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Casual Listening Attempt #2 Brinkmann Audio

Ok the first attempt was a non starter, personally not a fan of the VPI Prime.
This happened to come available from a local seller off the used market, and he happens to be the fellow I bought my Esoteric E-03 phono stage from. The pre-owned market offers a lot of value to a financially challenged swine such as myself.

So its a 5 year old Brinkmann Bardo, with a couple of missing options. It does not have the upgraded crystal glass mat and screw on clamp. It does however have an upgrade from the standard acrylic mat to the TTW carbon fiber mat, and the Harmonic Resolution System record weight. I have a Sota Reflex clamp here as well as their I-Clamp, and will be making some comparisons to see if there are any notable differences to be had.

Tone arm will be the Audiomods Series Six, and either an Ortofon A90 or a ZYX 4D cartridge.

My Technics SP 10 MK II and Denon DP 75 went to different homes, but it appears I could not completely kick my direct drive habit. Pick the table up tomorrow, and hopefully have it spinning in the evening. If not, then Sunday morning for sure.

Pretty compact table which is good for me, as it has to share the top of my credenza with the SOTA Cosmos Eclipse and the Well Tempered Reference tables.
neonknight

Showing 4 responses by neonknight

neonknight OP
413 posts
 
Was a share. I am curious to see how this works out as its design is a bit different than my SP10 MK II or DP75. 

Would be nice to find a source for alternate arm boards, especially those made from different materials. Have struck out finding any though. 
neonknight OP
413 posts
 
I have the micrometer option. Its great for small vta changes.
neonknight OP
413 posts
 
Just roughed in the set up this afternoon. Installed the ZYX first but its a bit spirited on this table. Put the Ortofon A90 on it and its a very nice sound. Excellent combination of refinement, smoothness, and detail. This ia not a table/arm combination that appreciates forward cartridges. It wants texture, fullness, and presence in a cartridge. It appears it likes the A90, I bet it works well with a Shelter or Miyabi.
neonknight OP
413 posts
 
So this afternoon I moved the table off the Graham Slee Accension and Elevator phono stage. Moved that combo over to a Well Tempered Reference with Ikeda 9 Kawami cartridge, which I know works very well together. 

I then installed the Brinkmann/Audiomods/A90 onto the Esoteric E-03. This is a combination that plays well together. There is a bid more body in the lower mids, the bass response is really filled in, and the top end is more refined. This is a nice combination, and I am enjoying what I am hearing. 

This is a great table for what it sells for on the used market. Maybe not a lot of visual chops, but it gets it done in regarding to spinning a record. 
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