Exploring the Best Audio-Technica Turntables

This review is of special value to me. The thing is that among the variety of vinyl turntables, it is quite easy to find a model that would suit you with its type, purpose, and sound quality. But usually, in this case, we are talking about a good medium or premium segment.

Audio-Technica turntables are created “for everyone”. This is the company’s motto, the creator of which is Hideo Matsushita, who, in the recent 1960s, was the curator of the Bridgestone Museum of Art in Tokyo. He wanted to introduce the amazing analog sound to as many people as possible, including those who didn’t have access to the expensive equipment of the time. Therefore, in 1962, he founded the brand, which began to produce headphones, microphones, and, of course, turntables with a very good quality of construction, details, and sound, available to any buyer.

Today, the company’s assortment includes about 20 devices that are not more expensive than $1000. Whatever model you are talking about, you will get a decent machine for any needs, whether home use or DJing. So, I’ve picked out the five best Audio-Technica turntables for you. Let’s not delay; let’s get started!

Our pick

Audio-Technica AT-LP7

Best Audio-Technica turntable

Audio-Technica AT-LP7 bringing to the audio world the innovative Dual Moving Magnet stereo cartridge with its outstanding channel separation, extended frequency response and superb tracking. Read the full review.

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Audio-Technica turntables comparison table

Why is Audio-Technica so popular?

So let’s find out, are Audio-Technica turntables so good? Or rather, why are they so good? As I have already said, the brand’s creator aimed to create inexpensive but high-quality vinyl turntables because he wanted as many people as possible to join the analog sound culture. Therefore, the 4 main advantages of Audio-Technica turntables include:

1. Balanced in price/quality ratio. Most models are affordable – up to $500 and can be a great start for an audiophile.
2. The brand is very popular and, therefore, widespread. Any model is easy to find in offline or online stores. This applies to parts as well. If something is broken or aged, it won’t be hard to find and buy a replacement at an affordable price.
3. The turntables are reliable and well-proven among users. Check out the reviews if you don’t trust my word, and you won’t find a low rating. The main thing is to understand what to expect from a budget turntable.
4. Audio-Technica vinyl turntables are easy to use. Since they are designed for beginners (mostly), setup, installation, and further use are not questionable, and information can be found anywhere.

Best Audio-Technica turntable reviews

Audio-Technica AT-LP7 – best overall

As the rating leader, I chose the flagship model of the Audio-Technica AT-LP7 lineup. Yes, it is the most expensive vinyl turntable in the review, but it is still affordable for many users, as it is in the sub-$1000 price category. For the true vinyl connoisseurs, it offers fully manual operation and belt drive, keeping with a long tradition.

A rather heavy (weight 18.30) MDF construction and a 20mm thick polyoxymethylene anti-resonance platter create an environment resistant to external vibrations. That’s enough for a home environment. There is nothing extra on the chassis, only the speed switch (there are 2 in total for 33 1/3 and 45 RPM). Like most classic turntables, the motor is placed outside, and you can see the belt. It’s convenient to assess its condition and when it’s time to replace it with a new one, which is inevitable.

Since the AT-LP7 is a manual turntable, there is no automatic control. If you ever decide to replace the VM520EB’s removable pre-installed cartridge, the auto-lift feature would do well for those who like to fall asleep to music. It’s not exactly a drawback to a professional device, but I think it would be quite appropriate here. The tonearm itself has a J-shape. It adapts the needle to the grooves of the record better than tonearms with straight shapes. The turntable has a built-in preamplifier and can be considered plug-and-play. You get a complete set that requires no investment initially, even though AT-LP7 is far from cheap. That’s a very nice bonus.

With its speed sensor system, the DC motor makes for a wonderfully quiet operation. I had to resort to studio equipment, and it showed that the claimed wow and flutter <0.08% WRMS (33 rpm) at 3 kHz is true. My experience is that such a coincidence is an infrequent occurrence. Audio-Technica AT-LP7 showed confident channel separation, wide frequency range, and richness of note colors. I really liked the sound of layers of a concert recording NIRVANA – MTV UNPLUGGED IN NEW YORK.

Audio-Technica AT-LPW50PB – also great

The second rating place is a great alternative for those who want to save money and can’t afford AT-LP7. The under $500 Audio-Technica AT-LPW50PB model is similar to the leader but logically inferior to it. This turntable is also fully manual with a belt drive and a minimum of chips, as it should be a classic vinyl turntable.

The chassis of the AT-LPW50PB is lighter but very nice. The 30mm thick MDF (medium density fiberboard) plinth with a glossy piano-black finish will look good in any living room without making you feel cheap. But try to create optimal conditions for it without the influence of external vibrations, as the legs have limitations on adjustment; you need the most level surface. Platter cast aluminum somewhat weighs down the construction but can not compare in stability and quality of grip with polyoxymethylene of AT-LP7. The straight tonearm is considered the simplest and most inaccurate, but in this model, it is carbon fiber, durable, and has optimal weight. It comes with a rubber mat, so you don’t have to go through the hassle of a cloth mat.

Two speeds, DC servo motor, built-in preamp – these details are similar to the leader. However, the AT-LPW50PB has a built-in AT-VM95E Dual Moving Magnet cartridge, which users commonly use. It’s good and reliable, but over time, you’ll either break it or want to replace it with something more expensive. This is normal. If you’re happy with how it works, you can easily find one and install it yourself without difficulty.

