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Sony PS-LX310BT: Two-minute review
I heard about the Sony PS-LX310BT by reputation, before I heard it with my own ears: TechRadar’s own esteemed audio editor, considering it one of the best turntables for entry-level vinyl enthusiasts. And so it ended up in the living room I live in now, a person who thought the ‘B-Side’ was a track designed for insects.
Let’s make something very clear: the big selling point of the Sony PS-LX310BT is primarily its price. It’s an affordable turntable that might not offer the same sonic prowess as pricier options, but it won’t cost you the same as a mid-range car. And it’s a huge rep – not just in TechRadar, but among them Those who know about these things.
To me, price isn’t the only factor that makes this a great entry-level position. Once you get this thing set up – which may take a memory or two more than the simplest options I’ve tested, but is still fairly simple – it’s a dream to use.
Press the button to play. Press the button to stop. If you love vinyl audio for its sleight of hand, you may feel clumsy when it comes to this Sony deck, but turntable newbies will find it much less intimidating to operate because you’ll never actually have to touch the tonearm, or lower the headshell and needle onto the vinyl’s delicate silver and possibly hear it squeak.
The PS-LX310BT’s looks are also easy to like. Sure, it’s less than just about everyone else Other There’s a turntable, but a design like this screams ‘sonic excellence’ regardless of the price.
It goes without saying that deep-pocketed audiophiles should skip this option. It doesn’t offer the audio nuances (or the five-figure price point) that top-end vinyl aficionados will be looking for. And something Novice buyers will find that it doesn’t offer the connectivity options they need, with Bluetooth and RCA but no handy 3.5mm. But for most newbies, it’s a pipe dream.
Sony PS-LX310BT Review: Price and Release Date
- Released in April 2019
- Normally sold for £449 / £179 / au$399
- Available now for around $199 / £179 / au$395
The Sony PS-LX310BT was released in April 2019, so it’s not exactly a new turntable on the market—although six years isn’t long in analog audio. And perhaps because of that, as one of only two turntables in his store, it’s still officially by Sony.
The deck has a suggested retail price of £449 / £179 / au$399 – that’s not a typo, it’s much more attractive in the US – although at the time of writing, it’s hard to find at full price. Instead, I’ve found the PX-LX310BT on sale for around $199 / £179 / AU$395, which seems to happen pretty frequently.
It goes without saying that you should try to pick this turntable up if you can. But either way, the price marks this as a fairly entry-level turntable. It’s not the cheapest I’ve ever seen, but it’s still a more affordable option for those who don’t need audiophile-grade kit, and it still looks the business.
Sony PS-LX310BT Review: Specs
Dimensions | 43 x 36.7 x 10.8 cm |
Motor | Belt drive |
Platter | Aluminium |
Phono preamp | yes |
USB | no |
Bluetooth | 4.2 |
speed | 33, 45rpm |
The stylus | Not specific |
Extra | 45rpm adapter, attached RCA cable, rubber mat |
Sony PS-LX310BT Review: Features
- Not the easiest setup (but not the hardest either)
- Simple and easy to work with, although a little slow
- Some connectivity options, but no 3.5mm
Newbies setting up the Sony PS-LX310BT may find the setup process a bit daunting. All you have to do is attach the plate and mat and attach the pulley belt, but I somehow managed to inadvertently twist the belt during placement which took a little deck construction to fix. I also religiously want to listen every time I forget to remove the stylus cover, but I can’t mark Sony for that.
At least the Sony doesn’t require you to carry cartridges or counterweights or anything like that, and the whole setup process took me less than 15 minutes. And once you’ve got the initial set up, listening is really easy thanks to Sony’s use of an automated system in the PS-LX310BT. Press ‘Play’ to play, or ‘Stop’ to stop, and the tone arm will automatically move.
I find the turntable a bit slow to react to those button presses, and if I want music quickly I’ll keep the arm on its own – because I’m an experimenter in that sort of thing. Thankfully this is also a valid option, if the platter rotates automatically if the tonearm is lifted.
Depending on the connections, there are wired or wireless options. Wirelessly, you can connect devices like headphones via Bluetooth, and I found it to be a fast and reliable connection. You can connect up to eight devices this way, but I don’t know anyone who isn’t a tech journalist who owns that many wireless gadgets. Wired, you can use the built-in RCA cable that plugs into the left and right jacks of an amplifier or stereo speaker. The turntable has no 3.5mm jack to plug in your wired headphones. As such, it’s somewhat limited in who can use a wired connection – you need compatible tech, or at least an adapter.
Sony PS-LX310BT Review: Sound Quality
- Energetic audio
- Some details are missing
- Avoid Bluetooth if possible
Being an annoying (and illogical) audiophile, I tested wired and Bluetooth with the Sony PS-LX310BT as well as multiple devices.
