Any reason not to buy a TEAC TN-4D-SE

[Factualist]

This turntable seems to match my needs when I started to look and an upgrade to my current. I wanted , direct drive, removable headshell, decent cartridge and tonearm, my comparisons were done against the Project Evo D2 and the Rega Planer 3. I'm not fussed about the onboard phono as my amp has one, but it makes it verstaile as I have another amp without that I sometimes use.

I also think it fits into my system well, which is an Audilab 6000a and Focal Viesta No1, plus TEAC build quality - but it never seems to get mentioned so what are your thoughts?

TEAC Overview

 

[daytona600]

Chinese copy of a Technics SL1200
Buy a used technics , Very hard to pick one up on the used market they only made 3,000,000 of them

 

[RoA]

Chinese copy of a Technics SL1200
Buy a used technics , Very hard to pick one up on the used market they only made 3,000,000 of them

Not really, there are sufficient differences to set it apart from the 1200 clones, the arm being one. Although still being made by Hanpin I believe (?) the arm of the TEAC TN-4D was developed in collaboration with SAEC, a manufacturer known for ultimate HighEnd designs, such as the SAEC WE-4700 costing over ten thousand USD. It also has a newly developed brushless motor. Seems good value for the money. £200 cheaper than the nearest Technics, the SL100C which I bought and which also comes with an inferior cartridge.

Being slightly biased of course I would still buy the Technics. It just feels bombproof and well made whilst not even being on the same level as the GR, never mind the G. I am upgrading the cartridge which makes it quite a bit more expensive than the Teac.

Were £550 my budget and I wanted new, I would certainly consider the Teac.

 

[Gray]

...what are your thoughts?

It looks great.
It meets all your stated needs
It's not a silly price.
As long as it betters what you currently own (which you didn't mention), I can't think of a reason why not to buy 👍

 

[Jasonovich]

Audio Affairs and Peter Tyson have them in stock for £549. I think they price match.

Teac make quality hifi but in terms of how does it sound, I couldn't tell you.
I'd imagine very similar to the Technics direct drive?

Best to give the dealers near you a call and book a demo 😊

Teac TN-4D-SE Direct Drive Analogue Turntable - Walnut

The TN-4D-SE uses a sleek, brushless DC motor, offering crystal-locked speed accuracy, regulated by a computer-controlled feedback circuit and achieving low wow-and-flutter levels for a direct drive turntable, especially one with such a stylish, low-profile design.

petertyson.co.uk

TEAC TN-4D-SE Turntable

The TEAC TN-4D-SE turntable features a low profile design along with a new brushless DC servo motor. The slimline motor allows the plinth to be sleek and stylish. Notably, the new motor is crystal-locked and has a very smooth rotation. The turntable also has an S shaped tonearm, which is mounted...

www.audioaffair.co.uk

 

[abacus]

As mentioned above, if it suits your needs then go for it, however is there any specific reason you want direct Drive, as it does limit the choice available to you.

Bill

 

[Al ears]

Assuming the tonearm does a good job then it will sound like just about any other turntable fitted with a Sumiko Oyster cartridge

 

[matthewpianist]

I've had one; it was okay, but nothing special, and I've come across better from Audio-Technica TBH.

 

[matthewpianist]

Oh, and you mention the Planar 3. That's belt-drive, but it's in a different league entirely.

 

[RoA]

Oh, and you mention the Planar 3. That's belt-drive, but it's in a different league entirely.

I had the (late) P3 prior to the Technics. It's indeed a nice turntable with the arm being the highlight. The plinth is ok but nothing special and if you want to add a NEO PSU it will be more expensive. There will also be a temptation to upgrade various bits and pieces such as stainless sub platter, Michell Technoweight etc and before you know it, it is almost as expensive as a P6. Still, you are right, for the same price (now discounted) as the Teac and with an Elys I'd have the Rega.

It was a while ago since I sold it so I can't draw a valid direct comparison between it (modified Rega) and a DD plus I now have a different listening room.

If you are a cartridge swapper it may not be the best solution though and VTA needs extra shims on the Rega. Technics and probably the TEAC are plug n'play if you don't want to faff around.

 

[Al ears]

I had the P3 prior to the Technics. It's indeed a nice turntable with the arm being the highlight. The plinth is ok but nothing special and if you want to add a NEO PSU it will be more expensive. There will also be a temptation to upgrade various bits and pieces such as stainless sub platter, Michell Technoweight etc and before you know it, it is almost as expensive as a P6. Still, you are right, for the same price (now discounted) as the Teac and with an Elys I'd have the Rega.

It was a while ago since I sold it so I can't draw a valid direct comparison between it (modified Rega) and a DD plus I now have a different listening room.

If you are a cartridge swapper it may not be the best solution though and VTA needs extra shims on the Rega. Technics and probably the TEAC are plug n'play if you don't want to faff around.

