Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT-BK Review

We purchased the Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT-BK so our expert reviewer could thoroughly test and assess it. Keep reading for our full product review.

With the recent surge of vinyl record sales, turntables have become more popular with music lovers all over the world. The Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT-BK brings analog sound to life with a modern twist—wireless connectivity. We tested Audio-Technica’s turntable to see how easy it was to set up and connect to Bluetooth headphones.

Design: Small and fragile

The Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT-BK is an all-black plastic design with an anti-resonance, die-cast aluminum platter. The turntable comes with a felt mat that helps reduce vibration when playing vintage records and plastic buttons that feel fragile but responsive to the touch. It’s plastic construction means it feels very light. Coming in at around 14.15" x 14.70" x 3.84", The Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT-BK is pretty compact, just slightly larger than an average Blu-ray player, perfect for those living in small spaces. 

The player comes with a nice, clear dust cover that sits flush on top of it and shields it from dust and debris. It almost frames the device like a work of art and is a nice touch, both aesthetically and functionally.

Setup: Important to follow directions

Assembling the player was fairly straightforward, but we ran into a little bit of trouble attaching the platter to the motor unit. The Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT-BK is a belt driven turntable that requires a rubber belt to be placed around a motor for the platter to revolve. We placed the belt on the incorrect side of the base causing the platter to be motionless. When we discovered our error, it easy enough to remove the belt and place it on the top right side where the motor is. Once the belt was corrected, we placed the mat on the turntable and the Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT-Bk was ready to go. 

 Out of the box, it doesn’t have any customizable features. The straight tone comes fully balanced with an Integral Dual Moving Magnet phono cartridge with diamond stylus. When removing the plastic cover covering the stylus, the whole thing came off, and we had a difficult time getting it back on the cartridge. A few minor stumbles aside, however, this player is great for first time users with no prior experience. 

Performance: Great for an entry level turntable

Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT-BK produces high fidelity sound and takes full advantage of the rich, lossless audio quality vinyl can reproduce. Once the unit was powered on, we placed a record on the turntable and pressed the start button located on the front right side of the device which raised the tone arm and moved it to the first track of the record. Pressing the stop button, raises the tone arm and it returns back to its resting point where it can be secured into place with small plastic locking mechanism. We noticed that the tone arm also returns to its resting point once the record is finished playing—this turntable is great for those that crave full automation in their record players. 

The built in preamp on the Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT-BK is really helpful for those that do not have stereos with a dedicated phono line. We were able to switch between the dedicated amp and the phono line out with a flip of a switch located on the back.  

Sound Quality: Great addition to a component system

The Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT-BK sounds great when connected to a high-end stereo system. When testing the diamond stylus and phono cartridge with a dedicated stereo amp, it created a wonderful soundstage with crisp high tones and rich bass. 

The Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT-BK has 3.5mm audio out line to RCA. When testing the turntable we plugged in a set of headphones into the audio out jack and the sound was decent but very low volume. The Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT-BK does not have a dedicated volume knob so it practically necessitates headphones with their own volume controls. 

Bluetooth connectivity: Hit or miss

When testing the Bluetooth capabilities of The Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT-BK we tried to pair it up with wireless earbuds. Pressing the Bluetooth button on the left side of the turntable caused the device to blink rapidly without any signs of connecting. The Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT-BK does not have a display or any way of determining what device to connect to. We retried to connect again but the Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT-BK did not recognize the earbuds.

During a second attempt to test the Bluetooth capabilities, we connected to an external Bluetooth adapter on a stereo system located in a different room. Once both the Bluetooth adapter and the The Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT-BK were placed on pairing mode, the two devices connected instantly. Once The Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT-BK is connected via Bluetooth that connection is strong and reliable, but without any kind of display pairing can be a tricky, uncertain process.  

Price: Perfect for your first turntable

Retailing at around $129 The Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT-BK is perfect for someone that wants to experiment with their very first turntable. This fully-automatic, belt-driven player is a breeze to use due to all the automated features. Geared toward those wanting to explore analog music but who still desire modern features, this turntable is a nice add-on to complete the perfect home entertainment setup. 

Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT-BK vs Sony PS-LX310BT

Coming in at around $178, the Sony PS-LX310BT is a great entry level turntable that has Bluetooth connectivity with the added benefit of connecting to your computer via USB. This means you’re able to record your favorite records straight to your PC without any additional gear or expensive peripherals. Although both turntables are made of plastic, Sony’s design is much more sleek and attractive due it its minimalist style. Compared to the Audio-Technica, the Sony was also more user-friendly, and the fully automated turntable was easier to assemble as well. 

 Conversely, the Sony isn’t as customizable and lacks a lot of features that high-end turntables provide. The Sony PS-LX310BT is a good option for those looking for an entry level turntable but want a better aesthetic design and the ability to digitally archive their vinyl collection. 

Similar Products We've Reviewed:

• Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB-BK
• Edifier R1280T Powered Bookshelf Speakers
• Polk T50