TechDAS Air Force Five Premium Turntable

Description

New Product: Air Force V Premium

The TechDAS team is very pleased to present the new Air Force V Premium. The original Air Force V was our most affordable model that preserved the “Air Force” technologies, and a breakthrough in affordable high-end turntable performance. TechDAS have pushed back the boundaries of turntable design again with further refinements and development, resulting in ever greater performance with the new Air Force V Premium.

Key features include Compact size, affordably priced, and designed to the highest standards. Significantly improved chassis precision machined from solid aluminum. Reduced motor vibration. Air bearing that mechanically isolates the platter and record from any vibration. Vacuum hold-down of an LP onto the platter.

Compact size, affordable, and designed to the highest standards

The Air Force V Premium has been developed to deliver another dimension in analog sound, and at the same time be accessible to more analog enthusiasts. The chassis is as compact in size as the Air Force III Premium, and by elaborately reducing motor vibration we have achieved successful integration of the motor in the plinth. The result is an even more compact turntable without a separate motor unit that can be fitted with up to four tonearms.

The 2-phase 4-pole AC synchronous motor offers almost the same level of performance as the upper models and is integrated into the main unit with an anti-vibration mechanism optimally designed. The polished drive belt of polyurethane rubber helps achieve a high signal to noise ratio. Furthermore, the chassis with the built-in motor sits on four feet which is based on the air damping approach we have used successfully in the Air Force III.

Chassis CNC machined from solid aluminum

The key feature of the Air Force V Premium is it’s significantly improved chassis. It is precision machined from solid aluminum, just like the upper models in our product line.

Instead of an assembled chassis consisting of aluminum panels as in the original Air Force V, the new Air Force V Premium employs a massive chassis CNC machined from solid aluminum alloy. This results in a significantly improved dynamic range delivered with the much heavier weight chassis.

Dual Platter System

It employs a sub-platter system consisting of an inner-sub and an outer platter both precision machined from solid aluminum alloy A5056. With a total weight of 7kg, it gives sufficient inertia for smooth and stable rotation. The outer platter surface is black anodized with a gloss hairline finish and matches well with the silver aluminum plinth. It features a tapered spindle to absorb any swaying of an off-center LP and a very thin pad of anti-vibration material applied on top to protect records.

The Drive System

The Airforce V Premium drive system delivers precise rotational speeds with the crystal oscillator with low vibrations by the 2-phase AC synchronous motor. During start-up, a sophisticated 2 channel torque switching circuit adjusts torque until the rated speed has been achieved, such as during start-up. Once the rotation speed is achieved, torque is decreased in order to reduce vibrations even further. The DDS (Direct Digital Synthesizer) serves to digitally synthesize any waveform or any value of frequencies according to the output from the crystal oscillator.

The Power Supply Unit

The power supply unit contains the power supply circuits for the motor, the air pump, and the air condenser. These control floating and suction functions with our special air control mechanism.

REVIEWS

Air Force Five (not premium)

Stereophile: Setup and use
"I'll keep this short: Setup was easy. Just keep in mind the need to level the 'table using the adjustable feet, before and after installing the tonearm of your choice, then check it yet again after cartridge installation. Importer Graham Engineering supplied the latest B-44 Mk.III version of his Phantom tonearm, which shows fit'n'finish improvements to an already superbly designed and manufactured arm. (You can get the Mk.III in a package with the Air Force V for $24,000—a savings of $3000 compared to retail.) I also used the Swedish Analog Technologies CF1-09 and Thales Statement tonearms: Both are priced beyond what most Air Force V buyers would probably spend on a tonearm, but I know their sound and wanted to hear how they would perform with the V.

What accounts for the quiet?
"Given that the V has an inboard motor, mounted on a bolted-together chassis and located close to the platter, I guessed that the entry-level TechDAS would be somewhat noisier than the more costly Air Force models. But what I heard was just the opposite: This turntable was stupidly quiet—not as quiet as the $450,000 Air Force Zero that I got to hear at a California event a few months ago (and that will be here soon for review), which was by far the quietest turntable I've ever heard. But the V was perhaps quieter than the other Air Force turntables I've reviewed—and for reasons I can't explain. Confirmation bias denied!

"Other than on "ripple warped" records, where vacuum hold down can exacerbate the problems associated with warps, I'm a big fan of well-engineered vacuum hold-down systems. I prefer it to clamping, and certainly to unsecured records just sitting on the platter, which allows vibrations to ricochet through the record and reflect back to the stylus.

"The first cartridge I fastened to the Graham arm was the fast, super-clean, well-detailed Ortofon A95. As soon as everything was locked in, I played the album 4GDB (Artasee Records, no catalog number), something I've been meaning to review when time permits. It's a live-to-2"-analog-tape labor of love: a fun, well-recorded electric guitar jam session featuring four "under-noticed" Texas guitarists who've also worked with many big names. I was looking for the same big, full, rich, chunky sound I'd gotten from this LP on my big rig—or as much of it as this far less costly setup could provide—and I got way more than I expected!

