Heritage 

For over 40 years, TEAC’s high-end brand Esoteric has stood at the price and performance apex of the company’s product lines. For the 99% of audiophiles who cannot swing that brand’s Grandioso S1X stereo amplifier ($37,000/all prices USD), TEAC's Reference Series components have long presented more accessible options. The series spans from the introduction of the company’s multitrack tape recorders that democratized home recording in the 1970s right up to today and the advent of music streaming and class-D amplification. 

The AP-701  

The 21.8-pound, class-D, dual-mono AP-701 stereo amplifier is the top dog of TEAC’s Reference Series amps. It features custom-tuned, Hypex Ncore amplification modules, independent toroidal transformers, and numerous vibration-control and heat reduction technologies. The AP-701 is rated to deliver 260Wpc at 4 ohms and 170Wpc at 8 ohms. For those who prefer their stereo served via monoblocs, biamping is supported. 

Despite the AP-701's relatively high power rating, its dimensions are 17.5"W × 4.4"H × 13.7"D. Particularly modest in height, it is perhaps a good option for a smaller listening room where rack space is at a premium. Available color finishes are black and silver. 

TEAC states that vibrations that are generated during a stereo component’s operation can color a stereo system’s sound and otherwise adversely affect its performance. Many of the AP-701's vibration control features relate to its chassis. These include front, side, and rear chassis panels that are constructed of heavy three-millimeter-thick aluminum, panel junctures that contain suspension providing joints, and specially designed side-mounted heat sinks. 

Inside of the AP-701, TEAC has minimized the number of screws that secure the printed circuit boards to the chassis’ bottom panel. This, according to TEAC, reduces vibration-carrying pathways. A floating base structure is said to isolate the transformers from the bottom panel. Due to their rapidly expanding and contracting iron cores, a phenomenon called magnetostriction, transformers are notorious producers of vibrations. 

Beneath the chassis, vibration-managing proprietary pin-point feet, reminiscent of those used on Esoteric’s components, are secured to the chassis’ bottom panel. The spaces between that panel and the footers have been carefully calibrated to allow the chassis to slightly float, thus according to TEAC further controlling vibrations. 

TEAC states that the AP-701's energy efficient Ncore amplification modules and passive heat reduction features allow it to operate without a noise and vibration-producing fan despite its size and power rating. In this regard, TEAC points not only to the above-mentioned heat sinks, but also its rear ventilation slots, airflow-conscious circuit board placement, and the attachment of the Ncore modules directly to the chassis’ bottom panel, the latter of which is said to shunt to ground module generated heat. 

The AP-701's retail price is $4,000 until TEAC’s existing supplies run out. After that, a tariff-related price increase raises the cost to $4,600. TEAC typically offers a one-year parts and labor warranty on its amplifiers. However, since this model is one of the company's Reference series components, its warranty can be extended to three years by registering the product on TEAC’s website.  

TEAC also offers the UD-701N USB DAC/Network player ($4,300 for existing supplies/$5,000 after existing supplies run out). Since that components contains a preamplifier function, it matches fuctionally and aestetically with the AP-701.

Guided tour 

The AP-701's front chassis panel contains large, illuminable VU meters with gain/sensitivity settings of “+20dB”, “Normal,” and Off.” Via these settings, the user can control whether and how much the meters’ needles move relative to the input signal. Add to the meters a toggle power switch and rack handles, and the AP-701 gives off a vintage, but clean, well-designed, and attractive vibe. Also on the front chassis panel is a standby/on switch, a status indicator for a volume mute function, a signal output feature, meter gain and dimmer switches, and an input selection switch. 

On the AP-701's rear chassis panel are speaker terminals which accommodate a choice of bare wire, banana plugs, or spade connectors, as well as XLR balanced and RCA single-ended analog inputs. Interestingly, the speaker terminals have a narrow cut out between each pole. According to TEAC, this slightly opens up the soundstage by reducing vibrations that are created when the binding posts and back chassis panel are firmly pressed against each other, thus causing mechanical stress. The company states that “there is no scientific or physical proof of this, but we rely on our ears.” 

Also on the AP-701's rear chassis panel is an output mode switch to select stereo or bi-amp operation, 12-volt trigger connectors, a software maintenance port, an auto power save switch which when activated causes the AP-701 to enter standby mode after 30 minutes of no signal activity, and a power inlet for a detachable power cord.  

Unboxing and setup 

The AP-701 review sample, finished in black, arrived at my home well-protected in foam inserts and wrapped in a soft cloth bag. The sample’s 3mm-thick steel chassis panels gave it a substantial feel despite its compact size.  

