I jumped when asked if I wanted to review the latest Technics offering of an active wireless speaker system. I’ve been a big fan of the brand since my university days when DJ friends signed their paychecks away on hire-purchase agreements for Technics’ legendary SL-1200 turntables. These days, Technics isn’t just a legacy brand but has renewed itself with a line of high-fidelity electronics that’s technologically innovative. Check out leading-edge digital amps like the SU-G700M2 (review here) if you don’t believe me. Meanwhile, they still make extraordinary turntables, many of them related in spirit to the SL-1200 but far more in tune with 2024 audiophile sensibilities.

But that’s not why I’m here today. As hinted above, I’ve been immersing myself in Technics’ first-ever wireless speaker system, the SC-CX700. Wireless speakers, of course, are everywhere at the moment, but the fact that the SC-CX700 is one of the Technics ‘Premium Class’ products is a fair indication that these are not just another bog-standard duo. The premium active speaker space up to now has been dominated by KEF’s LS50 wireless II range, so I was rather keen to put these wee beauties through the Wade Booth testing laboratory (my ears).

Setup

The SC-CX700 arrived in understated, eco-friendly packaging, which has become a growing trend for many premium audio brands. There’s no expanded polystyrene here, just intelligently designed cardboard that safely protects the speakers and accessories. While some might miss the high-end unboxing experience often associated with premium devices, I appreciate the minimal-waste approach, especially when there’s no compromise on product safety.

Ease of access is key, and Technics has designed the SC-CX700s with plug-and-play functionality in mind. Simply set the toggle to designate which side is the left or right speaker, plug in the power, and you’re ready to go.

Once I pulled the speakers out, the first thing that struck me was their heft, which is usually a good sign in any speaker but particularly notable in a bookshelf speaker, as weight often indicates solid construction and resonance-reducing internal componentry. The speakers feel like they’ve got a block of iron in them, and given that all the electronics are built-in, this is reassuring. Set-up couldn’t have been simpler: just two power cables, one to each powered speaker, and a network cable to link the pair, and away I went. (Of course, the network cable isn’t necessary if you opt for wireless, but personally, I always prefer to wire if available just to minimise the inevitable occasional disruptions to service.)

Look and feel

The design sets the SC-CX700 apart from many competitors. The most noticeable design feature is the soft-touch sides wrapped in Dinamica™ microfiber. In the Charcoal Black version I reviewed, this wasn’t immediately apparent until I touched them, but the other colour options -Terracotta Brown and Silky Grey – make the microfiber texture stand out more. The material adds a premium, suede-like feel and differentiates these speakers visually from others in the high-end wireless space. (The speakers are front-ported, but down the sides, there are also little intakes for cooling the amp and electronics, if anyone was wondering).

Another aesthetic touch includes the removable speaker grilles, which add versatility for those who prefer the more traditional “grilled” look or a cleaner, more modern aesthetic with the grilles off.

On top of the main speaker unit is a selection of buttons for all the major requirements if you are in the proximity of the speaker, but it also comes with a nice little remote control that has all of the required volume, play, pause and source buttons. On the back of one of the speakers are the expected connections of an active speaker system like this: 3.5mm input, Optical, USB-c, Sub out, LAN, but this one also comes with an HDMI eArc port for connecting to external video sources like a television. (There’s also a phono input, and Technics points out that its quality phono stage is a key difference from competitors like the aforementioned Kef).

The App

Now, a quick caveat: I was testing a pre-release version of the app, and it received regular updates throughout my review period, but because it wasn’t the final version, things weren’t as flawless as they will soon be.

The app instantly found the SC-CX700 system and guided me through the set-up with ease. The interface is clean and tile-based, separating streaming services, device connections, and other sources within your home network. While customization options are somewhat limited, all the expected services are there: Tidal, Spotify, Deezer, Qobuz, Apple Airplay, Google Cast, Amazon Music and internet radio. The system is also now Roon-certified, rounding out its credentials as a high-end streaming solution. One interesting feature was the ability to choose the colour of your speakers so that the icon in the app matches your system. That’s a nice touch.

A standout feature is the Space Tune software, designed to optimise sound based on speaker placement. There are several preset tuning options: Free for open areas, Wall for speakers positioned against a wall, Corner for tight spaces, In a Shelf for boxed-in placement, and L/R Custom to mix and match settings for non-ideal arrangements. The Auto mode uses the speaker’s internal microphone to detect its surroundings and make adjustments accordingly. The Measured mode takes it up a notch, utilising your smartphone’s mic to assess room acoustics and deliver tailored sound similar to systems like Audyssey or Sonos Trueplay.

Listening Experience

For my listening sessions, I primarily used the Tidal integration within the app. While the sound quality was fantastic, load times were notably slow. Selecting a track often brought up a spinning wheel with the word “reading,” and navigating through pages in Tidal to get to a specific song could be frustrating. If you exited the app and wanted to choose a different track later, you had to go through the same slow-loading process. The Time To Music (TTM) is longer than expected, especially for a premium product. Again, maybe this is something that will be improved as the product goes to market.

That said, once the music got going, the sound was much better. The vocals were clear and lifted beautifully above the instrumentation. I did notice some slight muddiness in the lower frequencies initially, but after a couple of tweaks to speaker positioning and trying in a different room, I ran the Space Tune Auto calibration, and the bass improved significantly. I then received an update that enabled the Measured feature, which fine-tuned the sound even further, delivering a well-defined soundstage in my primary listening position.

