Audio-Technica AT-LP70XBT vs Victrola Hi-Res Onyx: which is the best Bluetooth turntable?

If Black Friday deals are connected your radar (and they surely should beryllium if you for illustration redeeming money) we're expecting swathes of awesome deals connected nan best turntables to upgrade your vinyl acquisition and complete your surviving room setup.

Choosing nan correct grounds subordinate tin beryllium a reliable determination though, particularly pinch truthful galore options designed for beginners and seasoned audiophiles alike. The Audio-Technica AT-LP70XBT and nan Victrola Hi-Res Onyx are 2 standout models astatine akin value points (great for gifting too), each bringing unsocial features to heighten your listening for reasonable fees.

The AT-LP70XBT combines convenience pinch Bluetooth functionality successful aptX higher-resolution quality, offering a seamless setup for casual listeners. Meanwhile, nan Victrola Hi-Res Onyx appeals to audiophiles pinch its premium build and sound precision – and it besides offers Bluetooth streaming, besides successful aptX quality.

Black Friday, and its related Cyber Monday, are nan cleanable clip to make large purchases of tech crossed nan best headphones, nan best earbuds, nan best TVs, and nan best over-ear headphones – and successful lawsuit you're aft deals connected those, spot our guides to nan best Black Friday headphones deals and best Black Friday earbuds deals unrecorded correct now.

Audio-Technica AT-LP70XBT vs Victrola Hi-Res Onyx: Price and merchandise date

At nan clip of writing, you tin find nan Audio Technica AT-LP70XBT for astir $249 / £219 / AUS$599 new, and nan Victrola Hi-Res Onyx for $399 / £399 / AUS$625 – though we've conscionable spotted it on waste for $299 astatine Best Buy.

The AT-LP70XBT launched successful July 2024, and nan Onyx successful September 2023, truthful some of these are beautiful caller turntables and, arsenic such, travel pinch immoderate of nan latest and astir up-to-the-minute features.

While some correspond bully worth for turntables, nan AT-LP70XBT is decidedly nan much affordable action – though support an oculus retired for Black Friday deals, of course.

Audio-Technica AT-LP70XBT vs Victrola Hi-Res Onyx: Features

Starting pinch nan Audio-Technica AT-LP70XBT, this is simply a prestigious turntable pinch a afloat automatic, belt-driven creation that intends for convenience and easiness of use, and is perfect for entry-level vinyl listeners aliases those seeking Bluetooth capability.

There's a built-in switchable phono preamp to facilitate connecting to Bluetooth speakers aliases wired setups without needing an outer amplifier, and it plays astatine 33 1/3 and 45 RPM speeds, which is nan modular for turntables.

Audio-Technica's reliable AT-VM95C cartridge ensures a balanced capacity suitable for astir listeners. It's besides a belt-driven platform and besides supports nan aptX Adaptive codec, which delivers higher-quality audio complete Bluetooth. The automatic cognition makes it user-friendly, requiring minimal relationship to commencement aliases extremity playback.

In nan different corner, nan Victrola Hi-Res Onyx is aimed somewhat much astatine audiophiles (see also: proud turntable tinkerers) who worth customisation and high-fidelity sound.

It includes nan aforesaid Audio Technica AT-VM95E cartridge, known for its fantabulous item and clarity, and present you besides get Bluetooth streaming successful aptX Adaptive and aptX HD value – but it's somewhat much modern Bluetooth 5.4 pinch LE Audio.

The Hi-Res Onyx besides supports 2 speeds – 33 1/3 and 45RPM – making it versatile for various grounds types. Its chassis is engineered to minimize resonance, offering a somewhat clearer, much meticulous sound. You besides get a switchable phono pre-amp inbuilt (see really it's rather reliable to abstracted them?). Unlike nan afloat automatic AT-LP70XBT, nan Hi-Res Onyx exemplary requires a spot much manual interaction, appealing to vinyl enthusiasts who bask fine-tuning playback settings aliases moreover mixing.

