TEAC UD701 Stereophile Recommended!

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Mr Peabody

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Not only was this component Stereophile's recommended component in digital playback but also in preamps and the only component from what I saw to ever take top spot in two categories.

I saw this on a social media post by Stereophile but didn't find a link to share, here is a link to the original review. though.

www.stereophile.com

TEAC UD-701N streaming D/A preamplifier

In Gramophone Dreams #88, I described the sound of TEAC's VRDS-701T CD transport as "dense and precise in a way I had never previously heard from digital." I went on to explain, "by 'dense,' I mean there was a tangible corporeality effected by seemingly infinite quantities of small, tightly...
www.stereophile.com www.stereophile.com
 
A great combination of Lumin streamer and Esoteric DAC technology in a solid no nonsense package. I had the previous TOTL Teac streamer/DAC unit with the AKM 4497 chipset that got damaged by a surge through the cable companies lines. As it was out of warranty I made no attempt to get the Ethernet module replaced. So know it only functions as a DAC/preamp.
 
Mr Peabody said:
Not only was this component Stereophile's recommended component in digital playback but also in preamps and the only component from what I saw to ever take top spot in two categories.

I saw this on a social media post by Stereophile but didn't find a link to share, here is a link to the original review. though.

www.stereophile.com

TEAC UD-701N streaming D/A preamplifier

In Gramophone Dreams #88, I described the sound of TEAC's VRDS-701T CD transport as "dense and precise in a way I had never previously heard from digital." I went on to explain, "by 'dense,' I mean there was a tangible corporeality effected by seemingly infinite quantities of small, tightly...
www.stereophile.com www.stereophile.com
Click to expand...

I'll have to take a look at that although I'd be disappointed that it's display screen is so small and probably couldn't show album artwork, etc.

Just to mention also, that unit may have picked up 2 Stereophile Best of the Year Awards, but the NAD M33 that I have picked up 3 - Amplifier of the Year, Component of the Year and Editors' Choice in 2020. ;)
 
Mechnutt said:
Great review. I am glad to see Teac making good gear again. This reviewer makes this gear seem like greatest thing since the wheel.
Click to expand...

This is one time I can agree with the review. I heard the UD701 in a system we compared the 701 DAC to the built-in DAC of the Arcam SA30. The UD701 was very noticeably better, no comparison really.

Before that what really opened my ears to the current Teac gear we compared the 505 DAC to the internal DAC of the Levinson preamp 5306. I think in this case it may be up to the listener to decide. I preferred the 505 finding it much easier to listen to, more natural. The 5306 presented the detail in a more hyper way, brighter or more vivid. The fact that this 505 at a cost of $2500.00 that streams and has digital preamp features had a DAC that compared to the 5306 at then about $10k said allot.

I was just shocked by the above results which has me hyped on Teac as a high value product. I have yet to hear their amps. I believe they are a version of Class D. The dealer already has Arcam and NAD, not sure if plans to put anything with the UD701 for amplification.
 
Looks like that Levinson preamp is 5206, I kept saying 5306. I had a text conversation and my friend did some comparing yesterday. As I expected the UD701 is better than the built-in DAC of the 5206. More listening will be done but for now he thinks the 5206 is better than the 701 as a preamp.
 
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