Audio-Technica’s new LP70X takes all that’s great about its popular LP60X turntable and amps it up, making it an even better entry-level deck for vinyl newbies.
As far a turntables go, Audio-Technica (A-T) has a decorated track record of providing many a vinyl newbie with rock-solid, entry-level turntables that are ready to spin out of the box and are easy to afford.
That’s exactly what you get with the AT-LP70X. For a more than reasonable $200, the LP70X (and its $250 Bluetooth-capable sibling, the AT-LP70xBT) is just what the vinyl doctor ordered. It takes all the things that makes A-T’s ultra-popular LP60X deck so good for beginners and casual listeners alike and notches up the quality just the right amount, with a new (and much better) cartridge, a redesigned tonearm, and some antiresonance chassis improvements.
Having recommended the AT-LP60X to more than my fair share of vinyl newcomers, I’ve spent the last few weeks with the LP70X to see if it’s worth the extra $50 (or $30 for the Bluetooth model). The short answer is a resounding yes. Here are my thoughts.Design and setup
There a few key elements of a new turntable that always draw my eye when I first see them. I’m usually immediately drawn to the tonearm and cartridge/stylus, because their design and construction can tell you a lot about a turntable’s quality. Out of the box, you instantly spot that the LP70X’s new J-shaped tonearm, headshell, and cartridge (more on this later) are already steps above that of the LP60X, which always felt a little cheap to me, even for an entry-level deck. This is a good first impression.
Outside of that, there are few other surprises in terms of how the LP70X looks, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s a handsome-looking turntable that will fit nicely in any decor, and it’s available in three cool colors: black/gray, white/silver, and black/bronze.
The LP70X’s “three-piece, antiresonance” chassis may be made of plastic, but it feels substantial enough at 6.4 pounds. Its dimensions are a bit wider and more rectangular (16 inches wide by 13 inched deep by 4.3 inches high) compared to the LP60X, giving it a more sure-footed stance. Adding to this, of course, are its four grippy, though nonadjustable feet.
I hardly needed any time to set it up. Apart from the included dust cover, the LP70X’s die-cast aluminum platter is the only thing that needs to be installed.
