Brinkmann Bardo

Dual came out with the first and only EDS (electro-dynamic suspension) DD TT motor, for which they've never gotten any credit. Being an aerospace engineer, I can tell you this type is the only true magnetic direct drive motor. The Technics platter is nothing more than a magnet that sits in a rotor, is configured horizontally, which essentially becomes a standard motor stabilized by tach signals and OCD type electronics. The Technics motor suffers from pole jerking, magnetic drag, hysteresis, and requires a very large amount of power. The Dual EDS motor works like a modern magnetic railway. When the magnet is between 2 poles, the powers of the 2 poles are proportionate. In other words, if the magnet is dead center between the 2 poles, both poles will have 50% power, but if 80% of the magnet is over one pole and 20% of the other, the power is split 80/20 and so on in a linear fashion. It only requires 50 milliwatts of power to operate, since opposing magnets are the major force behind its propulsion. There is no need for quartz control. The hall sensors monitor the strength of the magnetic field within the system and hold stable regardless of fluctuating line voltage. A heavy platter is not required, and the technology of EDS actually allows the platter to (microscopically) levitate when it is operating, significantly reducing typical negative spindle and bearing contributions. This motor is dead silent. Unfortunately this EDS motor never received recognition and was very expensive for Dual to manufacture. At one time, Dual had 3000+ employees and completely made 100% of their own parts and motors in-house. To compete and save money, they "cheapened" newer motors and went along with the crowd of quartz control. BTW, the motor in the Dual CS5000 is an EDS type motor, although it provided belt drive. It seems that the Brinkmann DD motor is nothing more than a new type of Technics DD motor. The fact that the coils are not totally equidistant means it's "pushing" and "braking" in an un-uniform manner favoring one side. I beleive they bandaid and hide issues by the use of a heavy platter. I'm in no way discrediting other manufacturer’s contributions to DD TT technology. Technics may have been the first to the commercial market with DD, but Thorens developed and patented the first DD motor way back in 1929. With respect to the discussion of "magnetic direct drive", Dual was the pioneer and implementer of this type of DD motor. Technics and other manufacturers have nothing to do with this type of motor as their DD motors act more like stepper motors. So the correct timeline is Thorens invented the first DD motor, Technics was the first to market the DD TT, and Dual was the first, last, and only to invent and market the EDS magnetic DD motor for use in turntables.

Some history of direct drive turntables here.

I agree with Jonathan.

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AFAIK, the first direct-drive turntable to be launched as a product was not from Dual, but Technics - the SP-10 (Mk.I), which was introduced in 1969.

It could be that there were other direct-drives predating this, but at least I've not heard of any.

I agree that the Bardo is quite interesting, and as long as the platter has low or zero cogging, I won't quibble over Brinkmann's choice of terminology.

Incidentally, Brinkmann's tonearms are also exceptionally good-sounding, and are worth consideration.

hth, jonathan carr

Good to see some new DD on the market.
I think the "Magnetic drive" must the marketing department idea. As noted it's kind of rehashing of old tech but it sounds good or more sexy for the salesman.

Let's not forget the pioneers of this technology, the Dual EDS1000 / EDS1000-2 magnetic dd motor that they first introduced in '73. With 4 hall sensors, even though it isn't quartz controlled, it's rock steady, strong, dead silent, and shielded. Dual came out with this concept well before the others and was certainly on their drawing boards in the late 60's. 30+yrs later, they're still running spot on in decks. Japanese just copied. I too have had interest in the bardos (and oasis).

The Bardo is, in spirit, also close to the Sony BSL(brush/slot-less) coreless motor from the classic PS-X70 era and the subplatter has optical imprint just like Sony's magnetic imprint on the platter's inner rim. The coils' position on the Bardo is different from other DD motors though. All in all, I am happy to see a modern turntable manufacturer giving direct-drive a chance but I am somewhat irked by them having to market it as "magnetic drive." I don't care what fancy words you use, if the platter and motor share the same bearing, it is direct-drive!

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The coreless motor with the magnets on the underside of the subplatter is very much like the design of the motor in the Kenwood L07D. The SP10 Mk3 also has its huge magnet structure fixed to the underside of the platter, though the stator is not coreless. So the "magnetic drive system" is not so novel, but it's probably excellent.

Dbjain: "My initial impressions are that it grabs your attention and does not let you wander off in thoughts as you listen to music."

Excellent description as that's my impression with many direct-drive turntables regardless of brand. It has an intensity in the sound that motivates active listening, and when it's good it's more involving and when it's bad it can be fatiguing. I guess, just like anything in life, it's a matter of finding a balance in the result when implementing a technology. Such sonic description is the opposite of my impression with one particular low torque belt-drive turntable with a medium mass platter that I had to assist the start up with my finger; it was lazy sounding.

The Bardo sure looks well engineered and well built. I also like its compact size and modern look. From my experience with coreless motor, it can be one sweet machine...

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