Sony - PS-LX5BT Full Auto Playback Premium Turntable with Bluetooth Connectivity - Black

Something I’ve always liked about the Sony brand, besides the quality and customer service is that their products are well-thought-out and tailored to the customer's needs. Its audio and video products like soundbars, TV’s, BT Speakers, Amps, typically feature a generous number of ports and options that allow you to customize the device to your liking—whether in terms of connectivity or software configuration. And this turntable is no exception: right out of the box, I was able to start enjoying my favorite vinyl records by connecting to my BT Speaker, in less than a minute. The PS-LX5BT turntable was very well packaged—the platter, tone arm, and dust cover were all very well protected, which says a lot about how careful Sony is with its products. It took me around 10 minutes to unpack it and assemble it. If you are familiarized with turntables, the setup is very easy, however there is an operating instructions manual that you can follow as well. With a minimalist design, sober look, matte black color, good looking and discrete style, it looks great in my living room. You can see and feel the quality of its components like the tonearm and platter, which are key components on every turntable to ensure fidelity sound even if the whole unit is not too heavy. The setup is very straightforward, the way this turntable is designed and pre-setup makes it easy for beginners . Stylus Cartridge was premounted, there is not Vertical Tracking force and antiskating force mode knobs to adjust, those are already set, just install the aluminum platter, attach the belt through the holes on the platter, to place the belt to the pulley using your fingers, then place the rubber mat on the platter, attach the dust cover, connect to the power and pair it with a BT speaker and is ready to play records, just that simple. As I mentioned before, this turntable includes different options for connectivity. You can setup either for wireless or wired option. If you are old school or a strict audiophile the unit has a preamp phono for audio output or you can have phono output for a preamp as well. At the back you will find the Left & Right output RCA gold plate audio jacks and includes high quality detachable audio cables. The same ports can be used either for phono or audio output, there is switch where you can select the choice of your preference. This will allow you to connect to any amplifier either phono or audio input signal. The phono cartridge is moving magnet. With Bluetooth, you can get high resolution wireless audio up to 96Khz over 24 Bit with codec aptx, aptx adaptive and Hi-Res wireless audio, to ensure steady and crystal sound. I tried the 3 different connections. For phono output I used a separate tube preamp, with an Harman Kardon amplifier and Polk Speakers. Played some classical music and AC/DC vinyl’s. Very happy with the results, I couldn’t perceived so much difference between the phono or audio output using the Harman Kardon’s phono preamp. However I did perceived some differences while using the BT connectivity and obviously is because of the BT wireless audio compression. I was able to connect it by BT with my Sony Soundbar and Sony Headphones. It has 3 levels for gain audio output, Low-Mid-High, the selector is located at the back and you can control the gain in BT or audio output but not for phono output. There is a USB-B port at the back where you can connect to the computer and with a SW you can rip your analog music and convert it in digital. There is another micro USB port below the plate close to the pulley, that port will be used for firmware updates. There is no app or SW for this turntable so if you want to perform firmware updates the only way is through this port and a computer by downloading the Firmware package SW from Sony Website. Sound is great in all audio connectivity modes. No skipping tracks, or the annoying hissing noise. I think part of the success is the Stylus, with a light stylus pressure of 2 grams which offers a good frequency response and accurate tracking, belt driven system, and the design and make of the aluminum die cast alloy platter and Tone Arm. There are many different details in the design of a turntable that will definitely affect the performance and sound quality of the turntable while is playing records, and I think this Sony turntable has sorted them all out. The Bluetooth connectivity is strong, stable, with long range with no gaps. I was able to move my BT speaker while playing records all over my home with no disconnections. To stablish the BT pairing is very easy, just place the speaker close to the turntable, put the BT Speaker in pairing mode, then on the turntable press and hold for 2 sec the BT button located on the left, when the indicator light stops flashing the pairing is complete. This turntable is fully automatic. Unlock the tone arm lock, place the vinyl on the platter and press the start button and the arm will move and start playing the vinyl. To stop playback just press the stop button. When playback is finished the tone arm will return automatically to the tone arm rest and then the platter swill stop rotating. There is also the up/down button to manually move the tone arm. You can play 12in (LP) or 7in (EP) with the size switch rotary know or the speed 33rpm or 45rpm with the speed switch rotary knob. The Power adapter is the standar USB-c port which is a clever choice. The included Items are: Stereo Turntable Platter with belt attached Mat for the platter Dust Cover 2 hinges 45rpm adapter Ac adapter Audio Cable Operating Instructions Manual Overall this is a turntable for either beginners or experienced users, good looking, easy to operate, with different audio setup that delivers what is the main feature here, playing my vinyls with pleasant high fidelity sound.

