match is truly synergistic it will shine. I honestly believe that everyone here wondering if the Brinkman Balance, LaGrange, Galiber or TW Acustic are better or worse are spliting hairs as they are all top flight. It is a matter of design and flexibility at this level. The Raven sound can be changed by the addition of a mat. So can the Balance. In the end of the day the bearing is the most critical. The bearing needs to optimized to the weight of the platter etc.

PS the Raven manufacturing process is a full in house operation. Thomas (the designer of the Raven) does not want to farm anything out to reduce cost as this will reduce quality. His bearing and bearing sleaves are made one at a time and matched. This means you can not just replace the bearing. You must replace both if you damage it (it is almost impossible to damage). You should look at the TW website.

Also, there is a lot of exceptional audio equipment that has long waiting list due to the fact that they are made in house and the quality control is at a very high level.