"Of course, there was that surprising degree of quiet—but beyond that, with the Air Force V, the sound was bigger and more fully fleshed out than I had imagined was possible. The bass lines on "Mother Earth Blues" were firm, grippy, and forcefully presented. On the bottom end, bass extension was effortless from both guitar and kick drum, and neither got lost in the generously live room sound. The snare drum snapped and, of course, the guitar transients were sharp and cleanly drawn.

"Shortly thereafter, I was off to Europe (see last month's Analog Corner), but as soon as I returned home, I played a direct-to-disc record that mastering engineer Rainer Maillard had handed me in Berlin: the Joscho Stephan Trio's Paris-Berlin (BMS 1817V). This "finger picking good" trio of double bass and dueling acoustic guitars plays Django Reinhardt-style acoustic swing music with remarkable speed and dexterity.

"Before I left for Europe, I'd installed on the Graham arm the Gold Note Donatello Gold cartridge, a modestly priced (ca $1000) low-output (0.5mV) MC cartridge, which features an elliptical stylus and aluminum cantilever. The simply miked recording sounded just the way the album jacket's back-cover photo looked: two guitars, left and right—both of them Jürgen Volkert Selmer-style acoustics—with a centered double bass. I heard a well-articulated and harmonically rich sound, plus spatial presentation that was strikingly three-dimensional and stable. Direct-to-disc recordings are as quiet as vinyl gets, and with the addition of what I had already come to know as the Air Force V's surprising degree of quiet, this was another musical and sonic treat. To get a full read on what I was hearing, after playing on my reference Continuum Caliburn turntable/SAT CF1-09 tonearm the above-mentioned records—plus many others, including the UHQR stereo mix of Hendrix's Axis: Bold As Love (Analogue Productions UHQR 0001) and the Analog Spark West Side Story reissue (Analog Spark 79301836801-8/Columbia OS 2001)—I moved the SAT arm to the Air Force V's back position, along with the Ortofon MC Anna Diamond cartridge (covered in this month's Analog Corner). That took little more than a few minutes, done right after I'd played West Side Story on the big rig.

"The Air Force V's overall presentation of that stunning and revealing Broadway show recording was somewhat drier than that of my reference 'table, with a less generous expression of the reverberant field of Columbia's 30th Street Studio. Events I was used to hearing extend further in time stopped somewhat short. Voices were slightly less round and less fully fleshed out (pun intended), and the overall spaciousness of the presentation was somewhat reduced. However, that tended to produce snappy and satisfying rhythm'n'pacing. Strings were somewhat drier and musical textures less generously presented. The bottom end came up somewhat short as well, which partly explained the space deficiency, and I've heard greater dynamic slam from this and other of the best records I know, especially in the classical music realm—but please keep in mind the almost 10x price differential!

"I don't doubt that as you move up the line to the bigger Air Force 'tables, these minor deficiencies would diminish: You would hear incrementally more in terms of, especially, overall spaciousness, dynamics, and bottom-end extension and slam—everything except for background quietness, where I think the V would compete well with all of them and maybe better some, as it did with the Caliburn.

Conclusion
"The new entry-level Air Force model in the TechDAS line has been skillfully shaved down from its bigger stablemates, to lower the cost while offering all the important features, impressive build quality, and clever engineering for which TechDAS is known. With the TechDAS Air Force V, your $19,500 buys a technologically advanced and versatile air-bearing platter spinner with vacuum hold down, whose minor acts of omission won't be noticed by anyone fortunate enough to own one. It's a 'table essentially free of tonal colorations—like the other 'tables in the TechDAS line—and one that provides a firm foundation on bottom with deep, well-defined bass (though there's more to be had from the bigger TechDAS 'tables and from some other "super 'tables").

"There are other options at this price point with fuller, thicker sound, and some that are even leaner, faster, and lighter—but none that I've heard that offer vacuum hold down, a feature I've grown to consider essential (though not everyone agrees). In addition, the Air Force V successfully threads the needle between required analytical detail and desirable harmonic generosity. In other words, your choice of cartridge and phono preamp, more than the 'table itself, will determine the final sonic result.

"While it was in my system, the Air Force V was 100% reliable and always a pleasure to use, and despite its compact, hardly-bigger-than-the-platter chassis and somewhat spartan appearance, I enjoyed looking at it—and, of course, listening to it.

"As I found out, the Air Force V can accommodate even the most costly tonearms and phono cartridges, and that money will not be wasted. In fact, I'd say get the V and then upgrade the arm and cartridge as you go before upgrading the 'table—although I would guess that most people buying the V with the Graham Phantom will probably be satisfied and stop there, leaving more money available for records!" - Michael Fremer, Stereophile 09/2019

HiFi News: "Who knew that TechDAS could follow the remarkable Air Force III with an even less-expensive, air-bearing, vacuum hold-down turntable? We welcome the Air Force V.

