The Article
TN-3B Turntable From TEAC
27th August 2019
The TN-3B is a belt-drive turntable featuring a built-in MM phono amplifier (NJM8080 op-amp) and USB digital output
The TN-3B includes a new S-shaped tonearm with knife-edge, pivot-point bearings, co-developed with SAEC plus Audio-Technica AT-VM95E cartridge, with an elliptical stylus, pre-installed on a SME-type headshell.
The deck is a twin speed design the includes a die-cast aluminium platter, MDF plinth and isolating feet.
A “honeycomb pattern” is apparently imprinted on the base of the plinth for extra rigidity.
It spans 420 x 117 x 356mm and weighs 5kg.
Price is £399. It’s available in September, in Cherry, Piano black or white.
For further information. visit www.teac-audio.eu.
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At the time of the product overview (late 2019), was this Teac TN-3B Turntable worth getting for a budget all-around good belt drive turntable? What did you think of the SAEC tonearm? Will there be a review of this turn table or its higher sibling the Teac TN-4B Direct Drive Turntable?
Thanks for your question RxT. At the time, I requested the turntable for review and was refused. I got the impression that they didn’t want it reviewed. I might be wrong in that assertion but that was the feeling I had at the time.
If you’re looking for a new turntable, let me know your budget and requirements and I’ll help as much as I can.
Thanks for your reply Paul. My budget at the moment is at ¬£300 GBP (maybe ¬£25 to ¬£50 more with stretch). I’m looking for a turntable that is servo motor belt drive (I don’t think there are decent none DJ direct drives for my budget), a good tone arm that can be upgraded, a good entry-level cartridge (e.g. AT-VM95E, Ortofon OM 10, etc.), no pre-amp (if one is included, there should be an on/off pre-amp switch), record 33/45 speed switch/button (no manual speed switching), DC power supply with UK plug, no USB, no DJ bells and whistles, modern or retro looks / design, a good hindged cover (preferrably smokey colour than clear colour), adjustable isolation feet, decent RCA output and ground points, semi-automatic would be nice but not necessary and decent build quality from a decent brand. I know, I know… I’m asking for too much… Thanks!
Hi RxT – you may be looking at one or two compromises here but my picks would be either:
…the Rega Planar 1: https://theaudiophileman.com/planar-1/
…the NAD 558 (which is on sale at Sevenoaks, the retailer – are you in the UK?): https://theaudiophileman.com/c558-turntable-nad-review/
…or this slightly DJ-esque design (ish), well it is direct drive: https://theaudiophileman.com/at-lp5x-turntable-review-audio-technica/
Thanks Paul. The NAD 558 turntable sure looks great! I saw your youtube review for it and its sibling the NAD 556. I will defintely add it to my list to consider. At the moment that list looks like the following candidates: Fluance RT82 (¬£299 on Amazon – when it’s back in stock); Teac TN-3B (¬£349 on some sites); Pro-ject Essential III SB (¬£319 on some sites); Denon DP-400 (¬£379 on one site – may have to lunch brown bag for a few weeks) and now this NAD 558 (¬£299 on one site – or in the dog house for the other average street price – circa ¬£399). What are your thoughts on my candidate turntables for my budget and criteria?
Don’t forget that Fluance are semi-automatics. Great if you want that feature but that will impinge on sound quality. Pro-Ject – solid, yes. Denon and TEAC – not for me. NAD – top notch
Oh… I forgot to mention, I have a budget dark horse turntable for my list of candidate turntables. The Audio-Technica AT-LPW40WN (circa ¬£299 to ¬£315) but only comes in Walnut veneer – no Black colour plinth.
Thank you very much Paul – for the turntable advice and your great reviews.