Sony Unexpectedly Re-enters Affordable Hi-Fi with Its First New Turntables in Years

Sony is well regarded in the affordable turntable space — its 2019-released PS-LX310BT ($450) remains a fan favorite — but, oddly, the brand hasn’t released a new turntable in years.

Well, that’s finally changed.

Seven years after its release, Sony has released two — yes, two —successors to its popular PS-LX310BT. The new models have a similar minimal design, but have been upgraded to meet modern standards.

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Sony’s new turntables

Sony’s two new turntables are the PS-LX3BT and the PS-LX5BT, the latter being the slightly more premium option. Sony claims that they are designed to “suit both first-time vinyl listeners and audiophiles.”

As the “BT” in the names suggests, both of these turntables support Bluetooth just like their predecessor, the PS-LX3BT, so you can easily stream your vinyl records to your wireless headphones or Bluetooth speakers.

Naturally, these newer turntables support newer Bluetooth codecs, such as aptX and aptX Adaptive, and therefore promise to sound a little better over a wireless connection.

Sony

Belt driven, fully automatic

Importantly, both the PS-LX3BT and the PS-LX5BT are fully automatic, belt-drive turntables (which, admittedly, might be a turn-off for most audiophiles).

This means that once you place the record, you simply hit the play button, and the turntable does the rest: the tonearm automatically lifts and places the stylus on the record. Once the record has finished playing, the tonearm automatically lifts up and returns to its resting position.

Basically, an automatic turntable means that you don’t have to worry about forgetting to turn it off (or hearing the crackling at the end of the record), but it means you don’t have to pay as much attention to the turntable itself. It also takes away the fun of dropping the needle yourself. And that’s what audiophiles really like about manual turntables.

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But that’s far from where the similarities end.

Both of Sony’s new turntables feature electronic speed controls and support 33⅓- and 45-RPM records. Both have USB outputs, which allow you to connect them to a computer and digitize your records.

And, if wireless audio isn’t your thing, both turntables can be integrated into a more traditional setup. They both have a built-in phono preamplifier (compatible with MM cartridges) and a line out, so you can connect the turntables directly to a powered speaker system or an integrated amplifier.

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The $100 difference

Naturally, there are a few differences between the two turntables. The easiest way to tell the difference is that, while they share most of the same components, the entry-level PS-LX3BT has a grey plinth, while the more premium PS-LX5BT is all black.

Additionally, the PS-LX5BT has a few more premium components. According to Sony, it has a higher-end cartridge and a gold-plated audio jack for a “high-grade wired connection.” It also features a slightly upgraded circuit design that has been “carefully engineered to suppress unwanted vibration and preserve audio purity.”

These upgrades come at a $100 premium.

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Price and availability

Sony’s newest turntables, the PS-LX3BT and the PS-LX5BT, are priced at $400 and $500, respectively.

The entry-level model, the PS-LX3BT, is available now on the company’s website and at other authorized retailers. It comes in one grey finish.

The more premium option, the PS-LX5BT, will be available later this spring. It comes in one all-black finish.

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Sony PS-LX3BT

• $400 at Sony

Sony

Sony PS-LX5BT

• $500 at Sony
• $498 at B&H

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