Audio-Technica AT-LP3 – budget

No selection can be done without a budget option. Audio-Technica has created a great vinyl player for the under $300 category for buyers with limited funds but who want to listen to vinyl. The AT-LP3 is unpretentious but made with love. This fully automatic belt-driven record player is perfect for entry-level and inexperienced users because it does all the work for you.

Prepare for the fact that you must provide the turntable with some extra weight. The plastic housing weighs only 11.5 pounds, and even the aluminum platter doesn’t save the situation too much. But if I were to compare it to other budget options from competing brands, I’d say it’s far from the lightest weight. The parts are plastic (switches and buttons). Tonearm also does not inspire confidence; it is plastic, but the auto-lift function will save you from mishaps. All things considered, as you can see.

This model has only two spin speeds (33 1/3, 45 RPM) and a built-in preamp like the previous two. The AT91R Dual Moving Magnet, cartridge, and diamond stylus are not bad for the segment in question, but you’ll probably want to replace it eventually. With the Ortofon 2M Red, I heard details that the included stylus doesn’t give off. But that’s perfectly fine, and it’s nice that there are no limits to upgrading.

Audio-Technica AT-LP1240-USBXP – direct-drive

The only direct-drive turntable in my selection is great for those who know how to mix records and create music. Audio-Technica AT-LP1240-USBXP is a fully manual turntable for DJing and extremely popular among disc jockeys because it is relatively inexpensive (belongs to the confident middle segment) and fully meets its purpose. It can’t be compared with other rating models; it doesn’t resemble them. But it is similar to the more expensive and famous Technics SL1200MK7.

The chassis weighs an impressive 27.6 pounds; the cast aluminum platter is finished with light dots (like Technics), light tonearm and control buttons, a fully removable dust cover, and even backlighting of some elements. All these details are important for working in a dark club. The tonearm is S-shaped, considered optimal for extracting sounds from the grooves of records.

Of course, the controls are expected to be designed for DJs. There’s an electronic brake, reverse record rotation, and pitch control with a quartz speed lock. You won’t have to bother buying records; it can spin any of them (3 fusion speeds). There’s a built-in preamp and an ATN-XP5 cartridge with the AT-HS1 universal ½”-headset. They sound great, but as has been said many times in this review, you can still improve the experience by adding an external phono stage and replacing the stylus. This won’t be necessary at first. I noted the weak anti-skating, but this is a matter of taste, so it’s better to try it out in practice.

Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT – for beginners

Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT vinyl player, like Audio-Technica AT-LP3, represents the budget category up to $300. Slight differences in design and the presence of Bluetooth function distinguish it from the slightly more expensive AT-LP3, but there are many common features. So, I’ll just briefly compare them to avoid repeating too many details.

So, this is a fully automatic, belt-driven turntable. The construction has a lot of plastic; it’s not too reliable. The weight of the AT-LP60XBT is even lighter (5.73 pounds or 8.11, along with the cast aluminum platter). That’s very little, but I installed it in a heavy cabinet, and it handled the vibrations quite well.

The built-in ATN3600L cartridge has a diamond tip and will not damage your platter. But it can’t be replaced, so you can’t improve your sound using only what the manufacturer suggested. However, the installation and customization do not take effort and time and do not require experience. There is no weight adjustment or anti-skating; the factory sets these parameters. But there is a built-in preamp, which sounds quite bright but, understandably, inferior to more expensive predecessors. The main thing is the Bluetooth function, which supports SBC and aptX codecs. I can’t say that I’m thrilled with the very idea of digitizing sound, but the quality of the BT is pretty questionable.

Audio-Technica turntables buying guide

I’ll admit immediately that I’m briefly covering the key points in this section. If you’re unfamiliar with what we’re talking about here, be sure to explore each of the factors in more detail because they will determine your future impression and relationship with vinyl.

Budget

I recommend not buying an expensive turntable if you don’t understand the principles and traditions of analog sound. The Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT model is quite suitable for a beginner. Its data is enough to familiarize yourself with your needs and decide what exactly you need (an inexpensive, easy-to-use turntable with entry-level components). For the user who is not inexperienced but is limited in budget, choose the Audio-Technica AT-LP3 or analog. It’s very good out of the box, but you can replace components later, improving the system. That is, you won’t have to spend money right away. For experienced users with good taste and understanding of sound standards, the most expensive in the brand’s lineup – Audio-Technica AT-LP7 – will do. And if you are an experienced DJ, Audio-Technica AT-LP1240-USBXP is for you.

Purpose

Why overpay for DJ chips if you take a turntable for home use? Clearly define whether you want to learn to scratch and base your search for a model on that. For home use, it’s better to go for a traditional belt-driven configuration with automatic controls; for DJing, you need a direct drive and fully manual controls.

Entry level (plug and play) or professional (requires investment).

Having a phono-preamp as an important component when building an audio system can be important if you save money. It is quite acceptable for entry-level. You won’t find a built-in preamp in high-end models, as it can never sound as good as an external preamp.

Additional features

Bluetooth, USB, headphone input, and other additional features will make your leisure time easier and, in the case of DJing, will be indispensable.