March 2026 ertonline.co.uk


He continued: “The European consumer has a high appreciation for these quality, high value products, supported by strong marketing sales and after sales service efforts.


What does it mean?


Panasonic is the latest Japanese electronics brand to align with large-scale Chinese manufacturing and development, in a bid to secure long-term competitiveness, scale and supply-chain resilience. Under the proposed structure, Skyworth will lead sales, marketing and logistics across participating regions, while Panasonic retains responsibility for AV processing expertise, quality assurance and audiovisual standards. Joint development will continue on high-end OLED models, preserving Panasonic’s technical input at the premium end of the market. The move follows the recent joint venture between Sony and TCL, however Panasonic and Skyworth stopped short of calling this a comparable arrangement. No equity structure has been disclosed, and neither company provided structural specifics beyond an operational framework. On current information, it appears collaborative rather than ownership- based.


The logic is undeniable. TV manufacturing has become a capital-intensive, scale- driven business, dominated by large Chinese production ecosystems with massive R&D investment and supply-chain leverage. Panasonic’s move reflects a pragmatic response to that reality: align brand, AV processing expertise and quality control with manufacturing scale, logistics and panel supply. Of course, there’s certain to be devil in the


detail. For retail, continuity is key. Panasonic says it will continue to provide after-sales service and


customer support for all Panasonic TVs sold up to March 2026, as well as models sold thereafter, ensuring stability for customers and partners. The brand also confirmed that its European TV line-up for 2026 will combine existing models with new introductions across OLED, QD Mini- LED, QLED, 4K LED and 2K LED categories, maintaining a broad multi-technology portfolio. By way of reassurance, Panasonic and Skyworth executives pointed to a plethora of futuristic prototypes, including a screen with a secondary display where you’d normally expect to find a centre channel speaker, glare- free panels, and a portable telly with a built-in CD player.


There’s more!?


If the TV announcement felt like a strategic reset, wrapped in a modicum of apprehension, the mood around Technics was much more boisterous. Taking centre stage was the new SL-1500CS


direct-drive turntable, something of a snip at £1,099. It marks the return of the SL-1500C platform, now re-engineered with technologies previously reserved for more expensive Technics decks. For decades, Technics has been synonymous with direct-drive engineering, from broadcast studios and DJ booths to audiophile living


rooms. Models such as the SL-1200 series have helped define modern turntable design, setting benchmarks for speed accuracy, durability and engineering discipline. In recent years, the brand has been methodically rebuilding that legacy. Up close in Munich, the new SL-1500CS feels like a serious piece of kit without being intimidating. The metallic grey finish gives it an understated, premium presence. It’s the most accessible turntable in the


Technics range to benefit from ∆-Drive (Delta Sigma Drive) motor control, previously reserved for the SL-1200GR2 and SL-1300G. This refines the driving signal to minimise vibration and rotational irregularities, delivering exceptional speed stability and mechanical silence. At its core is an iron-coreless direct-drive motor designed to eliminate cogging, combined with full-circumference speed detection. Build quality is equally solid, with a rigid aluminium die-cast chassis bonded to a glass-fibre reinforced ABS layer for enhanced damping. Helpfully, the deck comes ready to use out of the box, fitted with an Ortofon 2M Red cartridge on a universal headshell, plus an automatic tonearm lift to protect stylus and vinyl. Consumers will feel reassured. A built-in MM phono stage allows direct connection to systems without a phono input, while a standard phono output remains for traditional Hi-Fi setups. Alongside, Technics also unveiled a Grand Master Edition of the SL-1200. With a gold- coloured plinth and tonearm, the SL-1200GME looks every bit the collector’s piece. “It’s the culmination of a legend,” I was told. There’s no change in core specification, but the visual treatment alone is certain to attract attention. The silver edition is limited to 1,200 units, the black edition to 1,210 units, both priced at £4,999. >>


27


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48