I tested Sony's new entry-level turntable and, though it sounds decent
enough, you deserve so much more than a brand logo for this money

Date:
Mon, 20 Jul 2026 17:00:00 +0000

Description:
The Sony PS-LX3BT is a competent performer of an entry-level turntable, let down by a cheap chassis and high asking price

FULL STORY ======================================================================Sony PS-LX3BT: Two-minute review The Sony PS-LX3BT is one of the first new turntables to leave Sonys R&D department in years. It comes some time after the launch of the Sony PS-LX310BT, one of what TechRadar rightfully deems to be the best turntables for beginners and has big shoes to fill, accordingly.

And fill them it sort-of does, at least in the most literal of senses. It shares a lot of physical attributes, aims for the same sleek aesthetic, and seeks to corner the same, well, corner of the market with user-friendly interfaces and a no-nonsense approach to playing records. Its a shame it doesnt quite stick the landing. Price is the major sticking point for me its launch price far overshot similarly specced, and better-featured, turntables in the same market. This was the backdrop against which certain bugbears became serious missteps from a stylus that Sony insists you need to replace through them, to a cheap-feeling body that feels like its come from a device
a third of the price. Latest Videos From Watch full video here:

These things overshadow the PS-LX3BTs capable performance with audio, via its decent on-board preamp and its star-of-the-show press-and-play Bluetooth connectivity. It could be good it is good, by some metrics but not for
where its asking to sit. (Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw) Sony
PS-LX3BT at Sony UK for 249 Sony PS-LX3BT review: Price & release date Unveiled February 2, 2026 Priced $399.99 / 299 / AU$469 The Sony PS-LX3BT is
a fully automatic, Bluetooth-enabled plug-and-play turntable, with an eye cocked squarely at the upper limits of the entry level. At its launch price
of $399 / 299 / AU$469, its not what I would call cheap; in fact, its
undercut by a fair few near-equivalent competitors most compelling of which is the Audio-Technica AT-LP70XBT .

Then, there's this turntable's own sibling (they actually launched together), the Sony PS-LX5BT which is pricier but adds a more delicate stylus pressure
of 2.0g 0.5g, a thicker and more premium rubber mat, a tweaked circuit
design engineered to suppress unwanted vibration, a dedicated gold-plated audio jack out port (something not present here) with a cable in the box,
plus a slightly more high-end, all-black finish.

Most other competitors in the market, though, do not have Sony tastefully emblazoned on the chassis. Sony is a tried-and-tested household brand for AV tech, be it TVs, games consoles, CD players or integrated hi-fi systems. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Hence, the brand is likely better-trusted by new or returning vinyl enthusiasts to deliver something intuitive, fuss-free and of a minimum quality. Is this trust well-founded? The 2019 Sony PS-LX310BT was a huge success, but it was also a lot cheaper (depending on where you lived), having launched at $199 / 200 / AU$399. So, you can see the issue (Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw) Sony PS-LX3BT review: Specs Swipe to scroll horizontally

Dimensions

430 mm x 117 mm x 366 mm

Motor

Belt drive

Platter

Die-cast aluminum

Phono preamp

Yes

USB

No

Bluetooth

4.2

Speeds

33 1/3, 45 RPM

Stylus

Moving magnet

Extras

USB-C power adapter, 45 adapter (Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw) Sony PS-LX3BT review: Features Fully automatic operation AptX Adaptive Bluetooth output Built-in phono preamp and gain control The Sony PS-LX3BT is an automatic turntable; this means it can be operated entirely by the array of buttons and switches adorning its anthracite-hued surface. Simply select the size and speed of your record, then use the buttons at the front to control the placement or removal of the tonearm. The platters rotation is triggered
by moving the tonearm past a certain point, so even if you want to use the PS-LX3BT manually (by virtue of the silver finger-rest protruding from where the headshell would be) you literally only have to lift a finger to play a record.

Automatic turntable mechanisms are not so new, and this mechanical design doesnt sound especially new either, with some familiar clunks and whirrs I know from my old Rotel system. What is, at least slightly newer, though, is Bluetooth connectivity, which the PS-LX3BT quite proudly has. More specifically, theres aptX Adaptive Bluetooth transmission, for low-latency, high-resolution streaming from the turntable to your Bluetooth receiver of choice and accessed via a suavely flush button in the front-left corner of
the chassis face.

On top of this Bluetooth connectivity, the LX3BT has connections the old-fashioned way, via a hard-wired stereo RCA cable out from the back. Its
an odd choice to use a permanently attached cable instead of a port and at that, given the audience for this thing, Im surprised there isnt a 3.5mm Aux out either.

Still, that RCA cable feeds a built-in and switchable phono preamp, which means you can plug your turntable in most any amplifier without needing an extra gain stage. On top of that, theres a gain switch that lets you boost or attenuate your turntables output by 4dB. Surprising in a different way; thoughtful, even.

