TEAC Belt Drive Analog Turntable TN-5BB

Full-Fledged Belt-Drive Turntable with XLR Balanced Output

The TEAC 'TN-5BB' is a belt-drive analog turntable compatible with MC (Moving Coil) balanced output, featuring a hybrid chassis made of a combination of dissimilar materials—artificial marble, Japanese Washi paper, and MDF—and a 9-inch S-shaped universal tonearm with knife-edge bearings.

A turntable is a stage designed to fully extract the passion of artists and the magic of engineers embedded in their records.

The 'TN-5BB' achieves both the functional goal of resonance elimination and the aesthetic of a profound yet modern design by adopting a jet-black artificial marble and a piano-black finish MDF, truly befitting this stage.
With standard XLR output terminals, it can reproduce the minute signals from a cartridge with higher fidelity when combined with a balanced phono amplifier.
Furthermore, to enhance the performance on this stage, it is equipped with a SAEC x TEAC collaborative knife-edge tonearm.
A 20mm thick acrylic platter is driven by its unique PRS3 (Platter Rotation Sensing Servo System).

Why not experience the true sound that artists and engineers intended you to hear?

■Hybrid chassis combining dissimilar materials to block unwanted resonances / Equipped with knife-edge tonearm

・The chassis features a layered structure combining a heavy 36mm MDF base plate with high internal loss and a highly rigid 12mm artificial marble. (Cabinet weight is approximately 8.8kg.) This provides excellent rigidity and vibration damping, achieving a high howling margin.
The tonearm and platter are mounted on separate structures—the artificial marble top plate—while the vibrating motor is mounted on the MDF base plate. Each material is isolated by dampers, resulting in a quiet structure that reduces the transmission of motor vibrations to the tonearm.
Between the artificial marble and MDF, based on experience cultivated with Washi paper turntable sheets, Washi paper washers of optimal thickness and material, with a balanced resonance, were adopted after repeated listening tests. By using Washi paper instead of rubber or metal, the vibrant resonance unique to records is extracted and reproduced as is.

・SAEC x TEAC collaborative knife-edge tonearm for stable playback
A knife-edge tonearm born from a collaboration with SAEC, a Japanese brand with 40 years of history in tonearm design, is adopted.
The vertical moving part uses stainless steel knife-edge bearings, achieving highly sensitive and stable reading of record grooves.
Additionally, the horizontal moving part has been changed from a conventional structure supported by a single ball bearing to a structure supported by two high-precision Japanese-made ball bearings. This allows for stable and smooth tracing of the record surface without hindering the movement of the knife-edge. The tonearm base is height adjustable.
The optimal VTA (Vertical Tracking Angle) can be adjusted within a 6mm range for various cartridge heights. The tonearm geometry complies with the IEC recommended Baerwald alignment.

・SAEC PC-Triple C material tonearm lead wire
The internal wiring of the tonearm uses SAEC lead wire with PC-Triple C conductors. The conductor, with excellent conductivity, transmits the faint signals of analog records without loss.
PC-Triple C is a material developed by FCM Corporation (an affiliate of Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.) using unique continuous forging and drawing technology. It minimizes crystal grain boundaries that impede signal transmission and continuously aligns crystals in the longitudinal direction, achieving excellent conductivity.

■PRS3 Belt Drive Mechanism for precise and stable platter rotation

The ideal for platter rotation is for it to continue spinning due to its own weight and inertia once it starts, but in reality, this is impossible.
The 'TN-5BB' adopts a belt-drive system that transmits the driving force of the DC motor to the outer circumference of the platter via a flat belt.
A light sensor located at the bottom of the platter detects its rotational speed, and a speed automatic adjustment mechanism (Platter Rotation Sensing Servo System: PRS3) applies servo control to the motor according to the platter's rotation. This achieves high rotational accuracy that is difficult with inertia and motor alone.
It supports three speeds: 33 1/3, 45, and 78 RPM, also allowing playback of SP records and high-quality 78 RPM records.

■Auto arm-lift function at the end of playback

An electric arm lifter allows for raising and lowering the arm with a single button. After playback, a non-contact optical sensor automatically raises the arm with an auto-lift-up function. The auto arm-lift function can also be canceled when playing non-standard records.

■XLR balanced output terminals optimal for MC balanced transmission / MM type cartridge Ortofon

・In addition to standard RCA terminals, XLR terminals are provided for analog output.
Various commercially available cables can be used for connection to external phono equalizers that support XLR balanced input, such as the TEAC 'PE-505'.

・Standard equipped with MM type cartridge Ortofon 2M RED. The highly regarded MM type cartridge Ortofon 2M RED is standard equipped.
It comes pre-mounted and aligned in the headshell, allowing you to enjoy records immediately after unboxing and assembly.

■Main Features

・3-speed support for 33 1/3, 45, and 78 RPM
・PRS3 (Platter Rotation Sensing Servo System)
・Static balance knife-edge tonearm equipped
・VTA adjustment (tonearm height adjustment) function (+6mm)
・Cabinet weight 10.6kg
・Platter weight 1.7kg (20mm thick acrylic)
・Anti-skating function
・Electric arm lifter
・Non-contact detection type auto arm-lift function (ON/OFF possible)
・XLR balanced output terminals
・RCA unbalanced output terminals
・GND terminal
・Height-adjustable 4-point machined aluminum feet
・Acrylic dust cover
・Aluminum die-cast headshell (with lead wire) included
・Applicable cartridge weight: 15-23g (including headshell)
・RCA cable / ground cable included
・L-shaped wrench for arm lifter adjustment
・L-shaped wrench for VTA adjustment
・Cartridge adjustment gauge included
*No built-in phono EQ. TEAC analog turntable for serious enthusiasts

This product is a manufacturer-direct shipment.
In the following cases, delivery will be separate for each manufacturer:
・If you order a manufacturer-direct product and other products simultaneously.
・If you order multiple direct-shipment products from different manufacturers.

Images are for illustration purposes only.
Specifications, appearance, and packaging are subject to change without notice for improvement.