9A10429500

PD-H300mk#

Compact Disc Player

OWNERS MANUAL MANUEL DU PROPRITAIRE MANUAL DEL USUARIO

ENGLISH FRANAIS ESPAOL

CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK). NO USERSERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL. The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated dangerous voltage within the products enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons. The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying the appliance.
< Do not expose this apparatus to drips or splashes. < Do not place any objects filled with liquids, such as vases, on the apparatus. < Do not install this apparatus in a confined space such as a book case or similar unit. < The apparatus draws nominal non-operating power from the AC outlet with its STANDBY/ON switch in the standby position. < The apparatus should be located close enough to the AC outlet so that you can easily grasp the power cord plug at any time. < An apparatus with Class ! construction shall be connected to an AC outlet with a protective grounding connection.
WARNING: TO PREVENT FIRE OR SHOCK HAZARD, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.
CAUTION < DO NOT REMOVE THE EXTERNAL CASES OR CABINETS TO EXPOSE THE ELECTRONICS. NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS ARE WITHIN! < IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THIS PRODUCT, CONTACT TEAC FOR A SERVICE REFERRAL. DO NOT USE THE PRODUCT UNTIL IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED. < USE OF CONTROLS OR ADJUSTMENTS OR PERFORMANCE OF PROCEDURES OTHER THAN THOSE SPECIFIED HEREIN MAY RESULT IN HAZARDOUS RADIATION EXPOSURE.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
Read these instructions. Keep these instructions. Heed all warnings. Follow all instructions. Do not use this apparatus near water. Clean only with dry cloth. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturers instructions. 8) Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat. 9) Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has two blades with one wider than the other. A grounding type plug has two blades and a third grounding prong. The wide blade or the third prong are provided for your safety. If the provided plug does not fit into your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet. 10) Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the apparatus. 11) Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer. 12) Use only with the cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table specified by the manufacturer, or sold with the apparatus. When a cart is used, use caution when moving the cart/apparatus combination to avoid injury from tip-over. 13) Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time. 14) Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as power-supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped. 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7)

Disposal of your old appliance 1. When this crossed-out wheeled bin symbol is attached to a product it means the product is covered by the European Directive 2002/96/EC. 2. All electrical and electronic products should be disposed of separately from the municipal waste stream via designated collection facilities appointed by the government or the local authorities. 3. The correct disposal of your old appliance will help prevent potential negative consequences for the environment and human health. 4. For more detailed information about disposal of your old appliance, please contact your city office, waste disposal service or the shop where you purchased the product.

Contents

Thank you for choosing TEAC. Read this manual carefully to get the best performance from this unit. Before Use. 3 Remote Control Unit. 3 Discs. 4 Connection. 5 Names of Each Control. 6 Playback. 8 Search. 10 Shuffle Playback. 10 Repeat Playback. 11 Programmed Playback. 12 Time Display. 13 Display. 14 Specifications. 14 Troubleshooting. 15

Remote Control Unit

The provided Remote Control Unit allows the unit to be operated from a distance. When operating the remote control unit, point it towards the REMOTE SENSOR on the front panel of the unit. < Even if the remote control unit is operated within the effective range, remote control operation may be impossible if there are any obstacles between the unit and the remote control. < If the remote control unit is operated near other appliances which generate infrared rays, or if other remote control devices using infrared rays are used near the unit, it may operate incorrectly. Conversely, the other appliances may operate incorrectly.

