Technics - SL-G700M2 Network / Super Audio CD Player

SACD, CD and the entire network in one player, converted by dual-mono ESS ES9026PRO into a discrete Technics output stage, with balanced XLR out and full MQA decoding including MQA-CD.

The SL-G700M2 is a disc player and a streamer that refuses to treat either as the afterthought. On the disc side it plays Super Audio CD — the two-channel layer — along with CD, CD-R and CD-RW, through what Technics calls a High-Stability SACD Mechanism on a high-rigidity chassis with an aluminium die-cast disc tray. There is a Pure Disc Mode that shuts down what is not needed during disc playback.

On the network side it has Ethernet, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, Chromecast, and Spotify Connect, TIDAL, Deezer, Qobuz, Amazon Music and internet radio all named on Technics’ spec sheet. Roon Ready and TIDAL Connect were added by firmware update, per Technics’ own press office, though their US spec page has not been updated to say so.

The conversion is worth calling out because it is the exception in Technics’ current range. Where the SU-R1000, SU-G700M2, SU-GX70 and SA-C600 all use Technics’ own full-digital PWM conversion instead of a commercial DAC chip, the SL-G700M2 uses an ESS ES9026PRO in a dual-monaural configuration — separate conversion per channel — feeding a proprietary discrete analogue output stage. Both approaches are defensible; they are simply different, and Technics chose the chip route for its source component.

The measured figures are strong and, unusually for this brand, comprehensive. Signal-to-noise is 121dB balanced and 118dB unbalanced, for both SACD and CD. Dynamic range is 110dB on SACD and 98dB on CD. Distortion is 0.0006% on SACD and 0.0015% on CD, both at 1kHz and 0dB. Frequency response runs to 50kHz on SACD.

Outputs are balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA on the analogue side, plus coaxial and optical digital out. There is no HDMI on this player at all — no input, no output — so there is no DSD-over-HDMI path, and Technics publishes no DSD claim over the coaxial or optical outputs either.

One error on Technics’ own US site to be aware of: the US product page lists the mains supply as AC 220–240V, 50/60Hz, which is the export specification. The North American owner’s manual correctly states 120V, 60Hz, and that is what the US-market unit runs on. The web page appears to have inherited the wrong regional block.

Features

• SACD (two-channel), CD, CD-R and CD-RW playback on a High-Stability SACD Mechanism
• Dual-mono ESS ES9026PRO conversion into a discrete Technics analogue output stage
• Full MQA decoding, including MQA-CD
• Balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA analogue outputs, plus coaxial and optical digital out
• Ethernet, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AirPlay 2 and Chromecast built in
• Spotify Connect, TIDAL, Deezer, Qobuz, Amazon Music and internet radio
• Roon Ready and TIDAL Connect added by firmware update
• 121dB signal-to-noise balanced; 0.0006% distortion on SACD
• Aluminium die-cast disc tray, four-section chassis, Pure Disc Mode

Specifications

• Type: Network / Super Audio CD player. A source component with line-level outputs and no power amplifier
• Disc formats: Super Audio CD (two-channel area only), CD, CD-R and CD-RW, 8cm and 12cm. Technics does not publish MP3 or AAC data-disc support or CD-Text, so we are not claiming either
• Transport: High-Stability SACD Mechanism on a high-rigidity chassis with an aluminium die-cast disc tray, within Technics’ four-section chassis configuration. Pure Disc Mode is available for SACD and CD playback
• DAC: ESS ES9026PRO in dual-monaural configuration, feeding a proprietary Technics discrete analogue output stage. This is the only current Technics product in this range to use an off-the-shelf DAC chip — the amplifiers all use Technics’ own full-digital PWM conversion instead
• PCM support: 32, 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192, 352.8 and 384kHz at 16, 24 and 32 bit for WAV and AIFF; FLAC and ALAC limited to 16 and 24 bit at the same sample rates
• DSD support: 2.8MHz, 5.6MHz and 11.2MHz over USB-A, USB-B and network
• MQA: Full decoding, including MQA-CD
• Frequency response: 2Hz–50kHz (−3dB) on Super Audio CD; 2Hz–20kHz (−3dB) on CD
• Dynamic range (IHF-A): 110dB balanced and unbalanced on Super Audio CD; 98dB balanced and unbalanced on CD
• Signal-to-noise ratio (IHF-A): 121dB balanced, 118dB unbalanced — the same figures for both Super Audio CD and CD
• THD+N: 0.0006% on Super Audio CD; 0.0015% on CD. Both at 1kHz, 0dB
• Ethernet: 100BASE-TX / 10BASE-T
• Wi-Fi: IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, 2.4GHz and 5GHz
• Bluetooth: Version 4.2, Class 2, codecs AAC and SBC. The version number appears in the owner’s manual only
• Streaming services: AirPlay 2, Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect, TIDAL, Deezer, Qobuz, Amazon Music and internet radio
• Roon Ready and TIDAL Connect: Both added by firmware update per Technics’ own press release, which named this model alongside the SU-GX70 and SC-CX700. Neither is reflected on Technics’ US spec page. Ask us and we will confirm the firmware state before shipping
• DLNA: Digital Media Renderer supported
• Control app: Technics Audio Center
• Inputs: Coaxial digital x1, optical digital x1, USB-A x2 (front and rear), USB-B x1, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth. There is no HDMI input
• Outputs: Balanced XLR x1 and unbalanced RCA x1 analogue; coaxial digital x1 and optical digital x1. There is no HDMI output of any kind
• DSD over HDMI or S/PDIF: Not possible over HDMI — the player has none. Technics publishes no DSD support over the coaxial or optical outputs either, and absent an explicit DoP claim we are not going to assert one
• Headphone output: 6.3mm, 110mV into 32Ω at maximum volume
• Dimensions: 430 x 98 x 407 mm (W x H x D)
• Weight: Approximately 12.3kg (27 lbs)
• Power supply: 120V AC, 60Hz per the North American owner’s manual. Note that Technics’ own US product page states AC 220–240V, 50/60Hz, which is the export specification and appears to be an error on their site — the US-market unit runs on 120V
• Power consumption: 45W
• Standby consumption: 0.2W with network standby off; 2.0W with it on
• Country of manufacture: Not published. Technics prints no country-of-manufacture statement on its product pages, specification sheets or owner’s manuals for this product — we checked all three. The owner’s manual lists Panasonic’s corporate address in Osaka, but a head office is not a factory and we are not going to present it as one.
• Warranty: Panasonic administers Technics warranty in the United States and the term varies by model rather than by product category. The SL-G700M2 does not appear by that model number in Technics’ published US warranty table. The preceding SL-G700 is listed at three years parts and labour. Ask us and we will confirm the M2’s term with Panasonic rather than assume. Technics states that product registration is not required and does not extend coverage. A dated sales receipt is required, coverage runs to the original purchaser, and the product must be purchased and serviced in the United States. Non-rechargeable batteries, antennas and cosmetic cabinet parts are excluded.