The best turntables to spin your records on this Record Store Day
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04.05.2019

The best turntables to spin your records on this Record Store Day

Words by Jessica Over

The turntable revolution is alive and well. Whether you’re a seasoned collector of every vintage vinyl you can get your hands on or a bright-eyed music enthusiast looking to expand your listening horizons, there’s a turntable out there to enable your newfound addiction. Chances are, you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for in Audio-Technica’s newest range of premium turntables. It’s one of the company’s most significant rollouts in history and covers all the bases for vinyl aficionados. All you need to do is find your perfect match.

LP60X ($249)

Recommended for: Fans of the AT-LP60 looking towards the next generation.

Audio-Technica’s LP60 has become a resounding favourite amongst audiophiles for its superior sound quality and innovative features – and for good reason. Naturally, releasing such a well-received product meant ATH had lifted the bar once more. The challenge was set to launch a new product to appease the demand for greatness, and the LP60X more than answers the call.

Features include a redesigned tonearm base and headshell for improved tracking and reduced resonance, a built-in switchable phono preamp and the option of playing both 33-1/3 and 45 RPM records.

LP60XUSB ($269)

Recommended for: LP60 fans who can’t go without endless connectivity.

The age-old argument that everything sounds better on vinyl hasn’t lost any traction over the past few decades. There’s something about placing a record on the turntable and lowering the tonearm that adds another dimension to the music. The drawback, of course, is the lack of portability inherent in this process. Thankfully, the wonders of modern technology ensure even the most rare and valuable record can be digitised, and this is where the LP60XUSB truly excels.

The AT-LP60XUSB is a fully automatic belt-drive turntable that offers the best of both worlds, granting listeners direct high-fidelity audio or the option of converting your record collection to digital. It offers the same premium features as the LP60X, including the redesigned tonearm base and headshell for optimal performance, with the added bonus of USB connectivity.

LP60XBT ($299)

Recommended for: Everyone who waited patiently for the ATH-M50xBT headphones; the turntable-Bluetooth equivalent has arrived.

Bluetooth connectivity is the way of the future. Now more than ever, consumers are seeking wireless options for all of their favourite devices and consoles, ensuring entertainment is as accessible as ever. Audio-Technica is particularly well-versed in this area, having revealed the Bluetooth version of the ever-popular ATH-M50x headphones to widespread acclaim. They’ve taken this approach and applied it to this next turntable in the new range, the LP60XBT.

This turntable sees Audio-Technica offer the convenience of wireless operation, without compromising on sound quality. Features follow the same pattern as those included with the AT-LP60X and offer a CSR BT chipset to connect to devices that support the aptX codec. A true highlight is the endless versatility presented in the LP60XBT, namely the option to not only enjoy the wireless technology available but to also have the choice of operating the device as a conventional wired turntable. What more could you need?

LP2X ($399)

Recommended for: Adding a talking point to your home stereo system.

If you’re in the process of setting up the ultimate home stereo system, there are a few considerations you’ll no doubt be keeping in mind – achieving the desired aesthetic, choosing complementary products, and generating high-quality audio, for instance. At the heart of your home stereo, you’ll generally find a centrepiece you’ve designed the whole system around. It’s the talking point you wanted and the piece of equipment you wouldn’t dream of leaving in the store. The LP2X is a worthy contender to be the glue that brings your home stereo together.

This fully automatic belt-drive turntable features a new balanced straight tonearm, with hydraulically damped lift control and tone armrest, built-in switchable phono/line preamp, an anti-resonance die-cast aluminium platter and felt mat, and a removable lightly-tinted dust cover. This could be the very sound system you’ve been waiting for.

LP120XUSB ($599)

Recommended for: Anyone who appreciates a quality update.

The AT-LP120XUSB arrives as an update of the acclaimed AT-LP120-USB, kicking things up a notch with a host of new features and enhanced functionality. The new version offers a DC servo direct-drive motor, adjustable dynamic anti-skate control, a HS6 headshell, and selectable phono preamp. The construction is second-to-none, boasting a damped base for reduced low-frequency feedback colouration, plus an external power supply that will grant listeners the added bonus of reduced electrical noise.

Versatile functions ensure this fully manual turntable is equipped to play 33-1/3, 45, and 78 RPM records. A USB output is also featured on the AT-LP120XUSB, allowing direct connection to your computer. Enjoying your vinyl collection has never been this easy.

LPW40WN ($649)

Recommended for: Those who want their turntable to sound as sleek as its aesthetic.

Audio-Technica isn’t a company to rest on its laurels. When you’re constantly striving for innovation, excellence is sure to follow. This is exactly the case with the LPW40WN, a turntable that is unlike anything we’ve seen from ATH before.

This fully manual, belt-driven turntable offers a plethora of enviable features, including a straight-line carbon-fibre tonearm with adjustable tracking force, VM95E cartridge and AT-HS4 headshell. The high-fidelity audio is supported by a speed-stabilised DC servo motor for accurate rotation speed, while vibration-absorbing feet ensure you can enjoy uninterrupted sound with ease.

With Record Store Day 2019 just around the corner, check out Audio-Technica’s range of turntables via their website. Your LPs will be better for it.