Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.
What are hifi reviews useful for? (1) Identifying products you should demo in person at a dealer. (2) Learning which products reviewers unanimously praise as the best they've heard (this means they probably are legitimately great). (3) Identifying a product's attributes that satisfy your idiosyncratic needs and tastes. Beyond that, we often discount what reviewers say because they heap praise on most products—and are often apprehensive about publishing strong criticism or comparisons between products. Further, they seldom have more than a few products on-hand, often relying on their memories to compare past products. Always listen for yourself.
All
Air Force Two Premium
reviews
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An excellent review of a great product
/
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
An excellent review of a great product
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
Video Review
Manufacturer details
Features
Specifications
Main Unit & Motor
- Chassis: Cast aluminum alloy (AC4C) with dark gray hammertone coating
- Weight: 33 kg
- Platter: Gunmetal with surface protection coating
- Platter Weight: 33 kg
- Total Moment of Inertia: 4,148 kg·cm²
- Drive System: Belt-drive with polished and non-flexible polyurethane fiber belt
- Motor: AC synchronous motor
- Rotation Speed Controlled by: DC amplifiers
- Rotation Speed: 33.3 rpm / 45 rpm with precise speed adjustment function
- Wow & Flutter: Below 0.03%
- Dimensions: 684 (W) x 176 (H) x 450 (D) mm
- Minimum Dimensions for Setting Up: 684 (W) x 460 (D) mm
- Total Weight: 71 kg
Pump / Power Supply / Air Condenser Unit
- Power Consumption: 50 W
- Dimensions: 430 (W) x 175 (H) x 370 (D) mm
- Weight: 14.5 kg
- Minimum Depth for Setting Up: 430 mm
Included Accessories
- Tonearm Base x 1 (drilled for specified tonearm, extra cost may apply depending on tonearm choice)
- Platter Cover x 1
- Cables, Air hoses, Platter setup tools, User manuals
Optional Items & Accessories
- Extra Tonearm Base
- Disc Stabilizer
- Exclusive Rack Manufactured by Artesania Audio
Description
Our aim in developing the Air Force Two Premium was to achieve almost the same level of musicality as our flagship the Air Force One. To this end we looked at the material of the main platter. The Air Force One uses a stainless steel main platter while the standard Air Force Two uses a platter made of aluminum. Since the beginning of the standard Air Force Two, it has been found that the difference in material of the platter is even more critical for tonality than the difference in weight. This is why we began testing new materials. As a result of various experiments, gunmetal was chosen for the platter of the Air Force Two Premium. This material is an alloy of copper and tin, and was often used in audio equipment in the heyday of analog audio. As gunmetal is relatively soft and tensile, a subtle glow is added to the sound while its heavy weight further increases the scale of the sound stage. The platter for the Air Force Two Premium is precision cast and surface polished with a solid construction, unlike most conventional gunmetal platters that have a hollow construction. The result is a platter of huge mass, some 34 kg.
Our aim in developing the Air Force Two Premium was to achieve almost the same level of musicality as our flagship the Air Force One. To this end we looked at the material of the main platter. The Air Force One uses a stainless steel main platter while the standard Air Force Two uses a platter made of aluminum. Since the beginning of the standard Air Force Two, it has been found that the difference in material of the platter is even more critical for tonality than the difference in weight. This is why we began testing new materials.
As a result of various experiments, gunmetal was chosen for the platter of the Air Force Two Premium. This material is an alloy of copper and tin, and was often used in audio equipment in the heyday of analog audio. As gunmetal is relatively soft and tensile, a subtle glow is added to the sound while its heavy weight further increases the scale of the sound stage.
The platter for the Air Force Two Premium is precision cast and surface polished with a solid construction, unlike most conventional gunmetal platters that have a hollow construction. The result is a platter of huge mass, some 34 kg.
As a result of various experiments, gunmetal was chosen for the platter of the Air Force Two Premium. This material is an alloy of copper and tin, and was often used in audio equipment in the heyday of analog audio. As gunmetal is relatively soft and tensile, a subtle glow is added to the sound while its heavy weight further increases the scale of the sound stage.
The platter for the Air Force Two Premium is precision cast and surface polished with a solid construction, unlike most conventional gunmetal platters that have a hollow construction. The result is a platter of huge mass, some 34 kg.
Release Timeline
Manufacturer Site
Brand highlights
Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:
- TechDAS turntables employ air-bearing platters and vacuum record hold-down systems across their entire product line, even in their most affordable models.
