Technics is a Japanese audio brand created in 1965 by Matsushita Electric (now Panasonic), headquartered in Kadoma, Osaka. The brand built its reputation on engineering innovation, most notably the invention of the direct-drive turntable. Engineer Shuichi Obata developed the first direct-drive turntable motor at Matsushita, eliminating the belts and idler wheels used in conventional designs. This breakthrough led to the SP-10, the world's first direct-drive turntable, followed by the SL-1100 and the legendary SL-1200, which debuted in 1972. The SL-1200MK2, released in 1979, became the industry-standard DJ turntable — its high torque, pitch control, durability, and vibration resistance made it the tool of choice for hip-hop pioneers like DJ Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash, and it played a foundational role in the emergence of turntablism, hip-hop, house, and techno.

The brand's product range extends beyond turntables to include amplifiers, speakers, headphones, and hi-fi components. After being discontinued in 2010, Technics was relaunched in 2014 with a focus on premium audio. The revived lineup includes the SL-1200MK7 (carrying on the DJ turntable legacy with a coreless direct-drive motor), the SL-1500C (an audiophile-oriented turntable with a built-in phono preamp and Ortofon 2M Red cartridge), and the SP-10R, a reference-class turntable featuring a double-coil twin-rotor motor and a 7.9 kg platter. A unit of the SL-1210MK2 is displayed at the London Science Museum as a piece of technology that helped shape modern culture.

Technics has 116 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Turntables, Tape Decks, and Synthesizers. Their gear is featured by 347 artists, with the strongest followings in Hip Hop, Electronic, and Rock. Notable users include Boys Noize, Robbie Chater, and Mark Bell. Technics's catalog spans the full price spectrum — from entry-level options to high-end flagships.