Brinkmann 10.5 - How would you describe its sound?

rossb · Mar 4, 2022

I'm looking at trying a new tonearm on my PTP Solid 9. Currently I have an Audio Origami PU7 which is very good, but I am looking for a bit of a contrast.

On previous turntables I have owned an SME IV, Morch UP4 and DP6, AMG, Kuzma Stogi Ref (all versions), 4 Point 9 and 4 Point 11, and a few others.

I am looking for something fast and dynamic, but also tonally full sounding and three dimensional. The PU7 gets very close, but gives up a bit of tonal richness and depth for speed and dynamics.

For some reason the Brinkmann 10.5 has caught my interest. Has anyone been able to compare this arm to other known references, and how does it compare? How would you describe its sound? I have ready comments that it is very good, but also a suggestion that it may be a little lean sounding. Any thoughts?

Nemal1 · Mar 4, 2022

It’s fashioned (I believe) after the Breuer arm which was state of the art for its time.
Tom Fletcher updated this and produced the MDC800 “The Arm” which was (in his words) the best available until the SME V was released.
Being Swiss, the bearings will be outstanding, as will the sound quality. Not sure how compatible they will be with various cartridges so best to seek some advice.
I’d recommend a Triplanar but I am very biased haha!

shakti · Mar 4, 2022

will work fine with EMT cartridges.

rossb · Mar 4, 2022

Thanks for the comments.

I won't be using EMT cartridges, but mostly Ortofon - my Windfeld Ti and MC Jubilee.

The Swiss heritage is partly what appeals - it will be an aesthetic match for my Lenco-based turntable and Nagra phono stage. The 12g effective mass is perfect for my Ortofons. I also like the simplicity of its appearance.

The Groovemaster would have been a perfect option if its effective mass was not so high at 22g.

The Triplanar was also an arm I have been considering but from reading reviews and comments, I get the impression of a warmish sounding arm that gives up a bit of speed and dynamics for a more romantic type of sound. Of course, there is always a danger of drawing inferences from reviews, but has this been your experience with the Triplanar?

BruceD · Mar 4, 2022

Nemal1 said:
It’s fashioned (I believe) after the Breuer arm which was state of the art for its time.
Tom Fletcher updated this and produced the MDC800 “The Arm” which was (in his words) the best available until the SME V was released.
Being Swiss, the bearings will be outstanding, as will the sound quality. Not sure how compatible they will be with various cartridges so best to seek some advice.
I’d recommend a Triplanar but I am very biased haha!

I've owned 3 versions of the Breuers--the Brinkmann I've heard on numerous occasions and while it's a commendable and adequate arm

It ain't no Breuer

BruceD

gleeds · Mar 4, 2022

Biased but Durand Tosca should be on your shortlist. Have you considered mounting a linear tracker for something different ala a Bergman Odin? I believe the effective mass is 14.

IMHO, the man who has more experience than just about anyone with pivoted arms is Chris at Artisan Fidelity. Suggest you give him a call to discern the precise difference between them. Of course, he knows their specific characteristics when mounted on idlers drives since he's been updating them for a decade. Great times for an analog enthusiast with so much to choose from!

rossb · Mar 4, 2022

The Durand Tosca I'm sure is a great arm, but it is above my budget. I really don't want to spend more than around the price of the Brinkmann, less if possible.

A linear tracker is not really what I am looking for either - aesthetically I find them unappealing, particularly on an idler.

Thanks for the suggestions, however.

I am not in the US, but I may email Chris at Artisan Fidelity to get his views, although I am unlikely ever to be a customer of his.

rossb · Mar 4, 2022

Any thoughts on how a Schroder CB - the carbon fibre version - might compare?

wbass · Mar 5, 2022

Though I've certainly not heard or had hands on experience with as many arms as many on here, I do like my Schroeder CB-1L. I run it with a Koetsu Black, and it sounds great. I've also got a 4 Point 14, and I suspect it's the better arm (I've not swapped carts around to do a real test), but the Schroeder also impresses. And it couldn't be a more elegant design.

Chris at AF sells Schroeder, too, so I assume he endorses them. I don't think I've ever seen an unfavorable review of Frank's arms.

gleeds · Mar 5, 2022

Sorry, no direct experience on the Schroder arms but I will ask Chris and perhaps he will reply here. My sense is you should expand your question to include what your cartridge preferences are, what tonearm cable you are using etc. Building out your profile to include what the rest of your system consists of will also help the Members offer their experience more fully.

As always, good luck getting the exact sound you are after

gleeds · Mar 5, 2022

gleeds said:
Sorry, no direct experience on the Schroder arms but I will ask Chris and perhaps he will reply here. My sense is you should expand your question to include what your cartridge preferences are, what tonearm cable you are using etc. Building out your profile to include what the rest of your system consists of will also help the Members offer their experience more fully.

As always, good luck getting the exact sound you are after

My apology, in going back over your thread I see you listed your preferred cartridges are noted. It's early am in California.Time for a strong coffee or two!

gleeds · Mar 5, 2022

Re-post here:
My apology, in going back over your thread I see you listed your preferred cartridges are noted. It's early am in California. Time for a strong coffee or two!

benito · Mar 5, 2022

rossb said:
I'm looking at trying a new tonearm on my PTP Solid 9. Currently I have an Audio Origami PU7 which is very good, but I am looking for a bit of a contrast.

On previous turntables I have owned an SME IV, Morch UP4 and DP6, AMG, Kuzma Stogi Ref (all versions), 4 Point 9 and 4 Point 11, and a few others.

