TEAC Direct Drive turntable

[Progmeister]

I have never owned a Direct Drive TT - in fact I cannot remember that I have ever even heard one - having been a fully paid up member of the 'Belt-drives are better' club since the 1980's. On an urge, I started trawling around the web for information on DD TT's and even, last week, put in a bid for a vintage Fisher deck in an online auction (didn't win).

My interest in the improving quality of ChiFi designs also came into play and a couple of names surfaced including the Thorens TD 402 and 403 - well regarded DD examples from a respected brand. A mention in a review said that these are manufactured by a specialist company called Hanpin in Taiwan who use the same direct-drive motor in another model they produce for the Japanese company TEAC. Now TEAC is a name I know from their refined domestic and professional equipment - especially cassette and CD players. A brand with a serious reputation for build and quality. So I went and had a look at their turntable, the TEAC TN 4D SE.



The Hanpin DD motor is a slimline design, meant to run silently and eliminate 'cogging', that makes this TT rather less bulky than other direct-drive models. The arm is specially-made by another Japanese company called SAEC, who are well-known in high-end circles; this arm is used on other turntables from TEAC including the top-of-the-line TN-5BB. Personally I reckon this arm looks better than the carbon-fibre one used on the Thorens decks. Further included is a pre-fitted Sumiko Oyster cartridge and an inbuilt phono amp and USB-out.

Reviews of the TN-4D-SE are generally very favourable and I like the idea of a turntable that can be used in a variety of installations (with its own phono-stage) and can directly hook up to a computer for any vinyl-ripping activities. Also - the clincher - the TEAC deck is half the price (on Amazon) of the Thorens. So I have just pushed the button and the Credit Card can take the strain.

There are some comments about the limitations of the Sumiko Oyster cartridge - although it is a favourably-viewed budget model. So an upgrade is already under consideration - probably from the same Sumiko stable. We'll see. The deck should be arriving next week - something to look forward to as there are no holiday plans this summer.





PS:

The TEAC TN-4D-SE is also available in a chique high-gloss, piano-black finish, but I preferred the 'friendlier' look of the walnut veneer version. Also there is a TN-3B model which is the same deck & arm but with belt-drive.

[Grumpytim]

Be interested to see how it stacks up against your existing decks.

[slinger]

I'll be going into 'reviewer-mode' when the TEAC arrives.

My Pro-Ject turntable is a very basic unit roughly comparable to the current Debut or a Rega P2. Have had it for 20+ years.

The Logic is a warhorse from the 80's that directly rivalled the LP12.

I feel it is time for something new with a different perspective.

[Latteman]

IMO a vintage DD is more desirable than a new version- I have a Denon 47F that is amazing- also owned a Sony & a Hitachi version- the build is great and they last forever- my denon is is in really good condition but there are so many higher quality options from Yamaha, jvc and denon too
A DP 59L is on my want list- there is something special about DD (& idler design) turntables- I suspect this will trigger a desire to look ‘vintage’
Good luck

[DaveyTed]

Look forward to your "review"
I have read that the Teac turntable is made by another Taiwanese company called Ya Horng who also make Fluance belt drive tables.

[slinger]

I hope I don't offend anyone by sitting here and appearing insensitive. HFS is a refuge for me, a place where I can just hang around and feel secure. Yesterday was a busy day with many deep, deep conversations and reminiscences. Then music is my comfort, reminding me of who I am.

The TEAC turntable is a strange gift from the gods. I ordered it last week without any inkling of what was about to happen - I just thought that as a holiday was impossible, I'd treat myself. Then on the first morning 'after', it arrives all the way from Austria. A nephew of Jeannette's was here - also a bit of a music fan - helping me out with the first wave of administrative tasks. When I told him what was in the mysterious box he was fascinated and half-an-hour later he had unpacked (double-boxed, very secure) and assembled it.
The deck is literally 'plug & play' with everything you need to get it running: arm with pre-fitted cartridge, phono cable, PSU wall-wart, dust-cap, felt mat - even a round hole adaptor for old singles! Modern touches such as a built-in phono stage and USB-out.



The TN-4D-SE has a lovely 70's retro look to it that takes me right back to my youth and the glory days when I began to discover music in all its forms. Glad I chose the Walnut version rather than the luscious black-lacquered one (I was tempted). You can spot that it only just fits on the broken paving-slab I use as a vibration damper, being slightly bigger (although a touch lighter) than the Pro-Ject 1.2. It does have its own nice, shock-absorbing feet but the floor upstairs is a trampoline.

The counterwight has neat markings to set tracking-weight and the instruction book gives clear descriptions for the novice of how to do it. I used my digital stylus-scale and dialled in 2.0g. Antiskate is set with a small rotary knob in the arm-base. To get a straight comparison I swapped the deck's own thick felt mat for the acrylic one I use on the Pro-Ject and there is a new record-weight with holes in that looks really cool when spinning.

