This Technics combo tackles multichannel sound from an altogether different angle. The SU-C1010 is actually a stereo preamp with a (volume controlled) 5.1 channel throughput. There is no on-board digital trickery at all, so a DVD player with built-in decoders and a 5.1 channel output is essential. Add to this a trio of 70 Watt stereo power amplifiers and - hey, presto! - you've got multichannel amplification.

Theoretically at least, this solution could offer the ultimate in minimalist multichannel audio. The low-voltage digital
processing is far removed from high-voltage business of amplification and the set-up procedure is greatly simplified. In addition, you can bi-wire every channel and, if you have an active subwoofer, use the spare sixth channel to bi-amp the centre speaker - always a worthwhile exercise.

On the down-side, control over the speaker set-up is limited to what the DVD player has on offer. This usually amounts to no more than relative volume adjustment. Speaker size, placement and delay settings cannot be tweaked, although this should not prove a major obstacle unless you have an odd assortment of speakers or an oddly shaped room.

Certainly for £1,350, the Technics package offers a whole lot of kit for the money. The four-box approach is going to take up a major chunk of living space and the cosmetic retro-madness of six analogue power meters is a matter of personal taste (but I love it). Despite having effective cooling fans on the power amps, don't be tempted to stack them up. The heat still builds up and the somewhat mass-market build quality creaks alarmingly under the weight.

Sound quality
For multichannel sound, the Technics set-up is very much at the mercy of the source equipment's processing ability. Sure enough, the Denon DVD-A player's solid bass and up-front approach (see issue 213) shines through. At normal listening levels, the Larisa Stow DVD-A is sparklingly portrayed, tuneful and tonally accurate, if lacking in detailed separation of individual instruments.

This penchant for the delicate extends to stereo, as both the Beverley Craven CD and Wynton Marsalis SACD have good projection and bite. Bass is punchy, but warmth is definitely not on the menu. But picking up the pace further reveals the Technics' limitations and the humble power on tap struggled to fill our large-ish listening room. Even with all channels driven, the thunderous Underworld DVD falls well short of the full Glastonbury experience.

Movie soundtracks in either Dolby Digital or dts formats retain this lightweight sonic character, being essentially neutral but well short on detail and oomph. The bigger the film soundtrack the more obvious the lack of grunt becomes.

Conclusion
If you already own an SU-C1010 and single SE-A1010 partnership, then the gawk-inducing visual assault of the triple power amp version certainly has multichannel merit. It is a clean sounding set-up, potentially at its best in a smaller-sized rooms and systems. However, against the powerful competition lined up for this test, the Technics package just doesn't cut the full sonic mustard.