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  1. #1

    Pimping up the Brinkmann Taurus’ RöNT tubed power supply.

    Who would have ever thought, that only sparsely electro-mechanically talented me would one day tamper with the tubed power supply of his turntable? Me neither.

    Yet, here we go: This is what I received today from Brinkmann Audio. It’s a Brinkmann BZ34 Rectifier Tube Simulator.


    It goes in here:


    The purpose is to replace the 5AR4 tube in the middle.

    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
    “Life’s too short to listen to bad audio.”

    Big rig: Brinkmann Taurus DD TT + 12.1 arm + Lyra Etna Lambda SL MC + HRS M3X2/ Cardas Clear Beyond phono/ Stillpoints LPI/ Brinkmann Edison mk2 phono + RöNT II Tube PS/ Synology NAS with Roon + HD Plex linear PSU + Shunyata HD/ AQ Vodka RJ45 + Aqvox Network Switch SE + AQ Diamond RJ45 into DAC/ Brinkmann Nyquist mk2/ Audionet Humboldt/ Cardas Clear Beyond ICs/ Kharma DB9-S 1.1 LS/ Inakustik Reference LS 4004 AIR/ Audioquest Niagara 5000/ Shunyata Alpha power (HC, Analogue, Digital)/ Finite Elemente Pagode Rack/ Stillpoints Ultra SS/ Vicoustic panels + Stillpoints Aperture II.

    Small rig: Naim UnitiServe/ Curious USB/ Tidal/ Linn Klimax DS3/ Shunyata Power cable/ Pass Labs INT-60/ Acoustic Zen Silver Reference II/ HiD Diamond 8/ Harbeth 30.2 40th Anniversary/ Shunyata Venom EU7 & Venom 3 HD.

    HP rig: MacBookAir/ Tidal/ Auralic Gemini 2000/ Sbooster LPSU/ Audeze LCD-2 Classic + WyWires Red/ Shunyata HD/ Shunyata Hydra 2/ Shunyata Venom.

  2. #2

    Pimping up the Brinkmann Taurus’ RöNT tubed power supply.

    When the architecture of the first RöNT was developed a GZ34 NOS Mullard was used in the middle position. However, in the meantime those NOS Mullards have become hard to find, and in case of success painful to pay for. Therefore, Brinkmann replaced them in later products with a Sovtek version of the GZ34.

    While the Sovtek fit the bill and did the job, the NOS Mullard sounded better. So, Brinkmann developed the BZ34, a transformer based tube simulator, with the same properties and sound as the NOS Mullard. Looks kinda neat I find.


    Fiddle, fiddle, twist, twist - and in goes the BZ34.



    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
    “Life’s too short to listen to bad audio.”

    Big rig: Brinkmann Taurus DD TT + 12.1 arm + Lyra Etna Lambda SL MC + HRS M3X2/ Cardas Clear Beyond phono/ Stillpoints LPI/ Brinkmann Edison mk2 phono + RöNT II Tube PS/ Synology NAS with Roon + HD Plex linear PSU + Shunyata HD/ AQ Vodka RJ45 + Aqvox Network Switch SE + AQ Diamond RJ45 into DAC/ Brinkmann Nyquist mk2/ Audionet Humboldt/ Cardas Clear Beyond ICs/ Kharma DB9-S 1.1 LS/ Inakustik Reference LS 4004 AIR/ Audioquest Niagara 5000/ Shunyata Alpha power (HC, Analogue, Digital)/ Finite Elemente Pagode Rack/ Stillpoints Ultra SS/ Vicoustic panels + Stillpoints Aperture II.

    Small rig: Naim UnitiServe/ Curious USB/ Tidal/ Linn Klimax DS3/ Shunyata Power cable/ Pass Labs INT-60/ Acoustic Zen Silver Reference II/ HiD Diamond 8/ Harbeth 30.2 40th Anniversary/ Shunyata Venom EU7 & Venom 3 HD.

    HP rig: MacBookAir/ Tidal/ Auralic Gemini 2000/ Sbooster LPSU/ Audeze LCD-2 Classic + WyWires Red/ Shunyata HD/ Shunyata Hydra 2/ Shunyata Venom.

  3. #3

    Re: Pimping up the Brinkmann Taurus’ RöNT tubed power supply.

