Technics SE -M100 Digital Power Amplifier and Technics SU A40 Pre Amp
Review September 2025
Recently my beloved technics amps started to have problems with channels randomly disappearing and then coming back, sometimes after 2 minutes, 15 minutes, sometimes after 30 minutes, or a tweak of the volume knob would also see both channels come back.
The units had never been properly serviced and given its age I thought it was time for some serious shopping.
That was before Gary, at Soundhound Specialist Cables and Hi-Fi Consultancy, recommended I initially get them serviced, rather than just going straight out and spending £5,000 – £10,000 on a new amp set up. He also suggested I consider upgrading my beloved SE-M100 and SU A40 at the same time; with Gary recommending John at specialists JS Audio Repairs for the job.
I had loads of questions which Gary answered, he also directed me to John’s website and the testimonials section, so I could read about the experiences and comments of other people. Having read through the testimonials and the fact that Gary had had several upgrades/improvements done to some of his own personal equipment, it made sense to consider the repair/upgrade route. Despite knowing Gary and trusting his knowledge and guidance, it still felt like a huge ‘blind gamble’.
Not knowing a lot about these things I just passed this across and Gary took care of the rest. He contacted John to get a rough quote on costs and advice on suggested upgrades and came back to me with some figures, but confirmed any final suggestions/costs would only be finalised once John at JS Audio had had the chance to take a look inside the amps and do an assessment.
Gary re-assured me that at any point (before actually agreeing to any work) I could stop the process, have the units returned and decide to go shopping instead.
Having given it a lot more thought I decided to go ahead. Gary was pretty confident I would be more than pleased with the results; but as is usual with these things, could not give any cast iron guarantees, given we all hear music differently.
18 months ago I changed my interconnect, power and speaker cables to Soundhound cables (a huge step up in performance). Just after that I bought my Kerr Acoustic K200s (2nd hand) and I thought they were fantastic then, another step up in sound quality.
So, following the service and upgrades, what I have I got back?. I have now had the units back for around 4 weeks and I have not stopped being amazed, it is as if I am listening to my music collection for the first time, the vocals, the bass, the backing/background vocals (which have suddenly stepped right the way forward in the soundstage from nowhere), the detail, the air and separation, clarity, the depth of the soundstage…….
Gary did a preliminary burn in for me and suggested that based on the new level of performance I should consider a new power cable for both the SU A40 and SE- M100 to maximise the benefits.
Don’t get me wrong the improvement was already a game changer, but Gary was absolutely right, with the new power cables in situ the overall sound improved a further notch or two. Truly sublime.
Forget the genre, Elkie Brooks, Saga, Pink (Trustfall), Chris Rea (Road to Hell & Blue Café), Dire Straits, Rachel Ferrell, Tektron Demo Disc, they all sounded like albums I had never heard before. Listening to Adele 25 was as if she was singing just in front of me with the piano and her band some 10 m behind her on the stage, a truly breathtaking live sounding performance.
On the vinyl front, I had been thinking about changing my Michell Gyro SE or at least upgrading it. Not anymore, it has already happened, via the upgrades to the SU-A40 and SE-M100. For now, based on the improvements I am hearing, I am just going to sit back and enjoy listening to my vinyl collection all over again. Stevie Ray Vaughan (The Best of 2007) Supertramp (Crime of the Century), Paul Bley (Bebopbebopbebop) to name a few…. Wow.
I have been truly blown away by what I am now hearing. John, my sincerest thanks, I cannot thank you enough for what you have done; you are a true genius. I also cannot thank Gary enough for pointing me in your direction.
October 2025
Before I posted my initial review, I thought I would wait and see what, if any, further changes may happen. Another 4 weeks (and, at a guess, approximately 150 hours of playtime) down the line now. With the ramped up main capacitors (both in terms their power rating and quality) and improved power supply circuitry, it is very noticeable how the amps now deliver the music so effortlessly and without strain, even at higher volumes. The music is delivered with wonderful slam when required whilst the smoothness, subtle detail, softness and air around the vocals, along with the decay, is sublime. Just been listening to Tina Turner …Falling. I have never before heard all the subtle detail that is actually contained in that track…spine tinglingly good.
You can never say never, but in terms of my music, I think I am now set for the next 20 years.
John, I cannot thank you enough for what you have done for my music collection, truly outstanding!!