Everything about this deck breathes 'quality', from the packaging to the On-switch. I have hooked it up to the Cambridge Alva Duo phono for now - there will be plenty of time later to play around with the internal amp etc. Firing it up, the DD motor is quick and utterly silent, State-of-the-art they say, I believe it. Cue the arm (very smooth) and let's go.

There is a stability and solidity to the sound that is awesome, so 'musical'. The TEAC brings a smile to my face and gets a foot tapping. The 'budget' Sumiko Oyster cartridge is doing a lot more right than its doing wrong - what a joy! Yes, the deck cries out for a better cart - but even this jaded audio-snob is very impressed. An early-morning run-through of a battered copy of 'Selling England By The Pound' had me back at seventeen again and set me up for a (probably long) day.

For €429 (new) this must be the audiophile bargain of the year.

Thanks for being patient with me. Writing this has got me feeling strong and capable again.
Until next time.

[TheRealAleman]

I only have one thing to say Fret

[slinger]

Nobody is judging you. You must do whatever helps to get you through this emotionally filled time. I can't think of any way better for you to achieve this, music is the food of life (along with John Deere tractors ) so crack on.

Looks like a good deck for a reasonable amount of money.

[DaveyTed]

Thanks for the review.
It's good you've found something as a diversion at this sad time.

[CN211276]

Further thoughts on the TEAC TN-4D-SE:

Firstly, this deck has given me much pleasure during the last few, convoluted weeks. An escape back to something safe and familiar – and at the same time new and exciting.



Direct Drive. Well I didn’t really know what to expect, all the turntables I’ve had (Pioneer PL514X, Michell Focus One, Logic DM101 & Pro-Ject 1.2) were belt-drive and that was fine. A DD spins up to speed very quickly, about 2 secs with this one. And then there is this astonishing, rock-solid stability! The identical motor is used in pricier models from Thorens – who you reckon must know a thing or two about TT motors. For my idea this provides a basis for sharpness and definition of the audio playback. So, full marks to TEAC for giving this deck a sonic solidity that comes across as a high-end unit.

Tonearm: the tonearm says ‘Designed by SAEC’ on the side, so it is probably made in Taiwan along with the deck. Lovely silver, S-shaped arm that has me back to the record-decks I used to admire as a teenager in the 70’s. Actually the whole TT is one big nostalgia-trip in looks; simple, understated and elegant. Detachable headshell – haven’t seen one of those in a very long time – very handy (see later). Anti-skate is a little knob on the arm-base which is tricky to set but seems to do the job.

Inbuilt phono stage: still haven’t tried it out, am running the TT through the excellent Cambridge Alva Duo and am perfectly satisfied. The inbuilt stage is reviewed as being quite acceptable and TEAC claim that it uses audiophile-grade components. USB out also not tried (yet). Wondering if any active processing of the line-though output occurs, I took all power off the deck and used a stylus brush on the cartridge. The normal noises came out of the speakers – so there is no messing with that signal before output.

Cartridge: The supplied Sumiko Oyster came on song after about a week’s use. A highly-detailed and dynamic performer with a very wide, defined soundstage. Although I missed a bit of fullness/roundness so I started looking further up the Sumiko range as I liked what I was hearing. There is a relatively recent newer series of MM designs beginning with the Rainier, then Olympia and Moonstone. All used the same body and the styli are interchangeable. Then hints from the internet came through that the ‘old’ Pearl model was the one to get – cheaper than the Rainier as well. At some point in the past, I remember looking at the Pearl as a possible purchase but went for Grado instead. Ordered a Pearl, along with a shiny silver headshell for it (Amazon has loads).



The TN-4D-SE & Pearl combination is a mind-blower! Full, rich, smooth, dynamic, detailed. Razor-sharp presentation and an incredible deep bass (when it’s run-in). Thinking the Pearl looked somehow familiar as I was mounting it, I read up on it and found that it uses exactly the same Excel body as the A&R P77 which was my favourite cartridge back in the 1980’s. It’s a small world. So there is this known and trusted smoothness coupled with a new, fresh accuracy. Playing some of the old and much-loved classics of yore (Seconds Out, Tarkus, SEBTP) the Pearl is very kind to age-battered LP's and brings them to new life. It's as if you can fall in love with them all over again.

Overall, then, this turntable is an exceptional bargain, giving a performance that frequently has me sitting up and saying Wow! I’ve certainly never had a TT that was so involving – even the refined elegance of the old Logic is facing stiff competition. The thought has crossed my mind of getting a second TEAC (the black one!) to replace it. Patience. Down boy!

Music was my first love and it will be my last.
Despite the recent shock and sorrow in my personal life, the music has carried me through. And then this deck has an extra magic that gets you to the heart of the sound – it may not be mega-ultimate-audiophile-perfection but it sure does the trick for me.