A versatile and talented one-box streaming system
Streaming system | £1699 | whf.cm/SU_GX70
The new Technics SU-GX70 joins the likes of Bluesound, Cambridge Audio, Marantz and Naim in delivering one-box streaming amplifier systems that can do it (nearly) all. But the Technics goes one step further when it comes to versatility, throwing everything apart from the proverbial kitchen sink into its box of tricks.
The GX in the unit’s name denotes ‘crossover’ and it is the first Technics audio product to include a video element in the form of an HDMI ARC input. Regardless of how you listen to music – Tidal, turntable, CD player, digital files, TV or even radio – the SU-GX70 has the (physical and wireless) tools to play it all.
And at £1699, it’s a surprisingly well-priced system, undercutting rivals such as the Cambridge Audio Evo 75 (£1499) and the Marantz Model 40n (£1899) and offering more features than both of them.
The SU-GX70 is a classy-looking unit with a high-quality build and finish. In fact, it doesn’t look too dissimilar from the SL-G700M2 streamer-and-CD-player we recently reviewed, with the same dimensions, neatly machined buttons and clear, informative display.
It’s perhaps not as immediately luxurious as the Marantz Model 40n or the pricier Naim Uniti Atom, but we can’t fault the sleek design. The system feels extremely well made and works well straight out of the box, too. It’s easy to use, everything is sensibly laid out, and whether you are using the on-unit dials, the app or included remote control, using the SU-GX70 never feels complicated no matter how many features it has.
Exacting standards
Internally, Technics has taken plenty of care to ensure the GX70 unit meets its exacting standards. It uses a fully digital amplifier with 40W of power per channel (into 8 ohms), alongside high-quality components and a dedicated power supply to the power amp section that is kept separate from the rest of the circuits. Special attention has been given to both the moving-magnet phono stage (given Technics’ heritage with turntables) and the HDMI ARC input (thanks to in-house Panasonic expertise). The introduction of video signals in the HDMI connection can introduce unwanted noise, so Technics has taken steps to reduce that noise’s impact on sound quality.
However you want to listen to music and from whichever source, it seems you can do it all through the GX70 with nearly
