Lift the Audio-Technica AT-LP70XBT out of its box and the first thing that catches your eye is the thin silver trim running around the lower edge of the plinth. It's a small touch, but it makes this £219 turntable look smarter than its price suggests.
This is a hands-on Audio-Technica AT-LP70XBT review from the K&B Audio team.
We've unboxed it, set it up and played records through both wired and over Bluetooth, we've sold plenty of them since launch too so we have lots of experience with this model.
If you're buying your first proper turntable and want something that just works, here's what it's really like to live with.
K&B Audio Quick Verdict
RRP: £219 (See Latest Pricing)
Pros
- Fully automatic start, stop and tonearm return
- Well built for an entry-level deck, with a smart silver trim
- Switchable built-in phono stage suits almost any setup
- Bluetooth lets the deck sit away from your speakers
- VM95 stylus upgrade path, and the VMN95E upgrade is well worth it
Cons
- Plastic construction
- Fixed cartridge, so only the stylus can be changed
- Bluetooth pairing can be fiddly if other devices are nearby
- No power switch
- No 78 RPM or pitch adjustment
What's in the Box
The AT-LP70XBT arrives in a glossy retail box. It's very well packaged, with plenty of protective cardboard, so we'd expect it to travel safely.
The turntable comes in parts, so there's a little assembly to do. Inside, you'll find:
- Turntable body
- Platter
- Drive belt
- Dust cover
- Dust cover hinges
- Felt mat
- 45 RPM adapter
- AC adapter
- RCA audio cable (approx. 1 m, with ground wire)
- Quick Start Guide and Caution Guide
Key Specifications
- Drive: Belt drive with DC motor
- Operation: Fully automatic
- Speeds: 33⅓ and 45 RPM
- Platter: Die-cast aluminium with felt mat
- Tonearm: J-shaped, 220 mm effective length
- Cartridge: Audio-Technica AT-VM95C Dual Moving Magnet (fixed), 0.6 mil conical stylus
- Stylus compatibility: Any VM95 Series replacement stylus
- Phono stage: Built-in, switchable (PHONO / LINE)
- Outputs: RCA stereo, plus ground terminal
- Bluetooth: Version 5.2, transmit only, with aptX Adaptive, aptX and SBC
- Bluetooth range: Approx. 10 m line of sight (manufacturer figure)
- Wow & flutter: Less than 0.25% (WTD)
- Signal-to-noise ratio: Greater than 55 dB
- Power: External AC adapter, 1.6 W consumption
- Dimensions (W × D × H): 400 × 330 × 110 mm
- Weight: Approx. 2.9 kg
- UK finishes: Black/Silver and White/Silver
First Impressions & Setup
The platter, turntable base and lid are packed separately but putting them together is straightforward.
The platter drops onto the spindle, and you loop the drive belt onto the brass motor pulley using a red ribbon, which you then remove. Audio-Technica's manual then asks you to turn the platter by hand ten times to reset the auto mechanism and seat the belt, so don't skip that step.
What you don't need to do is balance a tonearm, set tracking force or fit a cartridge. The AT-VM95C comes already fitted so it's ready to go as soon as you've assembled the platter.
The dust cover is easy to fit and looks great. The hinges are sturdy so you can easily leave the dust cover up whilst in use, or down if you prefer.
Audio-Technica AT-LP70XBT Hands-On Performance
Build & Design
Let's be clear: this is a plastic turntable. It's an entry-level deck, and it feels like one when you pick it up.
That said, it's very well built for the money and looks very nice. The silver trim around the base makes it look smarter than many plastic turntables at this price.
Compared to the next model down, the LP60XBT, this is a much nicer turntable both aesthetically and in built quality.
Automatic Operation & Controls
This is where the LP70XBT really earns its place. It's fully automatic: press one button to start and another to stop, and the tonearm handles the rest.
When a record reaches the end, the arm lifts and returns on its own. You won't come back to find a record spinning endlessly.
If you want to skip to a particular track, raise the tonearm with the lift lever, move it over the track and lower it gently. It's simple, and it works well.
Switching between 33 and 45 RPM is done with a button, thanks to electronic speed control, so there's no moving the belt by hand. It makes changing between LPs and singles nice and easy.
You will hear the mechanism at the start and end of a record but once a record is actually playing, we didn't find it noisy, and it isn't a problem.
