Audio Technica AT-LP5 Direct Drive Turntable
£329/$399
Key features USB connectivity • RCA output • direct drive turntable Learn more audiotechnica.com Available from amazon.co.uk
If you’re a firm believer that your valuable vinyl collection deserves a premium player then Audio Technica’s LP5 direct drive turntable is a midrange marvel comprising of high-end components that treats your records like its own offspring. The spec list alone is sure to get audiophiles salivating, and it has the added bonus of USB connection, so you can use it to record your collection and curate your own itunes vinyl collection.
Premium components
Some simple assembly is required to get the
LP5 up and running, but this is also a great opportunity to savour each individual part. A precision-engineered cast aluminium platter under a heavy-duty 5mm thick rubber-composite mat houses your vinyl and a high-performance AT95EX Dual Moving Magnetic cartridge is mounted onto an AT-HS10 lightweight hardshell. Based on Audio Technica’s original design from the ’60s and ’70s, the J-shaped tonearm is purpose-built to minimise tracking errors thanks to the anti-skate controls and can be manoeuvred with precision thanks to the tactile control lever. Ports on the back of the turntable accommodate USB and RCA output and a preamp selector switch allows the internal stereo phono preamp to be bypassed if you’re connecting it to another preamp source.
The LP5 doesn’t have a start/stop button or a pitch adjuster, aiming it more at home listeners than travelling DJS, but the gorgeous minimalist design and its proficiency as a player mean it deserves to take root in your home.