Customer Ratings & Reviews

I am really excited about this Sony turntable. I am from the era of the turntable. I have quite a few records from my original collection, and I have added some recently. Before this new turntable I just had a speaker + turntable unit from ahem, another large website store. I am no audiophile, this review comes from a regular person who enjoys music. This Sony PS-LX3BT turntable arrived and I had to assemble some of it, which was fine, but I was a bit worried about my ability to put it together without breaking something. The included printed instructions walked me through the light assembly required and it turned out to be a non-issue. Sony is well known as a brand that seems to think of everything, and that seems to be the case here as well. Included in the box is the 45 rpm record adaptor of course, but they have a little storage hole for it on the left side of the turntable base. This unit connects to Bluetooth speakers, headphones, etc. and wired speakers. It was very easy to pair my Bluetooth speaker to the turntable, and much easier than dealing with wired speakers with my limited experience. If I still had a stereo unit this could connect to it, but I gave that away years ago. The power button for this unit is on the back, which would not be my first choice, but once I finally found it, it’s fine. There are three buttons on the top right of the turntable, and those have to do with up/ down, stop and start of the turntable and arm, not to turn the unit itself on. The clear plastic dust cover is nice, and a full sized 33-1/3 rpm record doesn’t stick out the side of it like my other little unit. This turntable is light in weight, but definitely not flimsy. I weighed it out of curiosity and it weighs 7.2 lbs. Dimensions of the unit: 17”W x 4-¾”H x 13-½”D. Playing a record: I had to decide which record would be the first one played on this. I just chose one of my original records from the 1980s. It sounded really good! I guess this is the reason we are all fascinated by turntables again. I heard depths within the music that I don’t recall hearing before, or at least in 40 years. Also, my other little turntable unit had pretty awful speakers on it, it was more for the novelty of playing my records than for actual listening. Once a record is done on one side, the turntable automatically lifts the arm and puts the arm away and the platter stops rotating automatically. It doesn’t just keep playing and runs onto the paper part of the record like in the olden days. That is definitely worth noting. Overall I am really enjoying my new Sony turntable, and my old records that I used to just like to look at. I’m now able to hear all of the benefits of the vinyl format. Don’t get it twisted though, I still very much appreciate streaming music and not having to think about flipping over my record. But if I’m going to have my vinyl records anyway, I might as well enjoy them.

This Sony Turntable has found a happy home sitting by my collection of vinyl records. Not only does it have a nice and sleek design, it’s made for modern times with Bluetooth capability. This model only includes the turntable, no speakers, so you’ll need plug-in (RCA) speakers or a Bluetooth device to enjoy your tunes. This turntable sounds great and is easy to use. Assembly is pretty standard, and even if you’re a first-timer, the instructions should be easy to follow. The audio coming out of my wired speakers is lovely which is probably attributed to the moving magnet cartridge which allows for the crisp, warm sound. The Bluetooth range is plenty wide so I can essentially enjoy my music from anywhere in my small home. This is an automatic turntable which means that the arm will start and set itself at the touch of a button and will automatically return the arm to its resting position at the end of a side or at the push of the stop button. That being said, you could still manually lift the arm to place it where you desire. I tested the RPMs right out of the box which came out to an average of 33.56RPM (target goal: 33.3) and 45.17RPM (target goal: 45.0). Most of my records are LPs meant to be played at 33.3RPM and I found that the slight difference isn’t all that noticeable unless you are actively testing for it, and even less noticeable on the 45RPM setting. I’d say that overall, I’m satisfied with this. If you’re not satisfied with those differentials, there is a way to tweak the rotation speed, but this is something you’d have to research how to do because the knobs for this adjustment are tiny and the smallest tweak goes a long way. On the subject of RPMs, this turntable comes with a 45RPM adapter and it has a storage compartment which is underneath on the side, out of sight. Moving on to other features, there’s a USB-B output in the case that you want to digitize your records, and I definitely appreciate the hinged dust cover to protect the turntable while it’s not in use. My gripes with this table are not significant enough to dock any stars but here they are. The power button is on the back of the unit and I would like it better if it was more obvious/visible. I’d like the power cable to be a little longer. The audio cable is built-in (does not unplug from the table). Overall, I’m happy with my new turntable and will continue to use it to play through my collection of vinyl records.

