Best Audio-Technica Record Player Reviews

A quality turntable is of crucial importance for the sound of your vinyl. That’s why music fans choose this device carefully to ensure the most high-quality sound from their records. In the realm of music, Audio-Technica record players take one of the leading positions. The best Audio-Technica turntables are well-liked by audiophiles who strive to find a compromise between quality and price.

This brand was established in Shinjuku, Tokyo, nearly 60 years ago by Hideo Matsushita. The founder aimed to create affordable equipment that would take the vinyl listening experience to a new quality level. Matsushita envisioned that their company would be producing high-quality audio for everyone.

Nothing has changed since the date of the company’s foundation – it still carries the mission that high-end audio should be within everyone’s reach, except for the fact that the number of the brand’s fans has significantly increased.

So, today I will catch sight of the most worthy Audio-Technica turntables to navigate you through the myriad options this company offers.

Our pick

Audio-Technica AT-LPW50PB

Best Audio-Technica turntable

This turntable is simple and reliable in operation, equipped with everything you need and will become a great investment for the audiophile who appreciates quality sound. Read the full review.

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Audio-Technica turntables comparison table

History of Audio-Technica

Audio-Technica Corporation is a Japanese audio equipment manufacturer founded by Hideo Matsushita in 1962 in Tokyo. In its early years, Audio-Technica was known as a manufacturer of phonograph cartridges. Still, today, the company creates headphones, microphones, wireless systems, mixers, and different electronic devices for home and professional use.

In the early 1960s, Hideo Matsushita began producing cartridges for vinyl turntables and distributing them to major music equipment manufacturers. A year later, production expanded noticeably, and Audio-Technica moved to spacious premises. After this, the AT-5 MM cartridge and AT-1001 tonearm entered the market. In 1965, the Industrial Science and Technology Agency, part of the Japanese Ministry of Trade and Industry, recognized these products with an award. Audio-Technica moved its production and office to Naruse, Machida, Tokyo, where it remains to this day.

Audio-Technica also supplies equipment for major sporting events, such as the FIFA World Cup and the American Football Super Bowl, as well as the Olympic Games in Atlanta (1996), Sydney (2000), Winter Games in Salt Lake City (2002) and Athens (2004). Nowadays, the company has branches in several European countries, as well as in Singapore and Hong Kong.

Are Audio-Technica turntables good?

Among hundreds of brands producing turntables, Audio-Technica established itself as a manufacturer of reasonably-priced yet quality audio devices that cover the needs of both newbies and experienced audiophiles. So, here are the main reasons for the company’s steady success.

• A perfect balance of quality & price. As you remember, the brand’s mission was to make quality audio affordable to everyone at the outset. And that’s the way it goes these days – Audio-Technica still offers one of the most fantastic products on the market without sky-high pricing.
• Widely available online and offline. Since Audio-Technica record players are popular, you will have no issues purchasing them in a local store or elsewhere. Also, you are less likely to have difficulty finding repair parts for this brand in any corner of the world.
• Turntables proven by time. If you do not want to risk and invest in an unknown brand, an Audio-Technica record player is a bargain. With more than 60 years on the market, this company has proved its reliability by equipping audiophiles all over the globe with time-proof and high-end audio systems and turntables.
• Easy to use. If you settle on the Audio-Technica turntable, you will likely get a ‘plug-and-play’ type. It means that the majority of models in the lineup are automated and do not require manual setup.

Best Audio-Technica turntable reviews

Audio-Technica AT-LPW50PB – best overall

If you would like to restore a ritual of playing records by manually handling the tonearm and resting the stylus on the record grooves, the AT-LPW50PB is a perfect match for you. The reproduction reminds me of live music when I put my records at playback on this turntable. The richness of sound with deep bass and warm tones will make you fall in love with vinyl.

Since it has a manual design, you will fully control the process of playing your vinyl records. So, unlike Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT with an automated system, this product is more suitable for experienced vinyl enthusiasts who know how to set up the tonearm so that it doesn’t harm the records. In addition, to make handling this model easier, a sensor-monitored motor will help you maintain an optimal platter rotation for precise reproduction.

An anti-resonance 1,2 inches (30 mm) thick plinth reduces all vibrations and noises. However, I still noticed slight humming, which is the cause of the isolation issue. AT-LPW50PB supports two rotation speeds – 33-1/3 and 45 RPM, which are enough for accurate music reproduction of most records. A straight tonearm is not as good as a curved one but still works smoothly at tracking the grooves. Also, there is a dual-moving magnet phono cartridge with an elliptical stylus for accurate playback.

Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT – budget choice

If you are not ready to invest much in a record player but want to discover the world of vinyl, the AT-LP60XBT will make a perfect choice for you. This Audio-Technica Bluetooth record player will let you enjoy the warm and fleshy reproduction of your favorite tracks encoded in the vinyl through speakers or headphones. Amazingly, pairing takes less than 5 seconds, which happens when you hit the button on the turntable.

If you are a first-time turntable owner, you will love this model since it is fully automated. It means that you do not have to configure it like AT-LPW50PB manually. As you get it out of the box, you can plug and play it and avoid the risk of damaging the stylus or vinyl. I was excited about the auto start and stop feature that sets the record on the twist once you hit the button.

As this is a belt-driven turntable with a die-cast aluminum platter, there is a small likelihood that you will hear the noise from the motor. However, I still heard a certain degree of wow and flutter, especially with string, guitar, and flute instruments.