So far I’m loving this record player! Super easy to unpack. Super easy to setup. Slight confusion on getting the Bluetooth feature to connect to a speaker. The minute it worked, we were rolling. I love that this record player is very easy to use. The hardest part was getting this to sync via Bluetooth to my Bose speaker. It’s very easy and straightforward. Place the record on the turntable. Press start. Press up. Press down. You got music. I love that this can do it for you and there’s no fear of scratching my vinyls. I’m starting to train my kids with turntables and vinyls. I’m really happy this player has an up/down button. It’s a great entry level turntable and well built. It was super easy to get a record on the turn table, press start and get music playing. The music needed to be turned down and adjusted a little at my speaker, but that’s expected. I think that’s my only ding for this player. I can’t make the adjustments on it, I have to do it on the Bluetooth speaker. To reference I connected this to my small portable Bose with built in sub speaker. It’s crisp after some adjustments. At times the bass still hits a little harsh, but I know I’ll correct that as time goes. Pros: Smaller footprint Up/down feature Lightweight Compact On/off button to help raise and lower the needle Loud volume Cons: No speaker built in Overall: Ok. So I know some will criticize me for saying this, but I really think there could be a small speaker on here. It’s great to have a Bluetooth feature, but it’d be nice to have even a small tiny speaker. Overall though, it’s a fantastic turntable if you’re looking for something lightweight and compact.

I missed the vinyl renaissance of the early 2000s. Why? Because I had left vinyl behind back in the 80s. The introduction and wide spread availability of cassette tapes and CDs pretty much ended vinyl for my generation. Modern day streaming pushed me even further away from vinyl. I currently own a very nice two channel system. And have been reluctant to head back down the vinyl path. In my mind, vinyl is the hobbyist hobby. Presently, I do not want to worry about cartridges, tone arm balance, tonearm material or shape, isolation and vibration control, or the never-ending benefits of the infinite type of drive systems, phono-preamps, cables, and anti-vibration systems. I want an appliance that plays records at a reasonable quality without all the hoopla of micro-adjustments that promise to squeeze every last detail from my records. The Sony PS-LX5BT is that vinyl-as-an-appliance machine. The table comes with built in anti-vibration control, the tonearm is pre-calibrated, the moving magnet cartridge is calibrated and non-upgradable, and the inclusion of Bluetooth allows me a hybrid wired/wireless listening experience. This may be my gateway to the wider world of vinyl and turntables. But, for now, this is a no-fuss integrated solution that meets my don’t-bother-me-with-the-details approach that I am currently comfortable with. And it does a pretty good job at that. System Setup: Sony made the setup of the Sony PS-LX5BT easy and straightforward. Sony packed the parts smartly and well protected. The assembly instructions are just as simple to follow. It took me about 30 minutes to unpack, assembly, and get my first record playing. Vinyl is all about precision. Be sure to take your time. The plinth of the Sony PS-LX5BT is plastic and thin metal construction. The motor, gears, and electronics are all stored in the plinth. The platter is cast aluminum and comes with a rubber mat for your records. The tonearm is j-shaped, made from an aluminum alloy, a proprietary cartridge statically mounted on the end, and pre-balanced for 2.0±0.5 g of tracking force. The anti-vibration feet are soft rubber cylinders that tapper to appoint where the feet meet the plinth. Everything else is plastic. The luxury of the Sony PS-LX5BT is its aesthetics and operational simplicity. I used the included RCA style cables to connect the Sony PS-LX5BT to my Marantz Model 50 two-channel amplifier which in turn connects to my Bowers and Wilkins 702 S2 tower speakers and SVS PC-4000 subwoofer. And let’s be honest, this is a lot of system for the Sony PS-LX5BT. I’ll cover what I set up for wireless playback in the wireless section below. Sound and performance