    And it sounds just wonderful, not a bit, but quite a bit better than the Sovtek I removed. Very cool thing that is.


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
    “Life’s too short to listen to bad audio.”

    Big rig: Brinkmann Taurus DD TT + 12.1 arm + Lyra Etna Lambda SL MC + HRS M3X2/ Cardas Clear Beyond phono/ Stillpoints LPI/ Brinkmann Edison mk2 phono + RöNT II Tube PS/ Synology NAS with Roon + HD Plex linear PSU + Shunyata HD/ AQ Vodka RJ45 + Aqvox Network Switch SE + AQ Diamond RJ45 into DAC/ Brinkmann Nyquist mk2/ Audionet Humboldt/ Cardas Clear Beyond ICs/ Kharma DB9-S 1.1 LS/ Inakustik Reference LS 4004 AIR/ Audioquest Niagara 5000/ Shunyata Alpha power (HC, Analogue, Digital)/ Finite Elemente Pagode Rack/ Stillpoints Ultra SS/ Vicoustic panels + Stillpoints Aperture II.

    Small rig: Naim UnitiServe/ Curious USB/ Tidal/ Linn Klimax DS3/ Shunyata Power cable/ Pass Labs INT-60/ Acoustic Zen Silver Reference II/ HiD Diamond 8/ Harbeth 30.2 40th Anniversary/ Shunyata Venom EU7 & Venom 3 HD.

    HP rig: MacBookAir/ Tidal/ Auralic Gemini 2000/ Sbooster LPSU/ Audeze LCD-2 Classic + WyWires Red/ Shunyata HD/ Shunyata Hydra 2/ Shunyata Venom.

  4. #4

    Re: Pimping up the Brinkmann Taurus’ RöNT tubed power supply.

    If your power supply came with a real NOS Mullard GZ34 rectifier, it should last many years.
    Micro Seiki SX-8000 air bearing table, SME 312s arm, SME 3012R arn, Dynavector XV-1s cartridge, Lyra Etna SL cartridge, ARC Ref 3 phono stage, Otari MX-55 2 track R2R, Ampex 350 tape repros, Roon Nucleus Plus music server, HiFi Rose 150B DAC, ARC Ref 6, ARC Ref 75 with KT-150s, Parasound JC5 amp , JBL 4345 speakers, Viero Equilibro Level 3 speaker cables, and Definitive Technology Ref subs.

    Reviewer for Positive Feedback

  5. #5

    Pimping up the Brinkmann Taurus’ RöNT tubed power supply.

    Quote Originally Posted by mep View Post
    If your power supply came with a real NOS Mullard GZ34 rectifier, it should last many years.
    Yes, that is correct. Unfortunately it came with the Sovtek, as mine is a RöNT II and less than one year old.

    The DD tables can even not be operated with the original, as the motor requires 500mV for initialization.


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
    “Life’s too short to listen to bad audio.”

    Big rig: Brinkmann Taurus DD TT + 12.1 arm + Lyra Etna Lambda SL MC + HRS M3X2/ Cardas Clear Beyond phono/ Stillpoints LPI/ Brinkmann Edison mk2 phono + RöNT II Tube PS/ Synology NAS with Roon + HD Plex linear PSU + Shunyata HD/ AQ Vodka RJ45 + Aqvox Network Switch SE + AQ Diamond RJ45 into DAC/ Brinkmann Nyquist mk2/ Audionet Humboldt/ Cardas Clear Beyond ICs/ Kharma DB9-S 1.1 LS/ Inakustik Reference LS 4004 AIR/ Audioquest Niagara 5000/ Shunyata Alpha power (HC, Analogue, Digital)/ Finite Elemente Pagode Rack/ Stillpoints Ultra SS/ Vicoustic panels + Stillpoints Aperture II.

    Small rig: Naim UnitiServe/ Curious USB/ Tidal/ Linn Klimax DS3/ Shunyata Power cable/ Pass Labs INT-60/ Acoustic Zen Silver Reference II/ HiD Diamond 8/ Harbeth 30.2 40th Anniversary/ Shunyata Venom EU7 & Venom 3 HD.

