Teac Receiver

[Adell]

Audiophiles are interesting in that many of them tend to eschew simplicity in favor of complexity, as demonstrated by the sheer number of separate boxes some use to handle each function of a system. The reason for doing so is obvious: an outboard DAC, dedicated CD transport, outboard phono stage, separate pre- and power amplifiers, and tuner (not to mention the various cables necessary to hook them all up) allow the listener to tweak the sound of a system at any point in the chain. Admittedly, in this regard, my own system is very non-"audiophile." For my reference integrated amplifier, I use a Bryston B100SST that features both an onboard DAC and MM phono stage. That leaves only the speakers, turntable, and something to spin CDs on to affect the sound of my stereo. I prefer to keep things simple.

For this reason, I was pretty curious when the assignment came to review TEAC’s Reference AG-H300mkIII stereo receiver ($349 USD). This little box, only half the width of most standard components, costs roughly one-twentieth the price of my reference integrated, yet manages to handle all the same functions (except that it has an AM/FM tuner but no DAC). Even I, who values simplicity and a more integrated design approach, was surprised by what such a small box at such a bargain-basement price is claimed to do. I wanted to know what the tradeoffs were.

Around back are five inputs, including CD, phono, tape, CD-R/MD, and auxiliary, as well as two outputs for recording with the tape or CD-R/MD functions. An AM loop antenna and an FM antenna (both included) also plug in at the back. In addition, there is a reset switch should the receiver be shut down by a power surge. The lone pair of speaker posts can accept bare wire or banana plugs.

At opposite ends of the faceplate are two large knobs: one for selecting the source, the other for adjusting the volume. There is also a dial for channel balance, and tone controls for 10dB bass and treble adjustment. In addition to the five dials and a headphone input are buttons for Power and Standby, FM Mode (mono or stereo), Tuning/Preset controls, Tuning Mode (Manual or Preset), Band (AM or FM), and Memory (to program radio-station presets). The combination of the small faceplate and large display, which also indicates which input has been selected, means that the front of the AG-H300mkIII is busy, to say the least.

The TEAC won’t win any beauty contests, but its small size and overall symmetry help make it pleasing to the eye. Furthermore, its large display can be easily read from across the room. Holding the AG-H300mkIII in my hands, I was impressed with its relative solidity, due in part to its thick front panel of brushed aluminum. And I was surprised by how many features you get for $349. I couldn’t help thinking that the AG-H300mkIII might be ideal for someone buying his or her first component system, or someone assembling a smaller second system for the office or bedroom.

I had some reservations about using the PSB Platinum M2s, but little reason to worry. When listening to CDs, I rarely turned the volume dial up by more than 25% to play as loudly as I could tolerate (with LPs, the volume ended up closer to 50%). At higher volumes, the PSBs started sounding hard and the bass became really loose, but I never drove the TEAC into clipping, and I suspect I had some headroom to spare. The little AG-H300mkIII was more powerful than its size and price indicate.

The AG-H300mkIII’s tuner section worked well, particularly the FM band, which was able to lock on to the strongest stations and bring their signals into my listening room with excellent clarity. I was able to appreciate the TEAC’s large display most when using the tuner, because it was so easy to read from across the room. I wish the remote had allowed me to navigate across the entire FM band rather than just skipping between a few preset stations -- or had a scan function that served the same purpose but locked on to only those stations with the strongest signals.

AM reception wasn’t nearly as clear as FM; far fewer stations came through properly. However, people who live in more remote locations, or concrete buildings in which the indoor strength of the signal is compromised, can use the AG-H300mkIII with an AM outdoor antenna (not supplied). Although the tuner’s performance was mixed overall, its inclusion is a welcome addition to this feature-rich, inexpensive receiver.

In terms of sound quality, it has strengths. I found it more powerful than its size and price indicate; it surprised me by driving my PSB Platinum M2s to high enough volumes without running out of steam. It also had an uncanny ability to sound big -- the bass was full and rich, and it did a good job of re-creating space. However, there were some weaknesses. Transparency and detail were only so-so, and, when push came to shove, the AG-H300mkIII couldn’t control my PSB M2s’ woofers as well as more robust amplifiers can.

I began this review by saying that audiophiles often favor a separate, dedicated component for each function of an audio system. In that sense, the AG-H300mkIII isn’t an "audiophile" product; however, I don’t think that’s what this receiver is all about. Clearly, the AG-H300mkIII was designed to be a good buy for someone who wants good sound at a low price and requires a good number of features -- that first-time stereo buyer, or someone who wants to set up a small second system in a bedroom or office. For those folks, the TEAC Reference AG-H300mkIII delivers a lot for a low price.