Highlights: I started with a 1976 pressing of Boston’s self-titled album, “Boston.” Why? Because it is one of the best albums I own. I cleaned the record, placed the album on the rubber mat covered platter, unlocked the tonearm, and pressed play. The Sony PS-LX5BT took care of the rest. “More than a Feeling”, the first track, welled up from the slight background hiss and gradually filled my room with the metal symphony that Boston is best known for. There was some expected surface noise between tracks. The music was full, the sound stage width and depth were fantastic, vocal centering was believable, and the overall experience was like rediscovering an album that has served as one of the soundtracks for my life. I found the experience very satisfying. Next, I turned to Sabrina Carpenter’s “Short and Sweet”. Which was warped! The tonearm road the waves, so to speak, without any issues. But the surface noise was omnipresent. Thankfully, I also had the deluxe edition of the album. And this version was not warped. Like Boston, the Deluxe album showed signs of surface noise during the quiet between-track parts which quickly vanished once the music started. Finally, my wife insisted that I play her 1964 release of Mary Poppins from Buena Vista Records. We’ll just say the surface condition of the record was well loved. The Sony PS-LX5BT presented the album with hiss and pop throughout. My wife found it satisfying because that is exactly the sound she grew up with. And honestly, listening to Julie Andrews sing on her worst day is still a great day in my book. A few songs were rougher than others. Thankfully July Andrew’s, “Spoon full of Sugar,” was one of the best tracks with the best presentation of the entire album. Overall, I think the Sony PS-LX5BT did a great job. One thing to keep in mind is that the Sony PS-LX5BT is completely dependent on the quality of the vinyl. The Sony PS-LX5BT has zero configuration attributes to help squeeze that last 10% performance from anything. It is a simple, elegant solution for those who want to play vinyl without all the fuss and effort one would find with an audiophile grade player. Wireless Setup: For wireless I used my Sonos Play portable speaker, Sonos Era 100 smart speaker, Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones, and my Bowers and Wilkins PX8 S2 headphones. The Sony PS-LX5BT supports Bluetooth transmission via SBC, aptX, aptX Adaptive. Strangely, it does not support Sony’s LDAC codec. Which I found disappointing since the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones do. I was really looking forward to finally experiencing LDAC. Connecting devices to the Sony PS-LX5BT was easy. First, set the players output from Phono to Line on the back of the player, press the Bluetooth button on the player, press the Bluetooth button on the receiving device, and they sync. Done. Which brings me to my first real issue with the Sony PS-LX5BT. If it is a requirement that the Line/Phono switch be in Line mode for Bluetooth then why is this switch hidden around the back of the player. Second, if I forget to set this switch back to Phono then I run the risk of causing real damage to my gear when I return to two-channel stereo from wireless playback. The switch should be on the top of the player and not hidden around back. If, like me, you are running the Sony PS-LX5BT with a hybrid setup, that you always always always check the switch before playback. Wireless Audio Quality: First the Sonos. The Sonos Era 100 picked the Sony PS-LX5BT right up. And it sounded pretty good without the need to apply any EQ. I was also able to press and hold the play button on the Sonos Play to sync it with the Sonos Era 100’s playback. Essentially, I could have the Sony PS-LX5BT playing throughout my home, wirelessly, if I had enough Sonos devices to fill every room. This is mostly the benefit of buying into the Sonos ecosystem that the Sony PS-LX5BT can tap into. And the effort is near zero. Next, I connected the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones. Syncing was as easy as the Sonos. Sound quality, however, was a bit underwhelming. I had to apply a very aggressive EQ to the XM6’s in the Sony app to get the best presentation. However, my Bowers and Wilkins PX8 s2 headphones required no such attention. They connected