Review: Technics Premium C700

Introduction

The Premium C700 system is the first Technics branded hi-fi system to be launched in seven years.

The hi-fi brand, which was lauded and loved throughout the Seventies and Eighties for its turntables and silvery separates, was retired by parent Panasonic during a corporate cleanout and thought consigned to the car boot of AV history.

However it now lives again, fuelled by the inexorable rise of high resolution audio.

The C700 Series reviewed here comprises three unapologetically expensive components: the £1249 / $1,600 SU-C700 stereo amp, £849 / $1,100 ST-C700 network audio player and £1199 / $1,700 SB-C700 compact speaker system.

There's also a matching CD player, the SL-C700, if you fancy it. While you can mix and match with other brand components, that's not advisable.

This system has been designed to perform as an ensemble.

Components and build quality

Build quality across the range is superb. You get the sense that these components will look as good in 2025 as they do today. The cool retro cosmetic design is a real winner.

The digital amp is not particularly large, measuring just 340 x 131 x 324mm (w/h/d).

Naturally the fascia features characteristic illuminated VU meters (how could it not?), with a central volume dial. Rather than opt for a common–or-garden switch-mode power supply, Technics has gone old school with a low-noise, high-capacity linear power supply. This is a pleasing indulgence. The amp tips the scales at 7.9 kg.

Connectivity comprises six digital audio inputs (three optical, three coaxial), one pair of stereo phonos, a MM phono input for born again vinyl junkies and a USB-B connection for laptop hook-up.

The matching ST-C700 network audio player features a central display, offering white text on black. There's no album artwork displayed when browsing, which seems overly frugal.

Connections here include both USB-A and USB-B inputs, plus two digital audio outputs (coaxial and optical) and a stereo phono pair, plus an Ethernet LAN. There's also a DAB+ and FM radio tuner onboard, along with aptX Bluetooth support.

The ST-C700 network audio player has been seriously over-engineered to reduce the spectre of digital noise.

One cool trick is Virtual Battery Operation, designed to reduce noise and trace distortion generated by the power supply. There's also a high resolution iteration of Panasonic's Re-mastering technology.

Given such audiophile obsession with noise management, it's no surprise to find Wi-Fi AWOL.

The compact curvy SB-C700 speakers feature a piano white finish. While magnetic grilles are supplied, the flush-mounted coaxial driver is so pretty it seems almost vulgar to mount them.

The speakers are rear-ported, with chunky binding posts. Charged with delivering crisp highs is a 19mm aluminium diaphragm dome tweeter, rated up to 100kHz; it's allied to a flat 160mm woofer.

Plug and play loud

System setup is a breeze.

It's merely a question of connecting the components together and getting the system onto a network. When powered up, the player looks for DLNA servers on the network. These can then be navigated by a basic tree and root structure.

Both units ship with the same remote, which drives the ensemble. Only one is required.

I suspect though that many will ditch the zapper and choose to drive the system from the Technics app, which is intuitive and graphically rich.

The SB-C700 speakers are best placed forward facing, rather than toed in; the stereophonic spread is pronounced. Cabinet colouration appears non-existent.

Audio performance

Obviously any Technics relaunch comes burdened with high expectations. Thankfully the C700 doesn't disappoint.

Sonic quality is several cuts above the mainstream.

This self-proclaimed Premium package produces a highly refined sound, a rarefied realism. The speakers are revelatory, creating a soundstage of almost physical depth. Imaging is precise, with vocals and instruments spatially coherent.

The ST-C700 network player handlesMP3, WMA, FLAC, WAV, AIFF (up to 192kHz 24bit), ALAC (up to 96kHz 24bit), AAC and DSD. Almost Like Being in Love, a live rendition of the Nat King Cole classic, covered by Joe Stilgoe for Linn Records (24 bit/ 192 kHz), has a delicious musicality, with dancing jazz piano and infectious double bass.

The presentation has an air and clarity befitting that ticket price.

Rated at 45W p/c into 8 Ohms, the amplifier has reasonable digital cojones. It's surprisingly dynamic for such a small box, able to scale heights without sounding stressed or scrappy. Highs are crisp and sweet.

Pushed hard it verges on the cruelly constrained, coming across like an over-excited butler - but Jeeves never loses his cool.

Naturally you can connect over Bluetooth. Just pair devices and start streaming. Blue Swede's Hooked on a Feeling (from The Guardian of the Galaxy OST) via Spotify brings a broad smile – provided you remember to engage the Remaster mode on the network player.

Technics' Remastering system covers a multitude of sins, and even makes low bitrate MP3 sound stupidly good. A 256kbps MP3 of Akatsuki by BabyMetal is intoxicating– soaring K-pop cutesy vocals and speed metal presented with clarity rather than thrashy mush.

Verdict

The Technics Premium C700 is a high-end audio system for new age audiophiles.

Beautifully designed, it plays the posh card well but can rock out when required too, just don't expect histrionics. It's at its best with 24-bit hi-res sound sources, but does a remarkable job cleaning up low bit rate fare when you want to slum it.

Design and build quality are sumptuous.

We Liked

Technics has produced a very capable and clever hi-fi system. The Premium C700 manages to tip a hat to the brand's enviable heritage in audio, yet it feels fundamentally futuristic.

With solid file support, first class app, and an innate musicality that you simply won't hear from multiroom music systems de jour, it successfully recreates the magic of two-channel listening.

We Disliked

Expect to pay a price premium for this up-market network audio system.

The soundstage offers oodles of clarity and is an easy, unfatiguing listen, but if you're looking for high volume pyrotechnics, well, that's something else entirely.

Final verdict

Timing is everything. Technic's C700 system has it in spades, effortlessly musical regardless of your chosen genre.

The accuracy and articulation of the SU-C700 amplifier and SU-T700 network player had me revisiting old favourites and eager to explore new musical frontiers.

They also look the part. These are statement electronics so smart you'll need to upgrade the rest of your pad to match.

The Technics relaunch is also well timed. With high resolution audio finding genuine traction (when Iron Maiden remaster their entire back catalogue you know things are moving in the right direction), there are tangible benefits to be had from reinvesting in classic stereo separates like these.

Minor caveats aside, I rate the C700 a luscious example of hi-fi luxe.

from TechRadar: Technology reviews http://ift.tt/1F8tsFb