Technics Premium C700 review

Obviously any Technics relaunch comes burdened with high expectations. Thankfully the C700 doesn't disappoint.

Sonic quality is several cuts above the mainstream.

This self-proclaimed Premium package produces a highly refined sound, a rarefied realism. The speakers are revelatory, creating a soundstage of almost physical depth. Imaging is precise, with vocals and instruments spatially coherent.

The ST-C700 network player handlesMP3, WMA, FLAC, WAV, AIFF (up to 192kHz 24bit), ALAC (up to 96kHz 24bit), AAC and DSD. Almost Like Being in Love, a live rendition of the Nat King Cole classic, covered by Joe Stilgoe for Linn Records (24 bit/ 192 kHz), has a delicious musicality, with dancing jazz piano and infectious double bass.

The presentation has an air and clarity befitting that ticket price.

Rated at 45W p/c into 8 Ohms, the amplifier has reasonable digital cojones. It's surprisingly dynamic for such a small box, able to scale heights without sounding stressed or scrappy. Highs are crisp and sweet.

Pushed hard it verges on the cruelly constrained, coming across like an over-excited butler - but Jeeves never loses his cool.

Naturally you can connect over Bluetooth. Just pair devices and start streaming. Blue Swede's Hooked on a Feeling (from The Guardian of the Galaxy OST) via Spotify brings a broad smile – provided you remember to engage the Remaster mode on the network player.

Technics' Remastering system covers a multitude of sins, and even makes low bitrate MP3 sound stupidly good. A 256kbps MP3 of Akatsuki by BabyMetal is intoxicating– soaring K-pop cutesy vocals and speed metal presented with clarity rather than thrashy mush.