- The new Teac AI-303 Integrated Amplifier is a compact, yet extremely versatile stereo integrated amplifier.
With the new Teac AI-303 Integrated Amplifier, Teac Audio presents a stereo integrated amplifier in a particularly compact form, which is characterised by an impressively versatile feature set and is thus designed as a desktop audio amplifier. Although this is a solution that can clearly be placed in the mid-sized hi-fi system class as part of the Teac Reference 300 Series, you will find equipment here that proves to be on the cutting edge, offering everything a modern stereo integrated amplifier can offer in terms of possibilities.
Teac AI-303 Integrated Amplifier – Just add Speakers
The developers’ primary goal with the new Teac AI-303 Integrated Amplifier was clearly to create a solution that could easily function as a flexible interface for a modern audio system, and to do so in the smallest possible space.
The new Teac AI-303 Integrated Amplifier has analogue, but above all a multitude of digital interfaces, features Bluetooth and even has a high-quality headphone amplifier.
A very special feature, however, is the amplifier technology used here, which, it should be noted, comes from Hypex Electronics B.V. and allows high performance with maximum energy efficiency, making it ideal for compact solutions such as the new Teac AI-303 Integrated Amplifier.
Desktop Audio Amplifier – Elegant, Compact Appearance
The new Teac AI-303 Integrated Amplifier measures no more than 21.5 cm wide, 25.7 cm deep and 6.1 cm high. With its solid housing of stainless steel and aluminium, it weighs 2.3 kg.
The system, which has a timelessly elegant design that is somewhat reminiscent of the look and feel of the hi-fi heyday, rests on three solid feet that are designed to ensure optimum decoupling from the floor.
The Teac AI-303 Integrated Amplifier is available in either silver or black anodised finish.
Remarkable features for interfaces
Yes, the new Teac AI-303 Integrated Amplifier does of course have two analogue inputs, implemented as a pair of RCA sockets, but what is really exciting is what this solution offers in terms of digital interfaces, starting with an HDMI interface for direct connection to a TV set.
The HDMI interface of the new Teac AI-303 Integrated Amplifier naturally supports HDMI CEC for central control and functions as an eARC, i.e. enhanced Audio Return Channel.
Other important interfaces of the Teac AI-303 Integrated Amplifier include USB, of course, as this allows a direct connection to a PC or Mac. This is a USB-C interface and, of course, asynchronous data transfer free of sound-damaging jitter is used. Stable data transmission is to be achieved through Bulk Pet, as the manufacturer states.
A coaxial as well as an optical S/PDIF interface complete the range of inputs. It should be mentioned, however, that a subwoofer output is also available, designed as an RCA socket, and that the new Teac AI-303 Integrated Amplifier has a particularly high-quality headphone amplifier with CCLC design (Coupling Capacitor Less Circuit), which even allows a balanced connection of the headphones via a 4-pin 4.4 mm Pentaconn. In addition, a crossfeed function is supposed to achieve a particularly natural performance.
Bluetooth with aptX HD, LDAC and LHDC
For signal transmission directly from the smartphone or tablet, the new Teac AI-303 Integrated Amplifier offers Bluetooth 4.2, whereby interestingly, a module from Qualcomm Inc. supports not only SBC and AAC, but also aptX, aptX HD, LDAC and LHDC. Incidentally, two sources can be connected to the Teac AI-303 Integrated Amplifier at the same time via Bluetooth Multipoint, and you can switch between them seamlessly for playback.
Excellent D/A converter with various filters and upsampling
The Teac AI-303 Integrated Amplifier processes digital signals in Linear PCM at up to 32 bits and 384 kHz, as well as DSD up to DSD512, and also fully decodes content encoded in MQA.
The developers of the new Teac AI-303 Integrated Amplifier rely on a special SoC (Silicon on a Chip) to realise digital signal processing at the highest level. For example, various filters are available that were not realised by the D/A converter itself, but by said SoC. Optionally, oversampling can also be used for signal conversion.
Amplifier with Hypex NCORE Class D Amplifier
It should also be emphasised that the preamplifier of the new Teac AI-303 Integrated Amplifier is said to have a particularly high-quality analogue volume control with ladder-type attenuator and, of course, the particularly efficient amplifier module from the specialist Hypex Electronics B.V..
The amplifier delivers two times 25 watts to speaker systems with an impedance of 8 ohms, and two times 50 watts to speakers with an impedance of only 4 ohms.
Prices and availability
The new Teac AI-303 Integrated Amplifier should be available in specialist shops within the next few days. As already mentioned, this stereo integrated amplifier of the Teac Reference 300 Series is available in silver or black. The recommended retail price is € 899,-. Part of the delivery is of course a matching infrared remote control.
Getting to the point
With the new Teac AI-303 Integrated Amplifier, Teac Audio introduces an extremely exciting new solution to the Teac Reference 300 Series. It is a compact stereo integrated amplifier, elegantly designed, yet with impressive features that make it an extremely flexible interface for a modern, versatile hi-fi solution.
| PRODUCT | TEAC AI-303 INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER |
|---|---|
| Price | € 899,- |
| BRAND | TEAC AUDIO |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Teac Corporation |
| Distribution | Teac Corporation |
| More about this manufacturer at HIFI BLOG |