I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to review this Sony turntable. I have an older version that I purchased about 10 years ago. I tried to replace it late last year, but they were sold out at the time. I had memories of a traumatic assembly experience with the old model and it took a bit to get up the courage to start putting this one together. The written instructions (which are hard to come by these days) were excellent. I didn’t run into any problems and had everything put together and ready to go in less than 10 minutes. Everything worked perfectly when I turned it on. I don’t use the turntable to play records. I use it to record using the Audacity software and then transfer the files to CDs or USBs to play in my husband’s truck. The older version of the turntable did not have Bluetooth and I did not have speakers hooked up. I had to guess when the record began and ended and use the editing function to fine tune the start and stop. It was almost impossible to record individual songs. I had to record the entire record and edit out what I didn’t want. I’ve been longing for a Bluetooth turntable. Connecting the turntable to my temperamental soundbar with Bluetooth went much better than expected. It connected with the Bose phone app on only the second try. I also use the soundbar for my computer sound and I’m able to switch between the two. The turntable maintained the Bluetooth connection when the power was turned off via the power button. There was no USB cable for recording in the box, but the one from the older version worked fine. I don’t remember if the old one came with the cable or if I purchased it separately. There are a few minor things I would change. The power button is in the back. That’s OK when I have the turntable next to me as I record, but it will be very inconvenient when I have it on the shelf of the entertainment center tower. It will be impossible to reach the button without pulling out the turntable - unless it’s OK to leave it on all the time. I liked the position of the controls on the 2015 model better. They are in the front and can be accessed with the lid down. Now I have to raise the lid to start and stop. I also like the needle protector better on the old model. It is permanently attached and flips up and down. The protector on the new version is removable and I have to remember where it is. Same with the 45 rpm adaptor. The old version had storage in the case. Those are the only things I would change. The sound is awesome and makes me think about re-recording some of those I did with the old model. You can’t go wrong with this Sony turntable.