    HP rig: MacBookAir/ Tidal/ Auralic Gemini 2000/ Sbooster LPSU/ Audeze LCD-2 Classic + WyWires Red/ Shunyata HD/ Shunyata Hydra 2/ Shunyata Venom.

  6. #6

    Re: Pimping up the Brinkmann Taurus’ RöNT tubed power supply.

    I assume you haven't had the opportunity to hear a real Mullard GZ34 in your power supply. If not, it would be cool for you to hear one in your system to hear the difference between your BZ34 substitute and the real Mullard GZ34 your power supply was designed for. I just checked Ebay and there are plenty of NOS Mullard GZ-34 tubes available for under $200.00. Since these tubes are known to last 10 years and longer, it would be a bargain if you liked how it sounds in your power supply.
    Micro Seiki SX-8000 air bearing table, SME 312s arm, SME 3012R arn, Dynavector XV-1s cartridge, Lyra Etna SL cartridge, ARC Ref 3 phono stage, Otari MX-55 2 track R2R, Ampex 350 tape repros, Roon Nucleus Plus music server, HiFi Rose 150B DAC, ARC Ref 6, ARC Ref 75 with KT-150s, Parasound JC5 amp , JBL 4345 speakers, Viero Equilibro Level 3 speaker cables, and Definitive Technology Ref subs.

    Reviewer for Positive Feedback

  7. #7

    Pimping up the Brinkmann Taurus’ RöNT tubed power supply.

    Yes, that might be indeed interesting.

    According to Brinkmann the BZ34 sounds pretty much the same, with the difference that it does not deteriorate like tubes do. So I’m pretty happy with it. This is especially, as I was not aware of the tubes in the power supply making such a difference before the BZ34 was announced.

    Therefore, no desire to venture into tube rolling, as the BZ34 works like a charm.


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
    “Life’s too short to listen to bad audio.”

    Big rig: Brinkmann Taurus DD TT + 12.1 arm + Lyra Etna Lambda SL MC + HRS M3X2/ Cardas Clear Beyond phono/ Stillpoints LPI/ Brinkmann Edison mk2 phono + RöNT II Tube PS/ Synology NAS with Roon + HD Plex linear PSU + Shunyata HD/ AQ Vodka RJ45 + Aqvox Network Switch SE + AQ Diamond RJ45 into DAC/ Brinkmann Nyquist mk2/ Audionet Humboldt/ Cardas Clear Beyond ICs/ Kharma DB9-S 1.1 LS/ Inakustik Reference LS 4004 AIR/ Audioquest Niagara 5000/ Shunyata Alpha power (HC, Analogue, Digital)/ Finite Elemente Pagode Rack/ Stillpoints Ultra SS/ Vicoustic panels + Stillpoints Aperture II.

    Small rig: Naim UnitiServe/ Curious USB/ Tidal/ Linn Klimax DS3/ Shunyata Power cable/ Pass Labs INT-60/ Acoustic Zen Silver Reference II/ HiD Diamond 8/ Harbeth 30.2 40th Anniversary/ Shunyata Venom EU7 & Venom 3 HD.

    HP rig: MacBookAir/ Tidal/ Auralic Gemini 2000/ Sbooster LPSU/ Audeze LCD-2 Classic + WyWires Red/ Shunyata HD/ Shunyata Hydra 2/ Shunyata Venom.

  8. #8

    Re: Pimping up the Brinkmann Taurus’ RöNT tubed power supply.

    Quote Originally Posted by mep View Post
    I assume you haven't had the opportunity to hear a real Mullard GZ34 in your power supply. If not, it would be cool for you to hear one in your system to hear the difference between your BZ34 substitute and the real Mullard GZ34 your power supply was designed for. I just checked Ebay and there are plenty of NOS Mullard GZ-34 tubes available for under $200.00. Since these tubes are known to last 10 years and longer, it would be a bargain if you liked how it sounds in your power supply.
    A little clarification on the Mullard. We’re not talking about just any variant here. The GZ34 used (only) in the Brinkmann RöNT II Anniversary edition is the Mullard GZ34 4 Notch.


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
    “Life’s too short to listen to bad audio.”