ENGLISH

Battery Installation

Before Use

Read this before operation < As the unit may become warm during operation, always leave sufficient space around the unit for ventilation. < The voltage supplied to the unit should match the voltage as printed on the rear panel. If you are in any doubt regarding this matter, consult an electrician. < Choose the installation location of your unit carefully. Avoid placing it in direct sunlight or close to a source of heat. Also avoid locations subject to vibrations and excessive dust, heat, cold or moisture. < Do not place the unit on the amplifier/receiver. < Do not open the cabinet as this might result in damage to the circuitry or electrical shock. If a foreign object should get into the unit, contact your dealer or service company. < When removing the power plug from the wall outlet, always pull directly on the plug, never yank the cord. < To keep the laser pickup clean, do not touch it, and always close the disc tray. < Do not attempt to clean the unit with chemical solvents as this might damage the finish. Use a clean, dry cloth. < Keep this manual in a safe place for future reference. DO NOT MOVE THE UNIT DURING PLAYBACK During playback, the disc rotates at high speed. Do NOT lift or move the unit during playback. Doing so may damage the disc or the unit. WHEN MOVING THIS UNIT When changing places of installation or packing the unit for moving, be sure to remove the disc and return the disc tray to its closed position in the player. Then, press the power switch to turn the power off, and disconnect the power cord. Moving this unit with the disc loaded may result in damage to this unit. 1. Remove the battery compartment cover. 2. Insert two AA dry batteries. Make sure that the batteries are inserted with their positive + and negative _ poles positioned correctly. 3. Close the cover.

Battery Replacement If the distance required between the remote control unit and main unit decreases, the batteries are exhausted. In this case replace the batteries with new ones.
Precautions concerning batteries
< Be sure to insert the batteries with correct positive + and negative _ polarities. < Use batteries of the same type. Never use different types of batteries together. < Rechargeable and non-rechargeable batteries can be used. Refer to the precautions on their labels. < When the remote control unit is not to be used for a long time (more than a month), remove the batteries from the remote control unit to prevent them from leaking. If they leak, wipe away the liquid inside the battery compartment and replace the batteries with new ones. < Do not heat or disassemble batteries and never dispose of old batteries by throwing them in a fire.
Discs which can be played on this unit: Conventional audio CDs bearing the COMPACT DISC DIGITAL AUDIO logo on the label: < Printable CD-R and CD-RW discs arent recommended, as the label side might be sticky and damage the unit. < Do not stick papers or protective sheets on the discs and do not use any protective coating spray. Properly finalized CD-R and CD-RW discs MP3 CDs Note: < Depending on the quality of the disc and/or the condition of the recording, some CD-R/CD-RW discs may not be playable. < Copy-protected discs and other discs that do not conform to the CD standard may not play back correctly in this player. If you use such discs in this unit, TEAC Corporation and its subsidiaries cannot be responsible for any consequences or guarantee the quality of reproduction. If you experience problems with such non-standard discs, you should contact the producers of the disc. < Use a soft oil-based felt-tipped pen to write the information on the label side. Never use a ball-point or hard-tipped pen, as this may cause damage to the recorded side. < Never use a stabilizer. Using commercially available CD stabilizers with this unit will damage the mechanisms and cause them to malfunction. < Do not use CDs with an irregular shape (octagonal, heart shaped, business card size, etc.). CDs of this sort can damage the unit:
< Always place the disc on the disc tray with the label side up. (Compact discs can be played or recorded only on one side.) < To remove a disc from its storage case, press down on the center of the case and lift the disc out, holding it carefully by the edges.
< If you are in any doubt as to the care and handling of a CDR/CD-RW disc, read the precautions supplied with the disc, or contact the disc manufacturer directly.

MP3 and Windows Media-formatted audio files
< This unit can play MP3 and Windows Media-formatted audio files recorded on a CD-R or CD-RW. (Windows Media is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.) < File names of MP3 or WMA should be alphanumeric characters. This unit cannot display symbols and full-size or double-byte characters (such as Japanese, Chinese, etc.) correctly. Also, be sure to use the file extension. (.mp3 for MP3 files,.wma for WMA files.) < MP3 files are monaural or stereo MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3 format. This unit can play MP3 files with sampling frequency 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz, bit-rate 320 kbps or less. < This unit can play WMA files with sampling frequency 44.1 kHz, bit-rate 192 kbps or less. < The disc must be finalized in order to play. < The CD-ROM must be ISO 9660 compatible. < When more than 255 files (including folders) are recorded on the disc, or when more than 128 folders are recorded on the disc, the unit might not be able to play it correctly. < When a MP3 disc is loaded, it may take several minutes until the unit can start to play depending on the numbers of recorded files or the complexity of the folder tree.

