I first heard of Ramar Berlin when the company sent me one of their luxury record brushes to try. They also have a strong presence on Instagram.

The job of a record brush is to rid the vinyl surface of dust without leaving an electrical charge. It's simple: You're done with one or two LP rotations with a slow drag of the brush at a 45-degree angle from the lead-out grooves to the lead-in. I’ve had a few brushes in my time. They're usually effective and reasonably priced.

However, the “Tina” Record Brush from Ramar Berlin is a different animal. A brush of carbon fibres, expertly crafted in a walnut box with a quality metal stylus brush added for good measure (the brush is magnetized and sticks to the roof of the walnut box). The box/brush is a tactile satisfaction in everyday use and clicks shut on four small magnets with great authority. It is a daily pleasure to use, and four years later, it looks and works as new, The price for this luxury? The RECORD BRUSH “TINA” sells for 360,00 €.

“Tina shimmers matt-brownish to black enchants with a filigree wood image and fine texture. Tina is impressive, valuable, and Tina is everlasting”.

That’s some chat. But TINA is some brush!

Ramar’s latest product of modern European design is a record weight with an interesting and visually appealing design. Ramar is one to push design boundaries. As such, its JEWEL record weight is no mere lump of metal holding down a record to the platter surface. There’s a method behind the high design.

Rangel Vasev, head of Ramar, says:

The Jewel is a unique resonance control concept that neutralizes unwanted vibrations and resonances on the record that affect the signal path.

JEWEL has a one-of-a-kind asymmetrical design. Although the outer contours of the body, milled from solid stainless steel, are asymmetrical, we have achieved a perfectly even weight distribution.

I was intrigued by the look of the JEWEL and requested a press sample to review. Thank you to Ramar Berlin for shipping one from Germany. The price of the Jewel is 799,00 €.

I used the JEWEL on both my turntables: The Pure Fidelity Symphony Turntable for stereo and the Pure Fidelity Harmony Mk.2 Turntable for mono.

Specifications

Weight JEWEL – 393g
Dimensions (mm) – Height: 22 x Diameter ca. 70
Body – Stainless steel

Technology/Design

Ramar tackles the problems of vibrations and mechanical noise inherent in vinyl playback in three ways. First, the steel JEWEL is mounted on the spindle on what Ramar calls a “shaft seal.” “The unique design of the shaft seal ring ensures a stable connection with the spindle. The elastic coating of the ring neutralizes the vibrations that might be transmitted via the spindle.”

It’s an interesting feeling as you “squish” down the JEWEL onto the spindle—you feel it would soak up any nonsense as you press down firmly to the record surface.

Second, eight brass rods are underslung and function independently. The rods are milled as beautifully as the rest of the unit. Ramar continues: “As soon as JEWEL is placed on the record, the rods plunge down and gently touch the surface. These transmit some of the resonances inside JEWEL, where they are eliminated. The suspension allows the individual rods to adapt perfectly to any differences in the height of the record surface caused by different label structures. This ensures that the contact surface of the brass rods remains constant for all records”.

Finally, a proprietary ring designed with Sorbothane ”…was developed according to our specifications for the function, mass and shape of JEWEL and ensures balanced damping of unwanted vibrations and resonances from records”.

Does it work?

Yes, and very effectively.

I am a big fan of record weights and have listened, auditioned and reviewed many. As a Rega fanboy and long-time user of their turntables, no record weight is required, or so says Roy Gandy, head of Rega. I always followed Roy’s advice. Then, when I got a Technics turntable as a stopgap when my primary unit failed, no record weights/clamps were suggested by Technics. I assume not to mess with the direct drive and cogging. Meh! As a fan of weights, I felt a little shortchanged.

Record weights I have used in review or as part of my reference system include the VPI Delrin clamp, the Bergmann Audio Magne weight, the Project Carbon Debut Record Weight, the Clearaudio “Clever Clamp,” both Pure Fidelity steel record weight models and finally, the Ansuz Acoustics Darkz T2 Supreme Record Stabilizer. Each weight, except the last model, attempts to dampen unwanted vibrations with heft, a good ballbearing interface or a screw-down clamping mechanism. As you can read from the JEWEL’s description, Ramar goes about its business with a unique design as it attempts the same end game as the other models with its three-pronged attack.

Since a comparison with clamps and weights used over the years would be impossible, a shootout was organized between the Ramar JEWEL, the Pure Fidelity Record Weight and the Ansuz Stabilizer. One is reasonably priced, one expensive and one priced in the stratosphere. For sure, it is an unfair comparison as far as price is concerned, but all three are tasked with the same job. So, how’d they do?

The Pure Fidelity SS-100 record isolator (USD 250) was effective in offering what they all attempt, a cleaner soundstage with better imaging and a clean bass response—all the audiophile precepts that unwanted vibrations screw with. All three Pure Fidelity models look good; the rubies look very cool on the bottom of the SS-100, and the unit has real heft at 760 grams (all are included free with a particular Pure Fidelity model). Recommended.

Next up is the JEWEL (799,00 €). I love the look of the JEWEL—it has real style and elegance as it rotates on the platter. And I was very impressed with its efficacy. It offered a cleaner soundstage than the Pure Fidelity (at three times the cost) (the proverbial veil lifted) and tighter bass. Compared to the Pure Fidelity, timbral cues were more lifelike. There’s no doubt that Ramar’s approach works. And it looks fantastic doing its job.

Records such as the thorny textures of a crackerjack EMI (Walton Symphony No. 2 with Previn and the LSO) were cleared up so I could hear deeper into Walton’s complex counterpoint. And vocal performances such as my mint mono Lonely Girl (Julie London on Liberty Records) pinpointed her dead-centre imaging and helped focus Al Viola’s subtle guitar accompaniment.

The JEWEL is not inexpensive, but it does exactly what Ramar promises. Very highly recommended.

Now, the €6700 elephant in my music room. The Ansuz Acoustics Darkz T2 Supreme Record Stabilizer. I’ve got some flack for raving (in other words, reporting truthfully what I hear to my audience) about this remarkable device. Below the dull, inert Grade 2 Titanium surface lurks Zirconium, Tungsten and Aluminum Titanium Nitride mixed with the alchemy of a particle accelerator, all from the brain of Michael Børresen. As I say in reviews and videos, I use it every day and love it.

Conclusion

Ramar Berlin continues its design acumen in producing effective products for vinyl enthusiasts. They use quality materials and ingenuity to manufacture superior products. Removing the incredible Ansuz Stabilizer from an unfair competitive equation, the Ramar JEWEL (799,00 €) won a “real-world” shootout. I’ll be using it on my Pure Fidelity Harmony Mk.2, enjoying its excellent effect on the sound and delighting in its beautiful design. Very highly recommended.

Further information: Ramar

As I finished the review, Ramar contacted me to tell me about new packaging that doubles as an ingenious record stand to protect the JEWEL’s tin case from shipping dents—more ingenuity from this forward-thinking company. The stand is included at no extra charge. Images below review repertoire.