Making vinyl records sound great requires truly enjoying the expense and the inconvenience. Below certain price thresholds, playing vinyl often just does damage to the records, and doesn't provide any specific enjoyment that can be provided by listening to the same music on Spotify. Good quality vinyl pressings are expensive and it doesn't make sense to play those collector items in plastic turntables that cost the same as a few records.
The Audio-Technica AT-LP5X incorporates a wealth of improved features including a switchable moving magnet/moving coil phono preamp - great for new generations of users to simply connect to active speakers - a better cartridge already included, an outboard power supply, and even the ability to play 78rpm records. These upgrades are included at no increase in price, making the AT-LP5X great value.
The AT-LP5X also features a precision low-noise direct-drive motor system that provides accurate, stable playback of 33-1/3, 45 and 78rpm records - avoiding inexperienced users the frustration of dealing with unreliable belts and degrading playback quality overtime. Apart from the built-in phono preamp which delivers direct line-level output, the AT-LP5X also offers a USB output for direct connection to a computer.
The turntable features the classic J-shaped tonearm of the Audio-Technica turntables of the 1960s and 1970s, a design that minimizes tracking error. The tonearm features a gimbal suspension system and precision bearings for smooth, quiet performance, and includes an adjustable counterweight and anti-skating control.
The tonearm comes pre-mounted with a removable AT-HS6 headshell and new AT-VM95E Dual Moving Magnet cartridge, which offers outstanding stereo separation and imaging at its price. The cartridge is easily removable should the user choose to upgrade. Since the built-in phono preamp allows that choice, users can always try the difference of premium moving coil cartridges.
Essentially, the Audio-Technica AT-LP5X is still built over the same standard plastic chassis that characterizes affordable turntables, but construction refinements include a die-cast, machined and balanced aluminum platter with a 5mm rubber damping mat, a turntable base that is constructed using anti-vibration damping materials and heavy-mass metal chassis inserts, and an outboard power supply that reduces unwanted electrical noise.
The Audio-Technica AT-LP5X Direct Drive Turntable will be available in August 2021 at a suggested retail price of US $449.00. It comes with a removable dust cover, RCA audio connecting cables, a USB cable and a 45rpm adapter.
Audio-Technica was founded in Japan in 1962 by Hideo Matsushita, and the company made its name by manufacturing state-of-the-art phonograph cartridges and tonearms. They know something about turntables.
www.audio-technica.com