First off I shall do my best to establish my credentials as a "vinyl enthusiast". From Best Buy I have purchased with my own money several Turntables that I have in rotation in two rooms of my home. They are: Pro-Ject The Beatles SGT. Pepper Essential III Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Espirit DC SB "Beatles Concert Tickets Edition" Pro-Ject DEBUT III S SHAPE SB "THE BEATLES Singles" Pro-Ject X2 Series I am as serious as I can comfortably afford with my purchases and I have been a loyal customer of Best Buy for years now and with good reason. Which brings us to the subject of this review, the Sony LX 3BT. The Sony LX 3BT is a fully automatic turntable that plays 33 1/3 and 45 rpm records in the traditional manner via a Receiver or Integrated amplifier and speakers. I hooked the Sony up in the normal way albeit using the line out to hook it into my Denon Home Amp which I purchased at my local Best Buy. It easily integrated into the Home Amp via the Line Input and I began to play the Original Soundtrack to the musical "Oklahoma!" via a pair of Martin Logan Monitor 15 Two-Way Bookshelf speakers coupled to a Martin Logan 10" powered subwoofer, all which were again purchased myself with my own money at Best Buy. The best part of this turntable might well be its fully automatic function. I am a senior with physical handicaps and the other 'tables that I mentioned are all manual. I don't mind that at all as 3 of them are collectable Beatles Editions and the 4th one is without a doubt the most expensive and well built turntable I have ever owned. But... The Sony, like many other affordable turntables holds its own. It is a great deal lighter than the other players I listed but with care in avoiding my usual clumsiness, there were zero problems with the tracking of the stylus and the few times I experienced the "popping" sounds associated with vinyl playback were all on records 50 to 60+ years old and are to be both expected and in my case, enjoyed for the memories associated with them! But the Sony LX 3BT has something up its musical sleeve and that being the inclusion of Bluetooth! I easily paired it with Sony's own excellent WH-1000XM6 Headphones and this allowed me to play my music well into the night without disturbing my wife. Superb? You betcha'!! The Sony LX 3BT makes listening in my recliner with their WH-1000XM6 'phones quickly and easily paired to the 'table a real pleasure. Lock & load, it is definitely fully automatic listening pleasure made very comfortable! The 'table also paired easily to my Bose QC Ultra 2 headphones and my Sennheiser Momentum 4 Headphones. Next up I paired the Sony LX 3 BT to my HEOS Home 250 which is both Bluetooth and Wifi capable. Via Bluetooth the music was as crisp and clean as it was through the Sony XM6 'phones and when I chose to turn off Bluetooth on the 'table and utilize the Denon Home 100 Amp's Wifi to transmit to the HEOS 250 downstairs at a far greater range than is possible with Bluetooth the music was loud and clear. Simply wonderful and convenient to boot! Personally I thought that the Bluetooth sounded better than did the Wifi and I think that is most likely the choice of the majority of people interested in this excellent turntable but as I am an audio/video enthusiast I thought it wise to test that aspect and report on it for the benefit of potential customers. The build quality is good but light in wieght, the benefit of that being it is easy to move around if the need arises. My Pro-Ject X2 weighs over 20+ pounds but then it cost me nearly $2,000. This Sony reproduces the comfort that is the experience of listening to vinyl nearly as good and the fully automatic function in NO WAY detracts from the joy of that experience. It sounds like a record should. Engaging not just your ears but your memories, your heart and your soul if you will. I cannot recommend it enough because it is more than enough and in truth, it might just be all that you need. Music and memories for those that were there and for new converts to vinyl, an introduction to not just "listening" but being engaged in doing so. Never fixate on the equipment but what it does for you. A record is just that. A piece of the past made for the present as a present to all. The Sony LX 3BT delivers on all counts! Highly recommend? Indeed!

I spent many hours growing up listening to my parents vinyl records on their huge console radio/turntable speaker system. I've been curious to try out a new turntable and get back into vinyl for a while now. This Bluetooth Sony turntable was the perfect reintroduction to records. It is very compact and sleek. I use the Bluetooth function only, due to my receiver setup being in a cabinet. I love the sound that comes through my speakers- has that just pure music sound just like I remembered. It has direct line-out connection available if that works for your setup. I can't speak for how that works, but I'm sure it's at least as good as the Bluetooth. It has incredibly easy operation. Just literally press the start button and the arm will automatically lift and move and start playing. You can just let the record play through and it will automatically stop at the end and return the arm to the rest and spinning will stop without you having to worry about turning it off. You also can just push the stop button at any time you want and it will do the same thing. It also has an up/down button to allow you to safely move the arm to different areas without worrying about scratching the record or damaging the stylus. It spins 7 and 12 inch and runs speeds of 33 and 45. I just love the way this thing sounds and looks. I can't wait to continue to add to my record collection.

I really wanted a turntable/record player at some point, as I LOVED records when I was a kid for some reason, even though I was a touch past their prime growing up in the 90s. When I first got this Sony, I grabbed my Linkin Park Papercuts album, and I was blown away how easy it was to pair with my soundbar, like the player just lit up to say connected without much effort. Surprisingly enough, it sounded AMAZING. Even connected to bluetooth, I felt like I was listening to multi thousand dollar stereos from my childhood, not a "normal" turntable and medium-low end soundbar. You do have some assembly, but nothing complicated. Once I had it together, seeing the record start spinning and watching the tone arm automatically dropping on and hearing that subtle pop just brought me way back, but with the features that would have been on ultra luxury level tables, not the bargain/garage sale special type tables I grew up with. Having this player now allows me to grow my vinyl collection and enjoy the great sounds!