This Sucks!
"Once you've experienced the benefits imparted by vacuum hold-down, it's hard to return to decks using a mere record clamp. The security, the flattening of mild warps – it's all good. With all LPs, including superior, heavy-duty pressings, the V mates them securely with the platter.

Love Affair
"I was starting to fall in love again with the whole air-bearing/hold-down concept, the Air Force III having filled me with lust, as did the One and Two before. With Doug MacLeod's Break The Chain [Reference RM-2519], the V showed it to be so close in competence to its dearer siblings that – rather than undermine their worth – it simply elevates the notion of the V's value-for-money. How so?

"Seasoned listeners know the difference between what they are actually hearing and what they may or may not prefer. For some, for example, the notion of a master tape's authority is too aggressive in home listening, where hyper-detail may be a distraction. But with the Air Force V, the balance between seductive sound and attention-grabbing command are minimised, making it easy to listen to for extended periods. Too clinical a sound usually means truncated listening sessions.

"With MacLeod's twangy guitars and textured vocals, the V perfectly captured the liquidity of the former and the gruffness of the latter, reminding me of the contrast between Dianne Reeves' and Lou Rawls' vocals on 'At Last' or the barrage of guitars on the Buffalo Springfield's 'Bluebird'. The Air Force V thus possesses the analytical capabilities of the best decks I've heard, but tuned to possess enough warmth and 'humanity' to avoid accusations of clinical cleanliness. And MacLeod's blues do not need to be sent through the wash cycle...

"Speaking of 'Bluebird', I returned to Buffalo Springfield's What's That Sound? [Atco/Rhino 03497 86066], to listen to this epic track once more. This studio creation has so many layers of sound, and so many competing guitar farragoes that it can baffle systems and upset even the finest of trackers. In 50 years of worshipping this song, I have never heard it portrayed more vividly.

Hi-Fi News Verdict
"Make no mistake: TechDAS has balanced cost and features to add another turntable to the family that fits perfectly in the lineup. While I consider the Air Force V to be not the finest turntable available – that remains the Air Force One – it is certainly one of the best-value high-end decks on the market. I now know how would-be Porsche 911 owners on a budget felt when the Cayman appeared." - Paul Miller, 03/2019

TechDAS Five vs. Five Premium: Instead of being assembled from aluminum panels, the Five Premium chassis is precision-machined from a solid block of aluminum just as in the higher models. The massive chassis results in significantly better dynamics, better focus, and an even quieter background.

MAIN UNIT INCLUDING BUILT-IN MOTOR
Chassis Precision machined aluminum alloy (A5052)
Silver anodized satin finish 19.0 kg
Platter Sub platter system, Precision machined aluminum alloy (A5056)
Total 7.0k Outer-main platter: black anodized, 4.0 kg
Inner-sub platter: silver anodized, 3.0kg
Total moment of inertia 734 kg・cm2
Drive system Belt-drive with polished polyurethane rubber belt
Motor 2-phase 4-pole AC synchronous motor built-in the chassis
Motor Power Supply Digital rotational control system is driven by the power amplifier
Rotational speed 33.3 rpm/ 45 rpm
Wow & Flutter below 0.03%
Dimensions 312 (W) x 168 (H) x 368 (D) mm
Total weight of 26.0 kg
Minimum dimensions for setting up 413 (W) x 418 (D) mm

POWER SUPPLY, PUMP UNIT & AIR CONDENSER UNIT
Power consumption 50W
Dimensions Dimension: 260 (W) x 160 (H) x 240 (D) mm 4 kg
Weight 9 kg
Minimum dimensions for setting up 350 (W) x 330 (D) mm

INCLUDED ACCESSORIES
Tonearm Base x 1 (Extra cost may be incurred depending on the chosen tonearm)
Platter Cover x 1

OPTIONAL ITEMS & ACCESSORIES
Extra Tonearm Base

The Designer - Hideaki Nishikawa

1963 Obtained a degree in mechanical engineering.
1964 Joined Stax Ltd. as an engineer and engaged mainly in manufacturing engineering, development of electrostatic headphones, etc.
1973 Moved on from Stax and founded an OEM together with a few members from Stax. The OEM was set up to design and manufacture audio products. The representative products for this company were Micro Seiki’s electrostatic headphones, Infiniti’s Black Widow, Craft AC 300 Tone Arm, among others.
1980 Joined Micro Seiki Co. Ltd. Held a position of manager of the technical department and later as Sound Business Director. The statement product planned and designed from this period is the SX-8000 system turntable. Also developed a line of accompanying products.
1989 Founded Stellavox Japan Inc. together with Yasuo Nakanishi, who was the CEO of RF Enterprises Inc. Started the import & distribution business of high-end audio equipment with dedicated force. The company name was changed to Stella Inc. in June 2012.
1994 Became CEO of Stellavox Japan Inc. (current Stella Inc.).
2001 Founded Zephyrn inc., which imports and distributes high-end audio equipment.
2010 Founded the house brand, TechDAS, which has been offering the Air Force analog turntables.