Music played through a turntable has a lot of energy. Clearly the low design contrasts with the contrasting design of the music. of the police Zenyatta mondata It felt playful and fun, and Ally Stevens’ Ode of the Feline Annual showcases the singer’s vocal range and inspiration well, with glissandos and harmonies more audible than if you’ve only listened to them on Spotify.
You’re sadly not getting the level of clarity that you would… well, on a non-entry-level setup, with some loss of detail, especially in the mids. But it’s still decent value for money, and that’s one of the reasons cut-price music lovers have been turning to the PS-LX310BT for more than half a decade.
Note to Bluetooth users: I found that the speaker snooped on Bluetooth-connected devices on occasion, which is not something I’ve experienced.
Sony PS-LX310BT Review: Design
- At least, short-sighted
- Buttons are hidden on the front edge
- The dust cover can be opened further
The Sony PS-LX310BT has a minimalist look, going for a black-on-black (on silver) look, small uncluttered dials and buttons, and a business-like tone. I love jewelry as much as the next guy, but this product clashes with that ‘audio equipment’ serious aesthetic pretty square on.
The turntable measures 43 x 36.7 x 10.8 cm, and weighs 3.5 kg. When I wanted to connect it to different speakers and devices tied up in different rooms, I didn’t find it too bulky to lug around my apartment. This height also includes a dust cover, which you don’t have to use (Tekrader’s audio editor never fits them, and removes them if they’re already fitted), but I’d recommend it. My ‘smallest-violin-in-the-world’ opinion is that it would be nice if the dust cover opened a bit wider, to get the vinyl record on the mat.
The almost upright, no-nonsense tonearm was light and easy to manipulate, though some audio purists may cringe at the lack of counterweight.
Sony has hidden most of the PS-LX310BT’s buttons on the front edge. This is where you’ll find the buttons to play, stop, and move the tone arm up and down. At the top is just the Bluetooth pairing button, a dial to set the vinyl speed and a speed rotary knob. There’s also a slightly hidden hole on the right edge for the 45rpm adapter, which I only noticed after 10 days of the adapter awkwardly flipping over the body of the turntable.
Sony PS-LX310BT Review: Value
Although the Sony PS-LX310BT is priced as an entry-level device, and has a spec to match, there are a few areas where it stands out from the budget crowd.
Ease of use and svelte design are two such departments, but these are hardly small conveniences, with an aluminum platter, bespoke (albeit irreplaceable) cartridges and lightweight Tonium keeping your records looking better than some super-cheap options.
My only minor concern is this: you either need to connect it to a Bluetooth device, or something that accepts RCA inputs, so your wired headphones will need an adapter to work. But that’s hardly a deal breaker.
Should I buy the Sony PS-LX310BT?
Attributes | Note | Classification |
|---|---|---|
Features | It’s easy to use and lacks some of the complexities of more premium alternatives. | 4/5 |
Sound quality | The sound is energetic and zingy, though with some missing clarity. | 4/5 |
Design | It has been pointed out, with intelligently thought out design. | 4.5/5 |
Price | Several aspects, including price, make it a good entry-level choice. | 4/5 |
Buy it if…
If you don’t buy it…
Sony PS-LX310BT Review: Also Consider
| Header Cell – Column 0 | Sony PS-LX310BT | Majority Folio | Audio Technica at-lp70xbt |
|---|---|---|---|
Dimensions | 43 x 36.7 x 10.8 cm | 412 x 323 x 142 mm | 110 x 400 x 330 mm |
Motor | Belt drive | Belt drive | Belt drive |
Platter | Aluminium | Die cast metal | Aluminium |
Phono preamp | yes | yes | yes |
USB | No | Die cast metal | No |
Bluetooth | 4.2 | Die cast metal | 5.2 |
speed | 33 1/3, 45rpm | 33 1/3, 45rpm | 33 1/3, 45rpm |
Cartridge | Not specific | at3600l | at3600l |
Extra | 45rpm adapter, attached RCA cable, rubber mat | Dust cover, rubber mat, 45 adapter, RCA cable. | 33 1/3, 45rpm |
How I Tested the Sony PS-LX310BT
- Tested for ten days
- The entries included a series of vinyl records
- Outputs include headphones and speakers via Bluetooth, and speakers via cable
The Sony PS-LX310BT review process covered ten days, not including the time it took to write the review itself. I have a decent sized collection of vinyl that I used for this test.
As mentioned, after running it for 48 hours, I listened on a variety of devices including a pair of speakers via RCA connections, a small speaker via Bluetooth and a pair of headphones, also via Bluetooth.
I’ve tested tech for TechRadar for about seven years, including many audio players and one turntable. I’ve also used turntables and other hi-fi kit outside of the review.
- First reviewed November 2025
