It’s a record player, but not quite as you might know it. That’s because the TechDAS Air Force IV spins vinyl on a cushion of air, holding it in place with a vacuum!
Designed and built in Japan, the Air Force IV is part of TechDAS’s long-running pursuit of vinyl perfection. Its defining feature is a pneumatic system that floats and stabilises discs during playback. A silent electric pump generates a high-pressure air bearing beneath the platter, allowing it to rotate without physical contact; a vacuum hold-down system clamps the record perfectly flat against the surface.
The idea is to eliminate vibration, reduce noise and let the cartridge read the groove with as little interference as possible. By removing microscopic irregularities, like warp, resonance, friction, the Air Force IV can present music with a clarity and stability that conventional designs struggle to match.
It is, in effect, an attempt to give analogue playback some of the control often associated with digital, without sacrificing its character. But it doesn’t come cheap…
Designed and built in Japan, the Air Force IV is part of TechDAS’s long-running pursuit of vinyl perfection…
Floating platter design explained
Positioned above the Air Force V Premium in the company’s hierarchy, the Air Force IV borrows liberally from its more expensive siblings while maintaining a relatively compact footprint. We first spied one at the High End show in Munich 2025 and it’s now arriving in the UK through distributor Absolute Sounds.
The platter is a single, precision-machined piece of A5056 aluminium alloy, weighing 8.7kg. Combined with the air bearing system, this mass contributes to an exceptionally low noise floor and improved dynamic expression. Beneath it, the chassis is carved from solid A5052 aluminium, bringing the total weight of the deck to a substantial 34.3kg.
Drive comes from a separate motor unit, housed in a precision-machined aluminium enclosure. This external 2-phase, 4-pole AC synchronous motor is isolated from the main chassis to minimise vibration transfer, using a 4mm-wide flat belt made from polished polyester fibre to spin the platter.
A digital rotational control system governs speed accuracy at both 33.3 and 45rpm, with wow and flutter quoted at below 0.03%.
The whole ensemble rests on four suspension feet incorporating specialised damping materials, derived from higher-tier models, to block external vibrations. A tapered spindle helps correct minor eccentricities in records, while a thin damping and antistatic pad protects the vinyl surface.
Flexibility is part of the appeal for music lovers. The deck can accommodate up to three tonearms, allowing enthusiasts to switch between cartridges and sonic signatures as the mood, or the record, demands.
While no tonearm or cartridge is included as standard, TechDAS points towards partners such as Reed for tonearms, or its own Air Force 10 arm, which extends the air-bearing concept further. Moving-coil cartridges from Japanese specialist Analog Relax are also suggested as suitable companions.
The TechDAS Air Force IV is available in the UK now, priced at £19,998. Tonearm and cartridge are an additional cost.
Nagra has expanded its Series II audio component range with the AMP II-S, a new prestige stereo power amplifier that combines high-end engineering with a fanatical focus on musical detail, dynamics and precision. Delivering 120W per channel, the Swiss manufacturer’s latest amplifier is the natural partner for its PREAMP II-S stereo preamplifier, and sits between…
Technics has unveiled the SL-1210MKX, a new upper-tier professional direct-drive DJ turntable that builds on more than five decades of SL-1200 heritage. Positioned above the current SL-1210MK7, the newcomer has been developed with input from working DJs and sound engineers, with a focus on stability, precision and creative flexibility. The launch comes as vinyl remains…
Swiss audio specialist Goldmund has unveiled the Mimesis Statement, a new flagship analogue pre-amplifier featuring a monolithic three-chassis design and exceptionally low measured distortion. The Mimesis Statement represents the company’s latest effort to preserve the integrity of an audio signal in a high-end stereo system. Its formidable £220,000 price tag places the Mimesis Statement firmly…
It’s a record player, but not quite as you might know it. That’s because the TechDAS Air Force IV spins vinyl on a cushion of air, holding it in place with a vacuum!
Designed and built in Japan, the Air Force IV is part of TechDAS’s long-running pursuit of vinyl perfection. Its defining feature is a pneumatic system that floats and stabilises discs during playback. A silent electric pump generates a high-pressure air bearing beneath the platter, allowing it to rotate without physical contact; a vacuum hold-down system clamps the record perfectly flat against the surface.
The idea is to eliminate vibration, reduce noise and let the cartridge read the groove with as little interference as possible. By removing microscopic irregularities, like warp, resonance, friction, the Air Force IV can present music with a clarity and stability that conventional designs struggle to match.
It is, in effect, an attempt to give analogue playback some of the control often associated with digital, without sacrificing its character. But it doesn’t come cheap…
Floating platter design explained
Positioned above the Air Force V Premium in the company’s hierarchy, the Air Force IV borrows liberally from its more expensive siblings while maintaining a relatively compact footprint. We first spied one at the High End show in Munich 2025 and it’s now arriving in the UK through distributor Absolute Sounds.
The platter is a single, precision-machined piece of A5056 aluminium alloy, weighing 8.7kg. Combined with the air bearing system, this mass contributes to an exceptionally low noise floor and improved dynamic expression. Beneath it, the chassis is carved from solid A5052 aluminium, bringing the total weight of the deck to a substantial 34.3kg.
Drive comes from a separate motor unit, housed in a precision-machined aluminium enclosure. This external 2-phase, 4-pole AC synchronous motor is isolated from the main chassis to minimise vibration transfer, using a 4mm-wide flat belt made from polished polyester fibre to spin the platter.
A digital rotational control system governs speed accuracy at both 33.3 and 45rpm, with wow and flutter quoted at below 0.03%.
The whole ensemble rests on four suspension feet incorporating specialised damping materials, derived from higher-tier models, to block external vibrations. A tapered spindle helps correct minor eccentricities in records, while a thin damping and antistatic pad protects the vinyl surface.
Flexibility is part of the appeal for music lovers. The deck can accommodate up to three tonearms, allowing enthusiasts to switch between cartridges and sonic signatures as the mood, or the record, demands.
While no tonearm or cartridge is included as standard, TechDAS points towards partners such as Reed for tonearms, or its own Air Force 10 arm, which extends the air-bearing concept further. Moving-coil cartridges from Japanese specialist Analog Relax are also suggested as suitable companions.
The TechDAS Air Force IV is available in the UK now, priced at £19,998. Tonearm and cartridge are an additional cost.
Nagra’s extraordinary new £21,998 stereo amplifier is engineered for extreme audiophiles
Nagra has expanded its Series II audio component range with the AMP II-S, a new prestige stereo power amplifier that combines high-end engineering with a fanatical focus on musical detail, dynamics and precision. Delivering 120W per channel, the Swiss manufacturer’s latest amplifier is the natural partner for its PREAMP II-S stereo preamplifier, and sits between…
In vinyl we trust: Technics unveils flagship SL-1210MKX professional DJ turntable
Technics has unveiled the SL-1210MKX, a new upper-tier professional direct-drive DJ turntable that builds on more than five decades of SL-1200 heritage. Positioned above the current SL-1210MK7, the newcomer has been developed with input from working DJs and sound engineers, with a focus on stability, precision and creative flexibility. The launch comes as vinyl remains…
Goldmund Mimesis Statement pre-amp puts power-supply isolation at the heart of luxury audio
Swiss audio specialist Goldmund has unveiled the Mimesis Statement, a new flagship analogue pre-amplifier featuring a monolithic three-chassis design and exceptionally low measured distortion. The Mimesis Statement represents the company’s latest effort to preserve the integrity of an audio signal in a high-end stereo system. Its formidable £220,000 price tag places the Mimesis Statement firmly…
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