Audio-Technica AT-LP7X – Affordable Belt-Drive Turntable

The Japanese company Audio-Technica unveiled the Audio-Technica AT-LP7X belt-drive, fully manual turntable. According to the manufacturer, the new model is aimed at vinyl enthusiasts looking for a straightforward design combined with proven analogue engineering, continuing the company’s long-standing traditions in turntable and cartridge development.

The Audio-Technica AT-LP7X comes in a matte-black finish and features a solid construction designed to reduce unwanted resonance. Its plinth is made from MDF, while a 20-mm-thick acrylic platter helps suppress vibration during playback. Audio-Technica states that this combination limits mechanical interference reaching the stylus, ensuring more stable record reproduction.

The Audio-Technica AT-LP7X is fitted with a J-shaped aluminium tonearm inspired both visually and mechanically by classic Audio-Technica designs from the 1960s and 1970s. The tonearm uses a dual-axis gimbal suspension with precision low-friction bearings for smooth movement. The turntable comes supplied with an Audio-Technica AT-VM95E moving-magnet cartridge pre-mounted on an AT-LT10 headshell. Users can also fit other VM95-series styli to tailor the sound or upgrade in the future.

Audio-Technica has included a range of adjustments on the AT-LP7X to support different cartridges and listening preferences. These include vertical tracking angle (VTA) adjustment, anti-skating, and an additional 16-gram counterweight that accommodates a wide range of cartridge and headshell combinations. A heavier 32-gram counterweight is available as an option for more massive cartridges.

The Audio-Technica AT-LP7X turntable features a built-in phono preamplifier that supports both MM and MC cartridges. This allows the turntable to be connected to amplifiers without a dedicated phono input, while still allowing the use of an external phono stage if desired. Standard RCA outputs and the required cables are provided.

Supporting platter speeds of 33⅓ and 45 rpm, the Audio-Technica AT-LP7X uses an optical speed-control system. The motor is carefully isolated from vibration, and spring-loaded feet help reduce the impact of external vibrations. An external power supply is used to further isolate mains noise from the signal path.

The Audio-Technica AT-LP7X package includes a dust cover, RCA phono cable, and a 45-rpm adapter. The new model is now available with a suggested retail price of $999.