Want a good-sounding, beginner turntable? Look no further.
Audio-Technica AT-LP70XBT: Two-minute review
The Audio-Technica AT-LP70XBT is a fresh entrant from the good ship AT that continues its successes in matching quality with affordability. This pre-calibrated plug-and-play machine delivers fuss-free playback and a great rounded sound, all of which can be enjoyed wired or wirelessly, via foolproof Bluetooth connectivity.
Digging in a little, there’s some room for improvement when it comes to sound but, in a break from tradition for budget players such as this, the stylus can be upgraded to another Audio-Technica needle with consummate ease. The body is also a little lightweight, but the turntable is nonetheless stable and plays records near-flawlessly, thanks to its beefy motor.
Will it be appearing in our best turntables list? Well, the Audio-Technica AT-LP70XBT’s little flourishes make it both a fun and reliable turntable to use. It won’t be replacing anyone’s pride-and-joy record players, mind, but it is a great candidate for someone’s first. From producing solid sounds to taking care of your records, this is a fantastic option for a budget player that reaches beyond the stereotypes of its category.Audio-Technica AT-LP70XBT review: Price and release date
$249 / £219 / AUS$599
Launched on July 31, 2024
Audio-Technica has curried a lot of favor over the years, between its pro-sumer headphone offerings, pioneering efforts in cartridge design and, of course, its ever-evolving roster of well-regarded record players.
The Audio-Technica AT-LP70XBT is the latest in its entry-level automatic turntable range, and supersedes the AT-LP60XBT, a capable, if slightly flimsy-feeling, record player that’s deservedly won out over other entry level players in its orbit. The AT-LP70XBT is undoubtedly an improvement and flaunt some major changes, from a new chassis design to a dramatically improved tonearm and stylus system.
While some things have changed for the better, the point of the AT-LP70XBT remains the same and the new changes only cement Audio-Technica’s supremacy in this corner of the market. Against dozens of other automatic and Bluetooth-compliant turntables, this one wins out on a fair few fronts.Audio-Technica AT-LP70XBT review: SpecsAudio-Technica AT-LP70XBT review: Features
aptX Adaptive Bluetooth transmission
AT-VMN95C stylus
Built-in phono preamp
The Audio-Technica AT-LP70XBT is a fully automatic turntable, designed with ease-of-use firmly in mind. As such, it is a simple record player, which does away with the finicky aspects of cartridge alignment and calibration.
This is usually a cause for concern in cheap automatic turntables, which suffer for their overweighted tonearms and imprecise tracking. Yet here, with a carefully weighted tonearm and a fixed, aligned cartridge, it’s a newbie-friendly benefit. Many cheap entry-level turntables also suffer from the provision of an underpowered motor, and again the AT-LP70XBT rises above; it’s belt-driven, and its motor is both plenty strong and plenty quiet.
The turntable has an integrated cartridge system, but which utilises Audio-Technica’s VM95 series’ replaceable styli. It comes equipped with the VMN95C, an entry-level conical stylus with a passable sound to it – but with a little aftermarket expenditure, you can upgrade the stylus to most any other in the series. This assembly is encased in an all-in-one J-shaped tonearm, so shaped to benefit from reduced tracking errors (and also as something of a wink and nudge to Audio-Technica turntable tonearms of old).
The AT-LP70XBT’s loudest feature is its Bluetooth connectivity, which enables you to send audio to any compatible receiver of your choosing. Whether casting audio to your wireless headphones or your kitchen Bluetooth speaker, you’ll have a riot with this feature. The Audio-Technica AT-LP70XBT supports both SBC and aptX Adaptive codecs – a single press of the dedicated Bluetooth button has it searching for devices to connect to, and this writer encountered no difficulties in getting it to pair.
Features score: 4.5/5Audio-Technica AT-LP70XBT review: Sound quality
Robust, dependable playback
Charmingly rich sound for price
Sometimes a tad hollow
This turntable is a gratifyingly sturdy play, and delivers reliable performance somewhat beyond its own remit. The pre-installed AT-VMN95C stylus is conical, which provides smooth and unproblematic playback, albeit at the expense of some definition. Though basic, it is still a serious leg up on its predecessor’s cartridge, and on those typically offered by other automatic turntables in this bracket.
The first test was Radiohead’s There There 12in single, which was every bit the sonorous sledgehammer you’d hope.
