John Darko
From the floor of IFA in Berlin, Technics has announced a pair of streaming active standmount loudspeakers. Details are sketchy at the time of writing* [see footnote] but the SC-CX700 reportedly support Bluetooth, Google Cast, Apple AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect with Tidal, Amazon Music and Deezer folded into the accompanying Audio Centre app. That app also features Technics’ SpaceTune placement/room compensation software whose microphone measurement system is – according to the small print – iOS only. Playback can additionally be controlled by the supplied IR wand or the control panel found on the primary loudspeaker.
Technics tells us that the SC-CX700’s cabinet is internally divided into two sections: the rear section houses the JENO-Engine amplification that powers the speaker driver in the front section. That driver is a coaxial design called a “Phase Precision Driver 4”. From Technics’ website materials: “The newly developed coaxial unit features a lightweight ring tweeter that allows the sound to rise and converge quickly, enabling faithful sound reproduction.” We are also told that the driver’s Model-Based Diaphragm Control (MBDC) “allows unparalleled motion control of the driver for ultimate sonic purity – even at very high sound pressure levels.”. However, we’re not told how big it is nor how many Watts its separate tweeter and mid-bass sections receive from the amplifier.
The “Smooth Flow” bass reflex slot port fires frontwards and we can only presume that the presence of SpaceTune means the crossover is done in DSP.
On the back panel of the primary box, we note connectors for MM phono, line-level analogue, USB-C, TOSLINK, HDMI ARC for TVs and a subwoofer output. It looks as if the secondary speaker can be paired wirelessly or connected via an Ethernet cable. Should you wish to avoid primary speaker cable vomit – as is common with active speakers of this stripe – you’ll need to place the SC-CX700 on a low board or stands with cable management.
The twist? The SC-CX700 come wrapped in a microfibre material called Dinamica™. Your choice of three colours: Charcoal Black, Silky Grey and Terracotta Brown.
Shipping begins in December 2024 at €2499 or $2999 per pair.
UPDATE 8th September! A Roon representative got in touch to let me (us!) know that the SC-CX700 are already Roon Ready certified. 👌🏻
Further information: Technics
* The “download catalogue and full specs” button on Technics’ US website was happy to take my email address but gave me a “null.html” in return.
