Brinkmann Nyquist DAC - technical jewel with marvelous sound

DavidNC said:
The capabilities of the Nyquist were best illustrated to me when I auditioned it direct to my Tron Antares/HiFiMan HE1000v2(thus eliminating several external influences)
The audition was carried out at the premises of a quality Traditional HiFi Dealer(where analogue abounded!)
I handed my Headphones to the Dealer,who exclaimed " Wow,it's like being hard-wired to the Artiste' !! It was that good !!
I'm not good at describing 'sound' any more than I am in interpreting others attempts to do the same! As mentioned,I'm looking at Ethernet attached DAC/Pre ,not necessarily with all the formats-as long as it does one right! (although it's good to have all to compare!) The Nyquist is clearly very musical and engaging and certainly hit my 'sweet-spot'. Given that I'm looking at the Merging NADAC/ Soulution 560 and the new Quiescent, there's nothing here that's cheaper than the Nyquist !! But, as mentioned, in such a forward thinking product, I question why no on-board Pre?Having said that,I still don't 'get' why the Meridian 818/Ultra gets virtually no 'love' !!....and the 818's been about for some years ! Having recently upgraded my digital streaming source, has also resulted in a huge uplift.
In the new year,I will get to audition the products as mentioned.It will be interesting to note how the Nyquist stacks up against these other products.Either way, it's the future !!?? On the basis of the well known 'crap in-crap out' philosophy , Quiescent's new four box Streamer/PSU/DAC/Pre will be very interesting ! (If you can 'cope' with multi boxes!-maybe even 7 if you consider the X- Series with the Monos and Mains Unit!!)
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You have quite a statement system I see, congrats. I think the Nyquist would fit right in.

There has been some discussion on the forum about whether to drive your power amp directly with a DAC or with a preamp in between. Many have tried it but it appears people participating on that thread felt mostly that their system sounds better with a preamp in the system and that it does more to your system than just offering volume control.


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The NOS Telefunken tubes in the Nyquist are also interesting. They’re a matched pair of pentode/ triode PCF803 tubes originally designed for use in color TV sets. Hence a longevity of approximately ten years in their original use, but as they’re used more gently in the Nyquist they should last even longer.


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Regarding an additional Pre ;- There is of course, only one way to know for sure ....and that's an audition with and without!!
The road is long and cluttered with opinions of with and without's .I have endless emails from Master Audio Builders appertaining to various matters and it seems none can agree on some of the more fundamental issues !! !! I argue from the Minimalist point of view, that a one source digital system does not in my experience , require a stand alone Pre.My Meridian is a suitable example.As the Nyquist is a digital product,then for most, a Pre is not required!(IMHO)
As mentioned,Quiescent are bringing to the market a dedicated Streaming product of premium quality.They're going for the separate box scenario but I suspect this is more to do with enabling extra Vertex dampening, previously housed in external products (grounding blocks and cables etc )
Forgetting the expense ,extra boxes brings extra problems,extra cables for one, which means more interference and as I'm not a lover of heavily shielded cables.....less is sometimes more??

Either way, the Nyquist is one quality product!

As an aside ,I wrote to Graham (Tron) regarding the possibility of him building a similar type product. Research of the two Companies would reveal a similar profile. Graham's reply was 'curt' and in some ways , unprintable!! Let's just say he doesn't do 'HiRez' !!
 
As in so many situations, the truth is in the eye of the beholder. And regarding hi-end audio the decision factor should be what you enjoy most in your system.


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Something like this could be a little ear punishing if there’s too much digital glare. Not the case here.

Now it’s just bliss and very nice music. The kettledrum in “Liberty Fanfare” really sounds like a cannon in my system, great dynamics as well.

b6d7e353f4534bf434443c3eea018c8f.jpg



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Hi Kuoppis
I notice from the photographs on page 1, that you appear to have Headphone attached. How did you find the Headphone out?
During my audition I forgot to test this until the last moment when the Dealer had to end the audition.
From the little time I had, I can only say the Headphone out was very poor. So poor, that I concluded that I had not adjusted something correctly?? I can't think that the Headphone out would be as poor as I heard!
 
KeithR said:
I think you need a Brinkmann TT to fully appreciate....