    Big rig: Brinkmann Taurus DD TT + 12.1 arm + Lyra Etna Lambda SL MC + HRS M3X2/ Cardas Clear Beyond phono/ Stillpoints LPI/ Brinkmann Edison mk2 phono + RöNT II Tube PS/ Synology NAS with Roon + HD Plex linear PSU + Shunyata HD/ AQ Vodka RJ45 + Aqvox Network Switch SE + AQ Diamond RJ45 into DAC/ Brinkmann Nyquist mk2/ Audionet Humboldt/ Cardas Clear Beyond ICs/ Kharma DB9-S 1.1 LS/ Inakustik Reference LS 4004 AIR/ Audioquest Niagara 5000/ Shunyata Alpha power (HC, Analogue, Digital)/ Finite Elemente Pagode Rack/ Stillpoints Ultra SS/ Vicoustic panels + Stillpoints Aperture II.

    Small rig: Naim UnitiServe/ Curious USB/ Tidal/ Linn Klimax DS3/ Shunyata Power cable/ Pass Labs INT-60/ Acoustic Zen Silver Reference II/ HiD Diamond 8/ Harbeth 30.2 40th Anniversary/ Shunyata Venom EU7 & Venom 3 HD.

    HP rig: MacBookAir/ Tidal/ Auralic Gemini 2000/ Sbooster LPSU/ Audeze LCD-2 Classic + WyWires Red/ Shunyata HD/ Shunyata Hydra 2/ Shunyata Venom.

  9. #9
    Senior Member
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    Re: Pimping up the Brinkmann Taurus’ RöNT tubed power supply.

    very cool -- a nice piece of engineering by brinkmann to work around the problem. also, great that the solution is designed so that one can retro-fit earlier versions -- how often does that happen?!

    it would be interesting to go back and A/B test with the original (non-RöNT) power supply to see how these two forms of SS rectification compare. i am sure the BZ34 + RöNT would be the winner but would be fun anyway.

    fwiw: not sure about rectifiers but sovtek signal tubes are the worst. otoh, the 6c33c-b power tube is fabulous. go figure.
    viking acoustics berlin r mk2 | air tight atc-5 + atm-300r | clearaudio concept + virtuoso v2 MM | t+a dac8 dsd + kanjiroba diy transport + roon rock
    alp-tone audio analog cables | core audio designs plyKraft 3L | hifi racks ltd podium t5-iii

  10. #10

    Re: Pimping up the Brinkmann Taurus’ RöNT tubed power supply.

    Quote Originally Posted by Kuoppis View Post
    A little clarification on the Mullard. We’re not talking about just any variant here. The GZ34 used (only) in the Brinkmann RöNT II Anniversary edition is the Mullard GZ34 4 Notch.


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
    Oh, the Mullard GZ34 4 notch version beloved by guitar players for use in their amps. They are still available also. The holy grail Mullard GZ34 is the original fat base.
    Micro Seiki SX-8000 air bearing table, SME 312s arm, SME 3012R arn, Dynavector XV-1s cartridge, Lyra Etna SL cartridge, ARC Ref 3 phono stage, Otari MX-55 2 track R2R, Ampex 350 tape repros, Roon Nucleus Plus music server, HiFi Rose 150B DAC, ARC Ref 6, ARC Ref 75 with KT-150s, Parasound JC5 amp , JBL 4345 speakers, Viero Equilibro Level 3 speaker cables, and Definitive Technology Ref subs.

    Reviewer for Positive Feedback

  11. #11
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2017
    Location
    Iowa City, IA
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    399

    Re: Pimping up the Brinkmann Taurus’ RöNT tubed power supply.

    Quote Originally Posted by mep View Post
    Oh, the Mullard GZ34 4 notch version beloved by guitar players for use in their amps. They are still available also. The holy grail Mullard GZ34 is the original fat base.
    I use the fat base in my Cary SLP-05. Fantastic tube. Worth the price of admission in my opinion.
    Morgan

    NEW SYSTEM UNDER CONSTRUCTION

  12. #12
    Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
    Location
    SF Bay Area
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    73

    Re: Pimping up the Brinkmann Taurus’ RöNT tubed power supply.

    Quote Originally Posted by mep View Post
    Oh, the Mullard GZ34 4 notch version beloved by guitar players for use in their amps. They are still available also. The holy grail Mullard GZ34 is the original fat base.
    I thought the "holy grail" GZ34 tube was this one.




    IMG_1633.jpg

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