Streaming is perhaps the most popular way to listen to music. But what about that old CD collection? The SL-G700M2 device does not force you to choose one or the other. This versatile player enjoys SACDs and CDs as much as a Spotify stream.
It’s been less than ten years since the ‘return’ of Technics was announced. All attention then turned to reintroducing the SL-1200, one of the most iconic turntables ever. The range of the Japanese brand has now been expanded a lot – and not only with versions of that direct-drive turntable. A full range of hi-fi equipment has emerged, divided into Premium, Grand, and Reference Class. The products from the latter category are flagships with corresponding price tags. However, the SL-G700M2 player we’re looking at here comes from the Grand Class. So you could say that it is middle class at Technics, but since the Japanese ignore the budget segment, you should rather view it as a higher-positioned source device.
The SL-G700M2 is the perfect addition to such an SL-1200 turntable. It is a source device that does everything except play vinyl. Like the Rotel DT-6000 we reviewed earlier, this player can play both discs and streams. Since Technics is a Japanese brand, we are not surprised that, besides music CDs, SACD discs and even discs with MQA files are welcome. The SACD still has its supporters in the Far East. What ties the many streaming functions and disc player together is the DAC section in the SL-G700M2. You can also contact them directly. In short, it is a versatile thing.
| What | CD/SACD player with streaming |
|---|---|
| inputs | USB class B, optical, coaxial, 2 x USB-A |
| Outputs | |
| cinch, XLR, optical, coaxial | |
| streaming | AirPlay 2, Bluetooth, Chromecast, DLNA, Technics app |
| Dimensions | 9.8 x 43 x 40.3 cm |
| Weight | 12.1kg |
| Price | 2,999 euros |
A full bingo card
Many more high-end streamers mainly focus on one or two streaming options. That is certainly not the case here. In addition to its app, the SL-G700M2 is equipped with AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, and Bluetooth. That already gives you a lot of choices to get music from your mobile device to the player. However, you must grab the Technics Audio Center app if you want to play hires files. It may look sober with its text and thin lines on a black background, but this app scores in user-friendliness and functions. You can do everything with it, including operating the CD player or selecting an input. Audio Center also packs a range of built-in streaming options and services, with Tidal and Qobuz as the main audiophile options. Internet radio, podcasts,
Finally, in the Audio Center app, you can also browse shared folders on the network or on a USB drive that you plugged into one of the two USB ports. Unlike some dedicated streamers, such as from AURALiC, you can’t build an SSD into the SL-G700M2. But you can plug an external drive into the back. Current SSDs don’t take up much space anyway, so that’s not difficult. The app responds without frustration, and you can personalize it (limited). The Favorite function also works well, where you can set seven presets. Finally, you could count on multi-room functionality with other Technics devices via the Audio Center app, but we could not test that due to the lack of other products from the brand.
Roon non-Ready
And Roon? When the SL-G700M2 was announced, it was stated that the device would be Roon Ready. This is also stated in the specifications on the Technics website. Not surprising because that also seems logical for a more expensive product like this. For now, however, there is little evidence of that Roon status. The Technics player does not appear non-certified in Roon, which is usually the case with a device still in Roon’s rigorous testing phase. So we’re guessing the SL-G700M2 is still very early in the music software maker’s approval process. In the meantime, you can operate the player via the RooExtend extension in Roon, at least for files up to 192 kHz / 24-bit. We did that for testing.
Coherent Processing
The Audio Center app is well put together. Still, it is nice that you can do everything with the included remote, except for things that require text input, such as searching in the offer of a streaming service. You can also adjust all settings and options with the remote control. The screen on the SL-G700LM2 may not be very large, but the white text on a black background is very contrasting. So readability at a distance is less of a problem than you might expect.
You can tweak the Technics player via the screen or the app. For example, you can disable unused outputs and set the analog output to fixed or variable. The latter is also useful for using the SL-G700M2 as a preamplifier.
With DACs, you traditionally get some filter choices unless you, as a manufacturer, make a radical choice in terms of filtering. Here Technics chooses a kind of middle ground: you can opt for one of three filters or enable the Coherent Processing function. With the latter, a separate processor takes the digital stream just before the DAC chip. The official explanation is unclear but suggests that a stream is being upsampled or possibly converted to DSD. If you play DSD files or a SACD disc, Coherent Processing will be bypassed.
Coherent Processing
The Audio Center app is well put together. Still, it is nice that you can do everything with the included remote, except for things that require text input, such as searching in the offer of a streaming service. You can also adjust all settings and options with the remote control. The screen on the SL-G700LM2 may not be very large, but the white text on a black background is very contrasting. So readability at a distance is less of a problem than you might expect.
You can tweak the Technics player via the screen or the app. For example, you can disable unused outputs and set the analog output to fixed or variable. The latter is also useful for using the SL-G700M2 as a preamplifier.