Bluetooth
The Bluetooth button sits on the front left of the deck.
It lets you send your records wirelessly to Bluetooth speakers or wireless active bookshelf speakers, which is handy if your turntable needs to live somewhere different from your speakers.
We paired it with a set of Edifier R1280DB active bookshelf speakers, and it was really easy.
There was one hiccup, though. On our first attempt, it connected to a different Bluetooth device nearby rather than the Edifier's.
Our tip: before you pair, switch off anything else Bluetooth nearby. Bluetooth can be a bit fiddly, and this saves a lot of head-scratching. Also make sure your smartphone isn't still connected to the speaker you're trying to connect the turntable to.
Audio-Technica quotes a range of around 10 m line of sight. In our experience, that's a sensible guide within the same room, but expect less if the signal has to pass through a wall.
It also works with Bluetooth headphones and supports aptX Adaptive on compatible devices.
Sound: Wired vs Bluetooth
One of our most popular bundles is the LP70XBT + Edifier R2180DB active bookshelf speakers. They pair up really nicely so we naturally they were the go-to choice for this review.
We tested the turntable connected both by cable and over Bluetooth, and both worked well.
It did sound noticeably better plugged in, which is what we'd expect, because Bluetooth reduces the quality of the signal.
Don't rule Bluetooth out, though. It still sounded good, and for people needing a wireless connection between the turntable and speakers, it will be absolutely fine. But given the choice, we'd choose a cable every time.
One thing to watch: speakers connected by cable keep playing while Bluetooth is connected too. We did this by accident and heard a noticeable lag between the two, so it's not something we'd recommend. Switch off whichever speakers you're not using.
Cartridge & Stylus Upgrade
The AT-VM95C cartridge is fixed to the tonearm, but it takes any stylus from Audio-Technica's VM95 Series. That gives you a genuine upgrade path.
We put that to the test with a head-to-head between the standard stylus and the green Audio-Technica AT-VMN95E.
You can definitely hear the improvement: more clarity and a bit more separation.
The VMN95E is an optional extra, currently £31.99 at K&B Audio, and we think it's well worth it.
We wouldn't go any further than that on this deck, though. The price jumps sharply after the VMN95E. The elliptical nude VMN95EN is £99.99, and the LP70XBT doesn't really warrant a £100 stylus.
Audio-Technica recommends replacing the stylus after roughly 300 hours of use, so that's a natural time to upgrade, or better still, upgrade from the get go and keep the blue conical as a spare!
Connectivity & Phono Stage
The Audio-Technica LP70XBT can be connected to pretty much anything, an amplifier, active bookshelf speakers, soundbar or wireless Bluetooth speakers thanks to the built-in pre-amplifier.
You can also switch the built-in phono stage off with a switch on the back if you want to upgrade the sound with an external phono stage, or you already have a better one.
Switch it off (PHONO) if you have a better external phono stage or one built into your amplifier or active speakers.
Switch it on (LINE) and you can plug it into almost anything with an audio input: active bookshelf speakers, an amplifier, a soundbar or Bluetooth speaker with an aux input.
Note: it comes included with an RCA to RCA cable, if you're plugging it into a 3.5mm input you'll need to buy an RCA to 3.5mm cable separately.
The wired connection uses the RCA output, and there's a ground terminal too so if your phono stage or amplifier has a ground post, connect the ground wire on the supplied cable.
Audio-Technica AT-LP70XBT vs Alternatives
AT-LP70XBT vs Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT
The AT-LP60XBT is still a current model and is around £40 cheaper. It shares the same core features: fully automatic operation, belt drive, Bluetooth and a built-in phono stage.
In our view, the LP70XBT is definitely worth the extra. It's a much nicer-looking turntable, with better components and a better stylus that you can upgrade.
Audio-Technica also says the LP70XBT's three-piece chassis dampens resonance better than the LP60X's.
AT-LP70XBT vs Audio-Technica AT-LP3XBT
If your budget stretches further, the AT-LP3XBT (£279.99) is the next step up.
The LP70XBT sits between the LP60XBT and the LP3XBT, and the LP3XBT is a much better turntable all round.
You get all the same core features including fully automatic, Bluetooth transmitter but with proper adjustability with a counterweight and anti-skating.
