Amazon users are ‘blown away’ by this beginner-friendly turntable for $180

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Convenience is one of the reasons streaming services have become popular in recent years. Spotify, for example, has over 761 million users. You can listen to music on any mainstream music streaming service from anywhere in the world, with the snap of a finger. Regardless, some argue that no digital music format can match the experience of playing music on vinyl, and there is a clear trend of vinyl records replacing Spotify and Apple Music. You’ve probably heard the argument that vinyl records sound better than digital audio. Vinyl records are said to sound “warmer” than digital music, and you may also miss some sonic details in the latter due to the compression algorithms used to facilitate the transfer of audio files over the Internet.

If you want to experience the sound of vinyl and make your own judgment, you need to get a turntable. But turntables can be expensive, and the price alone can put off many people. However, you don’t have to start with the premium end of the market. You can start with the AT-LP60X-BK vinyl turntable from Audio-Technica, which is beginner-friendly and won’t cost you much, making it perfect for anyone trying to delve into the world of vinyl records. Best of all, this turntable is on sale on Amazon and you can get it for $180 after a 10% discount. The turntable has been well received with many users praising it, with some saying they are “blown away”.

The AT-LP60X-BK turntable from Audio-Technica is a great option for beginners because it is fully automatic. For starters, a fully automatic turntable doesn’t require you to place the needle on the record to play, unlike a manual turntable. This feature alone makes it a solid choice if you are purchasing your very first turntable. This is a two-speed, belt-driven turntable that can switch between 33 revolutions per minute (rpm) and 45 rpm. The main downside is that, like most modern turntables, it doesn’t play any of those old 78 rpm records that might have passed down to you from your favorite uncle’s collection. The AT-LP60X-BK features a phono cartridge with a replaceable diamond stylus, as well as a die-cast aluminum platter.

There’s also a switchable phono preamplifier built in, which isn’t always a given, even on some more expensive turntables. Thanks to this, you don’t need to buy an external one if your audio receiver or portable speakers lack one. This means you can also connect the turntable directly to your audio source, such as powered speakers or a stereo, whether or not your audio output has a phono preamp. The box includes an RCA output cable, a power cable, a 45 RPM adapter and a dust cover. Notably, only the black variant of the turntable retails for $180 as of this writing.

If you need further proof that the Audio-Technica AT-LP60X-BK turntable is a great choice, just check out its user reviews on Amazon. The turntable has garnered over 13,000 reviews with an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars, with 91% of all users giving it a 4 or 5 star rating. Some of the aspects that users like about the turntable are its affordable price, good sound quality, and simple setup process that does not require technical knowledge.

An Amazon reviewer says they were “blown away” by the turntable after upgrading from an old turntable they’ve had for years and praises it for its ease of use, affordability and excellent sound quality, sleek design and dust cover. However, despite the many positive reviews the turntable has received so far, it is not perfect. Some of the issues users encountered while using it include clunky controls, low volume without using external speakers, and others say it feels cheap.