- The brand's turntables often feature a multi-layered chassis construction utilizing a combination of different materials to minimize vibration and resonance.
- TechDAS emphasizes precise control of platter rotation, often employing sophisticated motor control systems with quartz oscillators and microcontrollers.
- They offer design their products as tool-like and highly customizable, accommodating up to four tonearms with a variety of armboard options.
Select products
Select product comparisons
Air Force V Premium
- Positioning: Entry-level model, designed for affordability and compactness.
- Description: Offers a compact design with integrated motor, making it ideal for smaller spaces. Features a dual platter system and a CNC machined aluminum chassis, providing a high signal-to-noise ratio similar to higher-end models. This model is suitable for those with a limited budget who still desire advanced air technologies and a solid build.
Air Force III Premium S
- Positioning: Mid-range model with enhanced vibration isolation.
- Description: Includes newly designed suspension feet for improved vibration isolation, making it suitable for varied environments. Features a heavy gunmetal platter and air bearing technology, offering a lower noise floor compared to the Air Force V Premium.
Air Force One Premium
- Positioning: High-end model with advanced air technologies.
- Description: Incorporates a heavy platter and advanced air suspension system, providing superior rotation accuracy and dynamic sound. Offers a choice of titanium or duralumin upper platter, setting it apart from the Air Force III Premium S.
Air Force Zero
- Positioning: Flagship model, designed as the ultimate reference turntable.
- Description: Features a colossal design with a 330 kg system and advanced motor technologies, delivering exceptional rotational precision. Its air suspension and multi-layer platter system provide a noise floor and soundstage unmatched by the Air Force One Premium.
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Avg. Product Price
$75,001-$100,000
Used For Sale
4
Available (Scroll Down)
Brand Popularity
253
of 900+
Badges
Top 50 Brand
Top 250 Brand
Products Listed
15
Founding Year
2010
Our take on the brand
TechDAS is a premium turntable brand that uses rare air bearing and vacuum hold-down technologies, designed by former Micro Seiki engineer Hideaki Nishikawa. Their Air Force series turntables combine high-mass chassis with advanced air suspension systems to minimize vibrations, while their vacuum hold-down system reduces record warping for better sound quality.
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TechDAS
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What if you spend more?
Kronos
Discovery
120000
120000
/
4
Reviews
Kronos Audio's turntables feature a unique counter-rotating dual-platter system that cancels out rotational forces and minimizes vibrations, setting them apart in the industry. Their turntables also use supercapacitors to operate off-grid for reduced electrical noise, while their Discovery RS tonearm employs a proprietary bearing system for precise playback.
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Our summary
Product Strengths
- The Chronos Discovery Turntable's performance completely resets the bar for what can be achieved sonically with the playback of LPs and is the new milestone in reference-level LP playback
- It presents an entirely fresh and previously unattainable level of musical experience, a new pinnacle of expressiveness and communication that is more than merely revelatory and bordered on transformative
- Discovery presents with an amazingly black, stark background, yielding a noise floor so decidedly defeated that it is all but imperceptible
- It exhibits this incredible ability to more finely differentiate and reveal the ever-so-specific size and locality, and with some recordings, even the shape, of each and every instrumental voice it regenerates
- The new model comes equipped with a massive custom hand-wound power transformer and uses a bank of super-capacitors on its output—optimising damping (towards back EMF), improving the microdynamic motor control, and increasing drive stability
Product Considerations
- The speed controllers on the front panel are not marked
- It is an intricate and complex piece of equipment to install, best left to experts
- Its size and Captain Nemo physicality may be a drawback
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Compared to the Kronos Pro, the Discovery shares no components—it isn't the Pro writ large, but runs along common evolutionary design channels
- The Discovery goes a lot further and is significantly better
Takeaway: The Chronos Discovery Turntable offers a new and improved music listening experience. It is considered a top-of-the-line product that uncovers sounds you may have never noticed before.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Kronos Audio's turntables feature a unique counter-rotating dual-platter system that cancels out rotational forces and minimizes vibrations, setting them apart in the industry. Their turntables also use supercapacitors to operate off-grid for reduced electrical noise, while their Discovery RS tonearm employs a proprietary bearing system for precise playback.
