Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsSony has a winner with this outstanding turntable!
Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2024
I can't say enough about how pleased I am with this turntable. Being a baby boomer I have owned a few turntables during the era of component stereo systems. I abandoned vinyl with the introduction of CD's. I do stream music but have come to re-appreciate vinyl and it's physicality. This is a perfect turntable for my needs. I love the minimalist design, the easy bluetooth pairing (literally within two second after initial pairing) and it sounds fantastic with my Bose sound bar and subwoofer. I don't buy into much of what the vinyl fanatics say about only using traditional RCA connections , receiver/amps and floor speakers for pure sound. I don't have the space for all that anymore, Why not embrace technology that's easy to use, sounds great with a much smaller footprint? I have found that when records don't sound very good it's more of an issue with the pressing or mastering than with the equipment it's played on assuming you're using decent equipment! I also don’t believe that manual turntables are essential to the vinyl experience. Just place the record, give it a light brushing, push a button, let the automatic turntable do it’s thing.
I did make two upgrades. I replaced the neoprene platter mat with a rubber one. The Feir mat sold here on Amazon is a great replacement at a minimal price. I placed it upside down so it has the same flat look as the original neoprene mat, with no sound degradation. I also replaced the included conical stylus with an upgraded elliptical stylus from LP Gear. That item is not sold on Amazon but direct from the manufacturer and is a smart add-on for about $50. I agree with others regarding the hard wired-in RCA cables. It would have been nice to have plugs instead and add the cables if you need them, but that is certainly not a problem. Just tuck them away out of sight. I disagree with reviews that say the that the mostly plastic build is "cheap." The design of the turntable far outweighs the well concealed fact that the unit is plastic/aluminum. Cleaning tip: to clean dust off the dust cover without scratching it, dampen a soft cloth or microfiber towel with water and "blot" the top of the cover instead of wiping it You'll pick up the dust and not leave any unsightly scratches. Enjoy your purchase!
