The news about the new Sony turntables earlier this year made me gasp. I dug around our blog and realized that the last time we spoke about the thing that plays vinyl from Sony was in 2019. It has been about six years between then and now, and I thought to myself, how many have we missed? Well, we missed nothing.
The last was indeed the Sony PS-LX310BT, until January, when the Japanese consumer electronics giant revisited the turntable business. Folks, meet the new Sony PS-LX3BT Turntable and Sony PS-LX5BT Turntable.
Make no mistake here. Like its last attempt, Sony isn’t trying to out-retro the retro brands here. Instead, it is doing what Sony does best: making vinyl approachable again, but without making it feel like homework 📀. Vinyl enthusiasts will know exactly what that means.
Sony PS-LX3BT
The PS-LX3BT is designed as the friendly front door into vinyl listening. It is a fully automatic belt-drive turntable with Bluetooth connectivity, which means you can place a record on the platter, press a button, and let the machine do the rest. No tonearm anxiety. No accidental needle gymnastics. Just music.
Wireless playback lets the turntable connect directly to Bluetooth speakers or headphones, though it still supports wired listening through its built-in phono equalizer for traditional amplifier setups. That flexibility makes it equally comfortable in a modern living room or a classic hi-fi stack.
Sony also tuned the aluminum die-cast platter for stable rotation and reduced vibration, helping playback stay clean and consistent. Speed selection supports both 33⅓ and 45 rpm records, which covers most collections unless someone secretly owns a crate of shellac treasures from another century.
In short, this is the kind of turntable that lets newcomers enjoy vinyl without feeling like they need a certificate in cartridge alignment.
Sony PS-LX5BT
The PS-LX5BT steps things up for listeners who want more refinement without jumping straight into audiophile deep water.
Like its sibling, it keeps the convenience of full automatic playback and Bluetooth connectivity, but adds a more premium construction approach aimed at improving stability and reducing resonance. The tonearm and chassis receive additional attention for vibration control, which helps preserve detail during playback.
Sony also equips the PS-LX5BT with a higher-grade finish and upgraded internal components intended to deliver cleaner signal performance. It is still approachable, still simple to use, but clearly positioned for people who already know vinyl is not just a weekend experiment 🎶.
Both models support wireless listening, built-in phono equalization, and straightforward operation that fits neatly into contemporary setups where cables are optional rather than mandatory.
It has been a long wait between Sony turntables, but these two make it clear the company did not return just to check a box (in other words, it did not return for the sake of returning). The PS-LX3BT opens the door for newcomers, while the PS-LX5BT makes a stronger case for staying inside once the records start spinning.
Pricing and Availability
The Sony PS-LX3BT Full Auto Playback Turntable With Bluetooth Connectivity, and the Sony PS-LX5BT Full Auto Playback Premium Turntable With Bluetooth Connectivity are available stateside for US$399.99 and US$499.99, respectively.
Images: Sony Electronics.