I’m not a turntable guru or an audiophile chasing perfect measurements. I just love the warm, alive sound that only real vinyl gives, especially my 70s and 80s records, and I’ve wanted a turntable with Bluetooth for years so I could play it through any Bluetooth speaker I already own without dealing with wires or complicated setups. The Sony PS-LX3BT has been exactly what I was hoping for. It’s dead simple to use. Everything is preset, with no counterweight to balance, no anti-skate to dial in. Plug it in, attach the platter and belt, put the slipmat and record on, and you’re done in under ten minutes. Press one button and it automatically cues the arm, lowers it, plays the side, lifts at the end, and returns. For someone who just wants to drop a record and enjoy the music, that’s perfect. The Bluetooth is the feature I care about most. It pairs instantly with my portable Bose speaker (and I’m sure it’ll work just as well with any other Bluetooth speaker or soundbar down the line). No dropouts, good range across the house, and the sound stays surprisingly full over wireless. There’s a tiny loss of openness compared to a wired connection, but for casual listening it’s more than good enough, and the freedom to move around or place the speaker wherever I want is exactly why I wanted Bluetooth in the first place. Sound-wise, it delivers that classic vinyl warmth I love. The bass has nice weight, the mids are clear (great for vocals and guitars), and the highs are smooth instead of harsh. It makes records feel alive and forgiving in the way streaming never does. The belt drive is very quiet and speed stays stable, so no distracting motor noise or wow/flutter. Right now it’s temporarily on the kitchen island until I finish unpacking my office. It has a matte black finish, compact size, and a clear dust cover. It’ll fit perfectly in my future gaming/music man cave alongside the consoles, PC, and audio gear. What I like (pros for how I use it) Bluetooth works beautifully. It's reliable, and extremely easy to use. It lets me use whatever Bluetooth speaker I want. It's completely automatic and foolproof, one button and it handles everything! It fills the rooms up with warm, fun vinyl sound that brings out the character of my 70s/80s record collection. It has an extremely quiet operation and is gentle on older vinyl (preset 3.5g tracking force). Simple setup, compact, looks good in a modern space No fuss, no learning curve, just play records and enjoy! What I don’t love (cons from my perspective) Not really upgradeable (fixed tracking force, non-removable headshell), but I’m not planning to swap cartridges anyway. Mostly plastic build. It feels solid enough for normal use but not premium/tank-like. Bluetooth is very good, but a wired connection would still sound a touch more open and detailed, but you would have to compare the two side by side to even hear the slight difference. (not a game changer for me, since it sounded great). Bottom line: If you just want that warm record sound without hassle, love the idea of playing vinyl through any Bluetooth speaker in the house, and don’t want to become a turntable expert, then this thing nails it! It’s been a bright spot these first few days and I’m looking forward to having it in the man cave once everything is set up.

The Sony PS-LX310BT is a great option for new vinyl fans. It has a minimalist design and offers flexibility in setup. You can connect your turntable via Bluetooth for convenience, or if you like you can use the standard RCA outputs to connect external speakers. The sound quality is pretty good at the price point and offers a little better quality than that of a suitcase style record player. The unit has a built-in preamp for the outputs so you can easily connect it to a stereo receiver or powered speakers and enjoy whole room sound. The design is pretty minimalist and offers basic functionality without a lot of confusing features. It feels just right for vinyl beginners. It supports both 33 and 45rpm speeds. It also sports a automatic start and stop tone arm and a dust cover to keep it keep. It tends to look pretty clean sitting on the shelf as well with this stylish thin profile and black color. For performance, the turntable has a belt driven motor and aluminum platter to maintain rotation stability while in use. Overall, I like it and would recommend it to others looking to get started in the world of vinyl audio.

