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The SL-G700M2 is the second generation of Technics’ Technics Grand Class player. It supports physical disc playback (CD, SACD), high-resolution streaming, and digital-to-analog conversion. Its chassis is made of aluminum and it weighs 12.3 kg. The device is equipped with two ESS ES9026PRO DAC chips in a dual-mono configuration and features Technics’ proprietary coherent processing technology.
The SL-G700M2 adopts a radical compartmentalization philosophy reminiscent of professional electronics practices. The chassis interior is divided into four physically separate sections: power supply, digital interface, analog circuits, and transport mechanism. This physical segregation eliminates mutual interference between circuits, particularly between the power stages and circuits handling low-amplitude signals.
The 7 mm-thick aluminum front panel is more than an aesthetic element. Paired with 3 mm side panels, it forms effective shielding against external electromagnetic interference. The die-cast aluminum disc tray benefits from a three-layer structure that absorbs mechanical vibrations. This construction echoes Technics’ approach dating back to 1970 with the SP-10, the world’s first direct-drive turntable, which already prioritized mass and rigidity to ensure precise playback.
The display is intentionally compact and monochrome, a technical choice that limits digital interference in the audio circuits. Physical controls—central jog dial, navigation buttons, loading drawer—prioritize mechanical reliability over touch. The front USB-A port enables direct playback of high-resolution files from a thumb drive, while the 6.35 mm headphone jack includes a Class AA amplifier capable of delivering 110 mV into 32 ohms.
Technics’ coherent processing tackles a fundamental issue in digital-to-analog conversion: amplitude and phase deviations that occur when transitioning from the digital to the analog domain. This proprietary technology analyzes PCM signals up to 192 kHz and applies digital signal processing (DSP) upstream of conversion to minimize these deviations.
In practice, the system predicts the distortions that will occur during conversion and applies an inverse correction before the signal reaches the DAC chips. DSD signals, such as those from Super Audio CDs, bypass this processing and are routed directly to the converters, preserving their native 1-bit structure. This format-specific approach demonstrates a nuanced understanding of the characteristics inherent to each digital audio standard.
The two ESS ES9026PRO chips operate in a symmetrical dual-mono configuration: each channel has its own 8-channel converter configured to process a single stereo signal. Four channels are assigned to the left channel, four to the right, enabling parallel processing that reduces noise and improves dynamics. This configuration, combined with the symmetrical physical placement of the chips on either side of the PCB, minimizes crosstalk and preserves the recording’s spatial coherence.
The power supply is often the Achilles’ heel of digital players. Technics has developed a multi-stage hybrid supply that combines three complementary approaches. The first stage uses a high-frequency switching power supply operating at around 300 kHz—a frequency borrowed from the SU-R1000 reference amplifier. This high frequency pushes switching harmonics well beyond the audio band, reducing their impact on the musical signal.
The second stage employs low-noise regulators that stabilize supply voltages with extreme precision. These regulators use components selected for their low noise contribution and thermal stability. The third, more innovative stage implements active noise suppression via current injection. This system detects, in real time, noise components present on the supply rails and generates an out-of-phase current to cancel them—a principle similar to active noise-canceling headphones, but applied to the electrical domain.
The master clock, a critical element for temporal precision in conversion, has its own battery power supply. This total galvanic isolation of the clock circuit eliminates any parasitic modulation that could originate from the mains or other circuits. The dedicated clock generator synchronizes not only the converters, but the entire digital chain, ensuring temporal coherence from disc reading to the analog output.
Pure Disc Playback mode represents a radical approach to CD and SACD playback. When activated, all circuits non-essential to disc playback are physically disconnected from the power supply. The display turns off, network circuits are cut, and the USB interface is disabled. Only the transport mechanism, converters, analog circuits, and dedicated power supply remain active.
This selective shutdown drastically reduces internal electrical noise. The high-frequency digital circuits of the network module, which are particularly prone to generating interference, cease all activity. The main processor switches to a minimal mode, reducing its consumption and thus its electromagnetic radiation. Even the remote control’s sensitivity is reduced to limit the infrared receiver’s activity.