I am looking for something fast and dynamic, but also tonally full sounding and three dimensional. The PU7 gets very close, but gives up a bit of tonal richness and depth for speed and dynamics.

For some reason the Brinkmann 10.5 has caught my interest. Has anyone been able to compare this arm to other known references, and how does it compare? How would you describe its sound? I have ready comments that it is very good, but also a suggestion that it may be a little lean sounding. Any thoughts?

I have the 10.5 with a Lyra Skala cart. I am very happy with. Since I did not listen to the arm that you have listed, difficult to me to say something. Nevertheless, I found it very accurate, fast. Something I do not like is the SRA capabilities, it is just a screw that fix the arm to a certain height, no fly adjustment.

defride · Mar 5, 2022

rossb said:
I am looking for something fast and dynamic, but also tonally full sounding and three dimensional. The PU7 gets very close, but gives up a bit of tonal richness and depth for speed and dynamics.

I've a 10.5 on my Oasis, can it do fast and dynamic, I'd say yes and in a sympathetic system it can deliver three dimensional. I'm happy with mine in these respects. I've heard it in isolation with Hana ML, DL103 and Phasemation PP2000 carts, can't offer any opinion by comparison to other tonearms. Is it the finest tonearm available, probably not, is it the worst, far from it. As you'd expect/hope it's certainly sensitive to the entirety of it's environment

rossb · Mar 5, 2022

Thanks for the comments. It is always hard forming a view of what something will sound like based on reading other comments, much like cartridges. I think I will just have to take the risk and give it a try.

gleeds · Mar 5, 2022

Yes it can be but at the end of the day WBF is your friend

So, just got off with Chris if Artisan Fidelity. I have been an audio professional for nearly four decades and always go to Chris for advice when my direct listening and use experience does not reliably put me in a position to accurately answer the question.

His advice was as follows:
Your two best choices are the Kuzma 4 Point or the Schroeder. Functionally the Kuzma is the more easily and finitely adjustable and works brilliantly with a very wide range of cartridges including your Ortofon(s). The Schroeder, is also a Chris favorite and offers owners a variety of bits to dial in the arm and cartridge compatibility. It is, of course, a very simple and elegant arm, albeit requiring a bit more work to dial in. In his view, either one of the two arms referenced will substantially outperform your current arm or the Brinkman when mounted on your PTP.

Here's my POV.
If you don't mind fussing a bit more to dial in your arm the Schroeder would make an excellent, no risk adventure for you! It's simplicity and purity of purchase perfectly matches the gestalt of your PTP. Should you reach higher with a new deck in the future the Schroeder will make the shift up stream seamless. I also considered that you have owned Kuzma arms in the past so by all means try s different approach to tonearm philosophy and design. it's a great way to go!

Good luck and feel free to write anytime!

rossb · Mar 5, 2022

Thank you, that is extremely helpful, and I very much appreciate you speaking with Chris and getting his advice, as well as your own POV.

I have owned the 4 Point in the past and while it is undoubtedly a very good arm (of course) there was something about it that didn't quite gel with me.

But the Schroeder does sound like it would be a clear upgrade on all fronts, so I will look into that one. The local Schroeder distributor also happens to be Mark Dohmann, so I'm sure he will also have an interesting perspective.

thekong · Mar 5, 2022

Talking about the Schroeder CB, I wonder if anyone has compared the wooden and carbon fibre wand versions directly ?

Loheswaran · Apr 6, 2022

BruceD said:
I've owned 3 versions of the Breuers--the Brinkmann I've heard on numerous occasions and while it's a commendable and adequate arm

It ain't no Breuer

BruceD

Hi bruce

That's interesting. i say it because Les Wong formerly of Walrus Systems imported Breuer in the UK. He also was the UK importer for Brinkmann and he reckoned the Brinkmann was a better arm and that it could accommodate more cartridges.

All said i wonder if later Breuers were in fact inferior to earlier ones because Breuer was getting on quite a bit in the early 00's

i would like to know what others think?

I'm also curious about the merits of the sumiko mdc 800

thanks

BruceD · Apr 6, 2022

Loheswaran said:
Hi bruce

That's interesting. i say it because Les Wong formerly of Walrus Systems imported Breuer in the UK. He also was the UK importer for Brinkmann and he reckoned the Brinkmann was a better arm and that it could accommodate more cartridges.

All said i wonder if later Breuers were in fact inferior to earlier ones because Breuer was getting on quite a bit in the early 00's

i would like to know what others think?

I'm also curious about the merits of the sumiko mdc 800

thanks

Smart little group Walrus--them and Cornflake were/still are, probably the original"boutique" Audio outlets in the big Smoke!.

Yes LW is correct on the cartridge aspect plus accounting for maybe bit of tongue in cheek

--no measure in promoting an Arm you cannot obtain anymore-fair enough he is entitle to his opinion.

Last correspondence I had with Herr Breuer was about 10 years ago when he posted me a replacement loom for an Arm. he never encompassed the "modern " world with no Website/etc plus contact by mail only for customers outside of Switzerland.

You may have a point on timeline -all my ones were the Gold Tubing 5A's and 10's--I have not heard the black (coated?)versions.

The Fletcher MDC800 is an excellent Arm-- deserved of Cult status-easily the best thing Sumiko ever promoted

!

Good luck in your quest,

BruceD

Brinkmann 10.5 - How would you describe its sound?

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

VIP/Donor

Industry Expert

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Industry Expert

Industry Expert

Industry Expert

Well-Known Member

VIP/Donor

Well-Known Member

Industry Expert

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

VIP/Donor

Similar threads