Customer Ratings & Reviews

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.