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NAGRA
Reference (Turntable)
128000
128000
/
1
Reviews
Following in the footsteps of Nagra’s flagship Reference Anniversary turntable/tonearm system, Nagra’s research and development team devoted an additional two years applying all that was learned in the preceding four years of Anniversary system development to expand our commitment to LP reproduction to a wider audience of vinyl lovers.The Reference turntable/tonearm maintains the same level of obsessive attention to detail embodied in the limited edition Reference Anniversary turntable/tonearm, including our insistence on technical achievement validated by extensive listening. Its concept, design and execution are befitting of its inclusion in Nagra’s flagship Reference line of products.
Nagra Audio, a Swiss brand with roots in professional recording and film (including two Oscars for soundtracks), brings watchmaking-level precision to their hifi equipment through extensive in-house manufacturing of components like transformers. Their HD Preamp and Classic DAC showcase unique technologies, including virtual battery power supplies and PCM-to-DSD conversion, while their commitment to quality is demonstrated by rejecting over half of their tested valves to maintain exceptional standards.
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Our summary
Product Strengths
- Designed specifically for Nagra's 70th anniversary, with only 70 units produced, making it an exceptional and exclusive piece
- Provides a silent listening experience, with surface noise remaining at an almost inaudible level
- Offers precise sound reproduction, where all instruments are perfectly distinct with great definition
- Excellent instrument separation, allowing listeners to discern individual instruments within orchestral formations, creating a sense of depth and space
- Clean and well-defined low-frequency response without any muddiness
Product Considerations
- A complex piece of equipment, requiring 4 years of development and production
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The sound is closer to an analog master tape listening than to vinyl as we know it—rounder and softer
Takeaway: The Nagra REFERENCE ANNIVERSARY turntable is a technologically advanced and meticulously crafted product designed for exceptional vinyl playback. It is a premium option for audiophiles seeking the highest level of precision and clarity in their listening experience.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Nagra Audio, a Swiss brand with roots in professional recording and film (including two Oscars for soundtracks), brings watchmaking-level precision to their hifi equipment through extensive in-house manufacturing of components like transformers. Their HD Preamp and Classic DAC showcase unique technologies, including virtual battery power supplies and PCM-to-DSD conversion, while their commitment to quality is demonstrated by rejecting over half of their tested valves to maintain exceptional standards.
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Gryphon
Apollo
160856
160856
/
1
Reviews
Gryphon is one of the most respected high-end amplifier brands in the world. Its bass grip is phenomenal, thanks to an unusually high level of capacitance, which keeps everything tight and controlled, even with demanding speakers. Gryphon is also known for its bold, brutalist design—a look that a lot of people love. You’ll find their gear all over Europe and Asia, and the Diablo 333 is often considered an ‘endgame’ amp by those chasing the very best sound and aesthetics.
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Our summary
Product Strengths
- Huge, open, and relaxed sound, with a touch of sweetness in the upper registers
- Focuses on the deeper meanings of the music
- Might be a turntable for the ages
Product Considerations
- MSRP of $150K
- Demos were sometimes interrupted by the room next door
Takeaway: The Gryphon Apollo turntable offers a stunning sound that is huge, open, and relaxed. It is worth checking out if someone wants something that can really dig into the music.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Gryphon is one of the most respected high-end amplifier brands in the world. Its bass grip is phenomenal, thanks to an unusually high level of capacitance, which keeps everything tight and controlled, even with demanding speakers. Gryphon is also known for its bold, brutalist design—a look that a lot of people love. You’ll find their gear all over Europe and Asia, and the Diablo 333 is often considered an ‘endgame’ amp by those chasing the very best sound and aesthetics.
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What competes at this price?
SME
Model 60 (One of One)
88789
/
Released
2022
The most technically advanced SME precision turntable ever made, the Model 60 is available as a bespoke ONE of ONE signature commission. These individual masterpieces are a work of art, hand-made to order exclusively for you, by our team of highly skilled craftspeople.
SME is a premium turntable brand known for its unique integration of precision engineering and traditional craftsmanship, exemplified by their Model 60 turntable with its advanced polymer resin tonearm that significantly reduces resonance. The brand stands out for its bespoke 'One of One' concept, offering 75 custom anodized colors developed by their in-house chemist, and for their distinctive DSP-driven speed control systems that ensure precise audio reproduction.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Exceptional detail resolution
- Outstanding sonic composure and control
- Built and finished to an immaculate standard
- Highly effective suspension system
- Provides excellent isolation from external vibrations
Product Considerations
- Lacks a dustcover to protect from dust, children, and cats
- The arm lock found on earlier prototypes is not included in the final version
- The stark and rather brutish appearance won't appeal to all
- There is no arm lock to prevent damage
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs SME Model 30: The Model 60 is described as a highly refined and upgraded version of the Model 30
- Vs SME Model 15: Model 15 has a lighter, freer, more graceful—and less damped—sonic personality
Takeaway: The SME Model 60 with Series VA arm is a very talented performer that belongs high up in the ranks of the finest record players available. It's built to last for decades and provides the best possible vinyl replay.