Overall, this record player is solid. Everything seems to be made in a high quality fashion, as one might expect from Sony. Sound quality - I have a few vinyl albums from before the more recent renaissance of vinyl (70s and 80s), and everything I played sounded like I remember. Compared to my last (very low quality) player, there seems to be less hissing and popping when encountering artifacts on the vinyl surface. Turntable/cartridge/stylus - this is a belt drive turntable, but it was very consistent in my multiple listenings. The cartridge and stylus are probably the highest quality I've ever had, but note that I'm not an audiophile so take that with a grain of salt. Output - there are two options which feel diametrically opposed: good old RCA (red & white) outputs, and bluetooth. Pairing bluetooth can be a little tricky unless your speaker has an app that helps the connectivity. Once paired, simply turning on the turntable woke up the speaker for playback. I didn't have RCA inputs to test with, but the bluetooth sounded good. In fact, it was kind of funny as I'm used to bluetooth being attached to digital audio so when the side of an album ended I kept expecting it to continue. I'd eventually wonder why it got quiet and realize I have to walk over to the record player and flip it... Style/polish - I like the auto play and auto stop which move moving the arm automatically. This is a marked step up from my old player but likely expected at this price point. The slow close lid and very modern overall asthetics were fairly pleasing, although playing my old records had me longing for when I had cabinet coordinated record player, receiver, and speakers.

After unpacking, I was quite pleased to find that stylus cartridge was pre mounted, the VTF (vertical tracking force) and anti-skating force were already set. This was the simplest turntable assembly ever. So I followed the setup instructions but it really came down to affixing the platter and drive belt to the turntable followed by the dustcover. Plug in power and remove the stylus cover and you are ready for some music Now, I called it a clever starter turntable, so let me explain. It has some very clever features (which I will address later on) but at the same time, while playing records on it with which I am very familiar, that music does not quite meet the sonic standards that an audiophile level turntable and stylus combination provide. However, the music it produced was still more than acceptable. It probably could benefit from a more premium stylus were one available. While testing out this device, I first connected it to my entertainment system using the phono out setting. Unexpectedly, the music sounded a little dull even though I use a nice MMC phono amp. So, I switched to line out and plugged directly into the RCA ports using the builtin turntable amp and bypassing my phono amp and found that it sounded much better (one of those features). BTW, the cueing system is quite slick - another one of those features. Because the turntable is fairly light, I found it prudent to position thumb and forefinger with one above and the other below so that when any of cueing, start, or stop buttons is pressed that it prevents the turntable from tilting overmuch. I found it to work well to cue the tonearn up before pressing start, then press start and cleaning the record before lowering the tonearm. That cueing mechanism is so slick, there is almost no sound when the stylus touches the record. When I was testing the BT function, it took multiple tries to finally connect to my BT speakers, but definitely worth it - it sounded really good. It was the same when connected to my BT headphones. I was mildly disappointed when I tried listening to the entertainment system via RCA cables while also connected simultaneously to those BT speakers, because in that scenario the BT channels sounded good but the RCA cable output was somewhat muted. I'm not sure why, but I did not really expect much different. Although possible, I did not try to record music to my PC using the USB output coupled with recording software.

Sony has reentered the turntable market as more and more collectors and music enthusiasts have been picking up vinyl records. With two new entries, this model, the LX3BT, is the more affordable of the pair. How does it sound? Let’s open the box and find out. In the box you’ll find the turntable, the dust cover, the hinges for the dust cover, the platter, mat, power supply, and documentation. Set up is pretty straightforward – this is not a turntable with a lot of things to tweak like counterweights and such, so you just attach the belt to the motor, put on the dust cover, and set the mat on the platter. A quick couple of packing parts and a flip of the tone arm lock (DO NOT TRY TO REMOVE THE LOCK..I might have tried before figuring out it was supposed to stay there) and the basic setup is complete. For connection options, there are two RCA plugs on a captive cable. There are no hardwired headphone jacks, but it does support advanced Bluetooth up to Hi-Res audio if your headphones or speakers support it. It also has a USB connection which allows for digitizing a record. I am not a fan of the captive, fixed length cable, at all. On a $400 record player I cannot imagine why this thing has a tail. The cable isn’t particularly high quality either. Fortunately, it did reach to the speakers. As far as build quality and looks, this unit is an understated grey with no logos or model numbers on the front, just a subtle Sony on the deck. It’s a little disappointing but not surprising that this is a belt driven turntable instead of direct drive. The tone arm is nice, with a generous and well shaped finger catch if you are manually playing a record. It also comes with a nice rubberized mat. The most surprising feature was actually the thick feet the record player sits on. They are generously sized Os with a thick supple pad that is pointed to minimize contact with the surface. This helps prevent sound from resonating up into the record player from speakers on the same surface, which is the setup I have. Enough about the player, how does it sound? It sounds good. The sound is noticeably warmer with more detail than the popular $200 turntable I was using before. The tone arm tracks well and I had no issues with playback of multiple vinyls, including 7” 45 RPM singles. Bluetooth pairing was also easy and it sounds good through quality headphones, although you will always lose a touch of the sound when digitizing an analog record instead of using the straight analog audio connection. Overall, this is a solid choice for a “step up” from more entry-level turntables. The belt drive and permanently connected captive RCA audio cables hold it back from being perfect, but I would still recommend it for its nice sound and generous sound isolation pads. It is the one that will be getting the most use in the house.

