Kuoppis
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- Joined
- Jan 19, 2015
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- #1
This is a coming home.
When first getting back into vinyl a few years ago, I was not entirely sure whether I should make the plunge. I had a good digital system. Thus, I first tested a Clearaudio Performance DC with a Virtuoso V2 cart. It was an OK-ish MM system, but it left me a bit cold, even though I also tried it in my own system at home. When I brought it back to the store, being a bit lukewarm after the home demo, the dealer asked me to stay a bit longer. Then he demoed the Brinkmann Bardo to me.
The Bardo was everything I had been looking for, just incredible performance. All the detail, all the dynamics, all the great vinyl sound I was after. But more than 10K for my first turntable was simply too much for a test, whether I really wanted to get back into vinyl (had not played vinyl since my teenage years).
So, I eventually settled for a VPI Prime with an Ortofon Cadenza Bronze. Nice ‘table, but after a while I felt the unipivot arm was a bit messy. Therefore, I later switched to the AMG Viella, tried their own Teatro cart with it, and eventually upgraded to a Benz Micro SLR Gullwing, which I still very much like.
Fast forward a two years, this autumn I visited a smallish audio show in Germany, and heard a demo of the brand new Brinkmann Taurus direct-drive turntable. It was like the Bardo, but even better, adding more low-end heft, while maintaining the incredible dynamics of a direct drive system. I immediately conveyed my interest, and put the AMG up for sale. A couple weeks later I put in an order for the Taurus. I had to wait a bit, as the first batch was immediately sold out, after introduction at Munich High End 2019.
Industrial design
The Taurus comes with a 40 mm resonance-optimized Duraluminium chassis weighing 12 Kg, derived from the Brinkmann Balance.
This allows it to deliver the blackest backgrounds, and a bass performance on par with the Balance reference system. It adds a re-engineered direct-drive motor, and comes with a 10 Kg platter with a glass top. The performance critical platter bearing system is a hydro-dynamic, noiseless and maintenance free sliding contact precision bearing. No additional heating is required due to the the direct-drive motor. It offers a perfect combination of great dynamics paired with bottom heft. The turntable weighs 22 Kg in total.
The Taurus’ beautiful industrial design betters the plinthless Bardo through even clearer lines, with a truly stunning industrial design. I would call it a classic design, but it’s not traditional like e.g. a Linn LP 12. So I will call it a modern classic design. This is what vinyl play should be about: highest level of mechanical skill paired with great style. My suspicion is that this table will become an immediate classic.
Direct Drive Motor
While utilizing similar technology as in the Bardo and Oasis turntables, Helmut Brinkmann wanted to make his in-house built direct-drive motor even better, and re-designed it for the Taurus. The magnetic field motor comes with 8-pole magnet ring (instead 4-phase in the Bardo) to eliminate cogging more traditional direct-drive turntables are prone to. Instead of one initiation loop the Brinkmann applies constant acceleration through several magnets, and therefore maintains a smoother Rotation.
(The picture shows the Bardo motor, as I did not find a Taurus one).
While some may think a high torque motor is great for turntables, as e.g. typically used in Technics turntables for fast start-up desired by their DJ and Radio audience, this is actually one of the main root causes for cogging. in comparison, the Brinkmann direct-drive is designed to operate with low torque for a more even spin.
Brinkmann state this is the best direct-drive turntable they have ever built.
12.1” Brinkmann arm
The Brinkmann top-range arm uses Breuer-style precision ball bearings for both vertical and lateral movement. While being flexible in both required dimensions it is not wobbly like uni-pivot tonearms, which I very much like. This makes it stable, and nice and easy to operate. The tonearm is at the same time detailed, lush in the mid-range, and offers a solid deep bass.
This design is not new, but the Brinkmann 12.1” is considered to be one of the best tonearms on the market, so that should be good enough for me. Of course, there are things like the Swedish Analogue Technologies tonearm for 50K, which is considerably better according to Mikey from Stereophile. But I buy semi-serious crazy priced audio toys, not batshit crazy priced.
The lift mechanism is immaculate and actually works as intended. It’s very precise. This is unlike in the AMG tonearm, which lowers itself after a while, as the mechanism is not able to hold the weight for very long.
Wireless speed controller
This is a new feature. While the Balance still has a wired controller, the Taurus comes with a wireless motor speed selector. It can be charged via a Micro-USB cable. But that does not need to happen very often, as one charge is good for playing 10K turntable sides.
HRS base
I have been drooling about this for a while, but was simply shunning the cost. The Harmonic Resolution Systems M3X2 green dot isolation base provides a massive granite platter to place the turntable on, and offers several constraining layers of resonance damping. It comes with additional vibration isolation footers with a suspension mechanism. The base is suitable to hold gear between 21-39 Kg, and weighs itself a cool 19,5 Kg.
While having my system on a high quality Finite Elemente rack, the HRS base adds significantly to suspension and damping of the turntable. The result is impressive, absolute calm.
Sound
Last but not least, how does the Taurus sound? One word: amazing.
This table gets all the details from the vinyl grooves without being even a bit analytical. While quick on its feet, and very dynamic through the direct-drive, the heavy turntable chassis and high mass platter gives the Taurus the necessary substance to dig deep in the lower frequencies as well. The tonearm is fast and accurate, yet not light-footed.
In summary, I am truly delighted about this addition to my system. It’s all Brinkmann front-ends from now on. A friend of mine said I should have known it better, gotten a Brinkmann in the first place, and saved some money on the way. But the Taurus was not available at that time. And my system is not a destination, it’s a journey. Wouldn’t want to miss any of it.
