The Article
TN-4D Direct Drive Turntable From Teac
9th May 2019
The twin-speed TN-4D is a new direct-drive turntable using a newly-developed brushless DC servo motor plus “…crystal-locked speed stability and smoother rotation while also eliminating cogging,” said the company
There’s also a new S-shaped tonearm with knife-edge, pivot-point bearings, developed in collaboration with SAEC Corporation.
Partnering the turntable is a built-in phono amplifier. Additionally, a USB port on the back panel allows you to digitally archive your vinyl collection via your PC/Mac.
Featuring a die-cast aluminium platter, multi-layer piano black or natural walnut veneer finish.
The TN-4D comes with an Oyster MM cartridge from Sumiko, pre-installed. Price is £599 and it will be available in June.
To learn more, visit www.teac-audio.eu
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Any rubber dampening of the platter? All that hi-tech with a lousy platter still won’t sound good.
Not sure yet, Joel – I’ve yet to see one in the flesh, as it where.
Hi, Paul
Looking for some info about this new TEAC turntable I found your articles and reviews. So, at first thank you for really interesting and helpful materials. Have you had an opportunity to look closer to this TN-4D model? Generally, looking for some middle class turntable for easy listening at home, I think about a couple of models:
1) Pro-Ject 1-Xpression Carbon Classic DC Ortofon 2M-Silver
or Pro-Ject Debut Carbon with 2M RED as a cheaper option
2) may be some Rega (Plannar 1 or 2?)
3) …and finally I think about this new model of Teac TN-4D
May be you can recommend something for a new vinyl lover as me? I’ll be very grateful for your opinion 😉
Hi Alex – thanks for your question. Before we go any further, do you have a budget figure? And what’s the priority here: sound quality or the built in phono amp and the ability to ‘rip’ vinyl to a digital file?
Sound quality is the only priority I have. I have a built in phono preamp in my amplifier (Pioneer A-40AE) and maybe I’ll decide to buy some separate phono amp in future. And I want just to listen to music from vinyl, not interesting to ‘rip’ to digital. As for bud≈ºet, so it’s movable 🙂 I looking for some good option for a good price, in a level of my sound system (Pioneer A-40AE Dali Oberon 3).
Okey dokey – some sort of price boundaries would be useful though, otherwise you’ll receive a useless list of 30 turntables 🙂
First of all, thanks a lot for your response. I really didn’t expect it 😉 Ok than, something around 500 to 700 euro. And maybe you can recommend something from my list (see the first comment)? Or should I look in a completely different direction?
Hi Alex – if sound quality is a priority, then I would advise that you ignore any turntable with a built-in phono amp, USB, etc. Their inclusion only harms sound. I would look at a Rega Planar 3, a NAD C588 or a Funk Firm Gett! (the exclamation mark is part of the name 🙂 ) or the Pro-Ject 1-Xpression Carbon Classic DC. All of these can be bought with confidence. The best sound from the above? The Funk Firm. That said, you may prefer the others for personal reasons. All will sound very nice. Here’s a couple of review links for you:
https://theaudiophileman.com/c588-turntable-review-nad/
https://theaudiophileman.com/gett/
Hi Paul,
So, no Teac in your recommendations 🙂 Thanks a lot, it’s very helpful and there are a couple of option I’ve never heard before (Funk Firm for example). Have you may be some recommendation for cartridge (budget is 100-200 euro for the beggining)? As I see, buying rega planar 3 or Funk Firm Gett! you have only turntable, not cartridge included. And this is two options I like the most at this moment.
Hi Alex – the Rega has a cartridge as part of the package, you’d need to spend on a cart for the Funk Firm, though. A good cartridge is the Ortofon 2M Red at just under ¬£100 or this one from Goldring: https://theaudiophileman.com/goldring-e3/
Paul,
Thanks a lot for your recommendation üëçüèªüëåüèª
Hi Paul,
Thanks for the quick info on TEAC TN-4D. Is it automatic or manual – I couldn’t find relevant info…
BR,
Tag
Good point, Tag. The fact that Teac does *not* talk about the semi-automatic this or automatic that in its press materials would strongly suggest that this one is a manual deck 🙂