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Audio-Technica AT-LP70XBT vs Victrola Hi-Res Onyx: Design and setup

Both of these turntables connection a modern, sleek look, and location isn't excessively overmuch to show them isolated – location seldom is pinch turntables. The LP70XBT undoubtedly has nan much 'classic' look of nan two, and wouldn't look retired of spot successful a DJ setup. The Victrola mightiness conscionable person nan separator for a 'pride successful ownership' artistic successful your location though.

The biggest differences betwixt nan 2 decks is that nan Onyx is simply a manual turntable while nan AT-LP70XBT is automatic. This fundamentally conscionable intends really nan needle is placed connected nan grounds to get it to play – and really it is removed astatine nan end. The A-T does it for you; nan Victrola wants you to group up and grip that delicate task yourself. Which you'd alternatively ain is of people up to you, but vinyl purists often for illustration a manual deck, since that intends less mechanical parts (that mightiness impact nan sound performance).

The AT-LP70XBT besides features an integrated Bluetooth pairing button, allowing users to link to wireless speakers seamlessly, a characteristic that adds to its modern entreaty while maintaining a accepted aesthetic.

The setup process for nan Hi-Res Onyx is simply a spot much analyzable owed to its added features – it is simply a calibrate-able two-speed manual turntable, pinch an adjustable counterweight and an anti-skate system to guarantee some glorious playback and nan information of your precious vinyl records.

Bluetooth support for some models extends to nan high-fidelity Qualcomm aptX Adaptive and HD codecs, but successful nan Victrola you're getting Bluetooth 5.4 and LE Audio, where nan Audio-Technica has a somewhat older Bluetooth 5.2 chipset. Again though, erstwhile group up, your chosen receiver (headphones aliases speakers) is accessed via a azygous property of nan Hi-Res Onyx’s azygous front-facing button.

Audio-Technica AT-LP70XBT vs Victrola Hi-Res Onyx: Audio quality

In TechRadar's extended testing, nan Audio-Technica AT-LP70XBT stands retired for its balanced sound and value build, and pinch Audio-Technica’s belt-driven mechanism, it provides a lukewarm analog sound pinch bully clarity, particularly erstwhile playing caller aliases well-preserved records.

On top, its Bluetooth connectivity is convenient for pairing pinch wireless speakers, and it supports aptX for higher-quality streaming.

However, we recovered that while nan sound value is strong, it whitethorn deficiency nan heavy bass consequence seen successful much precocious models, which could beryllium a drawback for audiophiles who for illustration a fuller low-end and person nan speakers for it.

For its part, nan Victrola Hi-Res Onyx is simply a awesome spinner too. At this value (and pinch nan correct first set-up), nan Hi-Res Onyx is hugely impressive. Taking into relationship nan comparative fullness of nan built-in phono shape (aka nan pre-amp), nan comparative quietude of nan motor, nan comparative smoothness of grounds playback… each successful all, it's very bully so – comparative to nan class-leaders astatine nan price. We should statement that while it offers an atrocious batch for nan money, nan Victrola was recovered conscionable slightly lacking for nan smooth, analog consciousness that turntable purists admit erstwhile playing to passive stereo speakers, alternatively than complete Bluetooth.

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Audio-Technica AT-LP70XBT vs Victrola Hi-Res Onyx: Verdict

Ultimately, nan prime comes down to personification preference: nan AT-LP70XBT is simply a coagulated prime for those prioritising classical vinyl warmth and easiness of usage (possibly arsenic a first ever turntable), while nan Onyx suits those seeking thing you tin tinker pinch a small much – possibly a step-up deck.

When it comes to creation and usability, some turntables person a akin minimalist artistic that will look awesome connected almost immoderate aboveground aliases worktop. The Onyx possibly looks a small much futuristic. For us, nan Victrola marginally edges this 1 – though you'll person to salary conscionable a small much for it. Whichever you opt for (and some are very bully buys), bask nan music.

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