Ballfinger Spins Into Vinyl with the Striking T 002 B

German analogue specialist Ballfinger has spun its precision engineering know-how into vinyl with the new T 002 B. This high-end turntable extends the brand’s obsession with minimalist industrial design and carefully judged mechanical execution.

Designed by Ballfinger founder Roland Schneider, the T 002 B clearly takes its visual cues from the company’s M 002 P tape machine, giving fans of the brand a deck intended to sit comfortably alongside its existing reel-to-reel hardware.

The technical side of the project comes courtesy of Helmut Thiele. His belt-drive design uses an outboard power supply with analogue DC voltage stabilisation. Ballfinger claims speed stability of 0.02%, suggesting a deck engineered for smooth, assured running.

The plinth is made from layers of cross-laminated bamboo and incorporates an elastically suspended damping weight, a construction Ballfinger says helps suppress unwanted vibration before it can cloud the sound.

Speeds of 33⅓ and 45 RPM are selectable from the control panel, with fine adjustment of ±5%. Drive comes from a synchronous motor working via a flat belt on a sub-platter, while the main bearing uses a specially hardened steel shaft running in a bronze bushing, with axial support from a ceramic ball on an annular Delrin bearing.

That all sounds on-brand for Ballfinger, which has spent recent years building a reputation for beautifully engineered analogue tape machines made in Germany. Schneider remains central to both the mechanical and visual design language, while Thiele brings decades of turntable expertise to the new deck.

As for arm choice, Ballfinger is offering two flavours. The Thiele TA01 will likely grab the headlines thanks to its radial-tangential geometry, designed to minimise tracking error, while the alternative Zavfino Crossbow TZ-1 offers traditionalists a classic 9-inch option also developed by Thiele.

Setup should be straightforward, too, thanks to two built-in spirit levels and three height-adjustable feet. These allow precise levelling, something especially important when the deck is fitted with the TA01 tonearm.

The new turntable is available in silver or black finishes.

The Ballfinger T 002 B is due to go on sale in June 2026, with pricing starting at €15,950. Opt for the version fitted with the Thiele TA01 tangential tonearm, and that rises to €21,270. Prices include VAT at 19%.

For more information visit Ballfinger