cheekyboy Posted February 8 Posted February 8 Hi folks, I spent Christmas and New Year down in Melbourne with my daughters and while I was there, I took the time to catch up with my friend Harry Ralston from SGR Audio. Thank you, Harry and Ann for your hospitality and for as usual, making me feel so welcome in your home. Harry's system over many years now has been my benchmark for a hi-end analogue system and remains so to this day, being the very best I've had the pleasure to listen to. Listening to Harry's system on many occasions has been pretty much exclusively analogue, with either the Brinkmann Balance or the Brinkmann Bardo doing the vinyl playback duties. Harry has since my last visit, introduced the MSB Technology Select Dac and running that in conjunction with the MSB Technology Digital Director [preamplifier] to his system and I was encouraged to have a listen. I must say, I have now listened to the best digital front end I've ever heard, bar none! I’m an analogue/vinyl tragic, but I could easily live with this MSB digital front end. The analogue system remains constant with the dual arm Brinkmann Balance which is running one Acoustical Systems Axiom 12” tonearm on the front and an Acoustical Systems Aquilar 12” arm on the back. The Axiom 12” arm is fitted with an Acoustical Systems Palladium cartridge and the Aquilar 12” is fitted with an Acoustical Systems Archon cartridge. The Brinkmann Bardo has been modified with the addition of the Acoustical Systems SDP [Special Decoupled Platter] and is running an Acoustical Systems Aquilar Anniversary Editon 10” tonearm which is fitted with an Acoustical Systems Archon cartridge. Cheers, Keith 9 1
metal beat Posted February 8 Posted February 8 Hi Keith When is Harry getting the Cascade DAC etc. Supposed to be quite a bit better sound and cheaper than the Select series .
cheekyboy Posted February 8 Author Posted February 8 Hello Shane, I'm not familiar with the Cascade DAC and Harry didn't mention it to me. Have you heard the Cascade? If it is better than the Select, it would be a damn fine DAC. Cheers, Keith
metal beat Posted February 8 Posted February 8 2 hours ago, cheekyboy said: Hello Shane, I'm not familiar with the Cascade DAC and Harry didn't mention it to me. Have you heard the Cascade? If it is better than the Select, it would be a damn fine DAC. Cheers, Keith Hi Keith Not heard the Cascade dac. Going on MSB and user comments the Cascade is a significant upgrade over everything MSB has done before. 1
Grimmie Posted February 12 Posted February 12 I think I'm due a visit back over to see my daughter over in Vic. which is a perfect excuse to get across to Warrandyte and call in to see Harry and Ann with those amazing Brinkmann turntables and MSB gear. I’m lucky enough to have been-in on the original MTA to MT3.2 loudspeakers since their inception in the ‘00’s so have ‘come up through the ranks’ as it were and able to afford that fabulous SGR sound. The Balance is purest unobtainium (Ut on the periodic table) for me at least but the Bardo, though still an eye-watering bank balance destroyer, is definitely worth a long hard look and listen. If nothing else I’ll get to hear the MT3.2’s deliver at their very best and enjoy them at their full potential. H&A are always worth a visit and a long hi-fi chat The MSB gear has always been something of a mystery, as in so beyond my consideration as to not warrant lusting after. Like Claudia Schiffer or Penelope Cruz, no sense in finding out their local pub and going over to chat them up, my chances of success would be limited at best. But,- from what I have seen in the past at Harry’s and @Ittaku's and others systems the four-box renderer/director with external power supply to each is the ultimate achievable in the range. Owning that, fed by the Brinkmann Balance and phono stage would surely be something akin to living with Margot Robbie. Maybe lust has no limit. 2 1
cheekyboy Posted February 13 Author Posted February 13 (edited) On 13/02/2025 at 1:35 AM, Grimmie said: .........but the Bardo, though still an eye-watering bank balance destroyer, is definitely worth a long hard look and listen. "an eye-watering bank balance destroyer" is how @Grimmie describes the Brinkmann Bardo, but I do not agree with that observation at all. Perhaps that is a good description of the price tag for the Brinkmann Balance, but I actually think the Brinkmann Bardo at currently sub $16k, represents the best bang for buck for a hi-end turntable on the market today, bar none! I love my Bardo and the simplicity of set up and use with a relatively unique, zero maintenance direct drive system that I simply can not fault. Yes I agree, the Bardo is worth a long hard look and listen. Cheers, Keith Edited February 21 by cheekyboy 1