This is an easy-to-operate turntable, whether you’re an ‘old timer’ with several Beatles and Rolling Stones albums, or whether you’re younger and want to hear how Taylor Swift sounds on vinyl, you’ll be happy with it. It assembles easily and if you’re connecting it to Bluetooth as I did, my speakers popped in perfectly and quickly. Also connected to the turntable are stereo RCA cables if you want to hook it up to an amplifier. It has a Line/Phono output switch to match whatever input your amplifier wants to see. These audio cables are not removable however, so if you’re only using Bluetooth speakers, you’ll have the unused audio cables hanging off the back of the turntable anyway. Operating the turntable is easy. You’ve got a ‘start’ button which will start the table spinning and then place the tone arm on the record. A ‘stop’ button which will lift the arm off the record and place it back on the tone arm rest (this happens automatically of course as the needle reaches the end of your disc) and an “up/down” button to just raise or lower the tone arm. Two other controls, a speed selector, 33 or 45, (It will not play 78’s) and a record size selector, either 7” or 12.” That’s it. It does not have other controls like an anti-skate knob or stylus weight adjustment. If that’s what you’re looking for, look elsewhere. Trust me, if you’re just wanting to listen to your vinyl as simply as selecting a song on YouTube, this is all you need. It also features USB output. This makes it easy to digitize your music using a computer audio software program. A ‘high/medium/low’ gain switch is located on the back, perfectly matching the sound level to your Bluetooth speakers or amplifier. The only negative I can mention is for some reason, Sony placed the power button on the rear of the turntable, so you have to reach back there to apply or remove power to it. Not a big deal though. Bottom line, this is a no-nonsense automatic turntable, well designed for you to show off your vinyl collection.

I have been a fan of music for a long time. In the past I have owned three previous turntables, the last one and my favorite at the time was a Technics. I had a love/hate relationship with vinyl with probably a bit of OCD mixed in. While I loved to listen to my records, I also realized that they had a finite life span. With each play there was a bit more wear involved. I was happy to embrace subsequent 8-Track Cartridges – clunky delivery with inopportune interruptions or placement of the recorded tracks as many albums were designed to play in a set sequence. Eventually cassettes completely pushed out the 8 Tracks, while still being able to play in your car. Later, CD’s allowed trouble-free music at home and even overcame vibration issues associated with cars and portable players. Whether 8-Track, cassettes, or CD’s – all required a small suitcase of sorts when taking a trip with music. Finally, mp3 and wma files allowed us to carry all that music on a phone or stored on a microSD card. So why did I desire a new turntable? Maybe it involved the nostalgia associated with vinyl. When a new album was released, friends would gather together around the stereo and listen to the entire album. And that was well before Taylor Swift music existed, or Taylor Swift was even born. And I was curious, as vinyl seems to be “the new thing” now. Unpacking – Finally more companies are rejecting Styrofoam packaging for the cardboard type packaging employed here. Caution – Some assembly required. Instructions are clear with illustrations that are complimented with actual words. Nothing requiring a rocket scientist. You have to connect the belt drive to the platter, but it is a very simple operation. No sweat. The whole process was quick and efficient. Sound connections – The receiver that I connected it to did not have a “phono input”. I imagine when the Sony receiver came off the production line, turntables were thought to be dead forever. “Video Input” worked just fine. Controls on the turntable are simple, straightforward, and nearly fool proof. Once the music started from “Brothers and Sisters” by the Allman Brothers, I had to stop myself from calling up friends to come over and listen. Bluetooth Option – Not that I would use this option very much, I was curious as to how it worked. I grabbed a nearby Beats Pill and gave it a try. Easy to connect, but a little too loud. Try the speaker volume controls to no avail. A check for a Reddit Thread on this topic confirmed others with the same problem. However, when I paired one of my Sony Bluetooth Speakers, an SRS-XB23, the volume controls on the speaker worked just fine. Just be aware. But aside from my nostalgia associated with turntables, there is one feature with this turntable that is a game changer for me – the ability to back up my old vinyl with the USB-B port on the turntable to my laptop. This is not something that I put to the test yet, but I am going to check out free Audacity software or spend $30 for Vinyl Studio software that will make that possible and even easily label the discrete tracks from the albums. A turntable and the associated vinyl records is like getting a dog – it is a big responsibility with the care and maintenance that is required. Am I crazy? Maybe, but I think I will pull out a bunch of old albums and call some friends over for a listen and relax!