The LX3BT has, like many other entry-level turntables of its ilk, a
completely built-in cartridge arrangement with a replaceable stylus element. The stylus part here looks strikingly like one of Audio-Technicas AT-3600 series, but is designed specifically for this turntable, according to Sonys website FAQ. With a bit of sleuthing, the stylus does appear to be Audio-Technicas AT3600LAX, a conical stylus with a carbon-fiber cantilever though Sonys specs point to a slightly heftier 3.5g tracking force. (Incidentally, my own tracking-force measurements of the tonearm put its exertion at a, for me, troublingly high 3.7g.)

Crucially, this thin layer of proprietariness creates an uneasy route to self-replacement, or indeed upgrade. Sony would prefer you go through its dealers or customer service department for a like-for-like stylus
replacement, indicating that other styluses are not supported. Built-in cartridges and replaceable styli can be clever entry-level phenomena, and can be executed transparently well, but here, in this manner, it trends a little too close to being anti-consumer for my liking. Minus thoughtfulness points. Features score: 3 / 5 (Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw) Sony PS-LX3BT review: Sound quality Warm, clear sound from stylus Faultless Bluetooth transmission Clean, clear built-in preamp For all the grumblings Ive leveled at the Sony PS-LX3BT thus far, I will contend that it actually does sound good. That definitely-not-an-AT-3600L-in-a-moustache cartridge presents a perfectly reasonable quality of sound great, even, for its place in the market.

True to the marketing copy, the LX3BT sounds warm, the general color of its cartridge being a little on the soft side with some noticeable roll-off towards the upper reaches. Future Islands As Long As You Are sounds no less rich for this character, all big, warbly synths and croon-adjacent missives throughout. It's an enjoyable listen.

Testing the 7-inch functionality of the automatic mechanism, I chucked on early-80s groover Emergency (Dial 999) by Loose Ends (a DJ-set staple, and an undeniable bop besides fight me). It ended up being a great conduit by which to recognize the strengths of the PS-LX3BTs built-in phono preamp. Often in budget turntables, these can be brittle or a little saturating; this one is clear and full, rendering those snappy standout snares and breakout vocal refrains in gratifying detail.

The whole outfit seems to benefit guitars and vocals over anything, though everything sounds, to some extent, present and fulsome; Ryuichi Sakamotos Risky , featuring Iggy Pop, is a sparse arrangement benefited by Iggys game attempt at a Lets Dance -era Bowie impression his voice is a raspy little
joy all the time, but rendered to some good effect here.

Unobtrusively good sound quality notwithstanding, the aptX Adaptive Bluetooth connectivity is arguably the star of the show. Its fast to connect to, and, with regards to fidelity, sounds indistinguishable from its analog alternative. I had a whale of a time in the kitchen listening to Mitskis Nothings About To Happen To Me , in all its full and heartbreaking glory, fuss-free. Sound quality score: 4 / 5 (Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw) Sony PS-LX3BT review: Design Cheap-feeling construction Easy to set up One-touch Bluetooth Pulling the PS-LX3BT out of the box, I found the chassis to be quite light. Surprisingly light, even. Putting it together, it became clear that almost every element was some form of plastic besides occasional aspects, and the die-cast aluminum platter. Its not a reassuring weight, though the turntable is undeniably stable on its feet.

Im more disappointed by the perceivable cheapness of the construction on display here. A series of design decisions were made that preferred cost to user experience, leading to a pretty nasty-feeling finish on the chassis shell, a flimsy tonearm rest clasp that doesnt actually clasp, and a spring-assisted tonearm that inspires little confidence.

At least the LX3BT is an easy thing to set up as easy as seating the platter belt, plugging in a power adapter and delivering the hardwired stereo RCA cable to your amp or speaker of choice. It couldnt be more plug-and-play, nor more foolproof to use via its clearly labeled buttons and knobs.

Again, the best bit of the Sony PS-LX3BT seems to be its Bluetooth. Where
many other devices struggle unduly with one-touch connectivity, connecting this turntable to my portable speaker was the easiest time of my life; a single button press, a modicum of patient waiting with speaker held (camply) in-hand, and it was paired.

This aptX Adaptive connectivity can be utilized simultaneously to the PS-LX3BTs analog outputs, too. This means dual-zone listening; I got to enjoy hi-res Mitski in the kitchen while my wife bopped along in the living room, too. And, again, it sounded great! A positive side-effect design decision, that pitches the Sony LX3BT well for casual home listening. Design score: 4 / 5 (Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw) Sony PS-LX3BT review: Value Great-sounding entry-level turntable thats fundamentally overpriced And
doesnt allow self-replacement of stylus To be completely frank, I find it difficult to square the price of this against its own quality, let alone the standards set by other turntable brands. Its the top end of the entry level, and yet it has the same unfriendly design principles as the cheap-and-cheerful, ten-a-penny budget turntables its meant to outclass.

The caveat is that it does, ultimately, deliver on its core purposes. Its an automatic turntable, and it does indeed automate much of the
turntable-playing process for the most part successfully, too. Its a Bluetooth-enabled turntable, and its Bluetooth just works, which is something you cant say for some other devices. And through it all, it sounds pretty
darn decent.