scuzzii Posted February 13 Posted February 13 I've heard this setup several times and is outstanding. One of the best domestic set-ups I've witnessed first-hand. I can't see myself ever letting go of my Bardo or Edison. Terrific synergy. 2
scuzzii Posted February 13 Posted February 13 I should add. If anyone Sydney based wants to have a listen to the Bardo into the Edison, drop me a line. 2
russell66 Posted February 14 Posted February 14 Shame he only has one speaker, I bet it would sound really good with two
Grimmie Posted February 14 Posted February 14 (edited) 1 hour ago, russell66 said: Shame he only has one speaker, I bet it would sound really good with two Ha-ha, yes he has a matching one and they're two of the best for sure. On 13/02/2025 at 10:05 AM, cheekyboy said: "an eye-watering bank balance destroyer" Perhaps that is a good description of the price tag for the Brinkmann Balance, but I actually think the Brinkmann Bardo at currently sub $16k, represents the best bang for buck for a hi-end turntable on the market today, bar none! I love my Bardo and the simplicity of set up and use with a relatively unique, zero maintenance direct drive system that I simply can not fault. Yes I agree, the Bardo is worth a long hard look and listen. Cheers, Keith Perhaps the watering is in the eye of the beholder. If you already have a suitable tone arm and cart as in your 'Acoustical Systems - Aquilar Anniversary Tonearm, SDP & Dynavector XV-1S cart' then sub 16 is a managable number for many, though not to mention the Edison phono stage and external power supply. For the true audiophile with the funds that set-up sounds to be a heavenly end-game. Edited February 14 by Grimmie 2
cheekyboy Posted February 14 Author Posted February 14 (edited) On 14/02/2025 at 3:05 PM, Grimmie said: Perhaps the watering is in the eye of the beholder. If you already have a suitable tone arm and cart as in your 'Acoustical Systems - Aquilar Anniversary Tonearm, SDP & Dynavector XV-1S cart' then sub 16 is a managable number for many, though not to mention the Edison phono stage and external power supply. For the true audiophile with the funds that set-up sounds to be a heavenly end-game. Yes, Grimmie, I guess it is all relative to how much you can afford to spend on audio equipement and I didn't mean to suggest that $16k was what everyone could afford, but in the world of high end turntables, the rig you listed above would be a good example, the Bardo by comparison at sub $16k is a stonking bargain and I'll repeat, IMO the best bang for buck in a hi-end turntable on the market today, bar none! My Brinkmann Bardo is fitted with a Brinkmann 10.5 tonearm and an Acoustical Systems Archon cartridge and it is a sensational rig. I unfortunately don't have the SDP upgrade, Aquilar Anniversary tonearm, Edison phono stage or a Dynavector XV-15 cartridge, but I am fortunate to be able to listen to an identical rig to that whenever I can get down to Sydney@scuzzii and let me tell you, it is simply superb. Cheers, Keith Edited February 18 by cheekyboy 1
brodricj Posted February 14 Posted February 14 On 08/02/2025 at 9:38 AM, cheekyboy said: ....Harry has since my last visit, introduced the MSB Technology Select Dac... If you weren't aware the Select DAC was discontinued quite some time ago. Cascade is the current top MSB DAC, which will eventually be knocked off top spot by Sentinel. 1
cheekyboy Posted February 15 Author Posted February 15 (edited) 11 hours ago, brodricj said: If you weren't aware the Select DAC was discontinued quite some time ago. Cascade is the current top MSB DAC, which will eventually be knocked off top spot by Sentinel. Thanks for that info, however, as I mentioned in an earlier post, I was unaware of the Cascade DAC and Harry didn't mention it to me. If the Cascade is an improvement on the Select DAC, it would certainly be an exceptional piece of kit, becasue the Select DAC is the first digital front end that I've heard that would even approach the SQ of either the Brinkmann Balance or the Brinkmann Bardo in that system. Cheers, Keith Edited February 15 by cheekyboy
