Turntables — Sony PS-LX3BT

The PS-LX3BT is an automatic Bluetooth record player with belt drive from Sony, announced in January 2026 as the entry model of a new pair and the successor to the PS-LX310BT from 2019. Pre-sale began on 22 January 2026 at USD 399.99 and CAD 399.99, with launch prices of GBP 299 and AUD 469 in other markets. Speed is set electronically, and the deck handles both 7 inch and 12 inch records. A single button starts playback, and the tonearm returns to rest by itself at the end of the side.

Key specs that matter

Supported speeds are 33 1/3 and 45 rpm, and a 45 rpm adapter stores inside the unit. Sony casts the platter in aluminium and covers it with a slip mat of SBR synthetic rubber intended to absorb vibration. A moving magnet cartridge tracks at 3.5 g plus or minus 0.5 g on a pivot-bearing aluminium tonearm with a lock and a finger lift. Wireless codecs are SBC, aptX and aptX Adaptive, with aptX Adaptive carrying high-resolution streams up to 24-bit and 96 kHz. The chassis measures about 430 x 117 x 366 mm and weighs about 3.2 kg. Power consumption is 1.8 W from a 100 to 240 V AC supply.

Engineering and use context

Playing and stopping are handled through start and stop buttons, so the tonearm never needs to be moved by hand. A built-in phono equaliser can be switched in or out, which lets the turntable feed either an input with its own phono stage or an ordinary line input. Output level offers three gain settings - low, mid and high - to suit different downstream equipment. The audio cable is attached to the unit rather than detachable. A USB output allows records to be digitised on a computer. The internal equaliser suits moving magnet cartridges. There is no pitch control, and a transparent dust cover is included. The deck is supplied in a black finish.

Pairing

With the phono equaliser engaged, the PS-LX3BT feeds active speakers or any line-level amplifier input directly, while switching it off hands the job to an external phono stage. Wirelessly it can send its signal to Bluetooth speakers and headphones, with aptX Adaptive devices receiving the higher-resolution stream.

Alternatives

The Sony PS-LX5BT is the step-up automatic Bluetooth turntable launched alongside it, with a rigid one-piece body, a vibration-suppressing aluminium arm, a rubber mat, a higher-grade cartridge, a gold-plated audio jack and an upgraded circuit design.