Audio-Technica AT-LP7 review: A very nice turntable for under $1,000

Audio-Technica AT-LP7

Audio-Technica AT-LP7 review: A very nice turntable for under ,000

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The Audio-Technica AT-LP7 turntable is a stealth murals. From its fashionable, modern design to its sleek and delicate operation, it is a full bundle in a deceptively easy type issue. It is an ideal choice for individuals seeking to take their vinyl listening to the subsequent degree.

For these simply entering into vinyl, it may be formidable to discover a first turntable — it may be difficult to determine simply how a lot try to be keen to spend.

Over time, we have had a number of completely different turntables, however none as costly because the AT-LP7. For individuals with none present vinyl setup, the AT-LP7 could be a stretch for a primary turntable — although not solely out of the query.

The AT-LP7 retails for $849, so it is meant to be a finely crafted product that may meet individuals’s wants now and develop with them sooner or later.

In our case, we favored the AT-LP7 as a second run at upgrading our system. After almost a decade of lower-cost choices, this one demonstrated the worth of investing in a turntable that was unimaginable out of the field however permits for even higher parts sooner or later.

The options of the Audio-Techinca AT-LP7

The AT-LP7 turntable is totally guide, that means it will not cease when it reaches the file’s finish or return the tonearm.

Adjusting speeds is finished with a twist of a dial — which was extremely easy and satisfying to show.

Velocity knob

The truth is, that was a giant takeaway for us — simply how delicate and finely tuned all of the parts on the AT-LP7 have been. The metallic gimbal suspension system allowed for exact monitoring.

Different options embrace a J-shaped tone arm with AT-HS10 headshell, a bypassable phono pre-amplifier with selectable modes for transferring magnet or transferring coil cartridges, and a 20 mm-thick, anti-resonance, polyoxymethylene platter.

The mud cowl is removable, which isn’t essentially a constructive if you do not have a spot to set it. Nonetheless, we did not thoughts having to take away and exchange it, and we favored the fully black look of the AT-LP7 when the duvet was eliminated.

The sound of the Audio-Techinca LP7

We performed a variety of albums on the LP7 turntable, together with Billy Joel’s “The Stranger,” The Nationwide’s “Bother Will Discover Me,” and Ben Webster Quintent’s “Soulville” to get a mixture of genres.

AT-LP7 taking part in a vinyl file

In every case, the songs have been detailed and sounded full. We tried a number of completely different speaker configurations, together with a stereo pair of the brand new Sonos Period 100, Edifier R1280DB, and the Marshall Stanmore III. The turntable labored nice with every of those — fully silent and issue-free.

We did not have any issues with the built-in phono preamp, coming from lower-end turntables, and we favored that it may very well be bypassed sooner or later.

We did should fiddle with the load on the tonearm just a few instances to get it good, however that was extra about us getting conversant in it quite than a fault or destructive. We did not want to make use of the anti-skiing dial, but it surely was out there if we wanted it.

The AT-LP7 and its VM520EB twin transferring magnet stereo cartridge supplied crisp and clear music copy, higher than we had heard on sub-$600 turntables from U-Flip and Victrola.

Whereas we’re not fairly able to experiment with new cartridges but, we favored the power to take action throughout a variety of various choices when the time comes.

Is Audio-Technica LP7 price upgrading to?

With an $850 retail value, the Audio-Technica AT-LP7 turntable is a big funding. Freshmen might soar straight to it, however we suggest constructing as much as it first.

Gimbal suspension system

In case you have audio system you want and an present turntable you are seeking to exchange, we favored what the AT-LP7 supplied. We predict it may very well be the final one it’s essential to purchase with the power to improve the cartridge or bypass its onboard phono preamp.

Quite than being automated, the guide side of it may very well be slightly disappointing, however past that and the mud cowl that will want a storage spot, this turntable was primarily all upside for us.