How to remove the disc

How to hold the disc
< Should the disc become dirty, wipe the surface radially (from the center hole outward towards the outer edge) with a soft, dry cloth:
< Never use such chemicals as record sprays, antistatic sprays or fluid, benzine or thinner to clean the discs. Such chemicals will do irreparable damage to the discs plastic surface. < Discs should be returned to their cases after use to avoid dust and scratches that could cause the laser pickup to skip. < Do not expose discs to direct sunlight or high humidity and temperature for extended periods. Long exposure to high temperatures will warp the disc. < Do not play any disc that is warped, deformed or damaged. Playing such discs may cause irreparable harm to the playing mechanisms. < CD-R and CD-RW discs are more sensitive to the effects of heat and ultraviolet rays than ordinary CDs. It is important that they are not stored in a location where direct sunlight will fall on them, and away from sources of heat such as radiators or heat-generating electrical devices.

Connection

CAUTION: < Switch off the power to all equipment before making connections. < Read the instructions of each component you intend to use with this unit. < Be sure to insert each plug securely. To prevent hum and noise, avoid bundling the signal interconnection cables together with the AC power cord or speaker cables.

A LINE OUT jack

Analog 2-channel audio signal is output from this jack. Connect this jack to the CD input jack of the amplifier with an RCA cable. Make sure to connect : white plug q white jack (L: left channel) red plug q red jack (R: right channel)

B DIGITAL OUT terminal

Connect the digital output terminal to the digital input terminal of a digital device such as a decoder, CD recorder, MD deck, etc. Use a commercially-available optical digital cable. < Keep the supplied cap to cover the terminal when it is not in use.

E C REMOTE CONTROL jacks

If you have TEAC A-H300mkIII, convenient system control operations are available: When you press the PLAY button, the input selector of the A-H300mkIII is set to CD automatically. You can use the system remote control unit RC-957 (provided with A-H300mkIII) to operate this unit. Connect the REMOTE CONTROL jack (A or B) to the REMOTE CONTROL jack of A-H300mkIII or TH300(DAB)mkIII with the provided remote control connection cord. Turn the SELECTOR switch to SYSTEM. Read the owners manual of A-H300mkIII for details.

Amplifier (A-H300mkIII)

D SELECTOR switch
If you use the provided remote control unit RC-1039 instead of the system remote control connection, turn this switch to SINGLE.

E AC Power Cord

After all other connections are complete, connect the plug to the AC wall socket. Be sure to connect the power cord to an AC outlet which supplies the correct voltage. Hold the power plug when plugging or unplugging the power cord.

Names of Each Control

R D M N O L T S U V E

A STANDBY/ON

K Numeric buttons
Press this button to turn the unit on or standby. The standby indicator surrounding the STANDBY/ON button lights when the unit is in the standby mode. When the unit is turned on, it goes off. The equipment draws nominal non-operating power from the AC outlet with its STANDBY/ON switch in the STANDBY position.

B Disc tray C OPEN/CLOSE

Use these buttons to select a track number. For instance, to select track number 35, press 3 and 5.
Use this button to set the point for A-B repeat.

M FOLDER (b,5)

Use these buttons to select a folder of MP3/WMA.

N SCAN (m/,)

During playback, use these buttons to search the part you want to listen to.

O SHUFFLE

Use this button to open and close the disc tray.

D REPEAT 1/ALL

Use this button for shuffle playback.

P CLEAR

Use this button to select the repeat mode.

E PLAY (y)

Use this button to clear a program.

Q PROGRAM

Use this button to start playback.

F PAUSE (J)

Use this button to pause playback.

G STOP (H)

Use this button to enter the program mode. In program mode, use this button to enter the selection.

R ENTER

Use this button to stop playback.

H SKIP/SCAN

Use this button to enter the selection.

S DISPLAY

Use these buttons to skip or search tracks.

I Remote Sensor

During MP3/WMA playback, use this button to change what information is displayed.

T TIME

When operating the remote control unit, point it towards the remote sensor.

J Display

During playback, use this button to change the time display.

U FILE (b,5)

Use these buttons to select a file of MP3/WMA.

