Hi Kcin;
i was and still a fan of helmut and Brinkman company. i think they are making wonderful equipment and turntables!
i'm enjoying to listen to their stuff at least once a week at a dear friend of mine...(he is the Brinkman dealer locally).
the Balance was a wet dream of mine for the last 10 years since i saw and heard it at the Munich show for the first time.
eventually i could effort it, and bought it after i had the (a SUPERB VFM) Bardo.
my Balance was with the Ront power supply too, and with A.S Aquilar tone arm that replaced the 10.5 from Brinkman i had on my Bardo and got the chance to hear on the Balance too.
(i add a second arm with a self build arm pod in the back for an SME 2M 12R later on)
sound wise it was the best TT i had those time, till i had the chance to get a Clear audio master innovation with TT2 linear arm and that was the end for the Brinkman legacy at my place.
the Balance was very very solid in nature. he sound as it looks in a way
. had a very great and deep presentation. was very quiet (although i had some hum problem from the small oil heating power supply, we couldn't manage to quiet down). and with stable speed and decent PRaT. in the end, i felt i need\wanted- more open presentation and details\resolution.
and that what the clear audio brings, in comparison. add the mid and bass texture though less deep bass as the Balance i was in for the trade off.
the AF3 is a different Ball game altogether to my ears.
it have the bass and relax presentation of the Balance (at first he sounded sooooo relax vs the CA i thought i did a mistake!) with the texture and resolution of the clear audio.
add the perfect pitch and stability of the OLD STYLE horses from japan and you've got some of the Perfect TT in the market today for the Price. he is so natural that every arm and cart combo will get their base to preform and shows their quality! i LOVE my TD AF3 as you can tell, and think its one of the best there is now days... if you not going into blood Gushing budgets!
Aviad.
i never auditioned the La grange...