Analog Gear News

Technics have announced two new turntables, the SL-50C and the SL-40CBT, both of which saw their official U.S. debut at CEDIA in Denver. At first glance, these two belt-driven turntable models look almost identical. But differences between them — some important ones — are found in a few features and details. You could call them variations on a theme.

Much of these two new tables’ mechanics and most of their fundamental parts are the same, as is their SRP (which we’ll clarify at the end of this post). Essentially, the main questions for a potential customer for either/both of these tables would be: a) Do you want Bluetooth connectivity, or wired; b) Are you seeking an included cartridge upgrade; and c) How about the ability to spin 78s? Let’s see what’s what between the two.

The SL-40CBT (above) is equipped for Bluetooth connectivity — Qualcomm’s aptX Adaptive, SBC — while the SL-50C is not. Unlike the SL-40CBT, however, the SL-50C (below) has a 78rpm option in addition to 33⅓ and 45rpm playback speeds.

Also noteworthy are the ways these two turntables differ from some of Technics’ other SL series models, which include both audiophile and pro-audio offerings. Both the SL-50C and SL-40CBT are intended for a hi-fi audience rather than a professional one, per se. They both incorporate the same single-rotor coreless motor — which uses stators without iron core to minimize cogging — and drive system technologies found in the company’s higher-end SL-1500C and SL-1200MK7 turntables.

The system uses a 12-pole, 9-coil, three-phase brushless motor. Among the sonic results reported include greater rotational accuracy, reduced wow and flutter, and improved signal-to-noise ratio (S/N). Its digital motor control is microcontroller-based, and it supports more stable speed control compared to more traditional analog methods, according to Technics. The SL-50C (above, with the dustcover on) and SL-40CBT (below) deploy a built-in power supply with low-noises SMPS circuitry.

The SL-50C and SL-40CBT tables each contain a built-in MM phono preamp that can be defeated with a shift of the toggle switch on back (from phono to line); that said, vinyl aficionados who prefer to use their own outboard phono preamp can plug into the other RCA output pair. The built-in phono-pre’s EQ is said to be “optimized” for the provided MM cartridges, depending on the model. Each table ships with the cart pre-installed and factory-calibrated on an interchangeable headshell — an Audio-Technica AT-VM95C on the SL-40CBT, and an Ortofon 2M Red on the SL-50C. They each come mounted on Technics’ classic S-shaped tonearm.

The two tables also come in three color options: Black (K), Silky Gray (H), and Terracotta (T), the latter of which is seen above. If you’re wondering what’s with those parenthetical notations, each color is designated by a hyphen and an additional letter at end of each model name — e.g., SL-50C-K, SL-50C-H, etc.

The trio of color options also coordinate with the finishes on Technics’ SC-CX700 wireless active bookshelf speaker systems that were released last year. If you appreciate a matching color scheme, these make for an attractive setup (see below).

Finally, the SL-50C and SL-40CBT turntables share the same respective SRP of $899.99, and they are expected to arrive from late September 2025 onwards. (Footnote 1)

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