“The times, they are a-changin’,” goes the Bob Dylan song. If Mr. Dylan only knew how things would change in the audio industry. For example, my latest infatuation seems to be with white components, speakers, and stands. They seem to be everywhere. White seems to be the new black, silver, or whatever color you previously liked your audio gear to be.
Also, there are plenty of very competent turntables with built-in phono stages. I say “amen.” Who has unlimited rack space these days?
What’s next? How about AI-driven components that detect when you have fallen asleep and turn themselves off? Now, that would be useful for old timers like me.
The sample of TEAC’s TN-3B-SE manual belt-drive turntable ($599) that I received from that company boasted a white plinth and a built-in moving magnet phono stage. A far as the color, the ’table looked stunning. Other finish choices are cherry gloss and black.
Pretty in white: the TEAC TN-3B-SE turntable.
Due to the phono stage (but not the color), setting up the ’table was a snap. I plugged it into an IsoTek V5 Elektra power conditioner and then connected it to an Audio Group Denmark Axxess Forté 1 integrated streaming amp with an Audience Studio ONE V2 phono cable. A few seconds later, sweet music was coming out of a pair of PMC prophecy1 bookshelf loudspeakers. A few years ago, you couldn’t touch this level of performance for the money.
Per TEAC, some of the TN-3B-SE’s other key features are:
· An external belt drive
· An aluminum die-cast platter
· A new S-shaped tonearm with knife-edge, pivot-point bearings
· Anti-skating and stylus-pressure adjustments
· A pre-installed Audio-Technica AT-VM95E cartridge
· Two speeds: 33-⅓ and 45 RPM
· Insulating feet with shock absorption
· A honeycomb-patterned bottom panel designed to minimize unwanted vibrations
· A multi-layer lacquer paint finish
As usual, there are no lack of competitors out there. But if you take the plunge for the TEAC TN-3B-SE, I doubt that you will be disappointed. Enjoy the photos.
The turntable looks good from every angle.
Connecting it couldn't be easier, and the turntable has a switchable phono stage so it can be used with either a line-level input or an external phono preamp.
The included Audio-Technica cartridge is pre-mounted, so all the user has to do is set the tracking force and anti-skating.
The tonearm is designed by noted Japanese manufacturer SAEC.
All photos courtesy of Howard Kneller.
Also note TLC’s growing TLC social media ecosystem, including its Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556741638528) and group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/217745678009888), the latter where members from around the world show off their gear; plus its LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/howard-kneller/), Instagram (www.instagram.com/howardkneller/), Threads (www.threads.net/@howardkneller) and X (www.x.com/HowardKneller) pages.
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