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Head-to-head · Best Turntables Under $500

Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB vs Sony PS-LX3BT

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.4 vs 4.0). Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB is best for: Buyers who want one box that does everything, plus DJs and anyone who wants to digitize their record collection over USB. Read the strengths below before deciding.

Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB
Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best Turntables Under $500
Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB
2 sources$399as of Oct 11

The Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB is the most versatile turntable under $500: a direct-drive deck with a quartz-locked motor, a built-in switchable phono stage, USB ripping, and DJ-friendly pitch control. It is unflappably speed-stable and built like a tank. The stock cartridge and felt-over-aluminum platter limit its outright sound, but no rival here matches its feature set.

Strengths
  • — DC servo direct-drive motor with quartz speed lock delivers exceptional speed stability
  • — Built-in switchable phono preamp works with any line input or powered speakers
  • — USB output lets you rip vinyl to digital files on a computer
Watch-outs
  • — Aluminum platter with felt mat is less resonance-damping than acrylic
  • — Reviewers note a faint high-pitched whine audible in quiet passages
  • — Stock AT-VM95E cartridge is a competent starter rather than a refined one
$399 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →
Sony PS-LX3BT
Ranked #3 in Best Turntables Under $500
Sony PS-LX3BT
3 sources$249.99as of Oct 11

The Sony PS-LX3BT is a fully automatic belt-drive turntable with a built-in switchable phono stage and aptX Adaptive Bluetooth, launched as the replacement for the PS-LX310BT. What Hi-Fi gave it five stars for a composed, well-organised sound and called it hard to top as an affordable way to get records spinning; Trusted Reviews scored it 4.5 out of 5 and found it consistent over wired and wireless connections. TechRadar was much cooler at 3 out of 5, objecting to the cheap-feeling plastic chassis, the proprietary built-in cartridge and a $399 launch price it considered too high for an entry-level deck.

Strengths
  • — Fully automatic: start and stop buttons cue and return the tonearm
  • — Robust, well-organised sound with excellent detail levels, per What Hi-Fi
  • — Built-in switchable phono stage with a three-position gain setting
Watch-outs
  • — Lightweight, cheap-feeling plastic chassis and buttons, noted by What Hi-Fi, Trusted Reviews and TechRadar
  • — Built-in cartridge cannot be swapped; Sony says only its own replacement stylus is supported, TechRadar reports
  • — No AAC Bluetooth, so Sony's own recent headphones fall back to SBC, per Trusted Reviews
$249.99 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →

How they stack up

Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB

The AT-LP120XUSB is the most feature-complete deck here: unlike the U-Turn Orbit Plus it has a built-in phono stage, and it is the only one with pitch control and a 78 RPM speed. Its direct-drive motor has no belt to replace, unlike the belt-drive Sony PS-LX3BT, Sony PS-LX310BT and U-Turn Orbit Plus, though its felt-over-aluminum platter damps less resonance than the Orbit Plus's acrylic platter.

Sony PS-LX3BT

The PS-LX3BT is the successor to the Sony PS-LX310BT also listed here and keeps the same recipe: fully automatic belt drive, Bluetooth and a built-in phono stage. Unlike the manual Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB and U-Turn Orbit Plus, its cartridge is fixed to the tonearm, so upgrades stop at replacing the stylus.

Specs side-by-side

SpecAudio-Technica AT-LP120XUSBSony PS-LX3BT
CartridgeAT-VM95E (moving magnet)Built-in moving magnet, replaceable stylus, 3.5 g tracking force
DriveDirect drive, DC servo with quartz lockBelt drive
PlatterDie-cast aluminum with felt matDie-cast aluminium with rubber mat
Speeds33⅓, 45, 78 RPM33⅓, 45 RPM
Wow & FlutterLess than 0.2% WRMS—
Phono PreampBuilt-in, switchable—
OutputsRCA (line/phono), USBHard-wired stereo RCA cable
Weight23.1 lb3.5 kg
MaterialAluminumMetal
Operation—Fully automatic
Record Sizes—7-inch and 12-inch
Phono Stage—Built-in, switchable (phono/line), 3-step gain
Bluetooth—Yes, aptX Adaptive
Dimensions—16.93"L x 14.45"W x 4.72"H
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