brodricj Posted February 15 Posted February 15 9 minutes ago, cheekyboy said: ...I was unaware of the Cascade DAC... Cascade was announced in May last year. The measure is, Cascade by itself sounds better than Select + DD. And cheaper too. 1
metal beat Posted February 15 Posted February 15 2 hours ago, brodricj said: Cascade was announced in May last year. The measure is, Cascade by itself sounds better than Select + DD. And cheaper too. I hear an echo
Grimmie Posted February 20 Posted February 20 (edited) On 14/02/2025 at 12:45 PM, cheekyboy said: Yes, Grimmie, I guess it is all relative to how much you can afford to spend on audio equipement and I didn't mean to suggest that $16k was what everyone could afford, but in the world of high end turntables, the rig you listed above would be a good example, the Bardo by comparison at sub $16k is a stonking bargain and I'll repeat, IMO the best bang for buck in a hi-end turntable on the market today, bar none! My Brinkmann Bardo is fitted with a Brinkmann 10.5 tonearm and an Acoustical Systems Archon cartridge and it is a sensational rig. I unfortunately don't have the SDP upgrade, Aquilar Anniversary tonearm, Edison phono stage or a Dynavector XV-15 cartridge, but I am fortunate to be able to listen to an identical rig to that whenever I can get down to Sydney@scuzzii and let me tell you, it is simply superb. Cheers, Keith Ah yes I see it's @scuzzii who has the "Acoustical Systems - Aquilar Anniversary Tonearm, SDP & Dynavector XV-1S cart" (c&p from his sig.), lucky feller. My mistake Edited February 20 by Grimmie 2
scuzzii Posted February 20 Posted February 20 If you are ever over this way, drop in and have a listen and a glass of Pinot 2
Grimmie Posted February 20 Posted February 20 I do hope that was directed at me John, If I ever am, I will. Thanks Ged. 1
scuzzii Posted February 20 Posted February 20 1 hour ago, Grimmie said: I do hope that was directed at me John, If I ever am, I will. Thanks Ged. Yes Ged. I meant to quote your post.
cheekyboy Posted February 20 Author Posted February 20 19 hours ago, Grimmie said: Ah yes I see it's @scuzzii who has the "Acoustical Systems - Aquilar Anniversary Tonearm, SDP & Dynavector XV-1S cart" (c&p from his sig.), lucky feller. My mistake Yes, Grimmie, I get to hear John's @scuzzii Bardo when I can find the time to get down to Sydney, which unfortunately is not as often as I would like. John's Bardo is an exceptional deck and he has the Acoustical Systems SDP fitted, which I don't have and his tonearm is the Acoustical Systems Aquilar Anniversary edition and that combo is just superb. John is also running that through a Brinkmann Edison phono stage, which is still the best phono stage I've had the pleasure to hear. Even though my Bardo and phono preamp are far more modest in comparison to John's rig, it is still nonetheless a sensational performer. Cheers, Keith 1
cheekyboy Posted February 24 Author Posted February 24 (edited) Comparing Acoustical Systems Aquilar 12” arm fitted with an Archon cart to an Acoustical Systems Axiom 12” arm fitted with the Palladium cart. Fully volume balanced and track synced through the Brinkmann Edison phono stage on the fly. I’ve been able to experience these seamless comparisons using the dual arm Balance in Harry’s system and provided you have an additional copy of the same vinyl album, you can also do a volume balanced and synced comparison between the Balance and the Bardo, which is pretty cool. The three separate and switchable phono stage inputs allow this to be possible and that flexibility for multiple decks and tonearms is a hugely versatile feature of the Edison phono preamp. If anyone would like to experience the Brinkmann Balance or the Bardo running through the Edison phono preamp, I’m sure you would be welcome to audition them in Harry’s system. If you would like to arrange an audition, simply contact Harry at SGR Audio. Cheers, Keith Edited February 24 by cheekyboy 5
Grimmie Posted February 24 Posted February 24 Wow!... that is seriously fabulous and sexy gear. Art meets science meets pleasure. 1
awayward Posted February 25 Posted February 25 The Brinkmann turntables are gorgeous and I really need to make an effort to hear them, along with the Edison phono pre amp. 2
scuzzii Posted February 25 Posted February 25 30 minutes ago, awayward said: The Brinkmann turntables are gorgeous and I really need to make an effort to hear them, along with the Edison phono pre amp. If you ever come down to Syd, drop in. Not far from Express way 2
Recommended Posts