V SKIP (.//)

Use these buttons to skip tracks/files.
Note: To simplify explanations, instructions in this manual refer to the names of the buttons and controls on the front panel only. Associated controls on the remote control will also operate similarly.

Playback

4 Press the OPEN/CLOSE button (L) to close the tray.
(Audio CD) The total number of the tracks and total play time of the disc is displayed.

CHAP/TRK CD MIN SEC

1 Press the STANDBY/ON button to turn the unit on.

RANDOM

RPT A p B
(MP3/WMA disc) The total number of files of the disc is displayed.
< If the PD-H300mkIII is connected to the A-H300mkIII with a remote control cord, you can switch ON/standby both the AH300mkIII and the PD-H300mkIII by pressing the STANDBY/ON button of the A-H300mkIII.
< It may take several minutes to display the number of files.

2 Press the OPEN/CLOSE button (L).
5 Press the PLAY button (y) to start playback.

(Audio CD)

current track number elapsed time of the current track
3 Place a disc on the tray with the printed label face up.

(MP3/WMA disc)

current folder number current file number

CHAP/TRK CD

< Never place more than one disc on the tray. < The disc must be loaded centrally into the disc tray. If the disc is not correctly loaded, it may not be possible to open the tray again once it has closed, so you should ensure the disc is always centrally loaded in the tray. < Do not force the tray by hand during opening and closing operations. Disc playback starts from the first track/file. < MP3/WMA files recorded out of folders are automatically put in the 001 folder, and playback starts from the first file of the 001 folder. < If there are folders that has no MP3/WMA file, this unit skips them. < If you load the disc, and then press the PLAY button (or the numeric buttons of the remote control unit) without having first closed the disc tray, the disc tray closes and playback starts.
D Search for a part of a track/file
During playback, hold down the.m or ,/ button and release it when the part you want to listen to is found. On the remote control use them or , button.

A To stop playback

E Direct Playback
Press the STOP button (H) to stop playback.
While in stop or playback mode, you can use the numeric buttons of the remote control to select a track/file. ENGLISH Press the numeric buttons to select a track/file. Playback starts from the selected track/file.
B To suspend playback temporarily (pause mode)
Press the PAUSE button (J) during playback. Playback stops at the current position, and J is displayed. To resume playback, press the PLAY button (G) or PAUSE button (J).
For instance, to select track number 35, press 3 and 5. To select a MP3 or WMA file, enter 3 digit numbers. As an example, to select number 5, press 0, 0 and 5. (Optionally, you may press just the number 5 and then wait a few seconds.)
C To skip to the next or a previous track/file
During playback, repeatedly press the SKIP button (.or/) until the desired track/file is found. The selected track/file will be played from the beginning. In the stop or pause mode, press the SKIP button (.or/) repeatedly until the track you want to listen to is found. Press the PLAY button to start playback from the selected track. < When the. button is pressed during playback, the track being played will be played from the beginning. To return to the beginning of the previous track, press the. button twice. < During programmed playback, the next or previous track in the program is played.

Search

Shuffle Playback
You can select a desired directory and an MP3 or WMA file during playback or when stopped.
1 Press the FOLDER buttons (b/5) to select a directory.
The tracks or files can be played randomly. In the stop or play mode, press the SHUFFLE button. RANDOM indicator lights. When the shuffle playback of all the tracks or files has been finished, the unit stops and the shuffle playback mode is cancelled. < If you press the / button during shuffle playback, next track/file will be randomly selected and played. If you press the. button, the currently played track/file will be played from the beginning. A track/file cannot be replayed during shuffle playback. < If one of the following buttons is pressed, shuffle mode will be cancelled: SHUFFLE, STOP, STANDBY/ON, OPEN/CLOSE
2 Press the ENTER button.
3 If you want to select a file, press the FILE buttons

(b/5).

< The numeric buttons does not work during shuffle playback.
4 Press the ENTER button.
The selected track/file will be played from the beginning.

