ARTICLE – Dropping a needle is romantic until you realize you also need to babysit the tonearm. The quiet crackle, the little lever click, and the slow spin are all great, right up until you stand there watching the last track end like it’s a timer you can’t ignore.
Price: $399.99, $499.99
Where to Buy: Sony
Vinyl’s biggest friction point isn’t the sound, it’s the attention tax, and that part gets old fast. When a record turns into a chore mid weeknight, it stops feeling like a treat and starts feeling like a project you keep dodging.
Sony’s new PS-LX3BT and PS-LX5BT aim straight at that reality with full auto playback. That’s a smart call for a living room setup, because you get the tactile ritual at the start, then the table handles the awkward parts without you hovering nearby.
What you feel immediately is the vibe shift from “project” to “press play,” and that’s usually the moment records actually get used. It also frames these models as lifestyle gear first, which is a cleaner promise than pretending everyone wants to become a turntable mechanic overnight.
What’s Shared Between the PS-LX3BT and PS-LX5BT
Sony says both turntables have one button full auto playback plus Bluetooth connectivity, with support listed as aptX, aptX Adaptive, and Hi Res Wireless Audio, and they can also connect with a cable. If you’re the type who bounces between a Bluetooth speaker and a stereo receiver, you’ll notice that flexibility fast.
The new Sony turntables also offer high quality cartridge, three level gain control, an aluminum platter, and a transparent dust cover on both models. The clear cover detail is a nice touch, since it keeps dust off while still letting the turntable look like part of the room.
PS-LX3BT
Sony positions the PS-LX3BT as the easier on ramp, and that framing fits how most people actually get into vinyl: one record, one shelf, and not much patience for extra boxes. If you want something that doesn’t crowd your setup, this feels like the calmer option.
Sony has an attached audio cable and a built in phono equaliser, which is a practical choice when you don’t want to hunt for a separate phono stage. That kind of built in convenience often matters more than a fancy spec line when you’re setting it up on a busy desk.
The PS-LX3BT still keeps the core “full auto” promise front and center, which is a welcome guardrail for anyone who worries about handling a tonearm wrong. You’ll probably appreciate that the turntable is trying to make vinyl less fragile as a habit.
Price: $399.99
Where to Buy: Sony
PS-LX5BT
Sony frames the PS-LX5BT as the step up model, and the pitch is all about reducing vibration with a rigid one piece body, an aluminum tone arm, a rubber mat, and circuit design choices. That’s the sort of upgrade story that sounds nerdy, but it maps to a real thing you can hear when a setup gets cleaner.
Sony also calls out a higher grade cartridge and a wider soundstage, but it’s worth keeping that claim in the “system dependent” bucket. Your speakers, your room, and your connection choice will still shape the result, which is a good reality check before you get too excited.
The gold plated audio jack is another “this is for wired people” signal, and it’s a good one because it quietly nudges you toward the more consistent path. If you plan to plug into a dedicated stereo, that detail feels like a thoughtful nod.
If you’re deciding between the two, the PS-LX5BT reads like the model for someone who wants vinyl to sound tighter, not simply easier. You can feel that intent in the way Sony talks about the chassis and tonearm.
Price: $499.99
Where to Buy: Sony
Pricing and Availability
The Sony PS-LX3BT will be available for a suggested retail price of $399.99 in the US. That price point sits in the “real turntable” zone without jumping straight into collector territory.
Meanwhile, the Sony PS-LX5BT will be available for $499.99 from authorized dealers. The jump isn’t tiny, so it helps to be honest about what you’re paying for.
The simplest way to think about it is convenience versus refinement, since both models chase the same easy starting point. You’ll feel that difference most when you’re choosing wireless versus wired.
Who Should Skip This
If you’re already deep into vinyl and you like manual control, these tables might feel a little too hands off. When the ritual is the point, full auto can feel like taking the steering wheel away, even if the convenience is real.
One caution before you pick: Bluetooth turntables live or die by what they connect to, and codec support isn’t universal across speakers. If your favorite speaker doesn’t play nicely, the cable option is still the safer bet. If you’ve got a speaker setup that doesn’t support the codecs you want, Bluetooth can turn into the annoying part fast. You’ll still be fine with a wired connection, but at that point you might prefer a turntable that puts the wired path first.
Who This is For
If you want records in your routine, not a separate hobby, this is the lane. You can start a side, step back, and let the night keep moving without hovering over the platter.
If you’re deciding between the two, the PS-LX3BT makes the most sense when your setup is simple and your space is busy. It’s the option that reads like it was meant to sit on a shelf next to books and a small speaker, not a stack of components.
Price: $399.99, $499.99
Where to Buy: Sony 1, 2
The PS-LX5BT is the better fit when you care about the calmer, tighter playback story and you plan to plug into a real stereo. You’ll feel that difference most when you settle into a longer listening session and you want the table to disappear into the background.
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