BRICASTI DESIGN M11 R-2R SERIES LAUNCH
On the 11 and 12th of October 2024, I was invited to the launch of the new Bricasti Design M11 R-2R DAC Series; the event took place at Audio Graffiti by Stefano Marchi (Italian importer for Bricasti) in Mantua, Italy.
The M11 R-2R Ladder digital-to-analogue converters are the latest creation by Brian Zolner, CEO of Bricasti Design, and we were delighted to have the opportunity for him to join us in person and reveal some of the behind-the-scenes details of this technology. As a native Italian, it was my pleasure to translate questions and answers from Mr Francesco Taddei, who AF Digitale Magazine sent to capture the event.
My feelings gathered from (several) interviews were that Brian’s strengths lie in his ability to use uncluttered reasoning, clearly shown in his creations; discover with me how concepts take form by clicking the link below.
The video is approximately ten minutes long, so prepare a warm brew, get comfortable, and enjoy.
The M11S2 R-2R DAC taking centre stage in the main system setup.
Time for interviews and a new-found respect for interpreters; not an easy task, as I found out!
From left: Stefano Marchi, Francesco Taddei (AF Digitale) and Brian Zolner.
Up and down the R-2R Ladder
The M11 R-2R DAC was not considered a replacement for the M1 & M3 Series but as an alternative to distinguish the product range further.
Bricasti Design is one of the most respected brands that simultaneously offers Delta-Sigma and R-2R Ladder conversion technologies, tuned to complement each other. By choosing a tried-and-tested technology first implemented in the Bricasti M21 DAC, Brian could create and, in perspective, fine-tune a brilliant implementation even further.
This resulted in finding a new voice while focusing on the elements that matter. With a “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach, this is the work of a mastermind at the peak of his engineering career. It sounds simple in practice, but trying to reinvent the wheel is a common sight. We live in such a competitive market that we often see new designs being beefed up and, by default, losing the path of musical fidelity. Brian showed us that this can be done with careful consideration.
Brian Zolner and Carlo Marengo.
Audio Graffiti owner Stefano Marchi.
Business friends Rodolfo Rubele and Federico Montanari.
The connection between myself, Brian Zolner and Stefano Marchi lies in interacting with one another and, from time to time, sharing some concepts and ideas.
Lately, we have seen the M19 CD-SACD Reference Digital Transport release and now the latest range of M11 R-2R DACs; Brian, the mastermind behind all the research, design and development of these products, consults extensively with various sources. Once he finds the optimal balance with his prototypes, he spends as much time as required to find the right voicing for these products; as he pointed out throughout the event, it took him approximately one year to tune the voicing of the original M1 DAC alone, so one can appreciate how long it can take to study and develop one product.
Still, it is rewarding to see feedback incorporated into the process, even when challenged, bringing fresh perspectives that justify the time invested in communication.
Brian chatting with customers in detail, and we found out it is something he can do effortlessly for hours on end. We joined in accordingly!
Bricasti Design is also dedicated to offering Pro-Audio products to recording studios worldwide, which still brings a significant turnover to the small artisan company. It is located in Shirley, Massachusetts, USA, and comprises six people. The Bricasti M7 Reverb unit, despite being launched 18 years ago, is still the most popular product to date, which shows that these products will be at the cutting edge of technologies in the future.
However, the consumer side allows him to fully exploit and express his technical know-how and expertise by creating products that easily challenge more upmarket offerings.
I have been personally fortunate enough to live with and experience more systems than one dares to mention, and I received my fair share of feedback on respective brands; during the event, all Bricasti Design customers agreed that these are beautiful, understated, precisely built products that offer unrivalled sound quality, value, and pride of ownership.
Many guests requested Brian to have their user manuals signed.
This feeling of customer loyalty was further reinforced at the gathering when customers requested Brian sign their user manuals. A gentleman even brought his M12 DAC top plate! This showed me the importance of these products to end users and their positive impact on their lives, and Brian was delighted to fulfil the requests.
Even better, these events consistently bring something positive to the surface; for me, it boosted confidence from my growing familiarity with this artisan manufacturer. The feedback from customers during my visit filled me with great confidence that the future looks bright for both end users and Bricasti Design.
The M11S2 R-2R was joined by its sibling M1S2 Delta-Sigma DAC; the thunderous M32 monoblocks demonstrated you can have power and delicacy.
Over the two days, we took the opportunity to demonstrate the two different technologies side by side, and along with the M11S2 R-2R DAC, we added the M1S2 DAC with Delta-Sigma conversion. The result was of both winning combinations, as each product complemented the other perfectly, in showing a particular ‘voicing advantage’ over specific genres of music. Want your cake and eat it? Then, choose the Bricasti M21 and never look back said Brian when smiling!
Talking of cake, the icing was a brand new pair of Bricasti M32 monoblocks deserving an article for themselves alone. Suffice it to say that it was a tremendous package that grabbed your attention. Married to a pair of Totem Acoustics Element Metal V2, it filled the space effortlessly with an electrifying bass response.
Final Thoughts
Sadly, all good things come to an end, but I was left deeply enriched by this gathering; this is what good “High-Fidelity events” should be about. Participating in it was an absolute pleasure, as I found a new level of respect for how much effort it takes to make things right when discussing with Brian. Still, I appreciated just as much the hosts and all the friends and customers who made me feel right at home and valued from the moment I landed in Italy. Grazie!
Because of this, I built a page with all images taken during the event; as a picture talks a thousand words, I will leave you to see for yourselves. Click the image on the left below, and it will take you to the dedicated page.
P.S. As I originally served part of my time during my compulsory army service in Mantua over 30 (!) years ago, I wasn’t entirely new to this beautiful city. However, returning after such a long time made me want to see it again, if in a new perspective. Discover the beauty of the surroundings with me by clicking the right image below.
Carlo Marengo.
-MOBILE VIDEOS-
Here are some video samples captured during the event; while it is nearly impossible to get a sensible acoustic judgment from a simple video, one quality that makes all Bricasti Design systems stand out lies in the ability to sound exactly as the recording engineer intended.
Click on the image to start watching!
Sting (Live in Berlin) - Fragile
Scott Hamilton - Everything Happens to Me
Ella Fitzgerald - I've got a crush on you
Metallica - Enter Sandman
Whatever you use the Bricasti electronics are always likely to be the strongest link in the audio chain.
Jason Kennedy - THE EAR MAGAZINE
All Bricasti Design products are milled and produced in-house in Shirley, Massachusetts, USA.