AUDIO-TECHNICA’S 33 1/3 REVOLUTION

Audio-Technica’s latest vinyl spinner is a nicely priced and substantially built beauty called rather neatly, the AT-LP7.
Drive for the new turntable is a rubber belt. Have you noticed a dearth of direct drive models of late? We have.
Whether Audio Technica looked at a motor directly under the spindle or simply decided a belt drive is the way to, we’ll never know.
Not that it matters much at all. Belt driven vinyl spinners get our vote for one practical reason: when the time comes to replace a belt, a child could accomplish the task. It really is that easy.
The motor chosen to turn the LP7’s platter is fitted with a speed-sensor batch of electronics to keep things spinning at precisely 33 and 1/3 revolutions per minute. Or since it’s a two-speed model, at 45 RPMs.
So break out those 45-RPM audiophile albums and give them a whirl on the LP7.
Speaking of platters, the one for this deck is made from 20mm thick anti-resonance, polyoxymethylene material. Don’t know what this is, but I’ll take AT’s word that it dampens unwanted vibrations.
Both platter and motor are built into a 40 mm thick MDF chassis. We did say the LP7 looks substantial and now you know why.
The LP7 is a complete package and comes with a J-shaped tonearm that rides on metal, gimbal bearings. But it also features a built-in phono stage that can be switched for moving magnet or moving coil cartridges.
But buyers won’t have to worry about this for a while because AT installs a VM520EB dual moving magnet cartridge on a nice AT-HS10 headshell.
The fully manual LP7 is bundled with a dust cover and a pair of RCA interconnects as well as a 45RPM record adapter.
Price of this complete package is $1699 and the LP7 is available now.
For more information visit Audio-Technica.
Originally published on StereoNET AU as Audio-Technica's 33 1/3 Revolution
Posted in: Hi-Fi
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