Page 119 - Hi-Fi_News_-_December_2020 video

Transports of delight

MY TIME SPENT IN ISOLATION WITH TWO CLASSIC TEAC VRDS SPINNERS

During this difficult lockdown period,
not only have I enjoyed a lot of music
but have added a Teac VRDS-25X
CD player to my second system. It
has proved to be a very rewarding
experience. I have always been
impressed by Teac and, of course,
the Esoteric VRDS mechanism. The
VRDS-25X is reliable and uses a
good quality motor and optical lens. I
bought it secondhand for £450, which ABOVE: Close-up of the Topping D70 DAC
is not so expensive given that it is a atop reader Remi’s Teac P-30 transport
sturdy piece of engineering made of
aluminium, copper and steel. impressive – that VRDS mechanism
The VRDS-25X uses four 18-bit itself being the star of the show. I have
DACs and the sound is really true to extended experience of all the early
life when it comes to both dynamics incarnations, including the VRDS-10
and detail. Yet surprisingly, despite its and 20, and found them to be the class

warm sound, it is capable of pin-point leaders in their field in the 1990s, aside
imaging between the speakers. perhaps from the Linn Karik 3 CD player.
I also use a Teac P-30 transport The thing that dates them now is
and a Topping D70 DAC, as well as the built-in DAC, though the higher-end
a Cambridge Audio CXC transport, Teac/Esoteric P-30 transport didn’t have
which is a nice bit of kit in itself. Yet this, and neither did the more affordable
when I swap out the CXC for the VRDS-T1. Indeed, I remember achieving
Teac VRDS-25X in my primary system excellent results from both the P-30 and
I hear a more organic sound and VRDS-T1. There was a smooth, spacious,
greater detail through my Dynaudio master tape-like quality to the sound
Focus XD 400 speakers while the while disc operation was both swift and
soundstage increases in depth. quiet. They were definitely desirable and

Remi Balestie, via email reliable in their day, although it has to be
said that there’s now a question mark over
David Price replies: I certainly found the availability of parts. But then that holds
the early generation of Teac VRDS true for pretty much any CD transport
CD players and transports to be really that’s now some 25 years old.

EXTREME?

IT IS NOW!

ABOVE: On the floor are the Teac P30 (left) and VRDS-25X; speakers are Pioneer RM-07

DECEMBER 2020 | www.hifi news.co.uk | 119