Repeat Playback

Every time the REPEAT 1/ALL button is pressed, the mode is changed as follows: RPT [repeat one track] RPT [repeat folder] (Blinking, Only MP3/WMA disc) RPT p [repeat all] (Repeat Off)

Repeat A-B

This function allows repeat playback of any desired portion of the disc.
1 Designate the point at which repeat playback should
start by pressing the A-B button. Repeat A- lights up and B blinks.
2 When the point at which repeat playback should end is
Repeat One Track The track/file being played will be played repeatedly. If you select another track/file in Repeat 1 mode, the track/file you selected will be played repeatedly.
reached, press the A-B button again. Repeat A-B lights up. The designated point with A-B button will be played back repeatedly. < To return to normal play, press A-B button until Repeat A-B disappears from the display. < It must be more than 3 seconds between A and B. < If one of the following buttons is pressed, A-B repeat mode will be cancelled: STOP, SKIP, 1/ALL, A-B, SHUFFLE, OPEN/CLOSE, STANDBY/ON
Repeat Folder (Only MP3/WMA disc) All the tracks or files in the folder will be played repeatedly. < When the disc has no folder (all files are in the 001 folder), this mode will be skipped. Repeat All All the tracks or files will be played repeatedly.

Programmed Playback

3 When programming has been finished, press the PLAY

CLEAR ENTER./ 3

button to start programmed playback.
When the playback of all the programmed tracks has finished, or if one of the following buttons is pressed, the PROGRAM indicator will go off and the program mode will be cancelled: Up to 32 tracks can be programmed in the desired order.
1 Press the PROGRAM button in the stop mode.
STOP, STANDBY/ON But the programmed contents arent lost. You can return to the programmed playback by pressing the PROGRAM button and the PLAY button. < If the disc tray is opened or the power cord is unplugged, the programmed contents will be erased.
PROG. lights on the display.
2 Press the numeric button to select a track.
To check the programmed order

program number

track/file number
In the stop mode, press the PROGRAM button repeatedly. The track number and program number will be shown on the display.
To add a track/file to the program
To select a track in the audio CD, enter 2 digit numbers. To select a MP3 or WMA file, enter 3 digit numbers. Optionally, you may press just the number 5, and then wait a few seconds or press the PROGRAM button. You can also use the SKIP button and the PROGRAM button to program tracks. Select a track using the SKIP buttons (. / ), and within 5 seconds press the PROGRAM button. Repeat this step to program more. < If you made a mistake, press the CLEAR button. The last programmed number will be deleted. < Up to 32 tracks can be programmed. In the stop mode, press the PROGRAM button repeatedly until the program number you want to insert a track/file appears on the display. If you want to add a track/file to the end of the program, press the PROGRAM button repeatedly until P-End briefly appears on the display. Then select a track number using the numeric buttons. The track/file is added to the program.

Time Display

To delete a track/file from the program
In the stop mode, press the PROGRAM button repeatedly until the program number to be deleted appears on the display, then press the CLEAR button. The selected track/file is deleted from the program.
During playback, each time the TIME button is pressed the display changes as follows:

To clear the program

1. In the stop mode, press the PROGRAM button. current track number
elapsed time of the current track

MIN SEC

2. Hold down the CLEAR button for more than 4 seconds.
remaining time of the current track
< If the OPEN/CLOSE button (L) is pressed, the programmed contents will also be cleared. < If the unit is disconnected from the power supply, the programmed contents will be cleared.

(Only audio CDs)

remaining time of the disc

blinks slowly

Display

Specifications

CD Player Pickup. 3-beam, semiconductor laser Frequency Response. 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 2dB Total Harmonic Distortion. Less than 0.02 % (1 kHz) Signal-to-Noise Ratio (S/N). More than 90 dB (IHF-A) Output. Analog: 2.0 Vrms (RCA) Digital: TOS OPTICAL General Power Requirement. AC 230 V, 50 Hz Power Consumption. 13 W Dimensions (W x H x D). 215 x 93 x 305 mm Weight (Net). 2.8 kg Operating temperature. +5C - +35C Operating humidity. 5% to 85% (no condensation) Storage temperature. 20C - +55C Standard Accessory. RCA cable x 1 Remote control connection cord x 1 Remote control unit (RC-1039) x1 Batteries (AA) x2 Owners manual x1 Warranty card x1
During MP3/WMA playback, press the DISPLAY button repeatedly to change what information is displayed. Default display (scrolling): Song Title Artist Name Album Name
Display changes as follows: Default display (scrolling) Time Display (You can change the Time Display using the TIME button as shown left.) File Name Song Title Artist Name Album Name Year Comment Design and specifications are subject to change without notice. Weight and dimensions are approximate. Illustrations may differ slightly from production models.

