2024 Update - Now compatible with streaming services Roon Labs and TIDAL Connect
Technics SU-GX70 Amplifier
The definitive living room audio center that enables seamless enjoyment of video, audio, and music through next-level integration using Technics’ full digital technologies.
Full Digital Amp, JENO Engine (Jitter Elimination and Noise-shaping Optimisation)
The SU-GX70 uses a fully digital amplifier that incorporates Technics’ renowned digital audio technology. Its digital transmission system processes signals fully digitally in all stages from input to output. Compared to analogue transmission, this system is less susceptible to signal degradation caused by external noise, ensuring more precise signal transmission. Accurate signal processing not only delivers high-resolution digital audio but also maintains the soft texture inherent in analogue recordings.
Further, a JENO Engine has been used in the HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel), which has been installed in a Technics product for the first time. This helps to reduce any degradation in sound quality caused by jitter during the transmission of digital audio signals (S/PDIF), ensuring unparalleled levels of clarity in TV audio.
Ideal Impulse Response through LAPC (Load Adaptive Phase Calibration)
Speaker impedance changes with each frequency and a power amplifier is required to drive speakers without being affected by the speaker’s characteristics. However, conventional digital amplifiers are connected to speakers through a low-pass filter at the output stage, so they are even more strongly affected by the speaker impedance characteristics. Also, although the amplitude characteristics of conventional amplifiers were improved, the phase characteristics could not be enhanced.
We thus developed a speaker impedance adaptive optimisation algorithm that performs correction to the ideal impulse response through digital signal processing by measuring the frequency amplitude-phase characteristics of the amplifier with the speakers connected. This technique enables flattening of the frequency characteristics of amplitude and phase, which had previously not been achieved by amplifiers, while also delivering a sound with rich spatial expression.
Twin Power Supply Circuit System
The design of the power supply is extremely critical in audio systems containing amplifiers, digital circuits and other such components. To eliminate any adverse effects on the amplifier, the SU-GX70 is equipped with a dedicated power supply for the power amplifier circuits that is independent from all other circuits. As such, the same electrolytic capacitors installed in high-end models have been used in the dedicated amplifier power supply and the power amplifier components.
The SU-GX70 uses a high-speed switching power supply of approximately 130 kHz. By increasing the switching frequency, noise interference on the music playback bandwidth is reduced. This enables highly responsive power supply for music signals and powerful speaker drive capability.
High-quality Audio through Low-impact HDMI Video Output
For the SU-GX70 to receive audio signals through the HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel), due to the specifications, video signals must first be output from the SU-GX70. However, the output of these signals can cause unwanted noise.
As such, the video signals are output from the SU-GX70 at a lower rate, and the digital value of the colour of each pixel is set to zero. This ensures low-load operation between the HDMI transmitting/receiving devices, preventing any unwanted noise generation from the video signals. This also reduces any impact on sound quality. Further, transmitting the signals from the TV to the JENO Engine via the shortest possible route minimises any further impact from jitter. This is a mechanism unique to Panasonic/Technics as HDMI licensors.
Pure Amplification Mode
In Pure Amplification Mode, shutting off the power supply to the network and HDMI circuits removes any noise from the device or antenna. This ensures music playback with even better clarity.
*Network and HDMI circuits can also be individually shut off.
Analogue Input Using Discrete Amp Circuits
The discrete amp circuit used in the SU-GX70 was redesigned and adapted from the circuit used in the SU-R1000, and the same symmetrical layout has been used.
Further, other high-quality audio parts of the same grade as those used in the SU-R1000 have also been adopted, such as low-noise FETs, thin-film resistors, film capacitors, and electrolytic capacitors. In this way, the device has been fine-tuned to every detail.
Abundant Input Options, Diverse Network Functions
High quality music and audio from video source
Newly equipped with an HDMI ARC, low-impact HDMI video output ensures users can enjoy high-quality music and audio from the video source.
Compatible with a variety of music sources
The SU-GX70 supports a variety of music sources including radio, analogue input (PHONO(MM)/LINE), optical digital input (such as TV), coaxial digital input and USB input.
