TEAC TN-3B Review

TEAC TN-3B features an S-shaped tonearm and innovative belt drive that delivers a coherent and energetic sound, making music feel lively and detailed. It is perfect for anyone looking for a high-performing and stylish turntable. Additionally, its elegant design is available in black, white, and a beautiful cherry finish.

Intro

The TEAC TN-3B is both attractive and elegant, with a modern touch. TEAC has a great sense of luxury that other turntables just can’t match. Its shape is typical of a rectangular plinth, but the finish stands out and makes an excellent impression.

TEAC TN-3B Review

There are three versions: black, white, and cherry (which is, in my opinion, the prettiest, covered with many layers of varnish).

TEAC TN-3B cherry finish

Added to this are silver elements—conical legs, tonearm, and cover. Many TEAC turntables use two switches with a round rosette and distinctive truncated spindles; the TEAC TN-3B has just one, which is enough to turn the revolutions on and off and select between 33.3 and 45 rpm. The plinth is made of MDF board, with an additional layer of “honeycomb” added to the bottom, enhancing its stability and reducing vibrations.

TEAC TN-3B Specifications

• Type: Belt-drive
• Motor: DC Motor
• Rotation speed: 33-1/3rpm, 45rpm
• Wow and flutters: less than 0.1%
• Signal-to-Noise ratio: 67dB (A-weighted,20KHz LPF)
• Platter: Die-cast aluminium, 30cm diameter
• Tonearm: Static-balanced, S-shape with knife-edge bearings
• Anti-skating mechanism: Supported
• Stylus pressure range: 0 to 5g
• Compatible cartridge weight: 3.0g to 12g, 14g to 23g (incl. head-shell)
• Cartridge: VM-series (Moving Magnet-type)
• Cartridge weight: 6.1g
• USB: USB B-type (FULL-SPEED) x 1
• Sampling frequency at 16-bit: 8k / 11.025k / 16 k/ 22.05k / 32k / 44.1k / 48kHz
• Overall dimensions: 420 x 117 x 356mm
• Weight: approx. 5.0Kg

Included accessories:

• Felt mat x1
• EP adapter x1
• Counter-weight x1
• Headshell (with AT-VM95E pre-installed) x1
• Platter x1
• Dust cover x
• Rubber feet for dust cover x2
• Hinges x2
• RCA audio cable x1
• AC Adapter (GPE053A-V120050) x1
• Owner’s manual (incl. Warranty) x1

You can download & view the manual here->TEAC TN-3B Manual

Technical Description

The belt drive in the TEAC TN-3B is built a bit differently from the competition. Instead of hiding the motor and belt under the turntable canopy with a smaller drive pulley, the belt runs along the outer edge of the platter. The motor is installed in the corner of the plinth, placed on rubber absorbers, and covered with a cylindrical silver cap.

TEAC TN-3B belt drive system

Moving the disc axis away from the motor improves the damping of vibrations from the drive unit. TEAC also highlights the benefits of this design, with the belt driving the outer part of the platter, resulting in better rotation stability. The wow and flutter index is the lowest in the TN-3B, measuring at 0.1%, ensuring smooth and accurate playback.

The platter itself is a typical cast aluminum, featuring a smaller drive flange that is not used here. The mat is made of felt. The cartridge is an Audio-Technica AT-VM95E, the same as in the AT-LPW40WN, and it is quickly gaining recognition for its performance.

Tonearm and Drive

TEAC is proud of the S-shaped tonearm used in the TN-3B, reminiscent of the best Japanese designs from years ago. The tonearm has an effective length of 223 mm, comparable to competitors, and was designed for TEAC by SAEC, a world specialist in this field. It features a detachable, straight head and precision spherical bearings in the massive suspension frame.

Teac is proud of the design of the tonearm, prepared in cooperation with SAEC.

The tonearm in the TEAC TN-3B is designed to handle heavier cartridges. It supports a maximum cartridge weight of 12 g without the headshell and 23 g with it. The headshell in the TN-3B itself weighs 8.5 g, whereas the AT-LPW40WN‘s headshell weighs 12 g. This means the AT-LPW40WN headshell is heavier than the TN-3B‘s headshell. However, the TN-3B‘s tonearm can accommodate a higher overall cartridge weight, making it more versatile for heavier cartridges.

S-shaped tonearms, like the one in the TEAC TN-3B, are often designed to work with heavier cartridges, and this is perfectly confirmed here. The key is to optimize the tuning by setting the precise resonant frequency of the tonearm and cartridge. This difference can significantly influence the sound of turntables equipped with the same cartridges. Additionally, the plinth construction, drive, and electronics (in the version with an attached correction system) will also have an impact on the overall sound quality.

I really appreciate the TEAC TN-3B turntable for its connection panel and features. It includes a USB output, allowing me to rip vinyl records directly to my computer. The built-in analog-to-digital converter with a resolution of 16-bit / 48 kHz makes this process smooth. The turntable also uses JRC NJM8080 operational amplifiers with low noise levels in the corrective preamplifier, which I can turn off if I want to use an external preamp.

The extensive connection panel has, in addition to the typical set of sockets, also a USB output, which allows you to rip records to a computer.

Setting up the Teac TN-3B won’t wear me out with a complicated assembly process for the first use. It’s actually a bit easier than some competitors – I don’t have to wrestle with feeding the belt through a narrow cutout on the platter. Of course, I’ll mount the platter, install the drive, and screw on the headshell (with the cartridge already installed). The one required step is setting the tracking force to the proper level.

TEAC TN-3B Sound Test

It would seem that the Teac TN-3B and the Audio-Technica AT-LPW40WN turntables are so similar, above all equipped with the same cartridges, that the search for sonic differences will be a difficult task, to say the least.

The main features of both designs are similar, but there are also many changes, even surprising ones. This turntable sounds coherent and energetic. “Coherent” … can be written about any turntable, but energetically – certainly only about some of them. Fortunately, not only the most expensive ones, as you can see, also happen in this price range.

TEAC TN-3B-A/W [Belt Drive Analog Turntable] Japan Import

BUY ON AMAZON Price incl. tax, excl. shipping

Music flows with the TN-3B even lighter, faster, and more agile, the bass is more contoured, tight, and rhythmic. As for an analog, the sound is quite hard and specific, but this should not be considered a disadvantage that diminishes musicality – TEAC efficiently transmits both information and emotions. In the tonal dimension, it is well balanced, although a large proportion of treble will not fit everyone’s imagination and expectations for the analog.

TEAC TN-3B provides better clarity and detail, thereby dazzling less softness and sweetness. This turntable plays with a flourish, and openly sound, it does not aim at technical precision and transforms naturalness into a more joyful than romantic sound.

The quality of the treble is reflected in the timbre of the instruments – the guitars are very expressive, and the transients are sharp, but pleasant because they are effective.

Less delicate and sophisticated than the AT-LPW40WN, less saturated and uncompromising in promoting the midrange than the TD201, the TEAC TN-3B can show the most and the fastest, which will not mean the best for everyone. In this case, the built-in preamplifier is so good that achieving better results would require considerable investment.

TEAC TN-3B Video Review

Final Verdict

TEAC TN-3B is a small masterpiece.  The record player is quick to assemble and adjust. In addition, the AT-VM95E cartridge in the present tonearm combination proves to be a small sound miracle. The internal phono EQ is just as enjoyable as the AD converter for digitizing records. If you are looking for a really good all-around turntable for everyday life, you should consider buying the TEAC TN-3B turntable.