Australian T3 - May 2018

See more of the best turntables for every budget: bit.ly/bestturntable

WE’RE IMPRESSEDThey might be old school, but

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WE’RE IMPRESSEDBluetooth connectivity

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WE’D IMPROVEInstalling the drive belt is mildly

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BLUETOOTH TURNTABLES

VERDICT VERDICT

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DESIGN

he LP60’s compact, modern look will suit

smaller spaces. However, the belt-driven

turntableisletdownbyalacklustreplastic

chassis, spindly tone arm and cheap white

button controls.

FEATURES

he turntable features auto-start and auto-return,

plusabuttontomovetheneedle.Twoadditional

switchestogglebetween33-and45rpmspeeds

and 7- and 10-inch records. Bluetooth connectivity

is handled via a deck-mounted LED button.

USABILITY

Out-of-the-box setup is a cinch. Phono and line

outputs are available if you prefer a physical

connection,orhittheBluetoothbuttontopaira

wirelessdevice.It’snotthemostrefined,butonce

connected you’re ready to cue your first record.

PERFORMANCE

he anti-resonance aluminium platter is a firm

platformforyourwax,andtheDualMoving

Magnet phono cartridge, while cheap and cheerful,

isreasonablybalancedandtrackswell.heLP60

does the job well for a small-scale vinyl solution.

DESIGN

here’s a tasteful, vintage air to the Essential III,

courtesyofthehigh-glossredbase,blackplatter,

exposedmotorandchunkytonearm.Modern

trappingsliketheBluetoothoutputunit are

tucked out of view beneath the base.

FEATURES

hehigh-gradeOrtofonOM10cartridgeisthe

star of the show, working in harmony with the

aluminium tonearm (which sits on slick sapphire

bearings) and belt-driven MDF platter to extract

thebestsoundfromevery groove.

USABILITY

Fittingthedrivebelt,verticaltrackingforceandthe

turntable’s anti-skating weight takes concentration,

butpaysdividends.CablesandBluetoothare

quicker, but there’s no auto-play, so you’ll need

to master dropping the needle manually.

PERFORMANCE

A vibration-reducing motor control and shock-

prooffeethelpkeepthecartridgetracking

smoothly. Whether you’re listening to Brahms

or Bowie, wirelessly or through a separate system,

the Essential III has bags of audio punch and clarity.

Audio Technica

$7/3%7

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Essential III BT

2nd 1st

78 T3WINTER 2018 Discover more at techradar.com/au

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