Audio Technica understands what it takes to create entry-level products. It grasps what each performance is about, prioritising an entertaining performance ahead of focusing on any particular facet. The damped arm lift is joined by a die cast aluminium platter, 4.5mm rubber platter mat and an all in weight of 5.2kg which is heavier than the Dual MTR-75, possibly due to enhanced damping, which is a good thing. Once you have completed the setup, connect the power cord to the receptacle on the rear of the turntable and connect the other end to a working AC outlet. Then, making certain the tonearm lift control level is in the “down” position, place a record on the turntable and press the start button! Audio Technica has offered another step towards the good sound with this new Audio Technica AT-LP3 turntable. This belt-driven turntable is an excellent upgrade to the original models such as the AT-LP60, although is somewhat more expensive than AT-LP60. Of course, the Audio Technica phono amplifier is part of the build budget for this turntable and, hence, will be limited in terms of sonic quality. As soon as you can buy yourself a separate, external unit, do so. Internally fitted phono amplifiers also produce electrical noise which hampers sound quality. External models don’t infect a turntable in the same way.

Indicates whether MUID is transferred to ANID, a cookie used for advertising. Clarity doesn't use ANID and so this is always set to 0. Once the belt is properly installed on the motor pulley, you may remove and discard the red ribbon. Other features include a damped arm lift, die cast aluminium platter, 4.5mm rubber platter mat and an all in weight of 5.2kg. If its performance wasn’t so thoroughly enjoyable and the price so tempting, we’d tell you to avoid the AT-LP3 and invest more in a bunch of separate components. Rotate the platter by hand until the rectangular opening with the red ribbon exposes the brass motor pulley (at the 8:00 position). * Do not confuse the motor pulley with the white plastic post located near the tonearm.Audio-Technica’s LP3XBT turntable combines 60 years of high-fidelity design with the latest Bluetooth® technology, giving you cutting-edge features while drawing on decades of audio experience. Enjoy a turntable that’s built on heritage, but built with the modern listener in mind. Bass, meanwhile was rather blurry and boomy but it could have been a lot worse. The above-mentioned damping did help in terms of stability which provided a measure of lower frequency control, driving the song steadily along.

In sound terms, the built-in phono amplifier offers slightly muffled midrange and an indistinct bass yet remains perfectly usable, especially if cash is short. While holding the platter steady, carefully remove the tape securing the red ribbon to the platter. Then use the ribbon to guide the drive belt (attached to the flip side of the platter) over the brass motor pulley. Make certain the belt is properly seated on the motor pulley so it is riding in the pulley’s groove, and verify that the belt is not twisted. It’s a fully automatic turntable, which means you don’t even have to lift the needle yourself – a simple button jab will return the tonearm to its starting position. Connect the turntable’s attached RCA cable to your desired powered speaker or stereo receiver/amplifier. For audio devices that have a separate ground terminal, connect the spade lug on the RCA cable to the ground lug on your audio component to help minimize hum. Install the counterweight, making certain that the stylus force gauge dial is oriented towards the front. As you rotate the counterweight, it will thread onto the tonearm.

This brilliant budget turntable combines features and performance to great effect...

Connects wirelessly to speakers and other devices equipped with Bluetooth wireless technology or to wired audio systems and powered speakers via included dual RCA output cable I feel obligated to start this post by saying I am NOT an audiophile and won’t pretend to be one. I just wanted to post a brief review of my current TT set up since I did not find any info about my TT on here after a brief search. I thought this might help others who are new to the vinyl community. Here’s the story:

I began the test with the LP3 pushing music through its internal phono amplifier. This configuration is ok and perfectly usable and, as such, will get any analogue fan underway in terms of playing vinyl. In critical terms, though, sound was a little indistinct and muffled at the bottom end with a rolled off suite of upper frequencies that hampered detail. As a money saving option, the built-in unit is acceptable and will produce an admirable sound for the price but an upgrade to an external unit is top priority. I began by playing the Connie Francis original pressing Sings Bacharach and David (MGM) from 1968. The lady herself sings in front of a full orchestra. Featuring fully automatic operation, a built-in phono preamp, removeable universal headshell and replaceable stylus, this Audio-Technica turntable is easy to set up and use, making it an ideal choice for beginners or those looking to level up their listening experience. Play 33⅓ & 45 RPM records your way, experimenting with different styli as you begin to discover your personal audio preferences.

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This new turntable from Audio-Technica is of the same breed, also built in China and just qualifies for sub-budget status by a single pound. Set the preamp switch on the rear of the turntable to correspond with the device you are connecting to.