Troubleshooting

If you experience any problems with the unit, please take a moment to look through this chart and see if you can solve the problem yourself before you call your dealer or a TEAC service center. If normal operation cannot be recovered, unplug the power cord from the outlet and plug it again.
Beware of condensation General
No power e Check the connection to the AC power supply. Check and make sure the AC source is not a switched outlet and that, if it is, the switch is turned on. Make sure there is power to the AC outlet by plugging another item such as a lamp or fan. No sound e Check the connection to the amplifier. e Check the operation of the amplifier. Cannot play. e Load a disc with the playback side facing down. e If the disc is dirty, clean the surface of the disc. e A blank disc has been loaded. Load a prerecorded disc. e Depending on the disc, etc. it may not be possible to play back CD-R/CD-RW discs. Try again with another disc. e You cannot play back unfinalized CD-R/CD-RW discs. Finalize such a disc in a CD recorder and try again. Sound skips. e Place the unit on a stable place to avoid vibration and shock. e If the disc is dirty, clean the surface of the disc. e Dont use scratched, damaged or warped discs. When the unit (or a disc) is moved from a cold to a warm place, or used after a sudden temperature change, there is a danger of condensation; vapor in the air could condense on the internal mechanism, making correct operation impossible. To prevent this, or if this occurs, leave the unit for one or two hours with the power turned on. Then the unit will stabilize at the temperature of its surroundings.

This appliance has a serial number located on the rear panel. Please record the model number and serial number and retain them for your records. Model number Serial number 0406. MA-1067A

TEAC Reference AG-H300mkIII Receiver
P R O D U C T R E V I E W October 15, 2008
Audiophiles are interesting in that many of them tend to eschew simplicity in favor of complexity, as demonstrated by the sheer number of separate boxes some use to handle each function of a system. The reason for doing so is obvious: an outboard DAC, dedicated CD transport, outboard phono stage, separate preand power amplifiers, and tuner (not to mention the various cables necessary to hook them all up) allow the listener to tweak the sound of a system at any point in the chain. Admittedly, in this regard, my own system is very non-audiophile. For my reference integrated amplifier, I use a Bryston B100SST that features both an onboard DAC and MM phono stage. That leaves only the speakers, turntable, and something to spin CDs on to affect the sound of my stereo. I prefer to keep things simple. For this reason, I was pretty curious when the assignment came to review TEACs Reference AG-H300mkIII stereo receiver ($349 USD). This little box, only half the width of most standard components, costs roughly one-twentieth the price of my reference integrated, yet manages to handle all the same functions (except that it has an AM/FM tuner but no DAC). Even I, who values simplicity and a more integrated design approach, was surprised by what such a small box at such a bargainbasement price is claimed to do. I wanted to know what the tradeoffs were. Description The AG-H300mkIII is claimed to deliver
35Wpc into impedances of 8 to 16 ohms; TEAC recommends that it not be used with speakers rated at less than 8 ohms. This gave me pause my own speakers, the PSB Platinum M2s, are rated at 4 ohms. Still, the SoundStage! Networks measurements of the PSB Platinum M2 show that it doesnt really dip below 5 ohms, and instead hovers, for the most part, at or above 8 ohms. My listening bore out that this wasnt really a problem for the AG-H300mkIII, which commendably drove the M2s. The AG-H300mkIII measures 8 7/16W x 4 5/16H x 12 1/16D and weighs just under 9 pounds. It comes with a remote that controls all of the receivers functions, and also operates TEACs PD-H300mkIII CD player (review forthcoming) and R-H300mkIII tape deck. The remote has a dimmer button for adjusting the brightness of the display, and a sleep timer for those who enjoy dozing off to music but would like the receiver to shut itself off after a predetermined length of time. Around back are five inputs, including CD, phono, tape, CD-R/MD, and auxiliary, as well as two outputs for recording with the tape or CD-R/MD functions. An AM loop antenna and an FM antenna (both included) also plug in at the back. In addition, there is a reset switch should the receiver be shut down by a power surge. The lone pair of speaker posts can accept bare wire or banana plugs. At opposite ends of the faceplate are two large knobs: one for selecting the source, the other for adjusting the volume. There
is also a dial for channel balance, and tone controls for 10dB bass and treble adjustment. In addition to the five dials and a headphone input are buttons for Power and Standby, FM Mode (mono or stereo), Tuning/Preset controls, Tuning Mode (Manual or Preset), Band (AM or FM), and Memory (to program radio-station presets). The combination of the small faceplate and large display, which also indicates which input has been selected, mean that the front of the AG-H300mkIII is busy, to say the least. The TEAC wont win any beauty contests, but its small size and overall symmetry help make it pleasing to the eye. Furthermore, its large display can be easily read from across the room. Holding the AG-H300mkIII in my hands, I was impressed with its relative solidity, due in part to its thick front panel of brushed aluminum. And I was surprised by how many features you get for $349. I couldnt help thinking that the AG-H300mkIII might be ideal for someone buying his or her first component system, or someone assembling a smaller second system for the office or bedroom. System I connected the TEAC AG-H300mkIII to my PSB Platinum M2 bookshelf speakers using AudioQuest Type 4 speaker cables terminated with banana plugs, and linked my NAD C542 CD player to the TEACs CD input via Kimber Kable Tonik interconnects. Finally, using AMX RCA interconnects, I hooked up a Thorens TD-160HD turntable, fitted with a Dynavector 10x5 high-output

