quite some months ago the newly released Technics Direct Drive and some other Direct Drives e.g. from VPI set the analogue topics of the audio scene. Some companies were preparing new cabinets carrying the DD.

Now we are facing many shows of the TechDas Zero, latest with Michael Fremer presenting the table with Jacob Heilbrunn and Nishikawa San, the famous Micro Seiki designer.

The main innovations are on the motor (a modified vintage Studer Pabst drive) and the platter, deriving from different materials – you may compare with the AS Apolyt or the Caeles.

You may not see a real air bearing system as both, the Acoustical Systems Apolyt and the Gecom Caeles use. The American Sound 2000 has an outstanding air design, I did have an insight at the production site in Utah.

Regarding the damping of the table from the environment I am not shure how it will work with the TechDas Zero. I saw it at Munich High End, it carries an air based damping structure which works pretty fine. The sound during the demonstration was stunning good!

I am missing two motors from both sides as well as the possibility of carrying four arms. For a statement design in the listed price range of over 400 K I would ask for these options.

In the end we will see if this approach will lead to better musicality, which is the main focus justifying such an investment. I am pretty sure that Nishikawa San will compose a musical environment in Munich – and he did! The sound was great!