The British recording studio Abbey Road and the legendary Technics, an audio brand created by the Japanese corporation Panasonic almost 50 years ago, have announced a long-term partnership. For two years, Technics Grand Class SL-1200GAE turntables from the limited edition “anniversary” series will be used in the mastering studios and Abbey Road restaurants, so that artists, engineers and studio visitors can enjoy the “warm tube sound” of the famous Panasonic vinyl turntables.
Technics Grand Class SL-1200GAE in limited release to mark brand’s 50th anniversary – 1200 pcs will be available worldwide this summer. Those music lovers who were not lucky enough to be among the lucky ones, will be able to buy a copy of the Grand Class 1200G non-restricted series this fall.
The partnership between two internationally renowned and equally popular brands has coincided with the success of Abbey Road Studios’ Half Speed vinyl mastering service.
Isabelle Garvey, Managing Director of Abbey Road Studios comments: “The music industry is experiencing a second birth of vinyl, and vinyl remains a significant part of our business. We are excited about this partnership, which will bring together the expertise of our mastering engineers and the brand that has become synonymous with excellence in sound quality.
Jeff Pesce, Senior Mastering Engineer at Abbey Road, shares his first impressions of the new turntable: “I recently tested the Technics SL1200GAE demo sample in Mastering Room 5. A gorgeous handmade device with a heavy “table” – I’ve never seen these in a home turntable. All the tracks sounded very harmonious. It’s a true benchmark for the 21st century turntable.”.
For his part, Andrew Denham, Managing Director of Panasonic UK & Ireland, notes: “After the Technics brand relaunch in the UK, we’ve received a ton of positive feedback from longtime fans of the brand as well as newcomers. We are delighted to be bringing back the direct drive turntable and hope that our partnership with Abbey Road Studios will deliver unparalleled sound quality and an unforgettable experience to audiophiles everywhere.
Abbey Road Studios is one of the most famous recording studios in the world and a true musical icon. For nearly 80 years it has been the birthplace of iconic albums by The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Radiohead, Lady Gaga, Adele and other artists.
The studio currently offers extensive audio mixing and mastering capabilities, including.ch. Online, for home recording studio professionals and producers. It also includes Abbey Road Red, Europe’s only music technology incubator.
What can we expect from the partnership between Abbey Road Studios and Technics? Will it focus on developing new audio technologies or will it be more centered around preserving the iconic sound that Abbey Road is known for?
The partnership between Abbey Road Studios and Technics is likely to focus on both developing new audio technologies and preserving the iconic sound that Abbey Road is known for. Technics’ expertise in audio equipment paired with Abbey Road’s legacy in music production could lead to advancements in studio recording tools and equipment. Additionally, the partnership may also involve collaborations on projects that aim to digitally preserve and enhance the classic sound of Abbey Road recordings. Overall, we can expect a blend of innovation and tradition in this partnership.