The thermophysical properties of an amorphous, multinary precursor derived Si/B/N/C ceramic with the approximate composition of SiBN(3)C were determined experimentally. Thermal diffusivity a(T) was determined from 77 to 300 K with an alternative laser-flash setup using the resistance change of a thin (circa 100 nm) gold strip as fast temperature probe. From 300 to 873 K a standard laser-flash setup was used. Specific heat capacity c(p)(T) was determined by temperature modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC) in the temperature range between 190 and 773K. Using the relation lambda(T) = a(T).c(p)(T).rho with the specimen density of rho = (1561 +/- 47) kg m(-3), which was considered to be temperature-independent, the thermal conductivity lambda(T) was calculated. The analysis yielded values for the thermal conductivity at room temperature of lambda(296 K) = (0.490 +/- 0.042)W m(-1) K(-1), and at the highest investigated temperature of lambda(773 K) = (0.706 +/- 0.063)W m(-1) K(-1). Furthermore, space-resolved laser-flash measurements with a lateral resolution of about 1.5 mm were performed at 300K to examine local inhomogeneities on the specimen. Within the given measurement uncertainties, no inhomogeneities could be found. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.