I really struggled as to how to review this new Sony PS-LX3BT turntable. This is the replacement for the long-running Sony LX310BT. The LX3 is a fully automatic belt drive turntable with Bluetooth as well as a built-in phono preamp for connecting to powered speakers or outboard receiver/amplifier. The turntable comes with a J shaped tonearm with a fixed cartridge (Audio Technica AT3600L). Sony has moved the controls for start/stop and cueing to the top of the table under the now clear dustcover. The table has a nice black finish and looks good. It was very easy to set up. Place the aluminum platter and attach the belt. Place 2 hinges on the back and install the dust cover. Insert the USB-C power adapter and plug it in and you’re done. The table connected easily to a host of Bluetooth speakers ranging from Sony, Marshall, Bose and JBL that I own along with a set of powered Kanto speakers and honestly the table sounds good. Sony claims the cartridge is set to a tracking force of 3.5 grams. I measured it using my digital tracking force gauge at 3.63 grams. The RCA cables are fixed. Now this is where it got tricky for me. This new Sony LX3BT is priced at $399.00. In this price range there is a lot of competition. For example, one of Sony’s major competitors offers a fully automatic belt drive table the weighs it at over 3lbs heavier. This table also includes a tonearm with adjustable counterbalance and anti-skate along with a removable head shell with an upgraded cartridge that provides more upgradability than the 3600L. It also has RCA inputs allowing you to choose the cables of your choice. This table is also priced at $399.00 and in my opinion is far more future proof and a better value. When the original Sony LX310 came out it was priced at $249.00, which I consider a much more affordable entry level price. Again, in the $399.00 price range there are some very good tables although most are manual tables. Some new buyers may appreciate the simplicity of the Sony but if they continue to enjoy the hobby upgrading will likely be in their future. If you think this is a hobby that you will be interested in long term, I would highly recommend considering other options. In my opinion there are just too many limitations and compromises to this turntable to justify the cost. But if you are looking for a table that’s well made, easy to set up and sounds good wait for it to go on sale.

