Audio-Technica AT-LPW50BTRW Turntable Bluetooth Manual Belt Drive Wood Base Rosewood

Product Information

And even still, it doesn't always connect. We shoved so many headphones and speakers to both Bluetooth turntables, getting increasingly annoyed when it just wouldn't pair. They didn't manage to connect to the Grado GW100X wireless headphones (which would be an ideal partner for this niche home use) or the AirPods Max, or the Wonderboom 3 (used just to test the Bluetooth process). "Why won't you pair?!" we yelled, far too many times. I don't buy vinyl records often, but when I do it's more akin to collector's items, like those gorgeous illustrated Folio Society editions of much-loved books. They're lovely things to own and cherish. You don't really get that same kind of feeling from a digital file or stream. Flutter was measured separately for both speeds, again using both CCIR and DIN measurement techniques. At 33.33 rpm Newport Test Labs measured flutter at 0.05% (CCIR) and 0.045% (DIN). At 45 rpm, flutter was measured at 0.055% (CCIR) and 0.05% (DIN).

And it means I can listen to my questionable music tastes late into the night without bothering others in my household. The only things stopping me are the knowledge that more purist turntable offerings like the Rega Planar 1 Plus undoubtedly sound better (even if it doesn't have Bluetooth and needs the separate boxes), and that the Bluetooth pairing process will annoy me, and probably play havoc with the other Bluetooth devices I have in each room. Especially if trying to re-pair. Once you've connected your Sonos device to your turntable, it's time to get listening. If you're connected via a cable, you'll need to switch the audio source to line-in – you do this through the Sonos app. In the Browse tab, select Line-in, and then choose the relevant source. You can also set up AutoPlay so your Sonos system switches to vinyl mode as soon as your wheels of steel start spinning. Indicates whether MUID is transferred to ANID, a cookie used for advertising. Clarity doesn't use ANID and so this is always set to 0.The turntable also has a built-in phono preamp. This means that you don’t need a separate phono preamp to connect it to any audio system with a line-level input. This is a useful feature for people who want to use the turntable with a home theatre system or powered speakers. Final Words The recent new Audio-Technica turntable I reviewed, the AT-LP3XBT, is a really convenient automated record player that I would highly recommend to casual record collectors who want to enjoy analogue music without the fuss and hassle of handling the tonearm. Plus, it auto stops at the end of the record, which even discerning audio lovers like myself appreciate. However, if you are looking for a more professional-styled turntable that still caters to the digital generation, the AT-LPW50BT is probably the one to get. I then tested how records would sound with the turntable's built-in preamp instead of going through my receiver. Audio-Technica's built-in preamp gives a crisper and cleaner sound than my receiver, but that is just barely noticeable unless you're searching for a difference between the two. I'm being a bit glib, but that's essentially what it feels like. There's no app or way to select the source like you can when pairing Bluetooth speakers or headphones with your smartphone. You need to keep the headphones/speaker close to the turntable when pairing, but even when literally shoving them next to each other, we still had trouble making a connection. Audio Technica has also announced the AT-LPW50BTRW, the latest addition to the brand’s line of fully manual, belt-driven wooden turntables for those vinyl enthusiasts who want to spend a little more. This new turntable also offers a Bluetooth connection for streaming to speakers or headphones. Users can enjoy optimal high-fidelity audio reproduction from vinyl using a wired or wireless connection.

Connectivity is largely the same, with a selectable phono preamp and dual RCA output for wired connectivity, along with Bluetooth support. You just need the right speaker, the right accessory, and a little know-how. Allow us to show you how... Which Sonos speakers support a record player? Selected items are only available for delivery via the Royal Mail 48® service and other items are available for delivery using this service for a charge. As mentioned in the introduction to this review, the Audio-Technica AT-LPW50PB has a phono pre-amplifier built in, the output of which is at the rear of the turntable.Some Bluetooth-enabled Sonos speakers can also be connected wirelessly to Bluetooth turntables. These are the Sonos Era 300 and Era 100, Roam and Move. What do you need to add a turntable to your Sonos system? There are technological and audio advancements being made in wireless headphones all the time; I'd love for Bluetooth turntables to be given the same level of care and thought. Gives us young 'uns more choice, I say. And if that's an entry point into better sound quality and even getting into 'proper' hi-fi – well, that's no bad thing at all. You’ll have to re-pair every time the connection is broken (for instance, when you pair the headphones with your smartphone again), but it is stable when it works. We can see many opting for this combination of the Audio Technica turntable and, say, the Sonos Era 100 (a single or stereo pair) as their main sound system. It’s convenient, attractive and takes up much less space (and costs less) than a full stereo hi-fi system. And it sounds good, too. Bluetooth may not be the best-sounding connection, but we live our daily life with Bluetooth earbuds and speakers offering great sound and value for money, so why can't Bluetooth turntables sound good, too? The quality of the vinyl stream also depends on the quality of the speaker you choose, which gives you plenty of choice in just how good you can make the system sound. You can opt for a high-end Naim Mu-so Qb model or even an active stereo pair like the Triangle AIO Twin, but more affordable (and more convenient) options such as the Era 100 or Audio Pro C10 MkII would be perfect choices. We'd steer away from more budget speaker offerings from Ultimate Ears or JBL – they're decent, but your vinyl does deserve a better class of speaker quality. If you demand a more traditional approach, the wooden finish and fully manual operation of Audio-Technica's AT-LPW50BTRW might be more appealing.