simply and played beautifully without any EQ. Unlike the XM6’s, applying EQ to the PX8 s2’s enhanced the experience instead of correcting it. Then again, the PX8 s2’s costs more than the Sony PS-LX5BT where the XM6’s are cost-equivalent to the Sony PS-LX5BT. Overall, wireless setup, transmission, and sound quality were well received. Regarding Boston, the Sony PS-LX5BT, and the PX8 s2’s? Perfection! I loved the combination. Final thoughts: The Sony PS-LX5BT is an all-in-one, automatic, pre-calibrated solution for someone like me who does not want to, or is not yet ready, to leap into the Audiophile customize my way to ultimate musical nirvana complexity. I do not need to worry about the tonearm shape or material, weight, stylus angle, pressure on the record, cartridge quality or calibration, or anything else for that matter. The Sony PS-LX5BT simply plays my vinyl via wired or wireless. Which provides me with a huge level of flexibility. Will the Sony PS-LX5BT provide the best musical performance? No. It is not built for that. It is built for simplicity and flexibility. It has a plain presentation with sharp lines and muted color pallet. Which will allow it to blend into any system or environment you have. It looks right-smart on my stereo cabinet. And it does an adequate job of satisfying my vinyl listening needs while not forcing me into yet another audio hobby. Overall, I think the Sony PS-LX5BT suits best an audience that shares my sensibilities for simplicity, aesthetics, and flexibility. Thank you for reading my review.

Sony re-ignited my love for vinyls with this amazing PS-LX5BT turntable. Whats cool about this is that even someone with limited knowledge on how to work, let alone set up one for the 1st time makes it so easy and smooth to get you to listen to your records. Another amazing feature is not only can you use is wired to your Phono input on a receiver, you can also pair to a sound system via Bluetooth! In the box is a some-assemble-required type turntable but not intimidating at all. You are greeted with the clear top cover, the turntable itself, hinges to connect both to each other, USB C power delivery (which I absolutely love Sony going in this direction), RCA cable for wired connection and paperwork to get you started and set up. Assembly was easy following the included instructions and how to get the needle ready to play your collection. Just remember before putting your platter on to connect the pulley together. Connections are straight forward on the back. Wired via Phono/Line outputs, Gain Select (Low, Mid, High), USB to connect to your PC, the USB C power port and On/Off button. Performance for my tastes were perfect. I have a collection of mostly video game/anime vinyls that I finally got to listen to when I collected and a small mix of classic rock. Absolutely no static sounds, hissing or scratching at all. All my records are 12" but you can also play smaller 7" and change the RPM from 45 to 33 if you have them. There is just something about actually handling physical media and listening to it vs just streaming on random device that makes me enjoy the music that much more. If you have Vinyls sitting around and need a turntable, I would recommend this PS-LX5BT in a heartbeat to new and old collectors alike.

Imagine having a record collection and nothing to play it on or better being tied to a single spot. First off this is a full featured turntable that accommodates 33 and 45 RPM records. Sorry if you're still spinning those 78's. Simple operation lets you set the speed, hit start and you are off to the races. For those who have never listened to an album, they tend to be surprised of the clarity especially with this unit. I am no audiophile but appreciate an album over the digital version. It has the hookups for your stereo but also has USB and the real bonus is the ability to connect via Bluetooth. I have mostly used it connected to a stereo however I did connect via Bluetooth to see if there was any difference in sound or function. It played just as well through Bluetooth as it did connected directly to the stereo receiver. Overall this has great sound, easy connections and simple operations. I would recommend investing in a good album cleaner especially if you are pulling out those disco albums from a time gone by!