Technics SL-1500C
SYSTEM PRICE £2397
It says a huge amount about the strength of the vinyl resurgence over the past decade or so, that our second turntable-based system is headed by a new deck from that most iconic of Dj-deck brands; Technics. That name had pretty much disappeared from hi-fi circles until recently, so we're particularly keen to monitor its revival.
The high-end SL-1000R turntable, introduced in early 2018, was the first product to confirm that the brand really could deliver again. Indeed, we were so impressed that it’s now become our reference record player. That good work has continued with the SL-1500C, the company’s brand new entry-level deck, and front man of this impressive three-piece.
It comes supplied with the well respected Ortofon 2M Red (£95 if bought separately) and is equipped with a built-in phono stage. There’s even a switchable auto-lift function that takes the stylus off the record once the end of the side has been reached.
The plinth is more sophisticated than its clean-cut appearance suggests. It uses a combination of aluminium, ABS and glass fibre to achieve the mix of rigidity and vibration control required to allow the turntable to do its job properly. There are two finish options, silver and black.
Impressive stage work
Surprise number one is that the built-in phono stage is really good. That doesn’t tend to be the case normally, and means that you don’t have to spend extra on a dedicated outboard unit to get the best from the record player. The phono stage is intended for use with moving-magnet cartridges, but should work just fine with high-output moving-coils too, should the itch to upgrade strike.
The SL-1500C package, as supplied, is one of the best-sounding we’ve heard at this price. It has a clean and precise presentation, one that defines the leading and trailing edges of notes with impressive skill.
We’re impressed by the SL-1500C’S sonic agility; the way it resolves plenty of detail and manages to deliver all that information in a cohesive and musical whole. There are few rivals below the grand mark that do it better. It’s obvious rival is the excellent Rega Planar 3, which costs around £650; to that, though, you will need to add a phono stage, where the Technics has its own built in, of course – so you’ll end up spending similar amounts on either deck.
The Rega is a purist design, stripped back to concentrate on the engineering fundamentals. The Technics has electronic speed control – 33⅓, 45 and 78rpm – and feels like a more luxurious item overall. It’s the option those not totally engrossed in vinyl would probably prefer to use. The SL-1500C is a beautifully made, fuss–free record player that sounds great.
And, talking of fuss-free, may we present the Musical Fidelity M2si. It would be easy to dismiss this amplifier on the grounds of features, or rather, the lack of them. This is one of the most stripped-back amps we’ve come across at this level. It offers the basics – a remote control, six line-level inputs, including a tape loop and a home cinema bypass option to help integration into a surround system – and not much else. No phono stage, then – which is why it’s perfect for the Technics, which handily supplies its own. Of course there’s more to picking an amplifier than just the feature count. If the Musical Fidelity’s modest range of facilities is acceptable, as it will be for many people, you’ll find it an excellent product.
A rare talent
It delivers a large-scale sound, one that’s packed with authority and substance. Listening to Orff’s Carmina Burana we’re aware of the M2si’s refinement and ability to deal with musical complexity without sounding stressed. It can track individual instrumental strands with ease yet never lose sight of the whole. That’s a rare talent at this level.
This amplifier images well too. Every note is tightly focused within an expansive and spacious soundstage. The presentation remains stable even when things get busy, and at high levels. Dynamic expression is a strong point. The M2si manages the sweep from quiet to loud superbly and is as happy rendering low-level subtleties as it is sledgehammer crescendos. It has punch and power, but tempers all that muscle with a light touch. Bass is handled with flair – every note hitting hard and true.
This is a superb all-rounder and one of the best amplifiers we’ve heard below the grand mark.
And, to reveal to your room just what fine work the Technics turntable and Musical Fidelity amp combination is doing, we can think of few finer loudspeakers than Dali’s wonderful Oberon 5 floorstanders.
Classic engineering
There are no magic ingredients here, no cutting-edge technology to explain the Oberon 5s’ unusually talented nature. Just careful engineering and steady refinements of design ideas that Dali has pursued across its ranges for years, but in this case honed to get the best performance at this price.
The Oberon 5s are compact two-way towers, standing just 83cm high and just over 16cm wide. The dimensions mean they will look right at home in most rooms. These are terrific performers. They’re responsive, musical but, most of all, fun. Overall, these speakers manage to sound notably larger than they are.
We start with Radiohead’s In Rainbows and the Dalis sound right at home among the complex rhythms and dense production. But they bring out the emotion too, highlighting the haunting nature of Videotape or the uplifting change of gear in 15 Step’s instrumental break, where the shift in bassline character changes the feel of the track. The Oberon 5s have the dynamic subtlety, rhythmic precision and sheer transparency to make the most of such things and pull the listener into the musical experience. They’re detailed too, revealing low-level instrumental strands with ease, but also managing to arrange that information in a composed and organised way.
They are, then, the perfect complement to the Technics and MF pairing, the three products working together beautifully to make the very best of your vinyl.
“The M2si manages the sweep from quiet to loud superbly and is as happy rendering low-level subtleties as it is sledgehammer crescendos”