JBL TT350 Classic Turntable

JBL TT350 Classic turntable has been released alongside SA550 and CD350 models in a range of beautiful retro-modern components. This 70’s style turntable has a walnut veneered chassis as well as a heavy die-cast aluminium platter. It is a two speed unit with adjustable damped feet. This makes it easy to sit the turntable on an uneven surface and is designed to ensure vibrations are not transferred to the cartridge. This is a mid-range turntable from a company with true pedigree.

Classic Styling

The TT350 is JBL’s first turntable. All modern components have been given a retro look with an S-shaped metal tonearm. The unit comes with an Audio Technica MM cartridge. The head shell is removable and the cartridge can be upgraded easily as there is a vertical tracking angle adjustment (VTA). A tinted hinged dust cover completes the classic look. The TT350 is a great companion to the high-performance phono preamplifier in JBL’s matching amplifier or indeed any good phono stage.

Direct Drive and High Build Quality

A direct drive motor means no belts to replace and the speed can be locked more precisely. The TT350 has a speed sensor to regulate the motor. Moreover, direct drive turntables come up to speed much more quickly than belt driven units. They are also more free spinning making it easier for the motor control to maintain the speed. A thick and heavy plater also tends to resist any speed variations.

Complimentary Models

At the same time as this new TT350 Classic turntable model, JBL have released a SA550 integrated amplifier, designed around class G which uses two power supply rails with an optimised power supply to provide high power along with high efficiency and lower distortion. Class G works by having effectively two power supplies. A lower powered supply rail is used until the volume necessitates the use of more current, at which point the higher powered supply rail kicks in. Next, the SA550 has Bluetooth connectivity with the latest's aptX codec. Finally, the output power is 90W into 8 ohms and there is a range of digital and analogue inputs.

Also recently launched is the MP350 Classic music streamer supporting the latest hi-res audio files and CD350 Classic CD player. This unit shares the retro-silver style of it’s companions but boasts a host of modern features. It has a robust tray loading mechanism as well as a built in DAC. The DAC can play files with up to 24-bit/96kHz resolution. The CD350 also has a USB A input so can play external digital files such as FLAC, WAV, MP3, AAC and WMA. Finally there are standard RCA outputs as well as optical and coaxial digital outputs. These complimentary models dont have to be used with the TT350 Classic turntable, but are perfect partners if you’re considering building a system from scratch.
Who are JBL?

JBL are renowned for there loudspeakers. Today they make a range of portable speakers and sound bars as well as speakers for professional use. JBL was founded by James B. Lansing, Hence JBL. The company was there at the beginning of amplified sound, in 1928. They made speakers for the early talking pictures. At the time radios used horn speakers that sounded terrible. Since then audio excellence has been JBL’s holy grail.