I’ve had about 5 integrated amps for extended listening periods and can’t say enough good things about the SU-G700, and would absolutely recommend the MK2 with the new trickle down tech from the SU-R. Honestly if my wife gets into music listening I might grab the MK2 for her, since I’m gifting her my old TT she picked me up last year along with about 30 records I bought for her.
100% would grab the SU-GMK2
I love the SU-R, and really wouldn’t (hadn’t) considered another integrated amplifier. It just checks so many boxes. But the ADC which some rave about (detail, staging, separation, etc) kinda left me wanting more from the Technics, which for some is unforgivable considering it’s price. But I never had any intentions of using the SU-R as a stand alone and have my Musetec MH-DA005 DAC (incredible!!!), but what really makes my jaw hit the floor is how I can listen to digital music through my Innuos Zen MK3 + Phoenix USB, and then drop down that same vinyl record and have to ask myself "no which one sounds better".
The Technics SU-R’d DSP and MC phono stage is just that good! Really is something special considering everything it does and just how well it does it.
But great part is the SU-G700 has more character in sound with it’s Burr-Brown DAC. And I’ll be honest I feel there’s maybe more depth in pairing difference with the SU-G then the SU-R. Where the SU-R being more neutral let’s your speakers, amp and DAC shine a little more in summation. But the SU-G with it’s more colored sound and implementation of LAPC I feel like it could be a sound quality multiplier depending on what equipment you use.
I felt the SU-G really turned the detail and sound field depth of my Gustard X26pro to 11, and had a more audible change. Where as the SU-R didn’t have the jump in sound. Don’t get me wrong the SU-R sounded better (detail, decay, staging), but it didn’t have the that distinct change in sound while swapping out different DAC’s.
Whatever the SU-G does to your sound (analog in and then digital augmentation and then analogue out) you’ll really hear it’s difference for better or worse. My only complaint was again that I felt there was more of a bright and digitally harsh sound to some music and then an almost reverb like effect to some vocals. It really made old familiar music sound different, but some people might not like it’s coloration. I liked it, but I knew that I was hearing "it" (the SU-G) rather then hearing what was there (the original music).