Teac AI-1000 Integrated Amplifier

Teac is back and this integrated offers a minimalist design that has more than its fair share of charms

Teac has re-entered the two-channel market at this price point after some time away and the AI-1000 is the smallest of three integrated stereo amps in a new range with matching SACD players. Small is a relative term and other than the burly Pioneer, this is the largest amp here. It is also the simplest of all the models in terms of the specification. In a field of designs with digital inputs and phonon stages, this is the only one to be fitted with just line inputs. As the most expensive amp (along with the more lavishly specified Pioneer), this is a bold move and hints at a different philosophy.

Teac AI-1000

Internally, the AI-1000 shows where some of the money has gone. The 85W claimed power output design is a beautifully assembled amp inside and out – with only the smaller Creek matching it for the quality of fit and finish. Touches like the high-quality WBT speaker terminals and substantial casework mean that the Teac looks the part and the controls – the volume knob especially – all feel well weighted and impressively engineered. Although, the lack of digital input might put some people off, the AI-1000 feels worth the price. The remote is well laid out, attractive and easy to use.

Sound quality

The Teac very quickly shows some attributes that place it right up at the top of the test, but then also reveals some infuriating areas of performance that count against it. With Muse in particular, the AI-1000 is a fine balance of drive, detail and control. The sound is big without tipping over into being overblown and the detail and tonal accuracy is also extremely compelling. It is able to match the NAD offering for sheer scale, but partners this performance with a bass response that is deeper and more detailed than most of the other amps here. The assurance it possesses with the Neil Cowley Trio is also very impressive, although the piano takes on a slightly harder-edged quality than it does with some of the other amplifiers tested.

This scale and detail runs into some problems with Scratch Massive, as it is less sumptuously produced than the first two pieces

This scale and detail runs into some problems with Scratch Massive, as it is less sumptuously produced than the first two pieces. The scale and confidence that the Teac displayed before remains, but the hard-edged quality that showed in some parts of the Cowley recording are more apparent in these less pristine circumstances and it can be ruthless with some parts of the usually benign Aloe Blacc recording too, with a stridency to the backing piano that isn’t really apparent with other amps in the test. It isn’t entirely fair to call this ‘warts and all’ because the Creek in particular is able to match the AI-1000 at its best and is entirely more forgiving of the other pieces. A more minor criticism, but one still worth flagging up is that it rather lacks the excitement and life that some of other integrated designs can bring to their performances and doesn’t prove quite as engaging as other amps on test here. In many ways, the Teac is a strong proposition and for well-recorded material it has a scale and control that is among the best in the group. The slightly merciless quality it shows with less benign material isn’t quite so appealing, though, and the AI-1000 would need thoughtful system matching to be a true all-rounder in the manner of some of the other amps in the test. When you also take into account the fairly high price and limited features, the AI-1000 is outpaced by some of the other amplifiers on test here.

The Teac is a strong proposition and for well-recorded material it has a scale and control that is among the best in the group

On test

One of the very important reasons why we independently test all our Group Test components is that the manufacturer’s specifications are not always comparable. Teac’s AI-1000, for example, might seem a lusty contender at its rated 85/120W 8/4ohm but in practice, while beating its own spec at 103W/155W, it’s no more powerful than Rotel’s ‘60W’ RA-12 and even less speaker load tolerant with its maximum current capped-out at 14A.Yet the AI-1000 is still perfectly capable and offers a wide 89.5dB A-wtd S/N ratio (re. 0dBW), a moderate 0.05ohm output impedance, sensibly band-limited response (–0.4dB/20kHz to –4dB/100kHz) and distortion that varies from a low of 0.004% at 1kHz to 0.02% at 20kHz. Stereo separation is a little weak at HF (43dB/20kHz), but at least the reduced +34dB gain is better suited to modern, high-output digital sources.

Our verdict

·         Sound quality: 4/5

·         Value for money: 4/5

·         Build quality: 5/5

·         Features: 3/5

·         Like: Superb build; confident and bold sound with good recordings

·         Dislike: Less happy with ordinary material; limited spec

·         We say: Capable of excellent presentation, but performance is rather inconsistent

·         Overall: 4/5