TEAC TN-5BB Manual Belt-Drive Turntable
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.
Key Features
- Manual belt-drive turntable with high-precision rotation control.
- PRS3 Platter Rotation Sensing Servo System.
- 33⅓, 45 and 78 RPM playback speeds.
- 20 mm-thick acrylic platter.
- 9-inch S-shaped static-balanced tonearm.
- SAEC × TEAC knife-edge tonearm bearing system.
- Adjustable VTA with approximately 6 mm of height adjustment.
- Factory-installed Ortofon 2M Red MM cartridge.
- Powered tonearm lifter.
- Automatic end-of-record arm lift using non-contact optical detection.
- Adjustable anti-skating.
- Balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA phono outputs.
- Height-adjustable machined-aluminium feet.
- Hybrid chassis combining MDF, synthetic marble and washi paper damping layers.
Precision Belt-Drive System
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 |
Acrylic Platter
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 |
Hybrid Chassis & Vibration Control
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 |
SAEC × TEAC Tonearm
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 |
Ortofon 2M Red Cartridge
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 |
Powered Tonearm Lifter & Automatic Arm Lift
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.
Balanced & Unbalanced Outputs
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 |
Isolation Feet
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.
Power
| 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 |
Dimensions & Weight
| 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 |
Included Accessories
- Ortofon 2M Red MM Cartridge, Pre-installed
- Cast-Aluminium Headshell
- 45 RPM Adapter
- Counterweight
- Acrylic Platter
- Flat Drive Belt
- Pulley Cover
- Acrylic Dust Cover
- Dust Cover Hinges
- Foot Height Adjustment Washers
- Tonearm Height Adjustment Hex Wrench
- Tonearm Lifter Height Adjustment Hex Wrench
- RCA Audio Cable
- Ground Wire
- AC Adapter
- Cartridge Alignment Gauge
- Owner's Manual
