SonyPS-LX310BT Belt Drive Turntable: Fully Automatic Wireless Vinyl Record Player with Bluetooth and USB Output Black

After HOURS of research on entry level turntables, I've settled on this Sony unit. initial impressions during unpacking, this unit is super lightweight leaving me with the idea it was cheap, which, in all fairness when comparing to others, it is. My hopes were slightly dashed at this point. I had it up and running from package opening in under 15 minutes. It seamlessly paired with my Sony receiver in seconds. Sidenote, I bought this with the idea of not having to connect via RCA jacks, and that is how I am using it, but the cord for the RCA jacks are permanently attached to the unit with having only one side of male connectors, I suspect this was a way to cut costs. I'd prefer the ability to remove them without altering the unit, but it is what it is. My first listen was using a brand new Melody Gardot Vinyl. The sound for this price point, or even at price points cost more than $100 or so was nothing less than amazing. I replaced an older turntable that didn't have Bluetooth connectivity. I played an older vinyl, Pink Floyd, the wall, again incredible sound, and lastly I played an Amy Winehouse vinyl which had some wear and tear, and visible scratches, my old turntable struggled to play it skip free, this unit played it without missing a beat, zero skips. I can't speak more highly of this units capabilities. The only con is build feel/visual appeal, overall it looks and feels inexpensive, but the sound quality more than makes up for this. This just adds to my love of Sony products. I've replaced a Denon receiver with my current Sony and again was impressed. I did not upgrade they had similar price points within $50 of each other, with he Denon costing more. OK, back on track with the turntable review, so long as you don't mind the turntable being very lightweight and having a very simple appearance, you will not be disappointed, the sound is superb!

I'm going to start off by saying I like this turntable. If suits my needs. My needs are - I want a turntable that is fully automatic so I can lay down listening to a record and not have to worry about getting up to turn it off. I want a turntable that can produce decent sound from my collected vinyl over the years. This turntable does both. Records will never be my main source of recorded music again. I just wanted a convenient way to play my records with decent music reproduction. That being said this unit cannot reproduce music like a $500.00 and up turntable. I have a $500.00 manual turntable with a very nice cartridge and it outperforms this turntable quite a bit reproduction wise. I love it and I hate it at the same time. Music wise it is great. Convenience wise it is the pits. I have to know the last song on the record so I can prepare myself to get up and stop it. And for sure don't fall asleep or your needle will be grinding away. So I had to decide do I want great sound with inconvenience and hate it or good sound with convenience and love it. Since records are not my main source of music I choose the convenience and good sound of the Sony. I am pleased with the unit but again if you are looking for top audiophile from a turntable this is not the one. If you want really good sound plus the convenience of an automatic turntable this is for you, and for me.UPDATEAfter using this turntable a while I am pleased with it. I have no issues with speed fluctuations. It makes me wonder if the folks that are having problems with the speed have the belt twisted around the motor pulley or it is not properly installed around the platter radius. It is a flat belt, not a cord belt so I can see where if not careful it could be twisted. While you can't change the cartridge, you can upgrade the stylus (needle) to an elliptical cut instead of the conical stylus shipped with it. An elliptical stylus will get you more upper range from your records. I also replaced the felt pad cover with a nice acrylic cover. Then I bought a turntable weight that fits over the turntable spindle. I'm going to have to tell you for a $200.00 turntable it sounds really nice. I was surprised. The bluetooth works flawlessly and sounds exceptional for a bluetooth signal. I send the signal right to my elaborate 5.1 setup and the sound is amazing. Tons of bass (with a subwoofer) and very good highs. Another area where this unit excels is the smoothness of the automatic functions. Very smooth operation with no jerks and the tone arm raises and lowers with damped precision. The buttons for start, stop and lower/raise the tone arm are mechanical but they are smooth too. Electronic touch buttons would be nice but that would have added more cost and the mechanical buttons work just fine. I wrapped up my $500.00 manual turntable and will store it totally sealed up in my closet and someday pull it out if needed. But for me this turntable sounds great even with bluetooth and just so convenient to use.UPDATEAfter using this turntable for months now, I am totally sold on it. I don't care what the the audio experts say, this unit sounds excellent even using bluetooth. It has a very smooth operating mechanism and it utilizes damping when lowering the stylus to the record. Very smooth. The aesthetic materials that is made of while stable and very adequate, it does not have a high end look to it But you are getting a well built and excellent sounding turntable for the price of some of those cheap all-in-one units that use a ceramic cartridge. This unit utilizes a magnetic cartridge. The only negative thing I have found is a replacement stylus which is not available on Amazon at this time is expensive. Ridiculously priced. I purchase two stylus just to have then on hand. The first time I ordered from a Sony Authorized Dealer it cost me $40.00. I ordered another months later and to my surprise it was $60.00. But I have three stylus now and that should last for years and it is worth it to me.