Technics previously announced that the Technics SL-G700M2 Universal Network Player, part of the Grand Class series along with the SL-1200G turntable and SU-G700 integrated amplifier, will be available on November 22nd. Winter has begun, and the long-awaited digital source is still impossible to buy. The manufacturer announced a new date – January 2023. Well, the New Year is just around the corner!
The new model will be an evolution of the highly acclaimed SL-G700 turntable. This is a truly versatile digital source capable of not only playing SACD and CD optical discs, but also receiving content from DLNA network servers and popular streaming services. The novelty supports AirPlay 2 and Google Chromecast, is equipped with a Bluetooth adapter and can decode content in MQA format. The Technics SL-G700M2 player is based on the ESS ES9026PRO eight-channel DAC chip from ESS Technology. The resolution of the PCM stream can be up to 32bit/384kHz and DSD up to 11.2MHz.
The Technics SL-G700M2 player can be integrated into a computer network either wirelessly via Wi-Fi or Ethernet. Coaxial and optical digital inputs in the new generation of the player are complemented by a USB-B port. There are both coaxial and optical digital outputs here, allowing you to use the Technics SL-G700M2 as a digital transport. Analog outputs are implemented both in a balanced version on XLR connectors, and in an unbalanced version on RCA.
Particular attention in the design of the turntable was given to the physical layout of the chassis to reduce noise and interference. The power supply, digital and analog parts of the circuit, as well as the optical transport section are placed in isolated sections of the case. The loading tray is made of die-cast aluminum, the body of the novelty is also completely aluminum – the front panel is made of a 7 mm thick plate, and the remaining walls are 3 mm thick.
The Technics SL-G700M2 Universal Player will be available in January 2023 for $ 3,500 .