For those looking for a $999 CD player, I recommend this Teac model with the unbridled enthusiasm the Teac engineers have earned for it. And for those looking for a flexible all-in-one-receiver of near, if not identical excellence, the AG-H600NT stereo internet receiver handily fits the part.

TW-Acustic Raven One turntable; Tri-Planar Ultimate VII arm; Transfiguration Orpheus moving-coil cartridge; Artemis Labs PL-1 phonostage and LA-1 linestage; Arcam FMJ CD 17 CD player; Esoteric MG 10 and Kharma Mini Exquisite loudspeakers: Khama MP-150 monoblock amplifiers; Tara Labs Zero interconnects, Omega speaker cables, The One power cords, and AD-10B Power Screen; Finite Elemente Spider equipment racks

Perhaps best known historically for its reel-to-reel and audio-cassette tape recorders, TEAC America is one of a group of related companies owned by the Japanese firm TEAC Corp., and which include TASCAM, makers of pro-audio equipment, and the Esoteric brand of perfectionist audio components. The AG-H600NT and the matching PD-H600 CD player are TEAC’s flagship products, occupying the top of their Reference range. "Top" in this case carries a retail price of $1499 USD, but as you’ll see, the combination of build quality, overall sophistication, and features means the AG-H600NT is a very good value.

That value is first apparent in the seeing and the touching. This is one elegant example of industrial design. The lack of visible screws on the side and top plates, along with the resonance-free fit of the anodized-aluminum casework, give the convincing impression that the AG-H600NT is much more expensive than it is. And while 15 pounds may not seem that much on paper, when combined with the receiver’s compact dimensions (11.4"W x 4"H x 12.6"D), the impression given is one of solid heft. More goodness is to be found in the connectors, which are, for the most part, of the gold-plated variety; the five-way speaker terminals are especially nice, well-spaced, chunky affairs.

It’s obvious that TEAC spent time on the user interface, which made the AG-H600NT a genuine pleasure to operate. The seven buttons and two knobs (all metal, and nicely machined) on the front panel grant access to most of what the H600NT can do, but you’ll find that the main control panel is on the well-organized and well-constructed remote control. In fact, the only things you can’t control with the remote are the channel balance and the three-band tone control; for those, you need the multifunction volume knob. I wish that these, too, were adjustable from my listening seat, but I suppose one can’t have everything. In a nod to purist aspirations, preset tone and balance settings can be disengaged with a touch of the Tone Direct button, which also shuts down the LED display, thus eliminating the possibility of noise from that circuit contaminating the audio signal.

What else do you get for your 1500 clams? This being the 21st century, the AG-H600NT provides not only FM and AM reception but also, as it says right there on the faceplate, Internet Radio. Free radio is the game here; the TEAC can’t directly receive subscription satellite radio, such as XM/Sirius, although these services are also available online. Access to the Web, by the way, is through either an Ethernet connection or wireless WLAN (aerial provided). More goodies include an interface with TEAC’s optional DS-20 iPod docking station ($49.95), RCA inputs for a moving-magnet cartridge, two more pairs of line-level inputs, and a single pair of line-out jacks. A 1/4" headphone jack is on the front panel.

With so many features in such a small package, the AG-H600NT still has useful speaker-driving grunt. Thanks to an efficient class-D amplifier, TEAC (narrowly) specs the H600NT at 75W into 8 ohms at 1kHz and 0.5% THD. If that distortion figure looks too high to you, TEAC publishes another THD spec: "0.05% (8 ohms, 1kHz, 40W)." Although there are no ventilation holes anywhere on the case, TEAC advises that nothing be placed atop the AG-H600NT. However, during the time I had it in my system (July and August), the top plate never grew more than slightly warm to the touch.

The AG-H600NT shared shelf time with my NAD C 325BEE integrated amplifier (50Wpc into 8 ohms) driving Snell E II floorstanding speakers through Kimber Kable KWIK 12-gauge speaker cables. The 8-ohm, 93dB-sensitive Snells should be a very easy drive for any amplifier. Unfortunately, my Totem Acoustic Model Ones had "left the building," so to give the TEAC a more challenging load, I hooked up the Aperion Audio Intimus 4T speakers, which are rated at 6 ohms and 86dB sensitivity. Source signals were passed through Kimber PBJ interconnects from my vintage Kenwood KT-8300 tuner, almost-vintage Rotel RDD-980 CD transport and Meridian 203 DAC, and VPI HW-19 Jr. turntable with AudioQuest tonearm, Shure V 15 V-MR cartridge, and Bellari VP129 phono stage. Headphones were Sennheiser HD 600s. For FM reception I used an omnidirectional whip antenna mounted about 25’ above the ground. All electronics were plugged into hospital-grade receptacles on a dedicated 20A circuit. My wood-framed listening room measures 15’L x 12’W x 8’H and has two large archway openings in adjoining walls.

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