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a factor in this case. More than likely, for the power amplifier section, youd be wise to heed TEACs recommendation and stick to speakers with impedances of 8 ohms or higher. The AG-H300mkIIIs tuner section worked well, particularly the FM band, which was able to lock on to the strongest stations and bring their signals into my listening room with excellent clarity. I was able to appreciate the TEACs large display most when using the tuner, because it was so easy to read from across the room. I wish the remote had allowed me to navigate across the entire FM band rather than just skipping between a few preset stations or had a scan function that served the same purpose but locked on to only those stations with the strongest signals. AM reception wasnt nearly as clear as FM; far fewer stations came through properly. However, people who live in more remote locations, or concrete buildings in which the indoor strength of the signal is compromised, can use the AG-H300mkIII with an AM outdoor antenna (not supplied). Although the tuners performance was mixed overall, its inclusion is a welcome addition to this feature-rich, inexpensive receiver. Conclusion The greatest asset of the TEAC Reference AG-H300mkIII is that its a remarkably functional stereo receiver. I was also thrilled when I realized it had a phono section given the recent resurgence of vinyl, the inclusion of a phono stage isnt insignificant, and lately Ive been spending more time listening to LPs than to CDs. But the phono section can be thought of as icing on an already rich cake. The AG-H300mkIII is the proverbial Swiss Army knife of audio gear. It packs just about every function you would want or need into a discreet little box with an absolute minimum of hassle. For most systems, Im at a loss to think of much that the AG-H300mkIII cant handle. For its $349 asking price, it offers a lot of features. In terms of sound quality, it has strengths. I found it more powerful than its size and price indicate; it surprised me by driving my PSB Platinum M2s to high enough volumes without running out of steam. It also had an

