We tested Sony's new Bluetooth record player. It makes vinyl simple for beginners but satisfying for enthusiasts.

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For more than half a decade, Sony's PS-LX310BT record player was a staple of the casual vinyl community. It was easy for beginners to operate while still offering better performance than cheaper entry-level turntables. But while the LX310BT is now discontinued, the brand has finally launched its successor: the Sony PS-LX3BT.

The new model makes a few tweaks that position it nicely to last well into the future. That said, this is clearly a slightly refreshed take on what already worked before rather than a reinvention. But despite its familiarity, the PS-LX3BT stacks up well against rivals. I especially like its automatic playback and wireless audio support, which make it easy to use. Importantly, it also sounds terrific.

However, considering its $399 retail price, the PS-LX3BT has some quirks. The biggest of which is its plastic housing and buttons. They can be noisy and a bit creaky. The good news is that I don't consider that a dealbreaker for most people. After spending some quality time with the Sony PS-LX3BT, here's why it's a solid buy for vinyl newbies and midrange shoppers.

Setup is simple, which makes playback a breeze

The Sony PS-LX3BT is an automatic turntable that's suitable for beginners without sacrificing performance. I found the setup to be straightforward and easy. Everything you need, minus speakers, comes in the box and can be assembled in less than 10 minutes. Once all the pieces are in place, playing a record is as simple as pressing one button.

Though not removable, the turntable's moving-magnet cartridge comes pre-installed on its aluminum tonearm. Even the built-in switchable preamp is set and ready for the player's permanently attached RCA cable to be plugged into a powered speaker(s) or receiver. The midlevel gain select on the back of the record player was ideal for my use, but could be changed to low or high if needed.

The LX3BT comes with an aluminum die-cast platter and a cloth slip mat. None of this is different from the older LX310BT model it replaces. However, the LX3BT has some tweaks that I did find interesting.

Instead of using a traditional DC power connector, the new LX3BT has a USB-C port on the back for power. It comes with an AC adapter with a USB-C tip. This means that if you ever need a longer wire, it's easy to simply buy a different USB-C cable and a power adapter.

While the Bluetooth and speed adjustment buttons (33 1/3 or 45 RPM) are largely in the same place as on the previous model, the start/stop, up, and down buttons have been moved. I loved that the old ones were outside the dust cover. It meant that I could listen again with a single button press. Now, even if you're not changing anything, you need to lift the dust cover to press start. It's a small change, but this is one area where I prefer the old design.

A more welcome update to the LX3BT over the previous model is support for transmitting hi-res wireless audio using the Qualcomm aptX Adaptive codec. This can enable 96kHz/24-bit quality when streaming from the record player to a compatible pair of headphones via Bluetooth. The downside is that neither Sony's WH-1000XM6 nor WH-1000XM5 supports that technology. However, you can use it with other popular options, such as the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones or QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds.

Bluetooth and automatic controls work well, but certain components are a bit noisy

While the best way to use the LX3BT will be to plug its pre-attached RCA cable into a receiver or powered speaker, you can also use Bluetooth to connect to wireless speakers or headphones. By default, you'll get a similar listening experience to streaming music from your phone. I think using this feature with headphones makes the most sense, but listening with Bluetooth speakers is undeniably convenient.

Wireless playback works by pressing the Bluetooth button on the record player until it blinks blue, then repeating the same steps on a wireless speaker or pair of headphones. The two devices should link up automatically. In my experience, the process only took about 10 to 15 seconds. If the record player is wired to a speaker and connected wirelessly at the same time, both can play simultaneously — but the wireless playback will be slightly delayed.

I found pairing to work well and tried multiple speakers. For fun, I even connected the Sony LX3BT to IKEA's $10 Kallsup speaker. To be clear, I don't recommend buying this record player to do that, but it works.

On the whole, the turntable's automatic mechanisms also worked smoothly. My biggest complaint in this area, however, is that starting and stopping listening is noisy. There are several creaky moments as the tone arm moves on and off the record. It sounds like latches clicking into place under the hood. This extends past the tonearm movement into the buttons, too. They're loud to press, feel plasticy, and are less elegant than I'd hoped.

But while the player's noise is a little annoying in the moment, it wasn't concerning enough to make me stop using it. I found the convenience of automatic functionality to be worth a little extra noise.

Like its predecessor, the LX3BT also has a cool extra perk that might appeal to some users. This record player can connect to a computer via USB so you can turn vinyl recordings into digital files. I've never felt the need to transfer audio this way, but some users may find it useful for backing up their collection. If you do plan to do this, be aware that Sony lists Windows 11 and macOS 13, 14, and 15 as the only supported operating systems. The turntable doesn't use its own transfer/recording app; instead, it simply points people toward Audacity.

The PS-LX3BT sounds noticeably better than cheaper players

I connected the Sony PS-LX3BT to a second-generation Sonos Play Five and a Marshall Stanmore III using the attached RCA cable to do most of my listening. Both speakers offer a robust soundstage with deep bass and detailed highs.

I went through various vinyl records in folk, rock, and pop genres. Compared to some cheaper record players like the Victrola Automatic, the LX3BT had more clarity and a wider frequency range. Charli XCX's "Wall of Sound" was a great example of deep, resonant bass and high-frequency strings that came through together without getting muddled. The moving-magnet cartridge and pivot-bearing tonearm both tracked well out of the box.

On the bottom are rubber feet that seem to have some independent movement apart from the plastic frame. I didn't purposely bump the cabinet or anything like that, but I also never noticed any disruptions from errant vibrations.

If you're looking for an upgraded listening experience. Sony also offers a new step-up PS-LX5BT turntable for $499. The LX5BT has a one-piece construction, so even less chance for vibrations. The upgraded model also features a higher-grade, removable cartridge with a two-gram tracking force. In addition, the RCA cable on the LX5BT is detachable rather than non-removable.

Should you buy the Sony PS-LX3BT turntable?

The Sony PS-LX3BT is a great turntable for its simple controls and sound quality. It's not all that different from the model it replaces, but that's not a bad thing since the PS-LX310BT was a time-tested favorite. The LX3BT is versatile enough to serve as someone's first record player or as an easy-to-use turntable for an enthusiast.

That said, the price is a little steep compared to other midrange options. For instance, you can configure a custom U-Turn model for a similar price that lets you prioritize better cartridges over other parts. But with the LX3BT, you get convenient features that many midrange models lack, such as automatic playback, Bluetooth streaming, and USB-C audio transfer. This is a slick, modern take on what a turntable is.

The unit's plastic enclosure is by far its biggest compromise, and certain operations can be noisier than expected. I don't love the attached RCA cable either. Though this might seem convenient at first, if it breaks or isn't long enough for your room, it becomes a pain and a liability instead of a feature.

Ultimately, if you're looking for a traditional, heavy turntable to anchor a media console, then this might not be for you. However, if simplified operation is at the top of your list of considerations, the Sony PS-LX3BT is hard to beat.

For more turntable recommendations, check out our guides to the best record players, best Bluetooth record players, and best budget record players.