I connected the AP-701 to my Esoteric N-01XD digital-to-analog converter (“DAC”) and T+A P3100HV preamplifier via XLR balanced line-level connections. Looking next to connect my Shunyata Research’s Alpha V2 speaker cables, I faced a challenge. Due to the AP-701's low profile, its speaker terminals sit low on its chassis. However, there wasn’t enough clearance to accommodate the Shunyata’s relatively large spade lugs. Additional clearance was achieved by placing the AP-701 on an amp stand. Those who opt for banana plugs, bare wire, or even speaker cables with smaller lugs likely won’t face this issue. 

Even during demanding listening sessions, the AP-701 ran remarkably cool. In fact, it never became more than lukewarm. 

Performance 

Although I like U2's The Joshua Tree (Tidal, Island Records 90581-1, 1987), certain parts of that recording can be sonically fatiguing. The high frequencies of The Edge’s guitar throughout the album and a somewhat biting crescendo at the 3:03 mark of "With or Without You" typically cause me to turn down the volume a notch or two. A bit on the ruthless side, my much more expensive class-AB Luxman M-10X monoblocks ($19,995/per pair) didn’t help things in this regard. However, the AP-701 demonstrated a slightly warmer and forgiving nature, the latter allowing for a bit more volume. Impressively, the AP-701 also produced Adam Clayton's staccato bass lines, which form the album’s musical foundation, with unexpected clarity and precision.  

Tool's "Invincible" from Fear Inoculum (Tidal, RCA 19439-86879-1, 2019) is a 13-minute epic demo track that highlights Danny Carey's drum work. This work features extended tom-tom ringing, snare drum decay and reverb, and heavy tom-tom booming. The AP-701 exerted complete control over the hard percussive strikes and highlighted an appealing bloom in the lower midrange. It also impressively parsed through the varying timbres of the percussive strikes. For example, the AP-701 deftly revealed changes in character and brightness of the extended ringing of Carey’s snare drum.n

 brightness and overtones during the extended ringing  

With Rob Wasseman and Jennifer Warnes's "Ballad of the Runaway Horse" from Duets (Tidal, MCA Records MCAD-42131, 1988), Wasseman’s upright bass notes were clear and firmly positioned on the dead center of the soundstage. His use of a body muting device truncated string vibrations and dampened overtones. This allowed the instrument’s now percussive, punchy notes to impressively penetrate the dense mix. Now evident was how these notes, even while muted, serve as a backdrop for Warnes's voice. Indeed, time after time the AP-701 delivered a punchy, controlled bass that exhibited little overhang or boom and a pleasant, non-congested midrange. 

Arturo O'Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra's Cuba: The Conversation Continues (Tidal, Motéma MTA-CD-179, 2015) features "The Triumphant Journey." On this track’s blistering horn intro, the AP-701 revealed a portion of the machine gun like flutter-tongue technique that I had not noticed with the Luxman or any other amp that I have had in my system. The AP-701 clearly reproduced the physical space between the band member’s instruments, while demonstrating an appealing top-end sparkle and clarity.  

Of course, no component is perfect, and the AP-701 is no exception. Most noticeably, it struggled a bit at very high volumes, sometimes smearing guitar notes and losing spatial detail. That’s what happened when I cranked up, for example, John Mayer's "Why Georgia" from Room for Squares (Tidal, Columbia CK 85875, 2001).  With the Luxman M-10x, Mayer’s right-panned guitar was reproduced more cleanly, with more detail, and with better body. 

Striking Distance 

Is it unfair to compare the AP-701 to an amplifier (i.e., the Luxman M-10x) that costs approximately five times its price? I suggest that the answer is “yes” only if the AP-701 miserably fails that juxtaposition. That wasn’t the case here. To a greater or lesser extent, the AP-701 came within striking distance of the Luxman’s performance in several areas, including detail, transparency, and tonal accuracy. Moreover, the AP-701 mustered better bass performance and sounded a bit warmer. Its presentation was simultaneously controlled and inviting even on many problem recordings, which was something that the Luxman could not do.  

At $3,999 (at least for now), the AP-701 makes use of impressive engineering features such as a dual-mono Hypex Ncore module setup and meticulous vibration and heat dissipation technologies. With its handsome aesthetic and bouncing meters, it also looks great. For those without an enormous room or an unlimited budget, it may be just the ticket. 

TEAC AP-701 Stereo Power Amplifier  

Price: $4,000 USD until existing supplies run out, $4,600 thereafter Warranty: one-year parts and labor Dimensions: 17.5"W x 4.4"H x 13.7"D Weight: 21.8 pounds 

TEAC Corporation Tokyo, Japan

https://teacusa.com/ 

Associated Equipment 

• Digital Sources: Esoteric N-01XD DAC, Esoteric G-05 Master Clock, Grimm MU1 streamer 

• Preamplification: T+A P3100HV 

• Amplification: Luxman M-10X monoblocks 

• Speakers: TAD ME1-K standmounts 

• Cables: Shunyata Research Alpha V2

  
  

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________