Brinkmann vs TW Acustic


Was wondering how these two German manufacturers compare.
Bardo vs Raven One
Oasis vs Raven GT
LaGrange vs Raven AC
Is there a unique sound signature that goes up with the range? Which is a better value? (i.e. maybe the Oasis is better than the Raven AC)
Have heard both in show conditions, but could not pin-point their contribution to the end result as the rest of the system was unfamiliar as well.
iaxelrod
Rauliruegas,

I'm not about to call out another TW owner specially when D and I have had many pleasant conversations back and forth over the years so but I owned TW three tables, have friends whom also own TW AC's and not one can hold an accurate speed using the TimeLine so go figure. I also wrote previously that I put money out of pocket and sent my controller unit back to Thomas and was told everything was fine.

Lewm, I can fully appreciate but have any of you guys actually owned and lived with both TW's AC3 and Black Knight tables and used a TimeLine on either to set-up the speed? Out of the one's posting "D" Dgad and I are the only ones.

Not one TW table that I have checked can hold such period which to me is just showing one flaw and only a part of it. Next time there is a TW at a show place a TimeLine on it and you will see but I would be shocked if such would be allowed.

When I had my Black Knight "gorgeous pce" I partially bought into the company along with what is wrote in the companies product manual and web site which anyone can view.

In reference to operating on battery and charge, the figures used were grossly misleading. I just checked the web site and it still says;

Run time on battery operation only: Approx. 20 hours.

Totally not true, I kept a log and it was on the average 8hrs on charge and ONLY 4-5 hours max when on battery mode and that's before and after with newly installed batteries.

So another flaw

Why have a controller that is both battery and charge, what are the sonic benefits? Say 20 hours approx on this little box alone is misleading so why market in such a way.

The pullies on the AC3 motors have issues, the 3 on the motor unit for the BK is just an odd design and the tolerance between the three is far from being precise. There are variances and if one just eye balls horizontally looking at the three pullies and belt can clearly see that belt goes up and down within this short distance which is then transferred to the platter over again and again. One would think this should be a clean transition with very tight tolerances but you can clearly see the vibration action happening. Really don't need to use one but use a magnifying glass looking at the belt movement and you will be amazed.

The footers, the threaded nipples that connect to the bass are inadequate. Upon fine tuning levelness the feet end up being wobbly and not firmly planted. Should not be like this on a table of it's cost factor, I can only imagine what really is going on there alone.

The $8-900 each arm board firstly is just a ridiculous price and not even one is included with a $40K plus table. How ridiculous is that, one has to have a arm board to mount a arm right. Due to the design and how the motor unit should be placed you need to use the BK arm board so the belt doesn't touch the arm board and is properly aligned with the spindle.

The controller does not allow fine tuning so one can not get the speed bang on, as Suteetat wrote above "Speed accuracy is always going to be a issue with TW, FAST OR SLOW" never mind with the needle planted and actually playing.

With the arm mounted and needle touching the record if you tap anywhere on the table or platform it's placed upon one can clearly hear a thud transferred through the speakers. Using the AC arm board which is solid brass I believe offers a different sound where as the BK is made of aluminum I believe.

This forum is for us to share information so that's exactly what I'm doing from my own personal experience.




Yes i'm sure you hear a pretty sound from your TW AC however my extended experience with my TW-AC2 was not a happy one.
Responding to a similar question a few years ago caused an exchange of private messages from happy TW owner that started out civil though ended with these happy TW members calling me names. Oh well, not so unusual I guess with "certain types".
My experience with this $17,000.00 table showed problems more so with play back of select vintage Lps.
I'm sure all is fine with Classic Rock, Pop and some of the modern re-issues of today, however.

My memory of the AC, play back was everything under glass, a lack of interplay , rhythmically compressed, no pulse and so on.
Like a cook that follows a recipe exactly though really has no feel or real passion to pull the dish off , it always turns out bland.
Why ?,,,, a table only supports the platter and tone arm with a motor to spin the record, how can this have so much influence on what I hear?
There are said many stated happy TW owners,as it turned out it reallly tells me nothing about the product itself, like movie box office receipts it says nothing of the movie itself.
For the price and level of performance I say no.
Pani, another thing about music and music reproduction is the sense that the sound source is something vibrating/resonating. A real thing. For example on an acoustic guitar after being struck the strings vibrate and the body of the guitar resonates along with the strings.

The thing about listening to vinyl that I love is that on decent to excellent recordings there is always that sense something is vibrating/resonating - musical instruments. And on good recordings it is instruments in space.

In contrast, red book CD does not give me that some sense.

That is not to minimize prat in any way. The goal for me is to have as much of everything that I can get and just enjoy the music that is there.
Dev,

The latest battery PS holds charge for about 20 hours. Also, it can lock on 33.33 exactly. And it is audible. I have compared Tito the earlier version,and have owned several version softie motor controllers. It is a significant leap forward.

As for the bass, until my table was completely isolated I would agree that the bass was boomy. But my isolation platform once tuned correctly,(which needed to be changed between the AC & BN) elevates the tables to another level. I am fairly dismissive of most of what people say when it comes to bass until the table is fully isolated. And that applies to all tables. Isolation needs tuning or else it will backfire. You need to have it calculated for the weight of the turntable. Using weight ballasts etc help.

I find the difference between a good turntable and a great oneis the isolation. I can knock on my table gently and it won't be heard. Also I can play music very loud and nothing. Just music. Prior to the isolation it was a different story. Every one has their own rooms to consider.

As for the belt & pulley comments, Dev I just don't see it. We traded mails but if I saw what you are going on aboutI would agree. To me the superiority of the BN is how quiet it is. I know you purchased some isolation platform but maybe it wasn't set up correctly. Mine is dead silent. Home made but it works. I know vibraplanes that don't do as good a job. Mind you a few good friends won't listen to their turntables (non TW) if their vibraplanes aren't working - they each had a flat at one time.
I hate headers that use vs.
This is a hobby not a football or basketball game(although some use these forums for a great debate)
Whats next,Vanilla vs.Chocolate?
Blondes vs.Brunettes?
In this hobby everything is subjective.Therefore how can anyone reply with an absolute ?
We dont know the sound of the op's complete system.
In fact we dont know what he or anyone else hears.
So how can we argue what we dont know.Is this Mock Court?
I use a TW GT table.Is it the best? I really dont know but it thrills me every time I listen and thats all that matters.
Again guys this is a hobby,stop turning it into self promotion and arrogance.
My rant for the day.And now Chico Hamilton is waiting.