Aside from the minor flaw with wowing and fluttering, the sound quality is impressive, especially when you attach it to the subwoofer, which will add the bass you may have been missing when playing your vinyl collection.

Audio-Technica AT-LP7 – premium

If you are a fan of premium equipment, then I suggest you pay attention to the Audio-Technica AT-LP7. However, this is a rather expensive model, so if your budget is limited, it is better to consider other options.

This record player is entirely manual, so you can adjust the tonearm regarding how hard you would like the stylus to track the vinyl. But keep in mind that this modification requires some experience handling these gadgets, as you may accidentally damage a sensitive needle or the record.

This turntable model boasts a belt-drive operation, which is considered a better option than a direct-drive like in AT-LP1240-USBXP due to better vibration isolation. As a result, you hear every single subtone of the melody. I was impressed by an intensive bass, which made my favorite tracks sound fleshier and richer than ever.

Unlike the Audio-Technica AT-LPW50PB, the AT-LP7 is made of 40 mm MDF, which is 10 mm thicker than its analog. This solution allows for better anti-vibration isolation. There is also a proprietary VM520EB/H MM cartridge with a dual magnet system and elliptical needle sharpening included with the AT-LP7, which is of higher quality than the VM95E cartridge for the AT-LPW50PB.

AT-LP7 reproduces records at two speeds: 33-1/3 and 45 RPM, so it’s compatible with most types of vinyl. My only complaint is that the knob for switching the speeds is flimsy, though I am delighted with the build of other components. I like that the motor has a speed-sensor system to reduce the need to maintain the right platter rotation speed manually. In addition, it has a built-in switchable phono preamplifier with a selectable moving magnet or moving coil cartridges, which you can switch off if you want to use a different preamp.

Audio-Technica AT-LP1240-USBXP – great for DJs

Whether you are a DJ who fires up the dance floor with rocking beats or a vinyl fan who wants to play a record collection at home, the AT-LP1240-USBXP turntable is what you need. This direct drive turntable with a sleek, elegant design will become a star of any stereo system and deliver flawless reproduction.

As this model was made with professional DJs in mind, its multipole motor has three levels of speed capacity (33/45/78 RPM). It’s one speed more than in AT-LP7, giving DJs more freedom when picking what vinyl to play. In addition, you can sync this record player with third-party apps to digitalize vinyl records. Other DJ-specific features in this turntable are the forward-reverse operation and pitch control, so you can easily create and mix new tracks.

A phono cartridge connected to the S-shaped tonearm makes a good blend for flawlessly tracking the grooves in records. However, the tonearm is not as heavy as you may expect, but this doesn’t result in lags or deviations during the playback. A great benefit of AT-LP1240-USBXP is the availability of the phono preamplifier and detachable RCA output cables, which reduce the cost of assembling the stereo system and increase the compatibility with DJ mixers. Also, the high-torque feature is something. The record player starts and stops immediately.

Audio-Technica AT-LP3 – best under $300

If you are searching for an automatic, entry-level turntable that will help you get familiar with the vinyl legacy, consider Audio-Technica AT-LP3. This is a lovely turntable for novices who want to become vinyl hobbyists without the complications of manually operated record players.

So, similarly to Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT, this is also an automated turntable, which has plenty of upgrades and useful features. For example, it boasts a built-in switchable phono/line preamplifier with an attached dual RCA output cable to let you enjoy the vinyl sound out of the box without any additional equipment. Also, it is compatible with moving magnet and coil cartridges, so you can pick the one you believe will perform better.

Audio-Technica AT-LP3 has a balanced straight tonearm with hydraulically damped lift control and rest, which reduces the need for you to guess whether you placed it properly. In addition, you can remove the cartridge from the tonearm and replace the needle. And, by the way, you can do it fairly easily.

This model supports 45/33 RPM records and has a quick start/stop feature. Unfortunately, it does not maintain speed accuracy. It doesn’t happen all the time, but I noticed that the motor slows down once per LP.

Audio-Technica turntables buying guide

You may feel a bit of pressure on choosing the right Audio-Technica vinyl player because of the long list of crucial characteristics. I will simplify things by helping you define essential features that will enable you to achieve your listening goals.

The sound quality & your preferences

What’s your passion for the quality of music reproduction? That’s the first thing you’ve got to ask yourself before you purchase an Audio-Technica turntable.

If you are a first-time user of this audio device, you may want to get a simple record player that will satisfy your need for a clear and warm sound. So, look for products that are easy to use and maintain. In other words, the ones that have a basic configuration so you will have no hassle setting it up. Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT will be a perfect match in this case.

For situations when your budget is limited, but a great Audio-Technica record player is your priority, you will be satisfied with the Audio-Technica AT-LP3. It’s a good option if you already have vinyl listening experience.

If you are an advanced record listener, look no further than at Audio-Technica AT-LP7. DJs will be more than happy with Audio-Technica AT-LP1240-USBXP, a professional record player that will let you mix the sound or record your tracks.

Phono-preamp availability

Some turntables have an in-built preamp. You will find this component in entry-level and mid-range models as they help you save on purchasing additional gadgets for your audio system. You are less likely to see turntables with a preamp in high-end products. This solution has its own perks, as you can pick a quality preamp or upgrade it over time to achieve better record playback.

Extra features

Technology goes forward, so more and more Audio-Technica turntables come with additional features that let you listen to your favorite tracks in analog quality with an added level of comfort. For example, a wireless Bluetooth connection allows you to pair your turntable with speakers or your phone. In addition, you can digitalize your vinyl records through a USB port.

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