Enjoyment of high-quality sound wirelessly
The SU-GX70 can play back high-resolution music wirelessly from the source stored in a smartphone, tablet or PC. It supports not only Bluetooth® and AirPlay2 but also Spotify Connect®, Internet radio and Chromecast built-in™ so that a wide range of music streaming services can be enjoyed only with the SU-GX70.
Technics SB-C600 Speakers
Advanced Phase Precision Driver
To reproduce music with enhanced spatial sound expressivity requires that the wavefronts of sounds radiated from the speaker unit are all aligned regardless of the listening position. The concept of point sound source is one of the ideal approaches to achieve it.
To realise the point sound source reproduction, the coaxial configuration was adopted and then it was combined with the originally shaped Linear Phase Plug for aligning phases and the Smooth Flow Diaphragm formed with a shallow-shape diaphragm and smooth edge shape for minimum sound reflection. The result is a spherical wave with aligned wavefronts of radiated sounds.
The SB-C600’s 2-way coaxial speaker unit realises clear sound image localisation and a smooth, high-quality sound, rich of emotion, while inheriting the concepts of point sound source and linear phase that Technics pursues relentlessly.
Linear Phase Plug
The originally shaped acoustic plug is positioned on the front side of the tweeter diaphragm and provides a high-resolution sound reproduction capability and a wide sound stage.
Smooth Flow Diaphragm
If the sound wave has irregularities on its sound transmitting surface, its wavefront becomes disturbed by the shapes of the irregularities, resulting in the degradation of frequency characteristics. High frequencies that have short wavelengths tend to be more susceptible to the degradation of sound characteristics. The woofer diaphragm in the coaxial speaker unit has a shallow shape and smooth edge to reduce sound reflection. The result is minimal disturbance of the wavefronts of sound waves radiated from the diaphragm to realise excellent frequency response and phase characteristics as well as wide directivity.
This configuration achieves a wide sound stage and smooth and rich mid- to high-frequency range.
Smooth Flow Port
A bass reflex port with an ordinary shape produces a large air current vortex that induces annoying high-frequency noise. Technics employed the airflow control method utilised for airplane wings and designed the cross-sectional shape of the port using flow analysis. The optimally designed port shape does not cause airflow disturbance at the opening and ensures high-quality bass reproduction with minimum noise and superb response.
Stationary Construction
It thoroughly removes undesirable or unwanted sounds and reproduces only the intended sounds with a high signal-to-noise ratio. The “Balanced Driver Mount Architecture” used in the grand class SB-G90M2 has been optimized for this model by making full use of CAE (Computer Aided Engineering). In addition, the speaker mount baffle that holds the speaker units in place has been newly designed to strengthen the rigidity of the entire cabinet. The combination of these factors maximizes the advantages of the gravity center mount structure. The rigidity and shape of each part that makes up the coaxial speaker unit has been carefully studied to eliminate unnecessary vibration and noise.
Balanced Driver Mounting Architecture
To realise a calm and low-distortion sound, the SB-C600 employs a speaker mount baffle created by optimising the low-resonance, high-rigidity design concept of the SB-G90M2 using CAE.
The originally shaped speaker mount baffle keeps the concentration of stress in check. The speaker mount baffle secures enough vent holes to ensure smooth flow of sounds radiated from the back sides of the speaker units and improve the response while maintaining low resonance and high rigidity. In addition, this structure reduces the vibrations of the entire enclosure and minimises the effects on other equipment.
High Quality Parts
The network circuit uses high-quality parts, such as polypropylene film capacitors, OFC wires and more. The speaker terminals are made of brass.
All Aluminium Diaphragms
The woofer and tweeter diaphragm are made of alumite-treated aluminium material for a unified tonal quality, and provides balanced sound like a full-range unit.
Highly Analysed and Optimised Components
To achieve accurate sound image localisation, structural parts such as spacers and wire grommets were analysed extensively for the elimination of undesirable vibrations and noise.
Matte Black Finish
The front baffle of the SB-C600’s enclosure is coated with a matte paint mixed with a powder for a beautiful matte finish.