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Estimated price (community-sourced)
Around — community and catalog average, updates slowly
The Brinkmann Audio Balance is a world-class turntable that has been in continuous production since 1985, establishing itself as one of the most enduring and respected high-end turntable designs. It combines timeless beauty with state-of-the-art engineering and has undergone continuous sonic optimizations while maintaining its core design philosophy. The Balance features a signature 3.25-inch-thick, 44-pound platter made of aluminum, lead, and copper with an elastomer-bonded crystal plate surface. The turntable employs a precision ground round belt drive system and a brushless, dual-phase AC Sinus motor with 4-phase (4 times 90°) design for smooth rotation without cogging. An electrically heated platter bearing delivers optimum performance without requiring a warmup period. The turntable is used as the absolute reference by manufacturers, reviewers, mastering engineers, and publications worldwide, and has earned numerous prestigious awards including the Gold Medal from Image Hifi Millenium Awards and the Blue Moon award from 6moons.com. Available in single-arm and two-arm configurations, the Balance accommodates tonearms from 9 to 12 inches via an easy quick-exchange collar system. A standard all-new solid-state power supply is included, with an optional vacuum-tube power supply (RöNt II or RöNt III) available for enhanced sound characteristics.
Turntable mechanics and performance
Size, weight, and appearance
Specifications are community-contributed and may not be accurate or complete. Verify all details with the manufacturer before making purchasing decisions. Terms & Conditions
Components that show up alongside the Balance in real systems. A verdict means the pair has been checked for compatibility and headroom — open it to see how the two get along.
The closest alternatives on specs, description and the systems they turn up in, with the specs they share set side by side.
The Reference Jubilee's platter weight is 8.5 kg (19 lbs) against the Balance's 18 kg (40 lbs), its platter material POM against Glass, and its weight 22 kg (49 lbs) against 33 kg (73 lbs). Both share drive type (Belt).
The Inspiration's wow & flutter is 0.010% against the Balance's 0.030%, its weight 45.36 kg (100 lbs) against 33 kg (73 lbs), and its width 449.58 mm against 550 mm. Both share drive type (Belt).
The Stabi M's platter weight is 12 kg (26 lbs) against the Balance's 18 kg (40 lbs), its platter material Aluminum against Glass, and its weight 60 kg (132 lbs) against 33 kg (73 lbs). Both share drive type (Belt).
Both turn up in the same documented systems.
The Ascona NEO's platter weight is 13.5 kg (30 lbs) against the Balance's 18 kg (40 lbs), its platter material Aluminum against Glass, and its weight 58 kg (128 lbs) against 33 kg (73 lbs). Both share drive type (Belt).
Reed Muse 3A
SME 60
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