Technics Turntables, A Big Deal?

The big news overnight to come out of IFA 2015, Europe's version of the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show, was Technics' change of heart on producing a turntable in the product range.
Technics announced their comeback this time last year, as reported here, after fading away in the early 2000s. With some seemingly impressive products at launch, reviews have not been so positive, but of most surprising was Technics' comment to StereoNET in no uncertain terms "no plans for a turntable in the range". What a difference one year can make.
So you can imagine our surprise to be greeted this morning by news outlets touting "Technics announce its new-and-improved turntable" announced by executives of the Panasonic owned Technics brand, at the IFA press conference. “We are sure that retailers and consumers will understand that our product range has to reflect the accelerating transformation of the entire audio market from analogue to digital.”
We don't blame them really for succumbing to consumer interest and demand. Give the people what they want.
The prototype presented featured a machined aluminium direct drive direct drive turntable, with styling seemingly matched to the other products in the Technics range. Panasonic said that "The analog turntable will be completely rebuilt, with new elements at every level." In tribute to the legendary SP10 and SL-1200 models of yesteryear, they've also said the design will reflect these classic turntables.
Whilst only a prototype at this stage, production units are said to become available sometime between April 2016 and March 2017.
What do you think of the styling? Let us know in the comments below.

Marc Rushton
StereoNET’s Founder and Publisher was born in England and raised on British Hi-Fi before moving to Australia. He developed an early love of music and playing bass guitar before discovering the studio and the other side of the mixing desk. After writing for print magazines, Marc saw the future in digital publishing and founded the first version of StereoNET in 1999.
Posted in: Hi-Fi
JOIN IN THE DISCUSSION
Want to share your opinion or get advice from other enthusiasts? Then head into the Message
Forums where thousands of other enthusiasts are communicating on a daily basis.
CLICK HERE FOR FREE MEMBERSHIP
Trending
applause awards
Each time StereoNET reviews a product, it is considered for an Applause Award. Winning one marks it out as a design of great quality and distinction – a special product in its class, on the grounds of either performance, value for money, or usually both.
Applause Awards are personally issued by StereoNET’s global Editor-in-Chief, David Price – who has over three decades of experience reviewing hi-fi products at the highest level – after consulting with our senior editorial team. They are not automatically given with all reviews, nor can manufacturers purchase them.
The StereoNET editorial team includes some of the world’s most experienced and respected hi-fi journalists with a vast wealth of knowledge. Some have edited popular English language hi-fi magazines, and others have been senior contributors to famous audio journals stretching back to the late 1970s. And we also employ professional IT and home theatre specialists who work at the cutting edge of today’s technology.
We believe that no other online hi-fi and home cinema resource offers such expert knowledge, so when StereoNET gives an Applause Award, it is a trustworthy hallmark of quality. Receiving such an award is the prerequisite to becoming eligible for our annual Product of the Year awards, awarded only to the finest designs in their respective categories. Buyers of hi-fi, home cinema, and headphones can be sure that a StereoNET Applause Award winner is worthy of your most serious attention.