The SACD transport mechanism, developed specifically for this high-resolution format, uses a servo mechanism optimized for reading both layers of a hybrid disc. The laser can switch between the standard CD (Red Book) layer and the high-density SACD layer without audible interruption. The system maintains tracking precision with less than 0.01% speed variation, ensuring stable playback even on slightly warped discs.
The SL-G700M2 naturally plays audio CDs and CD-R/RW, but its real strength lies in its ability to natively decode stereo SACDs. The SACD format, with its 2.8 MHz DSD sampling, offers a theoretical bandwidth up to 50 kHz and a dynamic range of 110 dB. The player also handles MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) CDs, fully unfolding all three encoding levels to reproduce the original studio master.
On the network side, compatibility extends to PCM files up to 32-bit/384 kHz and DSD files up to 11.2 MHz (DSD256). FLAC and ALAC are decoded up to 24-bit/384 kHz, while WAV and AIFF accept native 32-bit. This versatility enables playback of virtually all commercially available high-resolution audio files.
The integration of Chromecast and AirPlay 2 protocols turns the SL-G700M2 into a receiver for streaming services. Spotify Connect, Tidal, Qobuz, Deezer, and Amazon Music are directly accessible, with native decoding of hi-res streams where available. Roon Ready certification (after a firmware update) allows integration into a Roon ecosystem, with centralized library management and configurable upsampling.
The USB-B port, new to this M2 version, accepts signals up to 384 kHz/32-bit in PCM and DSD256 in asynchronous USB Audio Class 2.0 mode. This direct computer connection turns the SL-G700M2 into a high-performance external DAC, fully leveraging its conversion circuits and optimized analog output stage.
The M2 replaces the hard-to-source AKM AK4497 DAC chips with ESS ES9026PROs in a dual-mono configuration. It adds a USB-B port absent from the original model, enabling direct computer connection. The power supply has been optimized with a switching frequency raised to 300 kHz and the addition of active noise suppression via current injection. Responsiveness to commands has been significantly improved.
The mode physically disables all non-essential circuits, lowering the noise floor by several decibels. On a highly resolving system, the difference manifests as a blacker background and better separation of micro-details. The effect remains subtle on standard systems but becomes more noticeable with high-sensitivity speakers or headphones.
The processing analyzes incoming PCM signals and predicts the phase and amplitude distortions that will occur during conversion. A proprietary DSP then applies an inverse pre-correction before sending the signal to the DACs. This preventive compensation improves transient accuracy and the signal’s temporal coherence.
Yes, via the USB-B input for a computer, or the coaxial and optical digital inputs for other sources. The conversion circuits and analog output stage remain identical regardless of the source. Volume can be fixed or variable as needed. Conversion quality rivals dedicated DACs sold at the same price.
Listening tests generally reveal a slight advantage for physical CDs, with more body and naturalness in the presentation. This difference can be explained by the absence of network processing and direct data reading. However, the gap remains marginal and may not justify building a physical CD collection if you prioritize the convenience of streaming.
Frank
Top product!
In this price range, nothing comes close to the Technics SL-G700 M2
Comment from January 02, 2026 — Experience from December 15, 2025
Moustakim
Really comprehensive, I don’t regret my purchase at all 👍
Comment from October 20, 2025 — Experience from September 21, 2025
Leonard
I would like to draw your attention to issues with the Google Cast implementation in the SL-G700M2 network player. Despite a specification of up to 96 kHz/24-bit, all streams are reduced to 48 kHz, which is neither stated in the documentation nor meets the standards of a high-end device.
In addition, Google Cast does not work reliably with the BubbleUPnP and mConnect Android apps. Only files with a resolution below 96 kHz are streamed correctly from the Audirvana Studio app – the sound is noticeably distorted with high-res files. No connection can be established at all with the Qobuz app.
Comment from July 24, 2025 — Experience from July 15, 2025
