The Technics sound
Contents
Let’s start simple: the Technics SU-G700M2 sounds different from other amplifiers. It’s rhythmic, clean and a touch fresh. And about the inputs: the internal dac sounds remarkably better than the analog inputs. So that’s that out of the way. Now let’s get into some details.
Insightful
Frankly, we continually forget that we are listening to an amplifier in the 2,500 Euro class. Indeed, the stereo image is remarkably precise and the insight into the various layers of music is well above average. We hear the train passing by without any problem at the beginning of the song “Train” by Younger Brother. A detail that many amplifiers hide…. There it sounds more like noise.
Or what about the slight vibrato in Beth Hart’s voice in “I’ll Take Care of You.” We don’t hear this one more often than we do when testing an amp in this class. And we could go on and on.
Now it is true that there are amplifiers that have more “schwung,” drive or flow. Think of a Primare i25 or an Atoll. But these do color a little more than this Technics. It’s pretty clear that Technics has gone for an ultra-correct and insightful reproduction. A reproduction with a focus on insight, rhythm and control. A reproduction without too much “embellishment”.
Surgeon? No!
Does that make the rendering sterile? Or surgically precise and clinical? No. Certainly not. It is simply the Technics sound. Precise, correct, insightful. But absolutely not sharp or too dry. If there is roundness in the music, you hear it. However, Technics does not emphasize it. And by emphasizing rhythm and air, everything feels lighter and fresher.
However, when we hear the curves and pressure on Royksopp’s EP “Do it again,” we know this Technics can deliver when it needs to. Good to know!
Analog and digital
Now there is a difference in performance when it comes to the analog and digital inputs, though. Without a doubt, we prefer the digital inputs to the analog ones. The digital inputs put down a nicer and larger stereo image and have more sound texture. The analog inputs seem a bit ‘gray’ to us. We can’t think of another word.
This is remarkable. Normally the Sonnet Pasithea wins when we connect it to an analog input and compare it to the internal dac. But now we don’t. We honestly don’t hear the Sonnet signature back either. So we recommend using the digital inputs as much as possible and using analog if nothing else.