Teenage Engineering’s OP-1 Field is a big refresh with a big price tag

Teenage Engineering (TE) has unveiled the successor to its popular OP-1 portable synth sampler, the $2,000 OP-1 Field, which it calls “louder, thinner and 100 times better.” That relates to the fact that it has around 100 new features including a new low profile aluminum body, internal FM antenna for both receiving and transmitting and a high-resolution flush display. 

The OP-1 Field is the second of TE’s “Field” products following the launch of the TX-6 mini mixer. The company notes that with the two working together, “you can get an incredibly powerful and ultra portable sound recording and performance system, all battery powered and rechargeable via USB-C.” In terms of connectivity it offers USB-C, line in and out sockets, and a 4-pole audio jack for headset or mic support.

On top of the features mentioned above, the OP-1 Field has 32-bit audio Bluetooth MIDI, stereo throughout the entire signal chain, 24 hours of battery life, eight swappable tapes, four different tape styles, multiple recording formats and a new synth engine. It features a new speaker system with a passive driver promising “detailed, fat and loud sound,” TE says. 

In a short overview video (above), the …read more