moving-coil cartridge mounted in the Thorens-modified Rega RB250 tonearm, to the TEACs phono section. Sound I had some reservations about using the PSB Platinum M2s, but little reason to worry. When listening to CDs, I rarely turned the volume dial up by more than 25% to play as loudly as I could tolerate (with LPs, the volume ended up closer to 50%). At higher volumes, the PSBs started sounding hard and the bass became really loose, but I never drove the TEAC into clipping, and I suspect I had some headroom to spare. The little AG-H300mkIII was more powerful than its size and price indicate. And a good thing, too lately Ive been listening to more hip-hop, a genre I tend to play relatively loud. Here the AG-H300mkIII demonstrated good pace and rhythm, making A Tribe Called Quests The Love Movement (CD, Jive 01241-41638-2) a great toe-tapping, head-nodding experience. When I switched over to vinyl, the TEAC had me fixated squarely on the music as I played Madlibs beats and MC Dooms lyrics from their 2004 collaboration, Mad Villain (LP, Stones Throw STH2065). The AG-H300mkIII produced fat-sounding bass from both albums, something very conducive to the re-creation of the sound of hip-hop. The bass wasnt the best-defined Ive heard, but it was full in a way that easily filled my room with enough low-end energy to bring about the sort of visceral experience that is so integral to this music. The AG-H300mkIIIs ability to render big acoustic spaces was another of its strengths. I noticed this when listening to several CDs, among them Eddie Vedders soundtrack to the film Into the Wild (CD, J Records 8869715944-2). On Society, Vedders vocals were more forward-sounding than I ever remember hearing them, but the reverb added to the mix gives the impression that the song was recorded in a large hall rather than in a studio in Seattle, and works to good effect. Through the AG-H300, Vedders lyrics were presented clearly, as they traveled to and bounced back from the distant walls that seemed to surround him. The TEACs notable re-creation of ambience was also well suited to Radioheads Kid A (Parlophone 2). I find that this
disc creates a more expansive soundscape than any of the bands other albums, and the TEAC did a good job of helping me follow what was happening in the music while deeply immersing me in Kid As enveloping sound. Ditto for Great Lake Swimmers wonderful Ongiara (CD, Nettwerk 0 6700-30691-2), recorded in Aeolian Hall in London, Ontario, Canada. The AG-H300mkIII convincingly conveyed the openness and spaciousness of the Aeolian, helping to bring a certain intimacy to the music. Despite its adequate power and fine recreation of recorded space, one of the TEACs shortcomings was its lack of transparency and detail, particularly in the lower midrange and bass. In practical terms, this meant that I couldnt hear as far down into recordings. As a result, some information, such as the trailing edges of notes, was obscured by the AG-H300mkIIIs own noise floor. Sounds tended to blend together, and distinction gave way to homogeneity. A good example of this was Elliot Smiths Going Nowhere, from New Moon (CD, Kill Rock Stars KRS455), in which Smiths warm voice was easily discernible through the TEAC even as it blended together chords played on the acoustic and bass guitars and made them difficult to separate. Listening to Wilhelm Kempffs recording of Beethovens Piano Sonata No.14 (CD, Eloquence 469 618-2), it wasnt the poor decay of the notes that I noticed so much as the fact that the pianos higher registers tended toward brightness. This made the instrument sound more forward, and the aggressive tone ended up detracting from the serenity of this beautiful work. Obviously, one cant expect the world from a $349 receiver. As mentioned earlier, the TEACs bass sounded very full if you like thick, fat bass, the AG-H300mkIII shouldnt let you down. The lack of trouble it had in filling my listening room with plenty of lowend energy probably helped to make this receivers sound seem bigger than it actually was. Unfortunately, I didnt find that the TEAC always had a firm grip on the PSB M2s 6.5 midrange/woofers. In fact, those drivers sounded woollier than Id ever heard them, though their slightly-lower-thanrecommended impedance might have been

uncanny ability to sound big the bass was full and rich, and it did a good job of recreating space. However, there were some weaknesses. Transparency and detail were only so-so, and, when push came to shove, the AG-H300mkIII couldnt control my PSB M2s woofers as well as more robust amplifiers can. I began this review by saying that audiophiles often favor a separate, dedicated component for each function of an audio system. In that sense, the AG-H300mkIII isnt an
audiophile product; however, I dont think thats what this receiver is all about. Clearly, the AG-H300mkIII was designed to be a good buy for someone who wants good sound at a low price and requires a good number of features that first-time stereo buyer, or someone who wants to set up a small second system in a bedroom or office. For those folks, the TEAC Reference AG-H300mkIII delivers a lot for a low price.Phillip Beaudette
Price of equipment reviewed: Teac AG-H300mkIII Receiver $349 USD
Schneider Publishing Inc. Box Rideau Street Ottawa ON K1N 9N5 Canada