Brinkmann Audio Oasis Anniversary

The Oasis Anniversary is a turntable from Brinkmann Audio, recognisable by its direct-drive mechanism. Unlike the majority of turntables that rely on a belt to turn the platter, this model dispenses with it entirely, a choice stemming from comparative work between different drive systems carried out by the manufacturer.

The platter is not driven by a belt but directly, thanks to a permanent annular magnet housed within the platter bearing and four air coils fixed to the turntable's chassis. These coils are precisely controlled according to different phase angles, generating a rotating magnetic field that sets the platter in motion.

Brinkmann Audio drew on the experience gained from manufacturing its larger turntables to design this direct drive. Rather than opting for strict motor regulation, the source of the sonic flaws attributed to direct-drive turntables of the 1970s and 1980s, the manufacturer relied on a precision bearing capable of smoothing out the tiny speed variations inherent to this type of motor.

This approach aims for a rotational consistency that classic direct-drive mechanisms could not achieve, without resorting to the rigid electronic control that gave direct-drive turntables of that era their sometimes unstable sonic character.

The Oasis Anniversary is aimed at vinyl enthusiasts attentive to the mechanical stability of their source, particularly those seeking an alternative to belt drive without reverting to the shortcomings of older-generation direct-drive turntables.