TechDAS Air Force III Premium S

“Building on the success of our hugely popular model – the Air Force III Premium, we can announce the additional variant: Air Force III Premium S.
The S model features our newly designed suspension feet which enhance the flexibility of installation in various environments as well as improving the sound performance by achieving higher vibration isolation.” - Hideaki Nishikawa, The Designer
Upgraded Air Force III Premium with New Suspension Feet
Weighing over 50 kilograms including the platter, the Air Force III Premium S sits on the new suspension feet that provide a robust platform and an outstanding vibration isolation.
The Air Force III Premium is thus available in two versions, the Air Force III Premium with rigid type feet and Air Force III Premium S. The choice of which model to choose can depend on the installation environment.
The suspension feet are also offered separately as a set of 4 pieces to existing Air Force III Premium owners who desire to upgrade their turntables with these new feet.
The design concept behind the Air Force III Premium & Air Force III Premium S
The weight and sound of an analog turntable have a strong correlation. In order to make a heavier turntable while keeping the chassis size to the original Air Force III, our team chose gunmetal for the platter of this model. This material is an alloy of copper and tin and was often used for audio equipment in the heyday of analog audio.
The platter for the Air Force III Premium is precision cast and surface polished with a solid structure, unlike most conventional gunmetal platters that have a hollow construction. This results is a heavy platter of 29 kg, more than three times heavier than the aluminum platter used in the original III which weighs in at 9 kg. With this new gunmetal platter, the total weight of the main unit is more than 50 kg.
As a result of the increase in total weight, an extended frequency range is delivered and dynamics are noticeably enhanced. At the same time it has achieved a significantly lower noise floor thanks to the use of our air bearing. Furthermore, as gunmetal is relatively a soft and tensile metal, you will notice that a subtle glow is added to the sound.
The chassis is made of solid aluminum just like the original model. The black anodized and highly polished surface contrasts very nicely with the gold colored gunmetal platter. With a minimal sized CNC machined aluminium chassis the Air Force III Premium affords maximum freedom during setup. The surface is finished in high gauge black anodized with a high gloss polish. Up to 4 tonearms, ranging from short (9”) to long (12”) tonearms can be fitted to the frame.
The Air Force Series embodies the highest standards and subtlety of Japanese craftsmanship in its build and finish. The sophisticated aesthetics represent our commitment to every detail.
Floating the platter with our air bearing technology
A conventional bearing unit supporting the platter would be subject to huge loads due to the weight and high inertia involved, and even the highest precision bearing could become impaired over time. In the TechDAS Air Force Series we have thus developed a unique air bearing method, where the platter floats and rotates in almost total silence, completely isolated from vibrations transmitted to the record from the floor, via the chassis and center spindle.
Furthermore, the weight of the platter does not place any load on the bearing. This ensures the performance will continue maintenance free for many years, avoiding effects of abrasion or sounds caused by friction. The Air Force III Premium has a precision cast gunmetal platter with precision coating which is also highly polished, and weighs in at 29 kg.
Vacuum LP hold down
TechDAS Air Force series features a vacuum LP hold down as an ideal solution to issues caused by warped records, as this function flattens a record onto the heavy weight platter surface and dramatically increases the tracing performance and sensitivity of the cartridge, reducing any strain on it and the tonearm. This unique system developed by TechDAS gently holds down an LP by maintaining appropriate pressure. We believe this is most important, as it will not cause any damage to the record unlike other turntables using high vacuum pressure.
Motor Unit
The Air Force III Premium has two 150W DC power amplifiers to drive its synchronous motor which provide a stable and powerful drive system. This ensures the correct rotation of the massive platter.
In operation and once the selected speed is achieved, the motor torque is then reduced automatically to below 50% to maintain accuracy of rotation. No servo control is used from this point as that may negatively affect the sound quality. However a sensor is constantly monitoring the rotational speed for perfect accuracy of operaton, and this data is fed back to the motor should any speed adjustment be required.
The Motor Unit is housed in a separate chassis with high gloss black anodized finish that matches the main unit.
The ultimate level of reproduction
TechDAS believe our turntables achieve the ultimate level of reproduction from vinyl. We are committed to pursuing an ideal analog reproduction system, one that equals or exceeds the highest standards and care used when the record was cut in the original production process. In the production of a record, a lathe carves a groove into a lacquer disc, and the disc is held down onto the platter using a vacuum.
The Air Force series re-enacts this same status in record playback to precisely extract and reproduce all information embedded in the groove, and achieving this without adding anything or sacrificing detail. A remarkably black background and low noise levels are made possible by using “air force”, and combined with our innovative rotation mechanism featuring exceptional vibration absorption, you can experience a new dimension of analog sound.