With DACs, you traditionally get some filter choices unless you, as a manufacturer, make a radical choice in terms of filtering. Here Technics chooses a kind of middle ground: you can opt for one of three filters or enable the Coherent Processing function. With the latter, a separate processor takes the digital stream just before the DAC chip. The official explanation is unclear but suggests that a stream is being upsampled or possibly converted to DSD. If you play DSD files or a SACD disc, Coherent Processing will be bypassed.
Flexible in terms of inputs and outputs
In terms of functionality, these internal adjustments do not change that much. What does come with it is a USB class B port. You can use this to directly address the DAC in the Technics from a laptop or network transport. This way, you can deliver hi-res in the highest quality – but that also concerns the network.
You may integrate the SL-G700M2 into your music system by connecting it to an amplifier with cinch cables. There are XLR outputs, useful if you own a more high-end amplifier. Surprisingly, Technics also allows the SL-G700M2 to be used as a digital transport. You bypass the built-in DA converter if you connect the device to a DAC or an integrated amplifier via the optical or coaxial output. Handy, although we don’t think that’s a scenario that will occur often. You can address the DAC of the SL-G700M2 via the USB class B port or the optical and coaxial inputs. Again, we can’t think of many situations where you would want to do this unless you want to play from a laptop, for example, because you use upsampling from HQPlayer.
The SL-G700M2 has two small WiFi antennas mounted almost invisibly on the back. We have also used the player in this way for a long time. But we did notice that streaming hires material in very high quality – DSD and over 192 kHz PCM – was not always smooth in our test room. WiFi networks and stable connections, it remains one thing. Fortunately, there is an Ethernet port.
Sound quality
We had a visit from the Technics SL-G700M2 for several weeks. Great – because that allowed us to try out the player in several affordable and more expensive systems. It proved a capable streamer and CD player in all those scenarios that also functioned stably. Even when connected to a high-end Musical Fidelity Nu-vista 800.2 integrated amplifier and the Focal Sopra N°2 speakers. In this rather expensive system and with critical speakers, this player was indistinguishable. The Technics proved to be an honest source that correctly reproduces the excellently produced SACDs such as the Rachmaninov collection of the LSO. There is a lot of power and detail in these Russian symphonies, where quieter parts alternate with parts that are a lot more forte, and there are many tempo changes. What the SL-G700M2 did well was to bring out the sophistication of the strings and winds in all their fluid detail, as well as the richness of the horns and timpani ringing at full blast at the end of the opening of ‘Symphony No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 13’. The DAC in the Technics gets almost everything from these successful recordings in the famous London concert hall. Perhaps something more can be done, but the manufacturer has not let the display become too analytical. This a wise choice because that leads to higher involvement. The DAC in the Technics gets almost everything from these successful recordings in the famous London concert hall. Perhaps something more can be done, but the manufacturer has not let the display become too analytical. This a wise choice because that leads to higher involvement. The DAC in the Technics gets almost everything from these successful recordings in the famous London concert hall. Perhaps something more can be done, but the manufacturer has not let the display become too analytical. A wise choice because that leads to higher involvement.
The Technics also proved valuable to a more accessible system with KEF R3 loudspeakers and a Hegel Röst amplifier. The songs on ‘Folkesange’ by Danish death/folk metal singer Myrkur that we stream via Roon and rooExtend are great. In addition, the traditional Scandinavian instruments on ‘Ella’ sound very authentic, without an artificial edge to the whole. We compare it with the built-in streaming on the Hegel and notice that the Technics is slightly less clear. That does result in a slightly more relaxed listening session – although the difference is not extremely large now. With ‘Bande A Part’ by Nouvelle Vague – a collection of sometimes successful,
Sound quality is the most important property of a source device. At the same time, it must be easy to operate. Technics has mastered that well. The player and app work well together, so you can easily play music and jump through playlists. The SL-G700M2 responds as smoothly when you stream via one of the other options or play a CD. And that’s exactly what you want if you want to go on a musical quest in the evening. The app does opt for minimalism regarding how music is presented. That is a bit more extensive with an Auralic (or with Roon), so you are more inclined to keep browsing through the range.
Conclusion
With the name “Technics,” most people think of turntables courtesy of the iconic SL-1200 series. With the SL-G700M2, the Japanese brand takes other audio categories very seriously. It may surprise some hi-fi enthusiasts, as Technics isn’t the first brand that comes to mind when looking for a streamer. However, this device is an excellent network player with many streaming options and a good (but sober) app. The fact that the SL-G700M2 can also play your old CD collection (or those precious SACDs) in high quality is also unique. It makes the Technics SL-G700M2 one of the few devices that combine high-quality streaming and CD playback in one device.
Pros
- DAC section
- Fits in many scenarios
- Good CD and SACD playback
- Light warm, transparent sound
Negatives
- Roon Ready status unclear
- Limited presentation of meta information in the app
- Higher price range
