- Building on the ΔΣ-Drive motor control technology introduced last year with the Technics SL-1200GR, the new Technics SL-1300G is now available.
Record players from the Panasonic Corporation of the Technics brand have always been characterised by the fact that they are direct-drive turntables. Fans of the Technics brand and its record players swear that this drive technology is the best of all possible designs. It will therefore come as no surprise that Panasonic Corporation is now emphasising its drive system at the presentation of the latest Technics Grand Class record player at IFA 2024 in Berlin.
In particular, the drive now used in the Technics SL-1300G is intended to raise the precision of direct-drive turntables to a new level, as it utilises so-called ΔΣ-Drive motor control technology.
ΔΣ-Drive motor control technology now in the Technics Grand Class
According to Panasonic Corporation, the so-called ΔΣ-Drive motor control technology was first used in the Technics SL-1200GR2, which was presented last year at IFA 2023, and now it is time to offer this outstanding and, from the Japanese point of view, even groundbreaking technology in a higher class, namely in the Technics Grand Class.
“By utilising this ground-breaking drive technology called ΔΣ-Drive in combination with a highly advanced iron coreless motor, we were extremely impressed with the sonic impact of such a strategy during our development process. The elimination of minute motor vibrations and the sound gain from the ΔΣ-Drive technology are proof that we have found the ultimate motor control technology, the benefits of which can also be transferred to our large turntable models for the ultimate analogue vinyl enjoyment. The SL-1300G is our latest coup, demonstrating that Technics‘ expertise in turntables is truly unique.”
Frank Balzuweit, Senior Product Manager at Technics Europe
ΔΣ-Drive ensures that a perfect sine wave signal is available for the record player’s iron coreless direct drive motor. This is a motor control signal that is formed from a PWM signal generated via delta-sigma modulation.
Once again, this is based on technologies developed for the company’s High-end HiFi components, in this case the high-precision 1-bit D/A conversion of the Technics JENO Engine and thus the centrepiece of the Technics brand’s fully digital amplifier systems.
An absolutely perfect sine wave signal has a decisive influence, especially on the suppression of those motor resonances that overlap with the natural resonances of conventional tonearm and cartridge combinations, so that the precision of the pick-up is drastically improved in this way.
As already mentioned, this technology was first used in the Technics SL-1200GR2, and in the new Technics SL-1300G it has been refined even further, as emphasised by Panasonic Corp.
More powerful motor
The new Technics SL-1300G has an iron-core-free motor with a double rotor and single stator, whose drive power is significantly higher than that of the simpler version with just one rotor and one stator, as used in the Technics SL-1200GR2. Due to the cogging-free, iron-core-free design, the running smoothness of this higher motor version is said to be downright impressive, as promised by Panasonic Corporation.
More solid platter in three layers
The more powerful motor makes it possible to use a more solid platter, the second key feature that distinguishes the new Technics SL-1300G from the Technics SL-1200GR2.
The platter consists of three layers, namely a base made of die-cast aluminium for maximum rigidity, a firmly connected layer of 2 mm thick brass to suppress vibrations and, in addition, an appealing design and elegant feel, as well as heavy rubber on the underside of the platter, which should also effectively dampen any residual vibrations.
The Technics SL-1000R reference turntable was used as a model for the development of the new Technics SL-1300G switching power supply, which is a combination of a low-noise high-speed power supply that operates at over 100 kHz and a noise suppression circuit that cancels out the remaining noise by feeding in the current in phase opposition to the noise.
Two-layer chassis
The chassis of the new Technics SL-1300G has two layers, namely die-cast aluminium and BMC, which stands for Bulk Moulding Compound. In the new Technics SL-1300G, the thickness of the lower chassis, i.e. the die-cast aluminium chassis, has been made more generous to guarantee particularly high rigidity and better vibration damping.
The underside of the chassis plate between the motor and tonearm also has an ingenious ribbed structure that keeps mechanical motor vibrations even further away from the tonearm to ensure an undisturbed scanning process, as emphasised by the manufacturer.
S-shaped tonearm made of aluminium
The Technics SL-1300G is equipped with an S-shaped tonearm made of aluminium, which is designed to guarantee precise tracking at all times. In the tried-and-tested manner, this ends in an SME-compatible bayonet lock so that a wide variety of pickup systems can be easily used by means of a removable headshell.
Finally, it should also be mentioned that the turntable rests on highly effective damping feet, so that external vibrations are also prevented at the outset and cannot have a detrimental effect on the sound.
Prices and availability
According to the manufacturer, the new Technics SL-1300G will be available from October 2024 in the colours silver and black, with a recommended retail price of € 2.999,-.
Getting to the point
With the new Technics SL-1300G, the revolutionary motor control that Panasonic Corporation first introduced with the Technics SL-1200GR2 will now be available in a higher class, namely in the Technics Grand Class, namely the so-called ΔΣ-Drive motor control technology. Coupled with some very significant improvements – a more powerful motor, a more solid platter – the aim is to offer a Technics brand turntable with the highest precision, in which a timelessly elegant, minimalist design emphasises the technical concept – purity and straightforwardness.
| PRODUCT | Technics SL-1300G Direct-drive Turntable |
|---|---|
| Price | € 2.999,- |
| Brand | TECHNICS |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Panasonic Corporation |
| Distribution | Panasonic Deutschland – Eine Division der Panasonic Marketing Europe GmbH |
| More about this manufacturer at HIFI BLOG |
