BRINKMANN​
https://www.brinkmann-audio.de/
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We are pleased to announce the new BrinkmannPi (2023 revision) MC cartridge and Edison Mark 2 to complement our demo turntables and accessories (including the M3X base, TraNt and RonT Power Supplies with new BZ34 rectifier).
The revised and all-new Pi is mainly built in Germany by Brinkmann from parts sourced from the Swiss Benz brand. The result is a real bargain at £3,600 if this can be possible. We are demonstrating it with TranT, and 10.5 arm on an Oasis “magnetic drive” turntable, and Edison phono amplifier; in all £30,000 but the sonic impact is like live music from albums originating in the 1960’s. Mr Brinkmann’s vinyl replay system is second to none but costs a great deal less, like 25% of the exotica to which we aspire at Hi-Fi Shows.
I do sincerely apologise for this high-end when so many lovely people are struggling in broken Britain and I promise that we have some beautiful turntables, cartridges, and phonoamplifiers at surprisingly affordable price points. I’m thinking New Horizon, Gold Note and Pathos InTheGroove phono stage. And I am thinking of the Revox T700 StudioMaster at £3,500 with built in phono stage and cartridge.We never sell the High Street big brands owned by bigger corporations they are the products of badge engineering by accountants and marketing teams. Our manufacturers are designers.
January 2025
February 2025
AIRT AUDIO
From January 2025, Music Room ceased to distribute products and revert to our original business model. It is a trend that in fact we started over 25 years ago with Gryphon and JPS Labs, but now seems to me to bias advice and does not suit our small scale and lack of marketing clout.
Sharing our ethos of an audiophile business run by audiophiles for audiophiles our fellow Scot, Fraser Robertson, founder of KOG and now AIRT was the ideal partner and a deal was done! AIRT strike me as by far the UK’s leaders in terms of brands (each one desirable) and customer support (in every way). We will talk about their amazing LTNF.
I was surprised and shocked by the excellence of the Métronome CD/ SACD/ STREAMER AQWO2 in terms of its build quality, user interface, and did I mention the sound? With the newly revised (optional) tube analogue output stage (shipping from January 2025) it gave me a new high from CD and SACD. Yes, superior palpably, to much more expensive rivals, one of which I thought to be far ahead and untouchable. I’ll write a full review of the AQWO2 as she breaks in, available on request.
The company is proud of its artisan expertise commencing from its design collaboration of fellow French company Jadis. I would compare its sonic flavour to the fine foods and fashion we expect from France. On rock and classical music, the AQWO reproduced the least digital sound I have heard from CD. That’s remarkable at its price and given that in 2025 CDs and DACs are very, very advanced.
We also have on order from the company’s DIGITAL SHARING series, the most beautiful and astonishing streamer/ music network / DAC devices, not to mention the brand’s coveted Kalista.
Like AIRT, Music Room is not a box broker. You get all kinds of advice, insight, and experience which turns your boxes into music. Thus we are enthusiastic agents of Airt’s LTNF programme. By the way, Airt is a Scots word for compass or direction and LTNF stands for Lower The Noise Floor. It is crazy but most systems perform at 40% - 60% of potential because the signal and the sound are smeared by EMI, RFI, dirty mains, poor earthing, lossy interconnects, and by room acoustic resonances and reflections.
We have tried electronic correction and many acclaimed acoustic treatments which frankly are hit with a lot of miss; usually absorbing and diffracting sound waves solves some problems but takes life from the music. Airt introduced us to the Italian company, Acustica who Applicataagreed to explain and demonstrate. I’ll have a great deal more to learn, understand, and explain, but suffice to say that their devices are non obtrusive visually and fix problems without deadening the sound (throwing out baby with bathwater, signal with noise!) To repeat: it is not an abuse of absorbent foam!
We are out front in structural isolation (vibration control) with Lateral Audio (UK), Grand Prix Audio (USA) and bFly which is designed and made in Germany. But some new and existing models from the acclaimed Stillpoints add to our armoury of the correct devices for varied applications. The science of components support and isolation balances resonance control, energy coupling, and vibration dissipation (into heat). Box brokers sell on reviews. Ethical companies like Airt and The Music Room sell on reputation and that is based on experience. And on respecting our clients. If you buy boxes you never get to hear them!
Onwards and upwards. We expect to add more brands from Airt over the next few months.
Jack Lawson (Music Room), Steve Forrest ( Airt Audio)