But these are all things that turntables a third cheaper can offer. You deserve so much more for $400 / 300 than a brand logo; if you let it, that same amount of investment could buy you a solid turntable that delivers
better quality sound, and gives you the keys to the kingdom vis-a-vis calibration and repairs too.

Here, it is worth my acknowledging that, in the intervening weeks since the LX3BTs launch, there seems to have been a post-launch price-adjustment of sorts; many outlets are offering it at $348 / 250, or even slightly less.
This makes the turntable a much more palatable prospect investment-wise, but
I do think my criticisms stand and that other turntables have met the moment a little better. Value score: 2.5 / 5 (Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw) Should I buy the Sony PS-LX3BT? Swipe to scroll horizontally Sony PS-LX3BT scorecard

Attribute

Notes

Score

Features

AptX Adaptive Bluetooth and a fully automatic mechanism let down by an opaque approach to stylus and stylus replacement

3 / 5

Sound quality

Warm, full sound; a clear preamp and unobtrusive Bluetooth connection make
for clear and easy listening

4 / 5

Design

A quintessential Sony design, sleek and minimal but cheap in-hand, in a number of places

3 / 5

Value

A hard turntable to recommend at its launch price cheaper and better-specced competitors exist

2.5 / 5 Buy it if

You want simple, and your needs are simple As far as turntables go, this is as foolproof as it gets. It has a hardwired RCA output for connection to conventional hi-fis, aptX Adaptive for Bluetooth connectivity to anywhere in your home, and automatic mechanisms for play at the press of a button.

You want an austere-looking turntable The executive colour scheme is a good friend to minimalist living-room aesthetics if you want something that
blends in, this is it. Dont buy it if

Youre buying for the long term The Sony PS-LX3BT is a closed device, with a proprietary built-in cartridge and no adjustability or upgradeability whatsoever. If and when your hi-fi needs exceed the entry-level capabilities of this turntable, youll have to buy something else anyway.

Youre looking for the best bang-for-buck Its an unfortunate truth, but there are better turntables out there that cost less than the Sony PS-LX3BT, while possessing almost exactly the same features and a little more repairability, too. Sony PS-LX3BT review: Also consider Swipe to scroll horizontally Header Cell - Column 0

Sony PS-LX3BT

Audio-Technica AT-LP70XBT

FiiO TT13

Dimensions

430 x 117 x 366 mm

110 x 400 x 330mm

114 x 450 x 350mm

Motor

Belt drive

Belt drive

Belt drive

Platter

Die-cast aluminum

Die-cast aluminum

Die-cast aluminum

Phono preamp

Yes, switchable

Yes, switchable

Yes

USB

No

No

No

Bluetooth

SBC / aptX / aptX Adaptive

SBC / aptX / aptX Adaptive

SBC / aptX / aptX LL / aptX HD

Speeds

33 1/3, 45 RPM

33 1/3, 45 RPM

33 1/3, 45 RPM

Stylus

Moving magnet

Audio-Technica AT-VM95C

Audio-Technica AT3600LA

Extras

Dust cover, 45 adapter

Dust cover, felt mat, 45 adapter, 1m RCA cable

Dust cover, remote control, RCA cable

Audio-Technica AT-LP70XBT For my money, the question that the Sony PS-LX3BT is trying to answer has already been asked and answered by the Audio-Technica AT-LP70XBT. It's another automatic, aptX Adaptive Bluetooth-connectible turntable aimed at the entry level, but which comes in much cheaper and at a much higher quality of design and build. Get this one! Read our
Audio-Technica AT-LP70XBT review here.

FiiO TT13 If sleekness is the name of your game, the FiiO TT13 has it in spades. This is another decent fully automatic turntable, with a replaceable AT-3600LA stylus and a phono preamp (though, unlike with the Sony or Audio-Technica, you cant toggle this one off). Its also got pretty lights! Read our FiiO TT13 review here. How I tested the Sony PS-LX3BT Tested for 4 weeks Used as a part of a living-room hi-fi system Tested with a Cambridge hi-fi amplifier and Dali Sonik 1 bookshelf speakers The Sony PS-LX3BT spent a month or so atop my living-room hi-fi stack, as my primary means of listening to records. As such, its output was treated by a Cambridge Audio A2
integrated amplifier, which itself fed a pair of Dali Sonik 1 bookshelf speakers.

Bluetooth connectivity was tested with my trusty kitchen speaker, a Soundcore Motion 300. For testing, I listened to a wide variety of favored records across genres, to get a comprehensive feel for the LX3BTs performance. Read TechRadar's Reviews Guarantee First reviewed: July 2026 Sony PS-LX3BT: Price Comparison voucher gift 299 233 View 299 233 View 299 233 View voucher gift 249 View bundle 249.99 View Show more We check over 250 million products
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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/audio/turntables/sony-ps-lx3bt-review


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