"I'd sell a kidney to buy it, though its vacuum hold might reap it for me" - This elite turntable is both baffling and impressive

TechDas has just introduced its elite Air Force IV turntable
The technology involved? Vacuum hold the vinyl to make it float in the air.
…and it has nothing to do with Nike sneakers or the US president’s plane.

Some brands just know how to time the release of a record player to get maximum exposure around Record Store Day, right?

The TechDas Air Force IV (it has nothing to do with the US president’s transport or Nike sneakers) is a demanding platform for the seriously committed audiophile; I would even go so far as to say that it takes the act of turning plates to surgical levels of precision.

Because? Because in addition to the ability to install up to three tonearms and cartridges at any given time (the audiophile knows that tracking weights, tonearm arc, and the thickness of that little diamond-tipped stylus make a difference), this turntable harnesses the power of air to elevate sound quality.

Article continues below.

The Air Force IV uses a silent electric pump to float its high-mass, one-piece platter on a high-pressure “air bearing.” That’s right: with the Air Force IV, the vinyl lies perfectly flat subject to a vacuum. Did you think playing a record was as simple as placing it on the platter and gently lowering the needle? Think again…

So demanding it’s almost scary

TechDas' Air Force IV on a table

(Image credit: TechDas)

The Japanese turntable specialist tells me that the new Air Force IV sits directly above the “entry-level” Air Force V Premium in TechDas’ current turntable hierarchy.

Okay, but at £19,998 (it’s already officially landed in the UK, having been unveiled at last year’s High End Munich show), which costs about $27,000 or AU$38,000, it’s about as far from entry level as my poor gray matter can handle.

But just for clarity in the TechDas turntable catalogue, in ascending order, next up would be the Air Force III Premium, the Air Force III Premium S, the Air Force One, the Air Force One Premium and the mighty Air Force Zero, the latter costing just under $500,000 or £400,000 depending on which arm you choose.

The Air Force IV (whose price suddenly seems relatively reasonable) incorporates key features from the company’s top-tier turntables, chief of which is TechDas’ calling card air support system. As well as vacuum clamping the vinyl to ensure it stays exactly level while spinning, this insulates the 9kg turntable to offer an “extraordinarily low noise floor”.

Elsewhere, the Air Force IV’s 21.5kg single-piece aluminum alloy chassis sits on four suspension feet with the same “specialized cushioning materials” used in the company’s much more expensive Air Force III Premium S.

See, the idea of a record player with such formidable capabilities (and aesthetics, honestly) sitting casually in my house without Harvesting my kidneys while I sleep is hard for my imagination to ignore. But for this level of sonic performance, you better believe I’ll give it a try.