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SL-G700 Grand Class Network From Technics

The SL-G700 covers a variety of media from CD/SACD to high-res and many streaming services

Technics is not just about turntables. It has also announced a high-end CD player with all of the trimmings. Here’s what it says. Brace yourself for lots of keywords and acronyms.

The CD drive mechanism features a triple chassis structure to, “…ensure accurate reading and to prevent the vibration from transmitting to the outside of the mechanism,” said the company. You’ll find an aluminium die-cast disc tray with a “high-vibration-damping, quiet structure”.

The SL-G700 is equipped with a dedicated power supply unit for analogue audio output. Its non-feedback switching power supply, “…suppresses switching frequency fluctuation.” Combined with the original stabilised power supply circuit, this dedicated power supply unit provides, “…stable power with low noise,” said the company. 

The discrete circuit structure does not use any general-purpose ICs but a discrete layout.

SL-G700 Grand Class Network From Technics

The unit uses a Asahi Kasei Microdevices’ top-of-the-line DAC AK4497. The power supply for the DAC is separated into five sections and the power supply for the clock employs an original Battery Driven Circuit System. The Dual Mono Construction and symmetrical layout lowers noise. 

The SL-G700’s filter circuit incorporates an amp module of original discrete construction, “The use of low-noise transistors and thin-film resistors suppresses the noise generated inside the circuits,” said the company. 

The audio system clock is supplied from an “Ultra-Low Jitter Clock Generator”. A low-noise power supply and a “high-quality” clock circuit are included. 

For the USB input terminals, the amplifier includes power conditioners using non-magnetic carbon film resistors with protection against magnetic distortion. Capacitors are ruby mica types.

SL-G700 Grand Class Network From Technics

You’ll also find low ESR film capacitors to the LAN terminal power supply and isolation by a pulse transformer in the digital output signal.

The Optimally Activated Circuit System allows the operation of various digital modules to be stopped – such as those used for display, analogue and digital interfaces – to minimise noise.

SL-G700 Grand Class Network From Technics

The SL-G700 is equipped with a dedicated circuit for headphones which is independent from that for analogue output. This circuitry incorporates Technics’ original sound processing LSI, the JENO Engine (Jitter Elimination and Noise-shaping Optimization). Complete separation of the analogue output from the headphone output has, “…eliminated the mutual interference between the two circuits that serve different purposes,” said the company. 

SL-G700 Grand Class Network From Technics

What’s more, the Class AA system headphone amp uses separate amp circuits for the audio signal voltage amplification and current amplification. 

Equipped with an MQA decoder. When the MQA decoder is turned on, MQA files and MQA-CD are fully decoded for playback. There’s a dedicated SACD/CD playback mode too. In this mode, all power supplies except those to the circuit blocks necessary for SACD/CD playback are shut off.

SL-G700 Grand Class Network From Technics

DSD Native Playback is supported without converting it to a PCM. Low resolution digital signals can also be upscaled. 

The SL-G700 supports Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Apple AirPlay. It is also compatible with streaming services such as Spotify, TIDAL, and Internet Radio and functions such as Google Chromecast and Google Assistant. Price is not fixed but is believed to be between €2,500-€3,000.

To learn more, click www.technics.com/uk

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8 Comments

  • Reply
    Nick
    18th January 2019 at 3:37 pm

    My pet peeve with expensive CD/SACD players is the cheap plastic dvd tray is used. If Technics like Yamaha, Luxman (on pricier models) and Esoteric uses an aluminum tray then I will give this unit a serious listen, as a late adopter looking to get into SACD this might just be the ticket.

    • Reply
      Paul Rigby
      18th January 2019 at 3:42 pm

      Hi Nick – indeed Looks like Technics has made some effort with this one.

      • Reply
        Nick
        18th January 2019 at 11:37 pm

        Paul, I am sure they didn’t build it from the ground up but probably approached TEAC/Esoteric which is a-ok by me.

        • Reply
          Paul Rigby
          19th January 2019 at 1:56 pm

          Interesting point, Nick which I never considered. I’d be intrigued to know.

  • Reply
    Nils-Goran Widh
    8th June 2019 at 11:37 am

    Hi Paul
    Is it posible to get a digital signal out, that I can conect to my digital filter and then to my Dac and PA?
    Nils-Goran

    • Reply
      Paul Rigby
      8th June 2019 at 12:55 pm

      Hi Nils-Goran – there’s a picture of the rear in this news piece which does show digital outs. Apart from that, I have yet to see the unit ‘in the flesh’ as it where so can’t offer any more than what you can see in this article I’m afraid.

  • Reply
    Elliot Burstein
    27th June 2019 at 9:10 pm

    Hi Paul:
    Have you heard this player yet?

    • Reply
      Paul Rigby
      28th June 2019 at 11:11 am

      I’m made enquiries to grab one, Elliot – that’s as far as I’ve got near it 🙂 Fingers crossed for a review sample. Should be out soon-ish.

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