Technics has unveiled its latest turntable, the SL-40CBT Direct Drive, at IFA 2025 in Berlin. The new model is pitched as a high-style option for vinyl enthusiasts, bolstered by Technics proven engineering.
It retains key Technics hallmarks such as an iron-coreless direct drive motor and high-precision S-shaped aluminium tonearm, while introducing Bluetooth connectivity and a fresh, minimalist design.
With selling for £750, the SL-40CBT is likely to appeal to those looking to move beyond entry-level systems.
The SL-40CBT departs from a traditional die-cast aluminium chassis in favour of an MDF wood construction, finished in a choice of Terracotta (our favourite), Light Grey, or Charcoal Black.
The aesthetic perfectly matches the styling of Technics SC-CX700 wireless Hi-Fi speaker, which together make for a fully integrated music system.
It retains key Technics hallmarks such as an iron-coreless direct drive motor and high-precision S-shaped aluminium tonearm…
Plug-and-play performance with premium design
Under the hood, the turntable is equipped with a die-cast aluminium platter featuring reinforcing ribs and a directly mounted motor magnet for stable torque transmission.
Reworked vibration-resistant insulator feet help minimise resonance, allowing more flexibility in placement without compromising performance.
The deck arrives factory-fitted with an Audio-Technica AT-VM95C moving-magnet cartridge, trusted for its versatility and consistency. There’s also a built-in phono stage, allowing it to connect directly to amplifiers, or active speaker systems, without the need for a dedicated phono input.
Significantly, this is the first Technics deck to have Bluetooth functionality, simplifying installation and removing the need for untidy interconnects.
By balancing heritage engineering with convenience and style, we reckon Technics is onto a winner with the SL-40CBT. The pre-mounted cartridge, wireless flexibility, and classic direct drive motor are likely to make this a firm favourite with music fans.
While we didn’t get to hear it in action at IFA, we can certainly attest to its siren call.
The Technics SL-40CBT Direct Drive turntable will be available from September, priced at £750 ($899).
Audiovector has expanded its high-end loudspeaker line with the launch of the R 5 Arreté, a premium floorstander that features advanced audio technologies first developed for the company’s flagship R 10 Arreté. Engineered and hand-built in Denmark, the R 5 Arreté arrives after what Audiovector describes as five years of development and more than 2,000…
Music fans and whisky lovers are in for a treat, as the Renaissance Roadshow returns to home turf on May 7 with a special listening event at the Loud & Clear showroom in Edinburgh. It’s a rare opportunity to experience award-winning £129,500 Audiovector R 10 Arreté loudspeakers, a no-compromise floor standing enclosure that redefines what’s…
At Milan Design Week, where furniture and fashion usually take centre stage, Ferrari has unveiled its freshly liveried Hypersail, a ground-breaking 100-foot flying ocean monohull. Hypersail is Ferrari’s most ambitious step yet beyond asphalt, a fully foiling yacht designed to ‘fly’ above the water on three points of contact, using a canting keel foil, rudder…
The Luxe Review 
Technics has unveiled its latest turntable, the SL-40CBT Direct Drive, at IFA 2025 in Berlin. The new model is pitched as a high-style option for vinyl enthusiasts, bolstered by Technics proven engineering.
It retains key Technics hallmarks such as an iron-coreless direct drive motor and high-precision S-shaped aluminium tonearm, while introducing Bluetooth connectivity and a fresh, minimalist design.
With selling for £750, the SL-40CBT is likely to appeal to those looking to move beyond entry-level systems.
The SL-40CBT departs from a traditional die-cast aluminium chassis in favour of an MDF wood construction, finished in a choice of Terracotta (our favourite), Light Grey, or Charcoal Black.
The aesthetic perfectly matches the styling of Technics SC-CX700 wireless Hi-Fi speaker, which together make for a fully integrated music system.
Plug-and-play performance with premium design
Under the hood, the turntable is equipped with a die-cast aluminium platter featuring reinforcing ribs and a directly mounted motor magnet for stable torque transmission.
Reworked vibration-resistant insulator feet help minimise resonance, allowing more flexibility in placement without compromising performance.
The deck arrives factory-fitted with an Audio-Technica AT-VM95C moving-magnet cartridge, trusted for its versatility and consistency. There’s also a built-in phono stage, allowing it to connect directly to amplifiers, or active speaker systems, without the need for a dedicated phono input.
Significantly, this is the first Technics deck to have Bluetooth functionality, simplifying installation and removing the need for untidy interconnects.
By balancing heritage engineering with convenience and style, we reckon Technics is onto a winner with the SL-40CBT. The pre-mounted cartridge, wireless flexibility, and classic direct drive motor are likely to make this a firm favourite with music fans.
While we didn’t get to hear it in action at IFA, we can certainly attest to its siren call.
The Technics SL-40CBT Direct Drive turntable will be available from September, priced at £750 ($899).
Audiovector expands Arreté luxury audio family with ravishing new R 5 loudspeaker
Audiovector has expanded its high-end loudspeaker line with the launch of the R 5 Arreté, a premium floorstander that features advanced audio technologies first developed for the company’s flagship R 10 Arreté. Engineered and hand-built in Denmark, the R 5 Arreté arrives after what Audiovector describes as five years of development and more than 2,000…
This high-end Hi-Fi and whisky tasting event in Edinburgh is not to be missed
Music fans and whisky lovers are in for a treat, as the Renaissance Roadshow returns to home turf on May 7 with a special listening event at the Loud & Clear showroom in Edinburgh. It’s a rare opportunity to experience award-winning £129,500 Audiovector R 10 Arreté loudspeakers, a no-compromise floor standing enclosure that redefines what’s…
Ferrari unveils 100ft Hypersail flying yacht with supercar DNA at Milan Design Week
At Milan Design Week, where furniture and fashion usually take centre stage, Ferrari has unveiled its freshly liveried Hypersail, a ground-breaking 100-foot flying ocean monohull. Hypersail is Ferrari’s most ambitious step yet beyond asphalt, a fully foiling yacht designed to ‘fly’ above the water on three points of contact, using a canting keel foil, rudder…
Share this: