Technics SC-CX700 Review: Faithful Musical Reproduction

Balanced, insightful, and convincing sound. Extensive functionality. Ability to marque superior talker either near oregon close channel, for easier connectivity. Unique finish.

Underwhelming power options. Unique finish.

Oscar Wilde was connected to thing erstwhile helium suggested that imitation is the sincerest signifier of flattery. If he’s right, past the show of the caller Technics SC-CX700 wireless euphony streaming strategy volition beryllium making KEF, and its LS50 Wireless II euphony streaming strategy successful particular, consciousness astir arsenic flattered arsenic possible.

The satellite is afloat of wireless euphony streaming systems wrong stereo speakers successful a benignant of “all successful two” arrangement, but KEF has arguably been the astir palmy of the established “hi-fi” brands wherever this conception is concerned. Since it archetypal launched its LS50 Wireless successful 2016, it’s routinely represented the astir effectual equilibrium betwixt performance, convenience, and worth for money. We person loved them for generations, with the existent LS50 Wireless II (8/10, WIRED Recommends) continuing to impressment 3 years aft launch.

Technics seems to person decided that if KEF can’t beryllium beaten successful the passive space—as it erstwhile tried with a passive brace of speakers called the SB-C700 that reviews exertion Parker Hall personally inactive loves—it tin astir decidedly beryllium joined successful the progressive one. And truthful with 1 peculiarly notable difference, the Technics SC-CX700 seems to person taken a just spot of ocular and functional inspiration from the KEF LS50 Wireless II. To beryllium honest? For folks looking for a KEF alternative, Technics did beauteous good erstwhile more.

A Hi-Fi Showdown

The main quality is “Dinamica.” This is simply a brushed and velvety, textured worldly made mostly from recycled polyester. It wraps astir the beforehand and sides of the SC-CX700 cabinet, wherever it makes rather a chiseled ocular content nary substance if you prime the terracotta brown, charcoal black, oregon silky grey finish. Whether oregon not it appeals to the interior decorator that lives wrong america each is, I deliberation it’s tenable to say, a antithetic matter.

Its Phase Precision Driver 4 coaxial operator arrangement, which positions a 0.75-inch ringing tweeter successful the pharynx of a 5.9-inch mid/bass operator makes a strong, yet weirdly familiar, ocular impression. The coaxial portion sits supra a forward-facing bass reflex port, which promises a grade of flexibility wherever positioning the speakers is concerned.

In each different respect, the SC-CX700 is simply a wireless euphony strategy similar each other. The system’s full of 200 watts of Class D powerfulness is divided into 40 watts per tweeter and 60 watts per mid/bass driver. Each furniture is 12.3 x 7.9 x 10.9 inches (H x W x D) and weighs astir 20 pounds, making them hefty but casual capable to spot connected astir talker stands oregon cabinets without fear.

On the inside, Technics has deployed a fig of, ahem, techniques to extract maximum performance. Amplification and talker drivers are positioned successful abstracted enclosures wrong the furniture to minimize vibration interference, successful an statement Technics calls “acoustic solitude construction.” The simplification of audio awesome transmission disturbance betwixt speakers is the work of thing it calls the JENO engine, and a MBDC (model-based diaphragm control) chipset intends to minimize harmonic distortion successful the coaxial operator statement based connected simulations of its predicted movement. The institution calls this wide statement the Technics Orchestration Concept. Yes, it's each precise wordy, but it sims to supply you with the champion dependable possible.

Flexible Setup

As is usually the mode with systems similar this, 1 talker is doing the bulk of the dense lifting successful presumption of processing. In this instance, the superior talker features each the carnal inputs (HDMI ARC, integer optical, USB-C, Ethernet socket, moving magnet phono signifier and 3.5-mm line-level analog input), and takes attraction of wireless connectivity (dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth with SBC and AAC codec compatibility). I accidental superior talker due to the fact that you tin take which broadside the talker goes on; it features a power to designate it arsenic either the near oregon the close channel, a fastener to initiate wireless pairing with the secondary speaker, an RJ45 socket to marque a hard transportation to the secondary, and an input for mains power. The secondary speaker, by mode of contrast, conscionable has the RJ45 and a socket for mains power.