Video review
Our take on the brand
SME is a premium turntable brand known for its unique integration of precision engineering and traditional craftsmanship, exemplified by their Model 60 turntable with its advanced polymer resin tonearm that significantly reduces resonance. The brand stands out for its bespoke 'One of One' concept, offering 75 custom anodized colors developed by their in-house chemist, and for their distinctive DSP-driven speed control systems that ensure precise audio reproduction.
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SME
Model 60
75789
/
Released
2022
The Model 60 is the most technically advanced SME turntable ever made, evolved from 75 years of engineering excellence, innovation and perfection, delivering precise and pure audio reproduction. Introduced 60 years after SME entered the elite high end audio world, the Model 60 is far superior than the highly credible Model 30 which has been the reference precision turntable for over 3 decades.
SME is a premium turntable brand known for its unique integration of precision engineering and traditional craftsmanship, exemplified by their Model 60 turntable with its advanced polymer resin tonearm that significantly reduces resonance. The brand stands out for its bespoke 'One of One' concept, offering 75 custom anodized colors developed by their in-house chemist, and for their distinctive DSP-driven speed control systems that ensure precise audio reproduction.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Exceptional detail resolution and sonic neutrality, playing what is there without artifice
- Outstanding sonic composure and control, providing stability to the musical image
- Immaculate build quality and finish, made with precision-machined aluminum and high-tech polymer resin
- Effective isolation from external vibrations, thanks to a sophisticated suspension system with rubber O-rings
- New Series VA tonearm is stiffer and offers better damping than previous models
Product Considerations
- High price point
- Lacks a dustcover, making it prone to attracting dust
- New arm rest is a U-shaped cup holder which retains the arm and protects against being accidentally knocked out of the rest
- Non-removable arm
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs SME Model 30: The Model 60 is a highly refined and upgraded version
Takeaway: The SME Model 60 is a top-tier turntable that offers exceptional performance, stability, and detail retrieval. It is built to last for decades and is a worthy upgrade for those seeking the best in vinyl playback.
Video review
Our take on the brand
SME is a premium turntable brand known for its unique integration of precision engineering and traditional craftsmanship, exemplified by their Model 60 turntable with its advanced polymer resin tonearm that significantly reduces resonance. The brand stands out for its bespoke 'One of One' concept, offering 75 custom anodized colors developed by their in-house chemist, and for their distinctive DSP-driven speed control systems that ensure precise audio reproduction.
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ESOTERIC
Grandioso T1
80000
/
Released
2022
Esoteric is a Japanese hifi brand that manufactures CD and SACD players with their unique VRDS technology, which provides superior stability in disc playback through a rigid disc-clamping system. Their products are built in Tokyo with proprietary technologies like the Master Sound Discrete DAC, and their Grandioso series is considered among the world's best for sonic capabilities.
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Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Exquisite machining and ingenious implementation worthy of deep respect; the machining and "fit 'n' finish" is grand.
- The design combines technical know-how, superior machining, and listening 'tunesmanship', resulting in well-balanced sonic performance that is resonance-free.
- Delivers a subtle musical personality that combines midband generosity with transient precision, which compliments every musical genre.
- Speed consistency is comparable to direct drive turntables.
- Produces an inviting overall subtle musical personality that combines midband generosity with transient precision.
Product Considerations
- The bottom end was kind of soft with the supplied TA-9D IKEDA-based arm.
- Less-than-flat records need attention, because the product lacks a washer/reflex clamp option.
- Constrained-layer armboards might produce a sonic upgrade.
Takeaway: The Grandioso T1 turntable provides well-balanced sound that is resonance-free. Its design allows for both grand and minuscule musical gestures.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Esoteric is a Japanese hifi brand that manufactures CD and SACD players with their unique VRDS technology, which provides superior stability in disc playback through a rigid disc-clamping system. Their products are built in Tokyo with proprietary technologies like the Master Sound Discrete DAC, and their Grandioso series is considered among the world's best for sonic capabilities.
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