The TEAC TN-5BB is a high-performance manual belt-drive turntable designed for precise and stable analogue playback. It combines TEAC's PRS3 (Platter Rotation Sensing Servo System) with a 20 mm-thick acrylic platter, a hybrid multi-material chassis and a 9-inch S-shaped static-balanced tonearm with a knife-edge bearing system developed through the SAEC × TEAC collaboration. The turntable is supplied with a factory-installed Ortofon 2M Red MM cartridge and provides both balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA phono outputs.
The TN-5BB uses TEAC's PRS3 Platter Rotation Sensing Servo System to continuously monitor platter rotation and maintain accurate speed. The belt-drive configuration separates the motor from the platter while the servo system helps compensate for rotational variation.
| Drive Method | Rotation-Detection-Type High-Precision Control Belt Drive |
|---|---|
| Motor | DC Motor |
| Playback Speeds | 33⅓ RPM / 45 RPM / 78 RPM |
| Speed Control | PRS3 Platter Rotation Sensing Servo System |
| Wow & Flutter | 0.1% or less |
A 20 mm-thick acrylic platter is used for its rigidity, flatness and internal damping characteristics. The 1.7 kg platter provides high rotational inertia and forms a stable interface with the record.
| Material | Acrylic |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 30 cm / 12 Inches |
| Thickness | 20 mm |
| Platter Weight | 1.7 kg |
The TN-5BB uses a multi-material chassis designed to suppress unwanted vibration. A 36 mm MDF base is combined with a rigid 12 mm synthetic-marble top plate, with a washi-paper layer between the materials. The platter and tonearm are mounted on the synthetic-marble section, while the motor is isolated on the MDF base to reduce the transmission of motor vibration to the tonearm.
| Base Material | 36 mm MDF |
|---|---|
| Top Plate | 12 mm Synthetic Marble |
| Damping Layer | Japanese Washi Paper |
| Cabinet Weight | Approx. 8.8 kg |
The 9-inch S-shaped tonearm incorporates a knife-edge bearing system developed through the SAEC × TEAC collaboration. The static-balanced design supports precise tracking, while the adjustable arm height allows the vertical tracking angle to be optimised for cartridges of different heights.
| Tonearm Type | Static-Balanced S-Shaped Tonearm |
|---|---|
| Effective Arm Length | 223 mm |
| Overhang | 18 mm |
| Suitable Cartridge Weight | 4.0–13.0 g |
| Suitable Weight Including Headshell | 14–23 g |
| VTA Adjustment | Approximately 6 mm |
| Anti-Skating | Adjustable |
The TN-5BB is supplied with an Ortofon 2M Red MM cartridge pre-installed on the included headshell. The cartridge uses a bonded Elliptical diamond stylus and is designed to provide a balanced and detailed presentation from vinyl records.
| Cartridge Type | MM |
|---|---|
| Model | Ortofon 2M Red |
| Output Voltage | 5.5 mV at 1 kHz, 5 cm/s |
| Recommended Tracking Force | 1.8 g |
| Cartridge Weight | 7.2 g |
| Included Headshell Weight | 10 g including screws, nuts and wires |
| Replacement Stylus | Ortofon 2M Red Replacement Stylus |
The TN-5BB includes a powered tonearm lifter for controlled arm raising and lowering. A non-contact optical sensor can automatically raise the tonearm when playback reaches the end of a record. The automatic lift function can be switched off when required.
The TN-5BB provides both balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA phono outputs. The balanced connection can be used with a compatible phono stage to help preserve the low-level cartridge signal over the connection.
| Balanced Output | XLR × 1 Pair |
|---|---|
| Unbalanced Output | RCA × 1 Pair |
| Ground Terminal | Yes |
| Built-In Phono Stage | No |
| Required Equipment | External Phono Stage or Amplifier with PHONO Input |
Four height-adjustable machined-aluminium feet provide mechanical isolation and allow the turntable to be levelled accurately. The adjustable construction helps maintain the correct platter and tonearm geometry.
| AC Adapter Input | AC 100–240 V, 50–60 Hz |
|---|---|
| AC Adapter Output | DC 12 V / 1.0 A |
| Power Consumption | 2.0 W or less |
| Standby Consumption | 0.3 W or less |
| Width | 450 mm / 45 cm |
|---|---|
| Height – Dust Cover Closed | 148 mm / 14.8 cm |
| Depth – Dust Cover Closed | 351 mm / 35.1 cm |
| Dimensions – Dust Cover Closed | 450 × 148 × 351 mm |
| Dimensions – Dust Cover Open | 450 × 420 × 410 mm |
| Dimensions – Dust Cover Removed | 450 × 135 × 351 mm |
| Product Weight | 10.5 kg / 23.25 lb |