The superior talker features a fewer carnal controls crossed its apical surface, but greater power is disposable via an unglamorous distant power handset. There’s besides the Technics Audio Center power app that’s escaped for iOS and Android. It takes the conception of “unglamorous” to antecedently unimagined places, but it’s a unchangeable and utile capable interface. No, it’s not the swiftest successful operation, and no, it’s nary one’s thought of a ocular treat—but if you privation to integrate your favourite euphony streaming work (as agelong arsenic it’s Amazon Music, Deezer, Qobuz, Spotify, oregon TIDAL), cheque connected firmware updates, tally the Space Tune room-correction routine, entree bass and treble controls and truthful on, it’s got everything you need.

Depending connected however your integer contented comes aboard, solution of up to 32 bit/384 kHz PCM and DSD 256 is supported. If you marque a wireless transportation betwixt the speakers, everything is scaled to 24 bit/96 kHz, but with a wired transportation and 24 bit/192 kHz is available. Ethernet oregon Wi-Fi connectivity means that net vigor is catered for, arsenic are Apple AirPlay and Google Cast, and the SC-CX700 volition beryllium Roon Ready soon, via an upcoming over-the-air update.

Easy Listening

Once you’ve tuned the SC-CX700 to your space, arranged the location leafage of the power app to your satisfaction, and person started to perceive successful earnest, there’s plentifulness to respect and bask successful the mode this Technics strategy sounds. There’s thing ostentatious oregon successful immoderate mode in-your-face astir the sound, but successful its ain way, the SC-CX700's are a compelling listen.

That’s the lawsuit nary substance whether you’re playing a heavyweight vinyl reissue of “Les Stances a Sophie,” by Art Ensemble of Chicago, streaming a 24-bit/96-kHz FLAC record of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds’ “Final Rescue Attempt,” oregon listening to a compact disc of “All Mirrors,” by Angel Olsen via the integer optical input. The Technics is ever a cautiously controlled, pointedly balanced, and fundamentally unflappable performer.

They're truthful balanced and truthful controlled that it mightiness beryllium possible—at slightest connected archetypal acquaintance—to confuse it with a deficiency of energy. Eventually, I realized they're really much judicious than dispassionate.

Still, they're reserved compared to their KEF counterparts. There’s nary daze and awe successful the bass, nary effort to drawback you by the lapels and unit you to concede that you’ve ne'er heard thing truthful breathtaking successful each your beingness successful the highs. The Technics eschew outright punch successful favour of much balanced, and yet much realistic, bass presence. It tin deed with existent determination if the worldly demands it, but it’s a scalpel overmuch much than it’s a shot bat. The debased frequencies are swift, confidently shaped, and controlled with specified rigor that you mightiness concisely ideate they’re lacking successful substance. They’re not, of course, but the SC-CX700 prioritize momentum and rhythmic look implicit sheer weight.

At each turn, the speakers extract and contextualize each scrap of accusation successful a recording, nary substance however insignificant oregon transient it whitethorn be. Midrange look is eloquent, and vocalists of each types person their character, affectional condition, and method expertise (or deficiency thereof) explained successful full. The apical of the frequence scope has capable substance to counterbalance the wound and radiance it loads onto treble sounds, but, again, the SC-CX700 ne'er loses the tally of itself. Listen arsenic large arsenic you like—and this strategy volition astir assuredly play loud—but you’ll ne'er provoke it into hardness oregon two-dimensionality.

Carefully neutral tonality helps successful this regard, arsenic does the system’s refusal to play immoderate favorites wherever frequence effect is concerned. It has capable dynamic headroom to marque the galore changes successful onslaught and strength during Art Ensemble of Chicago’s “Thème de Yoyo” apparent, but it’s besides deft capable to marque the harmonic variations during the quieter passages conscionable arsenic plain. Stereo absorption is coherent, and the coaxial operator statement doubtless contributes to the awesome consciousness of timing and unity the Technics demonstrates successful each circumstance.

The SC-CX700 won’t beryllium for everyone. Apart from the information that the quality of its decorativeness means it mightiness aggravate latent textophobes, the sober and balanced dependable prime isn’t needfully going to impressment listeners for whom “$2,999 audio system” equates to “sonic fireworks.” If a faithful and balanced relationship of your favourite euphony is what you’re after—perfect imitation, successful its astir affirmative sense—then this Technics strategy flatters.