TechDAS Air Force 20 – a 100-kilogram vinyl turntable

Japanese company TechDAS has shown its new Air Force 20 vinyl record player, a High End model that brings together the brand’s key engineering solutions. For now, the device has been presented as a prototype, but the manufacturer has already shared its main design features and preliminary technical specifications.

The TechDAS Air Force 20 turntable is aimed at the upper segment of the analogue audio market. The new model uses the company’s proprietary air bearings, vacuum record hold-down system and an advanced vibration isolation system. The unit weighs around 100 kilograms, so it will require an especially sturdy rack or specially prepared furniture for installation.

At the heart of the design is a massive stainless-steel base weighing around 60 kilograms. It supports the main chassis, platter and motor assembly. This layout is intended to provide high mechanical stability, reduce the influence of external vibrations and create more precise conditions for reading information from the vinyl groove.

One of the important elements of the Air Force 20 is its vacuum record hold-down system. It firmly fixes the LP to the surface of the platter, improving contact between the vinyl and the turntable’s massive platform. According to the developers, this helps the stylus track the groove more confidently and reduces the influence of minor unevenness or deformation of the record during playback.

The platter is mounted on an air bearing. TechDAS claims a gap of just 10 microns, which helps minimize mechanical contact and reduce parasitic noise. The platter itself has a two-layer construction: the main section is made from SUS316L stainless steel, while the upper layer can be selected by the buyer when ordering the turntable – either A7075 Extra Super Duralumin aluminium alloy or pure TP340 titanium.

The Air Force 20 drive system also draws on technologies from the company’s higher-end models. According to TechDAS, the motor unit is based on solutions from the flagship Air Force Zero, but adapted to a more compact format. The design uses an air-bearing flywheel connected to the motor via contactless magnetic coupling. This solution is intended to increase the moment of inertia while also reducing the transmission of vibrations from the motor.

The manufacturer also highlights the redesigned suspension system. The Air Force 20 uses a new oil-damped monotube construction with an isolation spring, damping fluid, rubber membrane, piston and oil chamber. It develops the hybrid spring-and-oil isolation concept previously used in the Air Force Two and is designed to provide more effective control of rebound movements and suppression of unwanted vibrations.

The TechDAS Air Force 20 is equipped with two tonearm bases, which can be installed on either the left or right side. The turntable is compatible with both short and long tonearms, expanding system configuration options. A separate TechDAS APSU-20 unit is responsible for power supply and air delivery; it contains two independent high-output pumps and weighs 17 kg. Preliminary specifications include support for 33 1/3 and 45 rpm speeds, wow and flutter of less than 0.03%, power consumption of 60 W and main unit dimensions of 628 × 515 × 190 mm.