Turntables — Rekkord Audio F400

The F400 is the flagship model of Rekkord Audio's fully automatic turntable range, hand-assembled at the historic former Dual factory in St. Georgen, Germany's Black Forest, where turntables have been manufactured since 1993. Created by Heinz Lichtenegger of Pro-Ject Audio Systems fame under the Audio Tuning group, the F400 sits above the F100, F110 and F300 as the range-topping expression of the same suspended sub-chassis philosophy, priced between roughly £699 and £849 depending on finish.

Key specs that matter

Wow and flutter is specified at 0.06% DIN (0.035% WRMS), with rumble at 48dB, signal-to-noise ratio at 72dB and frequency response spanning 20Hz to 22kHz. Three speeds are supported - 33, 45 and 78rpm - via an electronically controlled belt-drive DC motor with stable speed regulation, a genuine step up from the two-speed F100/F110/F300 models below it. The belt-driven subplatter touches the solid aluminium platter at only three points, specifically to isolate and minimise resonance transfer, with a damping ring further controlling vibration. The entire mechanical system - subchassis holding the tonearm, bearing, platter and automated mechanism - is decoupled from the main MDF plinth and suspended not on springs but on elastomer, delivering a stiff yet compliant isolation character. The 8.3-inch ultra-low-mass (ULM) aluminium tonearm, built in Rekkord's own production with steel tip-ball bearings and cardan bearings plus internal Easy-motion wiring, uses a massless tracking-force adjustment that optimises the centre of gravity directly at the bearing centre, rather than via a conventional counterweight. The factory-fitted Ortofon 2M Red moving-magnet cartridge, with an elliptical-ground diamond stylus, delivers a generous 5.5mV output and is celebrated for an open, dynamic presentation with a subtle touch of warmth across genres. Finishes include Matte Black, Gloss Black, Cherry and Makassar real wood veneer. Two-year limited warranty, with a full automatic mechanism completely disengaged while the record actually plays, preserving audiophile sound quality without any mechanical interference during playback itself.

Sound and use context

Expect a balanced, engaging and enjoyable presentation across all musical genres - one reviewer specifically found the F400 not the absolute last word in sound quality at the price, noting automatic turntables rarely are, but concluded it's well made, keenly priced for anything made in Germany, and a stylish, fully automatic deck that's a genuine pleasure to use daily.

Pairing

The Ortofon 2M Red's generous 5.5mV output makes gain-staging with an external phono preamp straightforward, and the massless tracking-force system means a buyer never needs to fit or balance a conventional counterweight when setting up or servicing the tonearm.

Alternatives

Rekkord's own F300 sits below this flagship at a lower price with the same core sub-chassis philosophy but a two-speed motor and different factory cartridge, while the brand's manual M500 and M600 models trade automatic convenience for potentially superior outright sonic punch and drive, worth comparing directly if automation isn't a strict requirement for a specific buyer.