I love the look of Technics’ new wireless stereo speakers, but especially the strange microfiber covering
Technics has unveiled its first-ever wireless stereo speakers, the SC-CX700. They’ve got a bunch of cool features, and one very unusual element that I didn’t notice until I saw them in person at IFA 2024: a microfibre fabric finish.
So, first the audio part: these are active speakers with their own amplification. They even have a phono MM input, so you can connect one of the best turntables without the need for an extra preamp, and HDMI ARC to connect to your TV as an alternative to a soundbar.
They are a two-way design, with the tweeter in the centre of the woofer, in a design very similar to KEF’s Uni-Q driver as used in the fantastic KEF LS50 Mk II – which these are strikingly similar in function to. A front-firing bass port should aid bass prowess.
In addition to the connections mentioned above, they also have a 3.5mm jack connection, a USB-C connection and Ethernet. There is also Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for streaming.
The technique was not very detailed, but there were appears to be a PDF of the online user manualand assuming it’s true, it reveals a whole lot more, including the hi-res audio chops involved. It looks like streaming FLAC and ALAC will be supported up to 24-bit/384kHz. Over USB-C, there’s DSD and LPCM support.
The Technics Music Center app lets you stream Spotify, Tidal, Deezer, Amazon Music and Qobuz. There’s also AirPlay 2 and Google Cast support. There’s no mention of higher-quality Bluetooth versions being supported, though.
They come with a remote control to switch inputs and control playback. And I should note that they are not completely wireless – they have to be connected to each other using a supplied cable.
All this tech doesn’t come cheap: they’ll cost £2,399 (around $3,100 / AU$4,700) and will be available from October 2024.
Now, about the exterior. They come in three finishes – Charcoal Black, Silky Grey, and Terracotta Brown – and unlike all the entries on our list of the best stereo speakers that have boring materials like “wood” on the outside, these are covered in a “stylish microfiber material that feels like suede and easily integrates into any home aesthetic,” according to Technics.
I completely missed this in the announcement, and when I went to see them at Panasonic’s IFA stand (Technics is owned by Panasonic), I looked twice. They have a soft, fine texture across the entire colored portion of the body, which catches the light with a sheen unlike anything you get from any veneer.
It feels very 70s and I actually love it, especially in the Terracotta colour. It’s hard to see from a distance, but get close enough and you’ll think “wait a minute, that’s not what a solid surface looks like”. It’s a nice little aesthetic twist and I’d love to have a pair of these – but strictly with the all-black circular speaker cover off, as in these photos, as they look much better with the shiny, pointy tweeter exposed.
Unfortunately I couldn’t hear them in action, especially since they were positioned next to Technics’ new SL-1300G turntable, the new flagship spinner and dare to be a superior successor to the legendary Technics SL-1200 (which still exists, don’t worry). I would have liked to see how that combo turned out – but we’ll review them in due time.
