TechDAS Air Force One Premium
TechDAS Air Force One Premium
by Hideaki Nishikawa, Designer
“The top-of-the-line model for the TechDAS Air Force turntable series with new integrated concepts and technologies further refining the sound, user-friendliness and external finish.
The Air Force One Premium analog turntable by TechDAS ushers in exquisite design concept to positively exploit the aerodynamic force equivalent to sound energy rather than springs or buffer materials. It is the ultimate mechanism based on a vibration damping design using “Air Force” and utilizes only high-precision finished parts with enough mass to completely avoid any “colour” to the sound, nothing is added or removed. Through the aerodynamic instrumentality of “Air Force” the real magnitude and essence of ultimate analog playback is now a reality. Adverse effects caused by various obstructive oscillations, which used to be arch-nemesis of analog turntables has been thoroughly wiped out by the Air Force.”
Air Force One Premium Review
by Michael Fremer in Stereophile
TechDAS Air Force One Integrated Concepts & Technologies
The top-of-the-line model for TechDAS Air Force Turntable series has new integrated concepts and technologies refining the sound, user-friendliness, and external finish. Air Force One Premium consists of three units: main unit (including motor), power supply / pump unit, and air condenser / air charger unit.
Two models available:
- Air Force One Premium with A7075 Upper Platter
- Air Force One Premium with Titanium Upper Platter
Air Force” has three design concepts:
- Air Bearing
- Disc Suction
- Air Suspension
It is important for a turntable to achieve accurate and noise free stable rotation, which requires a platter with significant mass. Without compensation, over time this necessarily heavy-weight platter can cause deterioration in the bearings surfaces and cause friction vibrations or degradation of rotation accuracies.
Refined Main Chassis Aesthetics
Optional Titanium or Gloss-Finished Super Duralumin (A7075) Upper Platter
For the upper platter of Premium, there are two options: Super Duralumin A7075 and Titanium.
Tapered Spindle and Disc Stabilizer
Air Force One Premium features a tapered spindle to absorb any swaying of an off center LP. A disc stabilizer comes with the turntable as a standard accessory that will fit perfectly in with the spindle.
Air Force One Premium set up on the Air Force Mounting Rack exclusively made for TechDAS turntables (optional). Air Condenser / Air Charger Unit on the middle level. Power Supply / Pump Unit on the bottom level.
Advanced Air Suspension System
TechDAS uses an advanced air suspension system with adjustment through continuous monitoring of air suspension level and air charger unit.
One of the major features of the original Air Force One is full air suspension, which requires occasional air input with the provided manual pump. The Premium features automatic and continuous monitoring of the air suspension level and the color of the indicator will change if air charge is required.
The Premium is also equipped with an exclusive motor pump for air charging. It automatically stops air filling when the appropriate amount of air has been charged, omitting troublesome labor for the user.
Double capacity air condenser allows even smoother air flow and more dynamic sound
The air condenser serves an important function and achieves consistent air bearing for the platter and vacuum hold-down of an LP. While the air condenser for the original Air Force One has a more than adequate version, as a result of pursuing improved sound quality, TechDAS has discovered that increasing the capacity will produce a more dynamic sound.
Therefore, the Premium has a double capacitance air condenser over the original model. This has elevated the sound to new heights in every respect including background blackness and dynamics.
The indication of “LOCK” blinks on the display during this process. Once an accurate rotation of the platter is reached, “LOCK” displays permanently on the display. At the same time, the microprocessor sends a command to apply low torque and deactivate the DDS while monitoring the rotation. This is because not much extra force beyond inertia is required for a steady rotation. If the rotation speed is changed for any reason, “LOCK” will blink on the display and the microprocessor will use the DDS to correct the speed. Once the accurate speed is achieved, “LOCK” will display permanently on the display and the rotation is kept in a stead state without the need to control the speed.
Air Force One Premium Specifications
| MAIN BODY | |
| Drive System | Belt Drive, Surface polished polyurethane fiber flat belt |
| Platter: Main Platter | SUS316L Non-magnetic forged stainless steel. Weight 19 kg |
| Platter: Upper Platter | Choice of A7075 (4 kg) or Pure TITANIUM (6 kg) |
| Motor | AC synchronous motor. Rotating speed controlled by DC amplifier. |
| Chassis | Three different material sandwiched structure |
| Rotation Speed | 33-3/1 rpm / 45 rpm with precise speed adjustment function |
| Wow & Flutter | below 0.03% (W.R.M.S) |
| Minimum Dimensions for setting up | 680 (W) x 480 (D) mm |
| Total Weight | 73 kg |
| POWER SUPPLY & PUMP UNIT | |
| Power Supply / Pump Unit | Power consumption: 60W Dimension and weight : 430(W) x 160(H) x 240(D) mm, 10kg |
| Air Condenser / Air Charger Unit | Dimension: 430 (W) x 160 (H) x 240 (D) mm, 4kg |
| ACCESSORIES | |
| Accessories Supplied | Tonearm base x 1 (drilled for specified tonearm) Platter cover “The Platter Top” x 1 TechDAS Disc Stabilizer x 1 AC cable x 1 |
| Optional Items & Accessories | Extra Tonearm Base (Stainless, Pure Titanium, Aluminum) Air Force Mounting Rack |