Lenco TCD-2550 all-in-one retro player review

The fact that most of the buyers of audio equipment are already tired of the modern design of new faceless speakers, DAC, amplifiers and etc, has long been obvious to us. People want something beautiful, warm and tangible that would please not only the ear, but also the eye. Therefore, it is nice to know that there are manufacturers who listen to the wishes of consumers and produce music centers that outwardly resemble the beloved radios of the 1950s. Such as the Lenco TCD-2550.

Contents:

• Turntable
• CD player
• Radio
• Cassette player
• USB player
• Conclusions
• Specification

The similarity of the Lenco TCD-2550 with the old radio is not limited to the design, but extends to all the functionality. Indeed, in addition to digital signal sources, there is also a full set of analog ones.

The Lenco TCD-2550 is a monoblock that contains both all the electronic components and the acoustic system. It includes two full-range speakers located on the side panels of the enclosure and playing through an openwork grille and acoustically transparent fabric. Hidden on the front panel are two small phase-inverter ports, helping to make the woofer range more saturated.

When working on the appearance of the Lenco TCD-2550, the designers were clearly inspired by the models of the middle of the last century, and if it were not for the LCD display to the left of the tuner’s tuning scale and the USB port nearby, it would be absolutely impossible to identify the device as a modern device. The cabinet made of fiberboard and the very convincing imitation of natural wood veneer on the top panel add a retro charm to the TCD-2550.

Signal sources include a turntable hidden under the top cover, a CD player, and a cassette player. Its slot loader is located on the left end panel next to the speaker grill. All this is complemented by a radio receiver operating in the MW and FM bands, and an mp3 player that allows you to play tracks from a USB flash drive.

The total power of the amplifiers is 2×4.5 watts. A small remote control is included in the package.

Turntable

Under the top cover is a semi-automatic turntable with a spring-loaded chassis, which is familiar for this class of technology. It supports three speeds of rotation – 33, 45 and 78 rpm, a disc with a diameter of 10 inches is made of plastic. At the end of the arm is an entry-level piezoelectric pickup that has been preset at the factory, so there is nothing for the user to adjust. Playback control is manual, with the exception of the auto-stop system and the return of the tonearm to its original position. The playback quality here is quite in line with expectations – all declared speeds are supported, the kit even includes an adapter for forty-five. The sound at the output is quite intelligible and understandable.

CD player

The thin loader tray, located on the front panel above the tuning dial of the tuner, slides out quickly and quietly, the track number is displayed on the blue backlit LCD. The playback control keys are located above the tuner knob. The player never stumbled on any of the branded and self-recorded discs, and the speakers directed in different directions even made it possible to get a good volume. One can only complain about the low level of maximum volume, but this feature manifested itself when using any signal source.

Radio

The dual-band tuner receives FM programs on a soldered coaxial cable, and a separate ferrite antenna is installed inside the housing for the medium wave range. An external antenna connector is not provided. However, even in this version, the reception of the radio signal was very confident, especially the tuning knob, which allows you to make a rough and fine tuning to the desired station. When a stereo signal appears, a red LED on the scale lights up. Of all the sources, it was the tuner that was distinguished by the loudest sound, probably due to the rather strong compression used by music radio stations in the struggle for the listener’s attention.

Cassette player

The cassette loader on the left side of the body is equipped with only one button, it controls playback, fast forward and cassette ejection. Yes, the player is quite simple with limited features, but it is here, and it works, which is already good. It is better to use cassettes of the first type, with a tape based on iron oxide.

USB player

The USB-A format connector is for playing and recording files in mp3. You can record radio programs on a USB flash drive, as well as tracks from CDs, cassettes and vinyl records, however, the quality is limited to a bitrate of 128kb/s. All the declared functions work, the player sounds quite decent when playing files.

Conclusions

The excellent design, the presence of a cassette deck and a turntable, a good tuner makes the device really multifunctional. However, there are also disadvantages such as a small headroom, lack of Bluetooth and limiting the recording bitrate on USB to 128 kb / s. In general, the device turned out to be really unusual, it will definitely find its buyer. However, you shouldn’t expect much.

Lenco TCD-2550 Specification