TECHNICS SL-G700
Technics may be better known for its turntables, but the SL-G700 shows that it has more than just analogue strings to its bow. The Technics SL-G700 doesn’t fit into any neat category, straddling generations of digital formats by playing discs – in CD and SACD form – as well as streaming music from across a network or via Bluetooth. Airplay, Chromecast and even MQA are also on the menu.
The Technics SL-G700 is a hefty unit, weighing in at more than 12kg and, though it looks like a humble disc player, it feels every bit the premium-priced product. That substance is backed up with rigid, nicely damped casework and a standard of finish few rivals can better.
Around the back, there are balanced and single-ended analogue outputs. You’ll also see a USB, a pair of aerials for wi-fi, optical and coaxial digital connections and an ethernet socket.
Could be slicker
Getting things up and running isn’t as slick as it could be. You’ll need to set-up the SL-G700 on your network using the Google Home app first. Once this is done, switch to the dedicated Technics Audio Centre streaming app to control the streaming operations.
It’s a decent piece of software, albeit lacking the design flair of alternatives from Naim, Linn or even Bluesound, however it doesn’t control all the operations. If you want to use the disc playing side of this machine, you have to use the remote control handset provided. If you switch sources often, swapping between the app and the physical handset feels cumbersome.
It doesn’t help that the player isn’t the most responsive, particularly when it comes to switching between streaming duties. The SL-G700 simply doesn’t feel as polished as the best streamers around. We may not have warmed to the way this player operates, but we can certainly admire how well it plays music. You won’t necessarily get this impression over Bluetooth, though. Using this connection, the sound is a little bland, but still decently clear and informative.
The situation improves when we start playing discs. We play Prince’s Diamonds And Pearls and are surprised at just how good a player the SL-G700 is. It’s up there with the best CD players under £2000, delivering a detailed and precise rendition that still has plenty in the way of punch and rhythmic ability. Bass has plenty of weight and punch, but remains agile and tuneful with every instrument coming together seamlessly to create an entertaining and exciting presentation.
We play Stravinsky’s The Rite Of Spring on CD and the SL-G700 delivers a sound with plenty of scale and authority. Large dynamic sweeps are rendered with confidence and the stereo imaging is as precise and layered as we could hope for.
The player’s tonality is nicely judged between providing enough weight and warmth without sacrificing bite at the top end. This is a refined performer, but it never goes so far as to dilute the excitement from the music being played.
We dust off our SACD collection and listen to an old favourite, Eric Bibb & Needed Time’s Good Stuff, and are impressed by the SL-G700’S ability to resolve subtle details. The sound is full-bodied, fluid and organic enough to make us wish that the SACD format had made more of a lasting impact.
We stream music from our reference Naim NAS and aside from the player’s slightly clunky operation, the streaming section keeps up the good work. This is a fine streamer, certainly up there with the best at around £1000.
Shifting down a gear
We listen to a range of music from Bob Marley and Red Hot Chili Peppers to Beethoven, and the Technics always sounds at home. There’s plenty of excitement when the music demands, but it’s coupled with an ability to shift down a gear when necessary. Marley’s Three Little Birds arrives with its feel-good factor intact while Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony is rendered with all the power and drama it deserves.
Chromecast and Airplay work well enough, but their main purpose is to provide a choice of source material rather than push sonic boundaries. The sound through the headphone output is reasonable but lacks the clarity and dynamic expression of the line-level output. You won’t hear the Technics at its best through this connection.
But overall, we’re pleasantly surprised by the Technics SL-G700. It is a superb sounding product that sets high sonic standards across the board. If you can live with the clunky operation, this is a terrific buy.