Very precise, very accurate and neutral. It reveals flaws in setup with great transparancy. It has many functions, good remote controller, nice option to run strictly on battery mode.

The MC-circuit is quite sensitive, but the quality of it is not good enough. Bass is almost not present, and when boosting bass, sound becomes ... fuzzy. I tested with aid of an Onkyo P308 from end 80'ies, which had a better(!) MC circuit! The circuit is simply not good enough for a dedicated listener. Too bad I bought it for this exact option, which of course affects my valuation.

This preamp is great! I like it's particular untouched sound (tone control can be defeated), and nice slim design. For the money I spent on it, it is truly exceptional. Technics has produced a variety of products of different qualities, but this thing is in the really good end!

Similar Products Used:

Onkyo P308

SUC 1000 preamp: ALL SUA 1000 power amp: Dynamics, lot of power, great bass extension, midband frequency clarity.

SUC 1000 preamp NONE SUA 1000 power amp: slight hardening in voices at very high volume level tha could determine only a fatigue in long hearing without a really distorsion.

SUC 1000: no audible noise in battery pack mode. Lot of detail in instruments. Multiinstrumentals tracks are well definied. Midband frequencies are so soft. No compression. SEA 1000 power amp: DYNAMICS! a lot of power but you could hear some hardeding at high levels. Not a really distorsion but a sort of slight hardening in voice. Anyway if you have efficient speaker (90db or more) you should not worry of volume level. You can't turn up the volume over 30% or policemans will be soon in your house. It is a little loose in hard bass in reference to my rotel 980bx (hip hop, techno, but it'snt my music).

Similar Products Used:

LUXMAN 105u, HK 6800, Hitachi 5700, Mcintosh 2225, Rotel 970bx/cx, Rotel 990cx/980bx, NAD 2200, NAD C160, NAD c270, Nad C350, Technics SUA900, and so on.

Sound quality, transparent, very stable stereo image, never confused also in simphonic orchestra "pienissimo", silent on both ac and battery operation (this last I use only for phono audition)

Actually none, it never failed the operation in over two years, the battery seems in good shape and I never had to change it until now.

Very good opportunity to have a piece of component cheap, well realised, with advanced technology of operation and an exceptional sound quality.
Very good balance and symmetrical channels, the midrange is accurate as the treble are never harsh (except when really on the signal!) very good bass control and articulation.
Complete functions on front panel hopefully with tone control defeat push button; complete line and phono inputs with very good phono stage, silent and musical.
The remote control is plenty of controls and operates perfectly.
It is presently included in my system composed by:
Technics SLPS770D CD Player
Technics SL 1200 turntable with Sumiko Blue Point Special moving coil cartridge
The output from the SU C 1000 is fed to a Marchand XM9 active crossover (200 Hz); it is a great unit that I higly reccommend to anybody will go in direction of multi amplification.
Two separate Technics Power Amplifiers SE A1000D (one for left one for right channel to have a dual stereo multi amplification) provide to amplify the signal below and above the crossover point.
The three way (and three wired!) self made loudspeakers have the woofer directly connected to the amplifier operating below 200 Hz (Tremendous improvement! the damping factor give an impressive control on bass with my Peerless RS100 10" woofer tuned down to 23.4 Hz).
The second stereo channel of each amplifer drive the DAVIS 5" kevlar midrange and the TLT Peerless 1/2" dome tweeter throug a passive crossover that include Solen litz air inductors and propylene capacitors (no electrolitics); this is another huge sound improvement.
The SU C 1000 with the other Technics components (in my mind components from the same manufacturer can drive to better matching) gives a spacious, airy ans never fatiguing sound; you can hear at the system for hours without problems and with some disc, very well recorded, it wake up your attention to the sound also if you are reading a book!
Its sounds as most of very expensive hi-end systems; obviously everithing has been adjusted to obtain the best (cables, ac supply rf filters, speaker positioning, etc.)

Similar Products Used:

None previously I had integrated amplifiers only.

This pre is a honey/sleeper with a dual personality. It has the option to be operated in a dc mode; whenever the battery is engaged the background noisedrops appreciably. I normally listen in ac mode and reserve the dc/battery
for critical listening. I have had this pre for over two years and haven't
had to replace the battery.. I think it costs about $60. Oh, and it is fully
remote-volume AND function. Yeah, how good could a $250. pre-amp sound? Well, this pre is only okay in AC, but it's true musicality comes alive
when I opt to press the battery mode button. The rest of my system: modified Pioneer PD-65 cd player,..CArver ALIII+ speakers,..bi-amped with Spectron digital amp and a home made single ended 6LQ6 output-tube based amp for the ribbon.

Able to express the music/song details faithfully even without the selection of Battery Drive Power Supply(BDPS)mode

DC batteries compartment need charging after approximately 8 hours of operations in BDPS mode

I was amazed to notice of how good this pre-amp sound when I compared to other more expensive amp. Treble, bass and vocal are well expressed. Even with the Battery Drive Power Supply mode off(this is a button for you to select for DC power drive to the unit for serious sound performance), the R-core transformer designed power-amp never diappoint me. But when BDPS is selected, be aware, the background now more silent with good clarity of musical details which I think may on par or even embarass some higher price amp. Considering the price, this is one worthy amp to audit.