This review page is supported in part by the sponsors whose ad banners are displayed below |
 |
 |
|
 |
Reviewer: Srajan Ebaen
Financial Interests: click here
Source: 160GB iPod Classic, Onkyo NS-D1 dock, Pure i20 dock
Preamplifier: NuForce HDP,
Integrated amplifier: NuForce Icon 2 & Icon Amp, Bel Canto Design C5i
Loudspeakers: Mark+Daniel Mini+, EBTB Terra III
Cables: Musical Cable
Sundry accessories: Acoustic System Resonator, Tachyonics, Schumann synchronizer
Room size: 5m x 11.5m W x D, 2.6m ceiling with exposed wooden cross beams every 60cm, plaster over brick walls, suspended wood floor with Tatami-type throw rugs. The listening space opens into the second storey via a staircase and the kitchen/dining room are behind the main listening chair. The latter is thus positioned in the middle of this open floor plan without the usual nearby back wall.
Review Component Retail: As reviewed $159 DAC, $159 amp (not reviewed - $199 PowerMaster, $219 Internet radio, $199 Blutooth stage, $139 Phono stage)
|
 |
Display at the Hong Kong show
|
Bric-à-brac one brick at a time. That must have been the design brief for Brik Audio. Their John Wen explained that they're a very established Taiwanese firm with 20 years of OEM/ODM experience under their belts to "finally launch Brik as our own brand. We've been to market since our launch at the Hong Kong Fair in the fall of 2010."
|
|
|
| |
|
|
 |
Brik Audio joins Pacific Rim bonsai audio firms Firestone, KingRex and Trends with a 6-deep line of mini boxes by way of Blutooth receiver, integrated amp, DAC, Internet radio, phono stage and joint PSU.
|
|
|
|
|
Since I don't do phono or Blutooth hifi, I responded to John Wen's inquiry with a request for the 3-input DAC and 20/35* wpc into 8/4Ω integrated amp plus PowerMaster supply to introduce these bricks to our pages.
________________________________
Max 4Ω power is specified at 10% THD. At 3% THD it's really only 25 watts.
|
 |
Particularly on the desktop the joint power supply would be superbly practical by taking up just one AC outlet for up to five components which are then supplied power via short umbilicals. Sadly CE certification for it wasn't in place yet so my loaner shipment arrived without it. Brik's own three wide or 2 x 2 micro furniture enclosures above can establish further law 'n' order and perhaps even double as monitor stand. The DAC accepts mini USB, coax and optical and puts out 1V or 2V selectable by rear-mounted switch via its 650Ω analog output. The integrated makes the frontal 3.5mm socket input 1, then adds two standard line-level inputs on the back. As with the converter, input selection is via 3-pole toggle. The DAC's mains switch is on the back, that of the amp on the front. Likely the DAC is intended to remain powered up.
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
