I was debating between the Yamaha AS-1200 and the Technics SU-G-700 and I have read through this thread and can not believe how much audiophile "ignorance" goes on here. Yamaha presented a classic A/B amplifier with a torroidal transformer and several posters here crown it the champion without having heard the Technics. I listened to both, read the respective reviews and then decided to comment.
Almost all major audio reviewers looked at the Technics digital amplifier (not Class D) have raved about it. I chose to listen to both and decided on the Technics, not because I favor a brand but because, it produced pure sound from the source. Matsushita (Panasonic), Technics parent company invested a lot of $$$ in R & D to come up with a 21st century design that runs cooler and uses less power, solved Class D weakness in bass lines, et al, and so they succeeded in my opinion. All signals enter the SU-G700 digitally, then to cut Jitter and noise are not released anolog until the signal is shipped to the speakers--no low pass exit filter is needed because the LAPC speaker balance control option is no joke either. It efficiently sends a customized signal to the speakers after a period of adjustment.
The Ear, Andrew Robinson, Absolute Sound, Stereophile, et al have all praised this integrated, not for what it is but for the sound and consistency it produces. I applaud Yamaha for reproducing a 1980's Integrated with a torroidal transformer that needs 200+ watts to produce 90 watts at 8 ohms (runs hot too) vs. the Technics that uses 85 watts, runs cool and produces 70 watts at 8 ohms (though benchmark testing has its peaks well above 100 due to the LAPC controls) is a more efficient and probably better long-term solution.
Let's be courteous, but let's also be accurate. Different horses for different courses, but Class D vs. Pure Digital is night and day as is pure Class A to Class A/B and/or biased amps. It's the sound--the end vs. the means, much like the Chicken or the Egg theory. In the end it's the finished product. Think sausage boys and girls and know how good it tastes vs. how it's made. Cheers.