To test the wireless Bluetooth, I used a portable Bose speaker and Skullcandy Hesh ANC headphones. The portable speaker was decent enough, but, of course, speakers make up a lot of the vinyl listening experience and portable ones just don't compare to bigger setups. However, if you have a smaller space or a tight budget, the fact that you can connect this quality turntable to any Bluetooth speaker is a plus. And speaking of looking good, I am in love with the AT-LP2022 limited edition turntable. But I’ll save that for another post. Likes

Measured at 45 rpm, the AT-LPW50B’s platter speed was even more stable, so that the measured frequency varied only between 2998Hz and 3000Hz. Again, this is an excellent result. Newport Test Labs has plotted these variations in the speed histogram (Graph 1). The older members of team What Hi-Fi? are sometimes puzzled why the younger generations are so taken with vinyl, but it makes sense to me. When streaming from Spotify or Netflix from your smartphone or laptop has been the norm, vinyl records – and turntables – offer a wonderfully tactile, physical sense of ownership and connection to music that a digital stream simply doesn't. Being able to disconnect from the shiny screen of doom and instead interact with physical products also does wonders for your mental health. The Era 300, Era 100 and Sonos Roam and Move speakers can also connect to a turntable over Bluetooth, providing the turntable has Bluetooth, of course. To pair, press and hold the speaker's Bluetooth button – when you hear a chime and the status light flashes blue, it's ready for pairing. Then press the pairing button on the Bluetooth turntable, such as on the Cambridge Audio Alva TT V2 or the Audio Technica AT-LPW50BTRW. When the LED on the turntable goes solid, you know it's paired. The tonearm is made of carbon fibre and the entire system is finished in aluminium, including the headshell, creating nice contrast against the rosewood body. The Bluetooth pairing button is located next to the anti-skate control instead of the lower left corner where the LP3XBT and LP60XBT are located. Putting the button here would be better than locating it at the rear of the turntable where it would be hard to reach.

The great thing about this record player is that there are different ways to listen to your music. You can connect it via AUX or phono output if you want to use the turntable amplifier, a receiver amplifier, or a dedicated preamp, meaning it works with both new and vintage setups. Released: 6th September 2022. The AT-LPW50BTRW is the newest edition to Audio-Technica’s line of fully manual, belt-drive wood turntables, providing all the benefits of vinyl with the freedom to connect to the latest Bluetooth® speakers or headphones. Enjoy optimal high-fidelity audio reproduction from vinyl with your choice of wired or wireless connectivity. One of my favourite recordings was recorded by Dutch pianist Jeroen Van Veen in two different versions, both of which are on a double-LP set pressed by Brilliant Classics titled ‘Erik Satie Slow Music: Gymnopedies, Gnossiennes, And Other Works.’ Van Veen achieves a sublime perfection that eludes most pianists. I suspect his success might be because he’s not only also a composer but is also considered by many experts to be one of the leading exponents of minimalism in the world today. These traits, along with him being a great pianist, are obviously what’s required to make the music work! You can play your vinyl through every Sonos speaker connected to your network, so you can fill your home with the sound of your favourite records. Just group said speakers together using the Rooms tab in the Sonos app, and it'll play just like any music source. Can you wirelessly connect a turntable to Sonos? The belt motor has a built-in speed sensor that aims to maintain perfectly accurate rotation speeds, and there’s adjustable anti-skate control on board too.This fully automatic belt-driven turntable also features a built-in switchable phono/line pre-amplifier, with speeds of 33.3 and 45 RPM supported, and a balanced straight tonearm with hydraulically damped lift control and rest. As part of the next generation of turntables, Audio Technica has brought in an internal selectable phono stage (pre-amp) which allows you to plug the turntable into standard or turntable input on your amplifier. Audio Technica AT-LPW50BTRW turntable is a belt driven turntable that features a number of very high performance features and technology into a beautiful design that should sit well with any hi-fi system. High Performance