With vinyl sales at their highest for a quarter of a century, it’s the perfect time to launch a new premium turntable. That’s exactly what TEAC has done with the introduction of the TEAC TN-3B, a stylish, and sleek-looking, belt-drive turntable that comes complete with a built-in MM-type PHONO EQ amplifier and a USB digital output.

Like the direct-drive TN-4D turntable introduced back in May, the TN-3B has a new S-shaped tonearm with knife-edge, pivot-point bearings, co-developed with SAEC, the high-end tonearm manufacturer. TEAC claims the result is superlative sonic stability and impressive high-resolution audio.

The new turntable comes pre-installed with an Audio-Technica AT-VM95E cartridge, with an elliptical-shaped stylus and a universal-type headshell. Setting up is just a matter of opening the box, putting on the platter and mounting the headshell on the tonearm. That’s all that’s necessary to begin enjoying vinyl again.

By using a belt-drive mechanism, the TN-3B helps mitigate any unwanted cogging effects from the operation of the motor and ensures a precise and smooth platter rotation for accurate reproduction of the music.

The TN-3B also sports an in-built Phono EQ amplifier (using a high-precision NJM8080 op-amp), enabling users who lack an amplifier with a built-in phono stage to enjoy the sound of their vinyl records, with low distortion and in high quality. A built-in Analogue-to-Digital converter and USB port also enable users to digitize their record library and transfer the files to a PC or Mac.

TEAC claims that the new turntable delivers natural and well-balanced sound quality and is quick and easy to set up and start playing those warm vinyl sounds.

Features at a glance:

• 2-speed, belt-drive turntable offering 33-1/3 and 45 rpm speeds

• Knife-edge, pivot-point tonearm designed by high-end tonearm manufacturer SAEC

• Static-balanced, S-shaped tone-arm with pre-installed Audio-Technica AT-VM95E MM cartridge 

• Die-cast aluminum platter

• USB digital output for digital archiving on PC/Mac

• PHONO/LINE analog outputs (switchable)

• Built-in PHONO EQ amplifier, compatible with MM-type cartridges

• Hi-fi grade NJM8080 op-amp used in PHONO EQ stage

Pricing and availability: The TEAC TN-3B turntable will be available in the UK and EU from September and priced at ?399 / ?449. Price and availability for the USA to be confirmed.