Some of us are old enough to remember when vinyl LPs were the first, best choice for listening to music. Fast-forward to the present day, when vinyl is having a renaissance, with audiophiles and casual music listeners alike flocking to LPs of their favorite artists. And with good reason — when played with the right turntable, records have a warmth and sonic range that just sound darn good. Plus, you can’t deny the pleasure of those full-size album jackets and liner notes!
So, let’s make sure you have the right turntable. Our choice? The Sony PS-LX310BT Belt Drive Turntable, which combines the best of old and new, with wireless and recording capabilities in addition to solid audio quality. At over $70 off its original price, there’s no better time to join the vinyl revolution and update your home audio setup with the PS-LX310BT. (Or treat a fellow music enthusiast to one for a holiday gift!) Let’s see why.
Sony PS-LX310BT Belt Drive Turntable, $178 (29% off)
The Sony PS-LX310BT has a sleek, deceptively minimalist design, but underneath its slick black exterior is a wealth of features. Let’s address the most important factor first: the sound is excellent for a turntable at this price, with smooth highs and a solid bottom end. Even better is the turntable’s number of outputs: you can hook it up directly to a receiver, or pair it up with speakers using Bluetooth—up to eight devices at once.
It’s also a snap to use; just plug it in, add a record, hit “start” and the automatic turntable does the rest. The PS-LX310BT accommodates both 33 1/3 and 45 RPM records, so both your full-length albums and singles will play just fine.
If that was the extent of the PS-LX310BT’s features, it would still be well worth the price, but there’s more to tell. With switchable phono and line out outputs as well as three gain settings, this turntable provides strong output no matter what you’re hooking it up to. The aluminum platter and tone arm give the unit stability during playback of your favorite discs, unlike other turntables in the same price range that use cheaper materials. And with USB output, you can record your favorite records straight to your computer in different digital audio formats so you can take them on the road (or preserve them).
The reviewers at What Hi-Fi? are giddy about the Sony PS-LX310BT, summing it up as “fun, ridiculously user-friendly and resoundingly listenable.” We’ll agree with that and add that whether you’re just getting started on the vinyl phenomenon or pulling out a fave record from your existing collection, you’ll be impressed with this turntable’s sound and features. And at its current limited-time discount, there’s no reason not to get one!
