As far a turntable go , Audio - Technica ( A - T ) has a decorated track record of providing many a vinyl newbie with rock - solid , entranceway - level turntables that are quick to birl out of the loge and are easy to afford .
That ’s on the nose what you get with the AT - LP70X. For a more than fair $ 200 , the LP70X ( and its $ 250 Bluetooth - capable sibling , theAT - LP70xBT ) is just what the vinyl radical doctor order . It take all the thing that makes A - T’sultra - pop LP60Xdeck so proficient for novice and nonchalant hearer alike and notch up the quality just the right amount , with a new ( and much better ) cartridge , a redesign tonearm , and some antiresonance frame improvements .
Having recommended the AT - LP60X to more than my fair share of vinyl starter , I ’ve spent the last few weeks with the LP70X to see if it ’s worth the extra $ 50 ( or $ 30 for the Bluetooth manikin ) . The myopic resolution is a reverberating yes . Here are my thoughts .
Design and setup
There a few central elements of a new lazy Susan that always reap my eye when I first see them . I ’m usually immediately drawn to the tonearm and pickup / stylus , because their purpose and twist can tell you a spate about a turntable ’s tone . Out of the loge , you right away spot that the LP70X ’s raw J - determine tonearm , headshell , and cartridge ( more on this subsequently ) are already footprint above that of the LP60X , which always felt a little chintzy to me , even for an entry - stage deck of cards . This is a good first notion .
outdoors of that , there are few other surprise in terms of how the LP70X looks , and that ’s not inevitably a tough thing . It ’s a handsome - looking turntable that will jibe nicely in any decor , and it’savailable in three coolheaded colors : black / gray , whitened / silver medal , and opprobrious / bronze .
The LP70X ’s “ three - piece , antiresonance ” chassis may be made of plastic , but it feels hearty enough at 6.4 lb . Its dimensions are a moment wider and more rectangular ( 16 inches wide by 13 edge deep by 4.3 column inch high ) compared to the LP60X , giving it a more sure - leg it stance . Adding to this , of course , are its four grippy , though nonadjustable feet .
The LP70X out of the box, before installing the platter.Derek Malcolm / Digital Trends
I scarce need any metre to set it up . Apart from the include detritus masking , the LP70X ’s die - hurl aluminum phonograph recording is the only thing that needs to be installed .
It learn about 30 second to place the platter on the nub arbor and and pull the rubber belt on to its motor pulley-block . The instructions are a duck soup to follow . Beginners will get it on this as it means they can be up and running without stressing over things like installing and balancing cartridges and tonearms — the LP70X has been preconfigured at the factory .
Features and operation
As I already mentioned , the biggest upgrade the LP70X has over the LP60X is the addition of Audio - Technica ’s newly design AT - VM95C Integral Moving Magnet phono cartridge . It ’s a great - sounding , well - balanced cartridge that ’s suited for newbies who listen to all kinds of euphony . This raise alone makes the LP70X well deserving the supererogatory money if you ’re choosing between it and the LP60X.
But what makes it specially valuable for newcomers is that the stylus is part of the society ’s newVM95 Series of standardized style . This means that as you go on in your vinyl journeying , you’re able to easily interchange or kick upstairs the LP70X ’s bottom - of - the - range style from the serial publication ’ six options , which array from $ 25 to $ 180 . I ’ve not personally heard all the styli in the range , but as you move up , A - metric ton draw them as all delivering improved stage of channel breakup , crushed distortion , and reduced sonority . Translation : they vocalise better the more you make up .
With a built - in , switchable phono preamp / credit line end product , the LP70X can be connected to just about any legal turnout option you have , include powered speakers and more traditionalreceivers / amplifiers , regardless of whether they have phono or AUX input signal . It also comes with a exercise set of RCA cables in the corner , which is a decent touch .
The RCA output, phono preamp switch, and grounding post.Derek Malcolm / Digital Trends
Additionally , the LP70xBT version expand the connectivity options even more , countenance those withBluetooth speakersand headphones to play their vinyl through them , and at a high quality with support for the aptX Adaptive codec , if you have compatible gadget .
The AT - LP70X is a amply machinelike turntable with nice and bragging start / stop buttons on the top of the plinth . newcomer will be intimate this because it ’s stagnant simple to practice . After selecting the size of platter you ’re spinning ( 7 - inch ace or 12 - inch LP ) , and its swiftness ( from 33⅓ RPM to 44 RPM ) , just place the track record on the platter , jam start , and the tonearm automatically moves over and lowers the stylus to the rut . Just be deliberate if you ’re playing anything other than that 7 - column inch or 12 - column inch records and using the machine start feature — it will either dismiss the needle on the felt mat or a few songs in .
The auto - stop feature is also a nice speck for those who care to put on medicine and move about the house . It works well and you do n’t have to worry about your record spinning incessantly when it ends , which can add wear to both your stylus and your track record .
The tonearm base.Derek Malcolm / Digital Trends
Sound and prerformance
Like many turntable , a lot of what the LP70X delivers sound - wise has to do with Audio - Technica ’s AT - VM95C cartridge and stylus . A cartridge can make or separate a lazy Susan . I ’ve review several A - metric ton turntables , as well as other turntables that apply A - metric ton cartridges , over the year . And while I avowedly went into this review with my expectations tuned to what I know about the LP60X ’s seemly - but - not - not bad ATN3600L stylus , I ’m happy to cover that because of this upgrade , Audio - Technica has another entry - level success on its hand with the LP70X.
For a $ 200 turntable , the LP70X is a great - vocalise , low - risk , all - rounder that ’s unadulterated for beginners or occasional listeners with a handful of records on the shelf . It deliver a unanimous frequency range across a breadth of different music way , and it could n’t be easier to use .
Over the last few weeks , I ’ve put the LP70X through the wringer , running it through everything from powered speakers to vintage stereo receivers ( I choose to test the non - Bluetooth version ) . On heavy tunes like Queens of the Stone Age ’s alt - rawk classicI’m intriguer , the bass part and drum thud as they should and the pungent , mid - grievous guitars grumble .
More subdued transportation , like anything off of Cigarette ’s After Sex ’s gorgeous and moody 2017 ego - titled introduction album , propose uncontaminating , quiet moments with smooth and soar reverbs that show off how high and wide-eyed the turntable ’s soundstage can get .
Sure , when put up next to my midrangeU - Turn Orbit SpecialandOrtofon Bluecartridge , the LP70X ca n’t match their articulatio , control , or warmheartedness , but I have to admit that it was closer than I was expecting .
compare to similar entry - level turntables in the range , such asFluance ’s reputable RT80($200 ) andRT81 ( $ 250 ) , that also feature Audio - Technica cartridges — and evenPro - Ject ’s $ 400 E1 Phono — the Audio - Technica LP70X hold its own .
And now with the option to research a whole compass of styli upgrade that will surely extend the life sentence of the lazy Susan as the exploiter grows , I ’m leave alone singular about how much better I can get the LP70X to sound .