Listening

I tested the SC-CX700 speakers with a range of music to put them through their paces, and three tracks stood out in particular.

Radiohead’s ‘Everything In Its Right Place’ from their album Kid A is a fantastic track for testing the SC-CX700’s ability to handle electronic elements and complex textures. The song opens with ethereal synths that float across the stereo field, and the speakers did a remarkable job with high-frequency clarity. Each note felt distinct and precise, hovering delicately without any harshness. The hypnotic layering of Thom Yorke’s vocals, which pan from left to right, was especially well-defined, allowing the speakers to showcase their separation capabilities. The vocals remained clean and haunting to a point, highlighting the speaker’s ability to handle atmospheric, spacious soundscapes with only slight pitchiness at the higher frequencies and not collapsing into muddiness.

As the track progresses, the bass-heavy synths and deeper low-end pulses reveal some of the SC-CX700’s limitations. While the midrange remained smooth during quieter moments, the introduction of deep bass notes caused a bit of congestion in the lower mids. This slightly blurred the distinction between the song’s subtler elements and the deeper, throbbing bass. Though not overwhelming, the lower frequencies lacked the punch required to drive the track’s hypnotic rhythm. Despite this, the overall listening experience was engaging, especially in the upper frequencies, making this an excellent track to showcase the SC-CX700’s high-range detail and separation.

Chaka Khan’s ‘Ain’t Nobody’ is a timeless ‘80s R&B/funk track and given its release during the heyday of the Technics SL-1200 MK2, it’s a perfect song to test the SC-CX700’s handling of energetic, layered production. Chaka’s powerful vocals come through with incredible clarity, sitting confidently atop the punchy, upbeat rhythm. It particularly shines in the upper frequencies, delivering sparkling synth flourishes and crisp hi-hats with precision. This creates a lively and dynamic sound that stays true to the song’s dance-floor origins.

When the deep bass groove and electronic drum hits came in, the SC-CX700 did a decent job of keeping the energy alive, but the bass lacked the weight and punch that drives the dancefloor energy of the song. While the midrange remained warm and smooth, there was that slight overlap when the full arrangement kicked in, particularly when the bassline and vocals overlapped during the chorus. However, the overall listening experience was engaging, with the speakers maintaining the rhythm and high-end sparkle, making it easy to appreciate the timeless appeal of this track. For fans of the genre, the SC-CX700 captures the essence of the era, with just enough detail to bring you back to those Technics-driven dance floors.

Alicia Keys’ ‘Un-Thinkable (I’m Ready)’ is an excellent choice for testing the SC-CX700’s ability to handle smooth R&B vocals, deep harmonies, and rich production. From the very first note, Alicia’s soulful voice comes through with a warmth and clarity that these speakers excel at reproducing. Her vocals sit front and centre in the mix, while the SC-CX700 delivers the backing harmonies with excellent separation, allowing each layer of sound to be distinct. The crispness of the subtle snare drum and the soft piano in the background further highlight the speaker’s strong high-range performance.

As the instrumentation builds, the SC-CX700 maintains the song’s rich, warm tone, keeping the balance between Alicia’s voice and the surrounding production intact. Even as the track crescendos, the focus stays on the vocals and nuanced details, allowing for a listening experience that feels full yet controlled. The song’s layered production, with its smooth transitions and atmospheric feel, benefits from the SC-CX700’s excellent handling of midrange frequencies, making this a standout performance for those who prioritise vocal clarity and refined production in R&B tracks.

Across all the songs above, the music would benefit from an external subwoofer connected to the Subwoofer output, available on the rear of the unit, to deliver in a larger listening space and take a bit of that mid to low pressure away from the speakers. The drivers themselves are only 15cm, 60-watt woofers so asking them to do too much bass work while delivering a solid midrange is a tough ask. As they say, there’s no replacement for displacement.

Testing these on my Pro-Ject turntable, however, was a great example of where these units shine. Their Phono input on the rear can take MM (moving magnet) turntables with ease,  making the most of the mid to high frequencies and not suffering too much from the lack of bass that can sometimes be a feature of vinyl recordings.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the Technics SC-CX700 Premium Class Wireless Speaker delivers an outstanding balance of design, functionality and sound performance. While the app’s feature set and responsiveness could use some work at the time of writing, the Space Tune technology is a game-changer, especially for those who don’t have perfectly tuned rooms. The build quality and attention to detail give these speakers a luxurious feel, and once everything is dialled in, the sound quality is well delivered. For those looking for premium wireless speakers that combine style, eco-friendly design, and optimal sound space technology, the SC-CX700 is a solid choice.

IMPORTANT NOTE: As of 2 December 2024, Technics has upgraded its Roon support from Chromecast to the official Roon Ready support. Roon servers allow listeners to browse their personal music catalogue and share it to connected devices with the guarantee that the stream will be optimised and no degradation will happen to the file. There have also been firmware updates to Tidal Connect, which allows direct connection to Tidal servers for optimised playback. The benefits of Tidal’s native interface include high-quality streaming direct to stereo and volume control via the Tidal app. Make sure to download the firmware updates to take advantage of these features. 

https://www.technics.com/nz/