Turntable technology dates back to the 19th century in its essence, but that does not mean that innovation is not possible. We’ve seen all kinds of different options and accessories being added to turntables in recent years. TEAC TN-400BT is the Japanese firm’s latest offering, and it adds Bluetooth for a wireless listening experience.
The turntable is belt-driven and is compatible with 33 rpm, 45 rpm and 78 rpm vinyl discs. It has an S-shaped tone arm, which hosts an Audio-Technica AT95E cartridge. The press release mentions the ability for the TEAC TN-400BT turntable to play music through a Bluetooth connection or to “rip” the albums to a PC or Mac through a USB port. The latter option allows to obtain a 16-bit, 48kHz file – a far cry from the 24-bit, 192kHz Hi-Res “rippers” we’ve seen crowding the market in recent years.
Bluetooth is usually not associated with turntables, either, because of the difference in what the vinyl medium usually offers (higher audio quality compared to CDs) and what Bluetooth is capable of (low-quality, low-fidelity audio). AptX enhances Bluetooth’s capabilities, but it is still not on par with wired listening.
The TEAC TN-400BT is available for 499€/399£ in five different colour options: red/bordeaux, white, silver, brown and natural wood. I could not find any information about availability outside of Europe.