The Brinkmann Taurus is a truly superb high end turntable. Highly recommended.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
When first getting back into vinyl a few years ago, I was not entirely sure whether I should make the plunge. I had a good digital system. Thus, I first tested a Clearaudio Performance DC with a Virtuoso V2 cart. It was an OK-ish MM system, but it left me a bit cold, even though I also tried it in my own system at home. When I brought it back to the store, being a bit lukewarm after the home demo, the dealer asked me to stay a bit longer. Then he demoed the Brinkmann Bardo to me.
The Bardo was everything I had been looking for, just incredible performance. All the detail, all the dynamics, all the great vinyl sound I was after. But more than 10K for my first turntable was simply too much for a test, whether I really wanted to get back into vinyl (had not played vinyl since my teenage years).
So, I eventually settled for a VPI Prime with an Ortofon Cadenza Bronze. Nice ‘table, but after a while I felt the unipivot arm was a bit messy. Therefore, I later switched to the AMG Viella, tried their own Teatro cart with it, and eventually upgraded to a Benz Micro SLR Gullwing, which I still very much like.
Fast forward a two years, this autumn I visited a smallish audio show in Germany, and heard a demo of the brand new Brinkmann Taurus direct-drive turntable. It was like the Bardo, but even better, adding more low-end heft, while maintaining the incredible dynamics of a direct drive system. I immediately conveyed my interest, and put the AMG up for sale. A couple weeks later I put in an order for the Taurus. I had to wait a bit, as the first batch was immediately sold out, after introduction at Munich High End 2019.
Industrial design
The Taurus comes with a 40 mm resonance-optimized Duraluminium chassis weighing 12 Kg, derived from the Brinkmann Balance.
This allows it to deliver the blackest backgrounds, and a bass performance on par with the Balance reference system. It adds a re-engineered direct-drive motor, and comes with a 10 Kg platter with a glass top. The performance critical platter bearing system is a hydro-dynamic, noiseless and maintenance free sliding contact precision bearing. No additional heating is required due to the the direct-drive motor. It offers a perfect combination of great dynamics paired with bottom heft. The turntable weighs 22 Kg in total.
The Taurus’ beautiful industrial design betters the plinthless Bardo through even clearer lines, with a truly stunning industrial design. I would call it a classic design, but it’s not traditional like e.g. a Linn LP 12. So I will call it a modern classic design. This is what vinyl play should be about: highest level of mechanical skill paired with great style. My suspicion is that this table will become an immediate classic.
Direct Drive Motor
While utilizing similar technology as in the Bardo and Oasis turntables, Helmut Brinkmann wanted to make his in-house built direct-drive motor even better, and re-designed it for the Taurus. The magnetic field motor comes with 8-pole magnet ring (instead 4-phase in the Bardo) to eliminate cogging more traditional direct-drive turntables are prone to. Instead of one initiation loop the Brinkmann applies constant acceleration through several magnets, and therefore maintains a smoother Rotation.
(The picture shows the Bardo motor, as I did not find a Taurus one).
While some may think a high torque motor is great for turntables, as e.g. typically used in Technics turntables for fast start-up desired by their DJ and Radio audience, this is actually one of the main root causes for cogging. in comparison, the Brinkmann direct-drive is designed to operate with low torque for a more even spin.
Brinkmann state this is the best direct-drive turntable they have ever built.
12.1” Brinkmann arm
The Brinkmann top-range arm uses Breuer-style precision ball bearings for both vertical and lateral movement. While being flexible in both required dimensions it is not wobbly like uni-pivot tonearms, which I very much like. This makes it stable, and nice and easy to operate. The tonearm is at the same time detailed, lush in the mid-range, and offers a solid deep bass.
This design is not new, but the Brinkmann 12.1” is considered to be one of the best tonearms on the market, so that should be good enough for me. Of course, there are things like the Swedish Analogue Technologies tonearm for 50K, which is considerably better according to Mikey from Stereophile. But I buy semi-serious crazy priced audio toys, not batshit crazy priced.
The lift mechanism is immaculate and actually works as intended. It’s very precise. This is unlike in the AMG tonearm, which lowers itself after a while, as the mechanism is not able to hold the weight for very long.
Wireless speed controller
This is a new feature. While the Balance still has a wired controller, the Taurus comes with a wireless motor speed selector. It can be charged via a Micro-USB cable. But that does not need to happen very often, as one charge is good for playing 10K turntable sides.
HRS base
I have been drooling about this for a while, but was simply shunning the cost. The Harmonic Resolution Systems M3X2 green dot isolation base provides a massive granite platter to place the turntable on, and offers several constraining layers of resonance damping. It comes with additional vibration isolation footers with a suspension mechanism. The base is suitable to hold gear between 21-39 Kg, and weighs itself a cool 19,5 Kg.
While having my system on a high quality Finite Elemente rack, the HRS base adds significantly to suspension and damping of the turntable. The result is impressive, absolute calm.
Sound
Last but not least, how does the Taurus sound? One word: amazing.
This table gets all the details from the vinyl grooves without being even a bit analytical. While quick on its feet, and very dynamic through the direct-drive, the heavy turntable chassis and high mass platter gives the Taurus the necessary substance to dig deep in the lower frequencies as well. The tonearm is fast and accurate, yet not light-footed.
In summary, I am truly delighted about this addition to my system. It’s all Brinkmann front-ends from now on. A friend of mine said I should have known it better, gotten a Brinkmann in the first place, and saved some money on the way. But the Taurus was not available at that time. And my system is not a destination, it’s a journey. Wouldn’t want to miss any of it.
The Brinkmann Taurus is a truly superb high end turntable. Highly recommended.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