Indeed, the Rega is in a different price bracket in its basic form but " a different league "? I am not so sure.
The cartridge is what determines how good a turntable is and certainly more so with turntables in these sort of price brackets.
Simple adjustment like VTA are not possible on Rega decks which can tend to put people off these as it limits your choice of cartridge.
I am not knocking Rega as had an original Planar 3 for quite a few years but they simply are not the be all and end all of turntables.

 

[daytona600]

No real change in rega TTs for 50years
1985 P3 can sound like a £5,000 2025 P10
Keep the deck & Funk the arm/cartridge

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-L68dXaKK4w

 

[Al ears]

No real change in rega TTs for 50years
1985 P3 can sound like a £5,000 2025 P10
Keep the deck & Funk the arm/cartridge

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-L68dXaKK4w

Only if you have a very healthy bank balance.
Their cheapest tonearm is three times the price of his deck...... 😎

 

[daytona600]

Your P3 as a Donor OR used deck for £100 + £1236 for Kit
£100 TT with performance to rival a £5500 P10

The Funk Firm Rage 1 modifications to Rega turntables

The Funk Firm makes turntables, tonearms, and Achromat pure vinyl replacements for the often-ghastly fuzzy slip-mats on turntables. But what it is also

hifiplus.com

Houdini
Revolutionary cartridge decoupling system for enhanced clarity and performance.

Achromat (5mm)
The world’s best-selling turntable mat, delivering superior sound clarity and reduced vibration.

Bo!ng Isolation Feet
Custom isolation feet tailored to your turntable’s weight, reducing external vibrations.

Arm

FX5X: The successor to the FXR.

 

[Al ears]

Your P3 as a Donor OR used deck for £100 + £1236 for Kit
£100 TT with performance to rival a £5500 P10

The Funk Firm Rage 1 modifications to Rega turntables

The Funk Firm makes turntables, tonearms, and Achromat pure vinyl replacements for the often-ghastly fuzzy slip-mats on turntables. But what it is also

hifiplus.com

Houdini
Revolutionary cartridge decoupling system for enhanced clarity and performance.

Achromat (5mm)
The world’s best-selling turntable mat, delivering superior sound clarity and reduced vibration.

Bo!ng Isolation Feet
Custom isolation feet tailored to your turntable’s weight, reducing external vibrations.

Arm

FX5X: The successor to the FXR.

The OP wasn't asking about a Rega deck as far as I am aware.

 

[Factualist]

Thanks for the replies I'll try and answer and shed more light.

I currently have a TEAC TN-100, basic but sounds right - its belt drive hence I want direct for a change and its a new design, I only bought the TN-100 as I thought back in 2016 when I brought my vinyl out of storage after Bowie died that I'd only play a couple once in a blue moon, it was, but lately I've been cleaning up and playing a lot more from my collection, all these records were put away in the early 90's.

I did a comparison with Rega if I thought I could stretch my budget if justified, also compared with a Technics SL-1000C, but the differences are not great enough i feel, if I had the budget I would probably go for a higher end Technics.

I know the manufacturing place and they do make a lot of electronics, the thing that intrigued me was the arm design. As this is completely new TT for TEAC and not an evolution it may justify the cost compared to others in the same price bracket.

 

[RoA]

Thanks for the replies I'll try and answer and shed more light.

I currently have a TEAC TN-100, basic but sounds right - its belt drive hence I want direct for a change and its a new design, I only bought the TN-100 as I thought back in 2016 when I brought my vinyl out of storage after Bowie died that I'd only play a couple once in a blue moon, it was, but lately I've been cleaning up and playing a lot more from my collection, all these records were put away in the early 90's.

I did a comparison with Rega if I thought I could stretch my budget if justified, also compared with a Technics SL-1000C, but the differences are not great enough i feel, if I had the budget I would probably go for a higher end Technics.

I know the manufacturing place and they do make a lot of electronics, the thing that intrigued me was the arm design. As this is completely new TT for TEAC and not an evolution it may justify the cost compared to others in the same price bracket.

Go for it. Post some photos

 

[Rodolfo]

Here's a link to a review of the pretty TEAC. Personally, I'd hold out for a fully-automatic version. |wink|

REVIEW: TEAC TN-4D - Elegance with soft and plesant sound

TEAC launched a New turntable earlier this summer. It has so many interesting assets that I fell for the temptation to take a review. One of the benefits of the obvious renaissance for LPs is that there are a lot of new turntables in all price ranges. At this year's Munich HighEnd fair, there we...

www.audiophile.no

 

[Factualist]

Well, I have it, courtesy of Peter Tyson and their excellent service . It arrived well packed, and was very easy to set up with clear instructions, it looks stunning and sounds fantastic, tested on 1991 Greek pressed DSOTM, this was very crackly and suffered from sibilance, on here the pops disappeared almost and a very clear sound to one of the average pressings of DSOTM, I am very happy with the purchase and thouroghly recommend a demo.