This Japanese Hi-Fi Brand’s New Audiophile Turntable Promises an Easy Vinyl Experience

One of the biggest names in budget turntables just made an audiophile-grade turntable.

Published October 7, 2024

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Audio-Technica is well known for its entry-level direct-drive turntables. Their distinct industrial design, extremely affordable price and blend of modern features (such as Bluetooth streaming and USB connectivity) make them a great first turntable for anybody whose vinyl curious.

The Japanese audio manufacturer’s newest turntable is a bit different, however. It’s considerably more expensive — in fact, it’s the most expensive turntable Audio-Technica now sells — and, thanks to a semi-automatic design, is more geared to new-age audiophiles.

Audio-Technica AT-LP8X

Specs

Turntable	Direct-drive, semi-automatic
Cartridge	Audio-Technica AT-VM95E
Built-in Phono Preamp?	No

Meet the new flagship

The Audio-Technica AT-LP8X is the company’s new flagship turntable. It’s a direct-drive turntable (like its other models) — the motor is directly under the platter and there’s no belt — so it can start up almost instantly, has excellent speed control and the platter can spin freely (without the resistance of a belt). This is a big reason why DJs prefer direct-drive turntables.

But the Audio-Technica AT-LP8X is a much higher-quality turntable than the company’s more entry-level models. It has a heavier platter, a newly designed low-torque motor and a J-shaped aluminum tonearm (which pays homage to its turntables from the ’60s and ’70s).

Additionally, the AT-LP8X comes equipped with the Audio-Technica’s AT-VM95E cartridge. The neat thing is that should you choose, you can easily swap and upgrade this cartridge with any of the five other models in the VM95 line.

Unlike a lot of modern “integrated” turntables, the Audio-Technica AT-LP8X doesn’t come with a built-in phono preamp, meaning you’ll have to get an external one (if you want to hook it up to a powered or active speaker system) or pair it with an integrated amplifier or receiver that has one.

The brand’s first semi-automatic

The main standout feature of AT-LP8X is its semi-automatic design — a first for Audio-Technica. This means that you still have to manually pick up the tonearm and drop the needle on the record — which is one of the best things about listening to vinyl — when you don’t have to pick up the tonearm when the record finishes.

When the record is done, the AT-LP8X’s tonearm will automatically lift so the record stops playing — just like an automatic turntable. Thus, you don’t have to worry about hearing that annoying gravelly sound when the record ends (which isn’t good for your turntable’s stylus or the record).

This semi-automatic design combines the best things about automatic and manual turntables. And it promises to be convenient for modern vinyl listeners who might not always pay the closest attention to what’s playing.