The LP3XBT has a removable head shell allowing you to easily upgrade either then stylus or the entire cartridge. And this turntable can easily see the benefit of a £100 elliptical nude stylus, or even a £125 Ortofon Concorde Red!
If you want a good but super simple turntable choose the LP70XBT, if you want the same features but with better components and a feasible upgrade path then go for the LP3XBT.
AT-LP70XBT vs Kanto OBI3 G2
The Kanto OBI3 G2 (£179.99) is a different kind of turntable. It isn't fully automatic, but it has the same core features: belt drive, Bluetooth and a built-in phono stage.
We rate it as a cracking turntable. It has a more traditional hi-fi look, with an engineered wood plinth, adjustable counterweight and anti-skate, ±10% pitch control and a heavier 5.5 kg build.
Choose the LP70XBT if you want fully automatic playback and a basic stylus upgrade path.
Choose the OBI3 G2 if you're happy to cue records by hand and want a more traditional, adjustable hi-fi deck for a little less money.
Who the AT-LP70XBT Is Best For
- First-time vinyl buyers who want to press a button and listen, without balancing a tonearm or worrying about a record spinning after it ends.
- Anyone upgrading from an all-in-one record player who wants a proper turntable with a built-in phono stage for active speakers or an amplifier.
- Homes where the deck and speakers can't sit together, thanks to Bluetooth output to wireless speakers.
- Buyers who want room to grow, with an affordable VMN95E stylus upgrade that makes a real difference.
Known Limitations
- Fixed cartridge: you can change the stylus, but not the cartridge.
- No adjustment: there's no counterweight or anti-skate setting to fine-tune. Great for simplicity, less so if you like to tweak.
- Speeds: 33⅓ and 45 RPM only, with no 78 RPM and no pitch control.
- No power switch: the deck stays in standby whenever it's plugged in. Audio-Technica advises unplugging it if you won't be using it for a long period.
A Note on Early Skipping Issues
When we first started selling the LP70XBT, a small number of units had a skipping issue. We replaced all of them for our customers.
Audio-Technica were proactive in diagnosing the issue, acknowledged it and took ownership. On its US website, Audio-Technica says a very small number of AT-LP70X series units were affected, caused by inconsistent lubricant on the tonearm assembly, and that it has corrected this.
We haven't had a problem since. Fair play to Audio-Technica for owning it and sorting it out.
Final Thoughts
The Audio-Technica AT-LP70XBT is a nice entry-level turntable. It looks good, sounds good for the money, and its fully automatic operation makes it very easy to use.
It's a worthwhile step up from the LP60XBT, and the VMN95E stylus is a cheap way to get more from it later.
See the Audio-Technica AT-LP70XBT at K&B Audio, or browse our full range of automatic turntables.
FAQs
Can you upgrade the stylus on the Audio-Technica AT-LP70XBT?
Yes. The fixed AT-VM95C cartridge accepts any VM95 Series stylus.
In our testing, the AT-VMN95E elliptical stylus gave more clarity and a bit more separation, and we think it's the upgrade worth making on this deck - but we wouldn't bother with the next step up from the E.
Does the AT-LP70XBT need a separate amplifier or phono stage?
Not necessarily. Its built-in phono stage lets you connect straight to active speakers or an amplifier's line input.
Passive speakers still need an amplifier, and remember that you can switch the phono stage off if you'd rather use a better external one.
Can the AT-LP70XBT connect to Bluetooth speakers?
Yes. It streams to Bluetooth speakers or headphones.
We found it easy to pair with Edifier R1280DB speakers, but switch off other nearby Bluetooth devices first. Note that it can't receive Bluetooth audio from your phone (that's the speakers job).
Is the AT-LP70XBT better than the AT-LP60XBT?
In our view, yes.
Both are fully automatic Bluetooth turntables with built-in phono stages, but the LP70XBT looks much nicer and has better components and a better, upgradeable stylus.
We think it's well worth the roughly £40 extra.
Does the AT-LP70XBT play 78 RPM records?
No. It plays 33⅓ and 45 RPM records only.
Did the AT-LP70XBT have skipping problems?
A small number of early units did. Audio-Technica traced the cause to inconsistent lubricant on the tonearm assembly and says it has corrected it.
We replaced every affected unit we sold and haven't seen the issue since.