:popcorn:
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Keith, you’re a tease [emoji3].

While I do love my Vpi Prime with all its mods, there definitely is a Brinkmann Bardo in the cards. While it is their junior model, that is the one I absolutely want. I love the industrial design and I do love the sound. There’s a story to that.

When I first started toying with the idea of getting back into vinyl, I tried out some mid-tier turntables. When I had made up my mind after some weeks and returned one loaner-table back to the dealer I was working with, he said: “Before you make a decision, please sit down for 30 minutes, so I can give you a glimpse of what is actually technically and sound-wise possible”. Then he rolled in his big dish.

I listened and was completely mesmerized. The natural sound, the the dynamics, the details... it was almost overwhelming, I could not believe my ears what I was hearing. It was nothing like what I had heard during the weeks of auditioning. That session made me a vinyl lover forever. And while at that point the big dish was too large a jump as a first step, I knew one beautiful day I will have that very same ‘table in my own system.

That vinyl player was the Brinkmann Bardo. E.g. vinyl aficionado Richard Vandersteen has it in his private system. One beautiful day, I will as well.


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DavidNC said:
Hi Kuoppis
I notice from the photographs on page 1, that you appear to have Headphone attached. How did you find the Headphone out?
During my audition I forgot to test this until the last moment when the Dealer had to end the audition.
From the little time I had, I can only say the Headphone out was very poor. So poor, that I concluded that I had not adjusted something correctly?? I can't think that the Headphone out would be as poor as I heard!
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David, not sure what was messed up during your test but here’s what Robert Harley had to say about the Nyquist headphone amp:

“The headphone output delivers all of this sound quality and more. Driving the stunningly great Audeze LCD-4 planar-magnetic phones through Nordost Heimdahl cable, the Nyquist was the best-sounding headphone amplifier I’ve heard (although I have not heard many top models). The clarity, transparency, detail, and transient response were phenomenal. Although I ran the Nyquist’s volume control toward the top end of its range on some music, it had plenty of drive on even the most demanding material. The Nyquist’s state-of-the-art headphone amplification section is icing on an already delicious cake.”

As you might know, the Audeze LCD-4 Robert Harley was using is a tougher load for a headphone amp than the Hifiman.

I also do know the excellent Hifiman HE-1000v2 and can assure the Brinkmann Nyquist will drive it with ease. It is not a particularly difficult load and most definitely nothing nearly as demanding as the rather tricky to drive Senn HD800 I used for my MQA test (different thread).


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I had read this review which led me to believe I had not set up the Nyquist properly! It would have never bothered me as I would have always used the Antares.(although I'm not sure about the LCD-4 being harder to drive?)However,it's reassuring to note !
 
DavidNC said:
I had read this review which led me to believe I had not set up the Nyquist properly! It would have never bothered me as I would have always used the Antares.(although I'm not sure about the LCD-4 being harder to drive?)However,it's reassuring to note !
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I thought my comment about the HE-1000 v2 might be understood as a potential negative. Hence to clarify: being easier to drive is IMHO no negative for a headphone, I would argue it is actually the opposite. Being easier to drive makes the ‘phones more widely usable.

The HE-1000 v2 is one of my favorite headphones.


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Kuoppis said:
Something like this could be a little ear punishing if there’s too much digital glare. Not the case here.

Now it’s just bliss and very nice music. The kettledrum in “Liberty Fanfare” really sounds like a cannon in my system, great dynamics as well.

b6d7e353f4534bf434443c3eea018c8f.jpg



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Sounds more like a large bass drum than a kettle to me!!
 
still-one said:
Sounds more like a large bass drum than a kettle to me!!
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Not sure what it is, but it sounds like a cannon to me [emoji3].

Pretty sure it is not a bass drum of a regular drum set.


