Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Audio / Video
  3. News

Old school meets new school with Audio-Technica's new wireless turntable

Kris Wouk
By

audio technica bluetooth turntable ath sr5 headphones at lp60 bt top right
Ryan Waniata/Digital Trends
This past weekend, record stores throughout the country were packed with customers in numbers they rarely see, digging through dusty, old bins for aging classics and seeking out new releases. Thanks to Record Store Day, music lovers each year either rekindle their relationship with the vinyl record or begin a new infatuation with the format, and Audio-Technica wants to make it as easy as possible to keep that flame from blowing out.

Earlier this year at CES, we got our first glimpse of the company’s AT-LP60-BT turntable, which seems like a fairly standard unit except for one addition: Bluetooth. While old-school vinyl purists may balk at the introduction of digital conversion into their pure analog signal chain, those who are just looking to spin a record or two will likely find the wireless nature of the unit just plain convenient.

Recommended Videos

While vinyl is seeing a massive resurgence in popularity, not everyone has the time or even space to set up a proper Hi-Fi system in order to play their slabs of wax. With the AT-LP60-BT, Audio-Technica is making it easier for users to play directly to a Bluetooth speaker, and automatic playback means they don’t even have to worry about scratching the record when they drop the needle. For users who play to plug into a receiver, the AT-LP60-BT features a switchable preamp, allowing it to be used with receivers lacking a dedicated phono input.

Related

For those who prefer the more minimalist side of life, external gear can be pulled almost entirely out of the equation. The AT-LP60-BT can be paired with any pair of Bluetooth headphones, with no DAC or headphone amp necessary. The quality of the sound depends on the quality of the converters in the turntable and headphones, of course, but this may be as close as we’ll ever see to a vinyl-based Walkman.

Audio-Technica was also showing two new pairs of on-ear headphones at CES this year, the ATH-SR5 and ATH-SR5BT. As the model numbers imply, this is essentially the same pair of headphones, with the latter model sporting Bluetooth. In our first impressions, we found the headphones to be comfortable, with fairly clear sound. Both models support Hi-Res audio, though with the ATH-SR5BT, this is only available when using the supplied cable — Hi-Res over Bluetooth isn’t supported.

The AT-LP60-BT turntable sells for $180, while the pricing on the headphones depends on whether you want Bluetooth or not. The wired ATH-SR5 will cost $150, while the ATH-SR5BT sells for $200.

Audio-Technica says all three products will be available this month both in stores and online, just in time for Mother’s Day. See the Audio-Technica website for more information on the AT-LP60-BT turntable or ATH-SR5 headphones.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Kris Wouk
Kris Wouk
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kris Wouk is a tech writer, gadget reviewer, blogger, and whatever it's called when someone makes videos for the web. In his…
Audio-Technica’s latest wireless earbuds have monster battery life
Audio Technica ATH CKS50T earbuds in ear.

The battery life you get from true wireless earbuds is often a problem, isn’t it? Enter Audio-Technica’s newest earbuds, the ATH-CKS50TW, which may put an end to this issue thanks to a high-capacity battery inside each bud that will let them operate for an astonishing 20 hours on a single charge. Even if you switch on the noise canceling, battery life only drops to 15 hours, meaning these tiny earbuds easily outperform the competition.

Add the ATH-CKS50TW’s case into the mix, and you’ll get a total of 50 hours of playback before they actually need to visit a charger. Audio-Technica promises the fast-charging system will add 90 minutes of playback after a 10-minute charge. With this level of battery performance, it’ll be unlikely that you'll find yourself in a situation where the earbuds are completely flat with no way to immediately get them operational again. It’s this feeling of reassurance that many true wireless earbuds are missing.

Read more
Technics’ new earbuds focus on call quality and wireless hi-res audio
Woman wearing Technics EAH-AZ40 true wireless earbuds in silver.

Editor's note: Prior to the official launch of its new true wireless earbuds, Technics provided Digital Trends with pricing information for the EAH-AZ40 and AZ60. This set the price of the AZ40 at $130 and the AZ60 at $200, which we initially reported. However, following the launch, Technics informed us that the pricing had been changed. We've adjusted the prices accordingly in the article below.

Following on the heels of the EAH-AZ70, its first set of noise-canceling true wireless earbuds, Technics is back with two new true wireless models that are more compact and offer better call quality than their predecessor. The $230 EAH-AZ60 come in silver and black, and the $150 EAH-AZ40 can be ordered in silver, black, and rose gold. Both models will be available in October. In the U.S., the EAH-AZ60 replaces the AZ70.

Read more
New Audio-Technica M50xBT2 headphones add new features, retain iconic design
Audio Technica ATH M50xBT2 cups seen from the side.

Audio-Technica has announced the ATH-M50xBT2 Bluetooth headphones. An update to the first-generation ATH-M50xBT launched in 2018, they continue to share the iconic design made popular by the original wired M50 headphones, which have long been a staple sight in recording studios since release in 2007. For this new pair Audio-Technica has updated, rather than drastically altered, the features and technology inside.

On the audio side support for the AAC and LDAC codecs has been added, increasing the headphones versatility, but there’s no mention of AptX in the press release, which was a feature on the M50xBT. A low latency mode for gaming and video has been added and is controlled through an accompanying app, which also has the option to select your voice assistant of choice. The headphones support Siri, Google Assistant, and Amazon Alexa. Also in the app is an adjustable equalizer and a find-my-headphone feature.

Read more