TechDAS has unveiled the Air Force 20, a new high-end turntable that combines various signature technologies of the Japanese brand into one particularly robust and heavy device. The specifications are not yet fully finalized, but at 100 kilograms, the new turntable requires a sturdy piece of furniture.
TechDAS Air Force 20
The Air Force 20 naturally features proprietary air bearings, vacuum mounting, and reworked suspension concepts in a model unmistakably designed for the pinnacle of analog playback. While the manufacturer has released photos and specifications, it remains a prototype. According to the manufacturer, the Air Force 20 weighs approximately one hundred kilograms, with a substantial stainless steel base frame of sixty kilograms supporting the main chassis, turntable, and motor system. This requires a robust and heavy-duty cabinet.
The core of the design is TechDAS's well-known combination of vacuum suction for the record and a platter rotating on air bearings. The vacuum system is designed to press the record firmly against the turntable, effectively coupling the LP to the mass of the turntable and allowing the needle to track the groove more stably. At the same time, the turntable floats on air, with TechDAS claiming a remarkable clearance of just 10 microns to reduce mechanical contact and lower background noise during playback.
The platter itself utilizes a two-tier architecture, consisting of a main platter made of SUS316L stainless steel and a selectable top platter. Buyers can choose between A7075 Extra Super Duraluminium or TP340 pure titanium for the top platter, allowing some room to customize the character of the turntable at the time of purchase. TechDAS states that the vacuum system also ensures that the record is pressed flush against the top platter, reducing mechanical stress on the tonearm and cartridge and improving contact with the grooves.
The Air Force 20's propulsion system borrows heavily from the brand's high-end technology. The motor unit is said to be derived from the flagship Air Force Zero , but in a more compact form. It utilizes a flywheel and air-bearing drive system, where the flywheel is connected to the motor via a contactless magnetic link. According to the company, this design increases the system's total moment of inertia by a factor of five, while simultaneously helping to reduce the motor's recoil mechanism and vibration transmission.
The suspension is another important part of the design. TechDAS has revived the hybrid spring-and-oil concept, employed in the Air Force Two, but in a completely redesigned, single-tube oil-damped suspension system. The design utilizes an isolation spring in a damping fluid and a special rubber membrane, with a piston and an oil chamber intended to control rebound and absorb unwanted movement. It is complex, typical of TechDAS, and clearly aimed at listeners who consider mechanical isolation essential for serious vinyl playback.
The chassis construction is also highly refined, featuring a main frame made of A7075 aluminum alloy. The same high-strength material used in the Air Force One series has been applied. The suspension components are made of A5052 aluminum alloy, chosen for vibration damping. Beneath the floor, radially positioned reinforcement ribs made of SUS304 stainless steel are located to increase stiffness and damping.
TechDAS Air Force 20: two tonearm feet
TechDAS has equipped the Air Force 20 with two tonearm feet as standard. Each foot can be positioned on the left or right and is suitable for both short and long tonearms. The left and right feet have the same dimensions, making them interchangeable. This offers users convenient flexibility when combining cartridges, tonearms, and phono preamplifiers.
The separate APSU-20 power and air supply unit contains two independent, powerful air pumps, specifically for turntable float, turntable vacuum suction, and the flywheel float system. TechDAS reports that the new unit also utilizes a large air condenser and improved isolation against vibrations caused by the pumps.
The prototype specifications list rotation speeds of 33 1/3 and 45 revolutions per minute, a wow and flutter value of less than 0.03%, and a precision double-sided, polished polyester fiber drive. The Air Force 20 power supply measures 430 x 460 x 144 millimeters (W x D x H) and weighs 17 kilograms. The stated power consumption is 60 Watts. The Air Force 20 itself measures 628 x 515 x 190 millimeters (W x D x H).
Final specifications, as well as price and delivery information, have not yet been announced.