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Vinyl-A quick word on Vinyl without completely going off thread.
I gave up on Vinyl many years ago when little fingers found Tone Arms more fun than Lego !
I gave up on having CDs cluttering the 'living-space' some years ago and moved on to the Meridian Sooloos System.
Interestingly,over on another site , on a Server thread, I mentioned the Meridian and said "why no love"?
Only got one answer and that was from a Lad who lives just down the Road from me(who I was not 'friends' with) who repield saying "Lifestyle product" and " going on to say "us Audiophiles". I note he's now going the same way!!!
We may never convince the 'Vinyl,Valves and Horns' Brigade that there's anything better but I feel it won't be long coming before they 'see the light'
Anyway,there are new digital products coming thick and fast,the Nyquist being one of them(and so poignant where that comes from)
I've mentioned a new Range of products called the Quiescent.

The reports I'm receiving are quite amazing !! (let's leave that there at this time as it's not worth quoting others)You will note Vertex's range of Dealers is small. The Quiescent may be even more 'restricted' . I understand they are adopting a new method of selling. The products will be on loan to the restricted Dealers who will receive a 'fee' for Demonstrating/Selling them!!!No massive mark up for the Dealer !! So, straight away this must tell you something?? I have been in contact with two of the Dealers who will have the products. One is a Classical Violinist and fully into the 'Traditional' scene. He had the initial run of products to demo and the reports are such that I'm ....exited !!. The other Dealer(also a Musician), well let's just say he sells what some regard as the best of the best, in Digital and Analogue. He's informed me that he challenged Quiescent to 'best' these products! I get to audition both in January !
Before anybody asks,it's early days, there are no 'professional' reviews and the only information available is on the new website. I've asked several questions and the replies have been informative and helpful.
There will be three ranges ,Q, T and X with the T being rolled out first,the T Streamer(two box) will be £13k (same as the Nyquist)and the other 'stand alone' units in the same series,that is the DAC,Pre and Power about £8k, there's also a 'Mains Conditioner' which I think comes in a little less. I say,that's not 'silly' money??this obviously reflects the selling policy?
If this 'range' tempts you.....I think much patients will be needed before it gets on your rack! and some outside the UK may have to buy 'blind' !!

I may never convince "us Audiophiles" but am I bothered !!!

PS,I have no financial interest in this Company!!

I just went to 'post this, and have been caught out again in that I'm not allowed to include 'links' to other websites until I have 10 posts.So, you'll have to search for Quiescent and Vertex by usual means-sorry
 
I don’t understand this continuous blabber about those companies you mention and I am not in the least interested in them. This thread is about the Brinkmann Nyquist DAC, so please stick to the topic.

And btw, I am a total vinyl convert, so you are definitely talking to the wrong person here.


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Kuoppis said:
I don’t understand this continuous blabber about those companies you mention and I am not in the least interested in them. This thread is about the Brinkmann Nyquist DAC, so please stick to the topic.

And btw, I am a total vinyl convert, so you are definitely talking to the wrong person here.


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Well said Kuoppis. I was going to write something similar, except more aptly worded “what a load of crap”. Shill comes to mind....

Back to our original scheduled programming...

Kuoppis - any thoughts on tube rolling in the DAC’s output stage?


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Mike said:
Well said Kuoppis. I was going to write something similar, except more aptly worded “what a load of crap”. Shill comes to mind....

Back to our original scheduled programming...

Kuoppis - any thoughts on tube rolling in the DAC’s output stage?


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Thank you Mike for your support.

It’s a good question, but right now I don’t have an answer to that. The type of tubes used are kind of special, so I need to dig deeper into it. But it will not be as easy as with ECC83’s or something more common. I might need to ask others for advice first.

But that will come at a later stage, as I am right now very happy with the sound.

Congrats on the Select II btw, it must sound great. You described a similar ‘not digital, but more than regular analogue’ sound signature I have been experiencing.


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Kuoppis said:
Thank you Mike for your support.

It’s a good question, but right now I don’t have an answer to that. The type of tubes used are kind of special, so I need to dig deeper into it. But it will not be as easy as with ECC83’s or something more common. I might need to ask others for advice first.

But that will come at a later stage, as I am right now very happy with the sound.

Congrats on the Select II btw, it must sound great. You described a similar ‘not digital, but more than regular analogue’ sound signature I have been experiencing.


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Thank you. I’m really looking forward to listening to all kinds of music and hearing what it can do as it breaks in.

I would love to hear the Brinkmann in a familiar system. I’ve only heard it at shows.


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