Before using the Sony PS-LX3BT I hadn’t played a record since 1991. I’m not lying, it’s been that long. I got into CDs in the 90s and then digital during the Napster era. Never looked back but I’m glad I’ve dipped my toe back into vinyl. The main problem with the current vinyl revival is a bit of a gatekeeping problem, not unlike a lot of technology that is niche or not mainstream. Seems that you either have to settle for a $60 "suitcase" player that treats your records like a woodchipper, or drop hundreds on a player that requires a degree to get working. Then a run of automatic players like this Sony were put out on the market. At its current price, Sony is aiming for some sort of sweetspot: a premium, modern but old-school turntable for people who actually want to listen to their music rather than spend all afternoon obsessing over details. I’ve been living with this deck for a few weeks, and while it isn't perfect, it’s been frictionless and smooth operating. The Build is “modern” black and grey - and a bit cheap feeling. For the cost, I was expecting a bit more build and less plastic. The chassis is almost entirely plastic, and it feels light when you’re moving it around. The buttons have a very mechanical "clack" to them, and the finish on my unit had a slightly rough texture that hasn’t attracted dust, nicks, or scratches. I thought I had one scratch but was able to rub it out thanks to the rough grey surface. However, once it’s on your shelf, it looks nice. It’s got that matte black and grey, minimalist Sony aesthetic that fits perfect with my simple and grown up living room. As far as individual details that really make up the player: the Platter: Sony didn't cheap from what I see. You get a die-cast aluminum platter which has provided great stability and smooth rotation. The Tonearm has a thick-walled aluminum straight-arm design that looks quality. And despite the plastic build, Sony used material that does a surprisingly good job of keeping the motor noise away from your music and no vibrations. I was nervous about setting everything up, especially stretching the drive belt around the motor pulley. But it all came together fine. Just don’t take off the red tape on the belt—it actually makes things harder. This turntable is perfect for anyone who wants a simple, no‑stress setup and just wants to press a couple of buttons and enjoy their music. Sony has pre-set the tracking force (3.5g) and the cartridge alignment at the factory. You basically just pop the belt and the platter on, and you’re spinning. Because it uses a solid Moving Magnet (MM) cartridge, you get high output, warm sound, affordability, and durability. I have nothing to compare it to but I can’t tell if the stylus and cartridge offer a forgiving sound, as one record that was slightly scratched and the player just couldn’t get around that scratch. The songs covered by the scratch on the record came through loud and clear. The fully automatic mechanism is the real hero here. You hit 'Start,' the arm moves itself, and when the side is over, it returns to its cradle. It’s very easy to use, even if you’ve never handled audio gear before. You just put the disc on and press a button. They’re also convenient because you can load multiple discs and let them play one after another without having to swap them yourself. The Bluetooth implementation is something that’s really cool and had no idea was available on a turntable. Pairing it with my WH-1000XM4 over ear headphones was a one-button deal. It supports Qualcomm aptX Adaptive, so if you have compatible gear, the wireless audio quality will be better than the pretty universal SBC codec. Too bad it doesn’t support LDAC or other high quality codecs - which my headphones support. Purists might cringe at digitizing an analog signal, but being nearby while my records play and not bothering anyone else is a win. The PS‑LX3BT also has a USB‑B port that makes turning your vinyl records into digital files very easy. You can plug the turntable straight into your computer and record your albums for portable listening or backup. You don’t need any special equipment or pay for special software. Per the documentation, you can use freeware software called Audacity for recording. It uses standard audio drivers, so your computer recognizes it right away without needing to install any special software. There are some negatives though. There is zero upgradability: The cartridge is fixed. You can replace the stylus tip (Sony recommends staying in-house for replacements), but you can’t swap the whole unit for a high-end model later. There are alternatives but you will need to do your own research on which stylus tips are compatible. I had a tough time finding any. Also, not sure how it would impact the warranty if you used a third-party stylus tip. I mentioned this already but the touch and feel doesn’t shout expensive (even though it is). While it doesn’t look bad, especially on top of a wood record player stand from a few feet away, the hollow feel of the plastic chassis is a bit off-putting. The money must be going toward the tech and the brand, not necessarily machined materials. Even though the chassis avoids fingerprints and scratches well, the dust cover does not. You will need to keep a microfiber cloth nearby. The dust cover also doesn't have any sort of mechanism to slow it down if you down lower it down slowly and let it go by mistake. It just plops right down so be careful, especially if the record is already playing as the record will skip. Overall, the Sony PS-LX3BT isn't trying to be an audiophile-grade machine. It’s more of a bridge between the beginners and those audio pros. If you want a dead-simple, good-looking deck that treats your records with respect and plays nice with your Bluetooth speakers, this is a good choice.