I don't buy vinyl records often, but when I do it's more akin to collector's items, like those gorgeous illustrated Folio Society editions of much-loved books. They're lovely things to own and cherish. You don't really get that same kind of feeling from a digital file or stream. And it sounds good, too. Bluetooth may not be the best-sounding connection, but we live our daily life with Bluetooth earbuds and speakers offering great sound and value for money, so why can't Bluetooth turntables sound good, too? The quality of the vinyl stream also depends on the quality of the speaker you choose, which gives you plenty of choice in just how good you can make the system sound. You can opt for a high-end Naim Mu-so Qb model or even an active stereo pair like the Triangle AIO Twin, but more affordable (and more convenient) options such as the Era 100 or Audio Pro C10 MkII would be perfect choices. We'd steer away from more budget speaker offerings from Ultimate Ears or JBL – they're decent, but your vinyl does deserve a better class of speaker quality. We do run into issues with Bluetooth pairing though, which can be hit-and-miss when we try to connect the turntable with a wide variety of headphones. We found that if you have multiple Bluetooth devices in the same room as the AT-LPW50BT (which is increasingly commonplace for most people), it will try to connect to those devices instead of the one you want it to. After a lot of trialling and turning off every Bluetooth kit in our listening room (including our reference music streamer), the AT-LPW50BT did finally connect to the Mark Levinson No. 5909 headphones (but not the Apple AirPods Max) and the Sonos Era 100 speaker. There are technological and audio advancements being made in wireless headphones all the time; I'd love for Bluetooth turntables to be given the same level of care and thought. Gives us young 'uns more choice, I say. And if that's an entry point into better sound quality and even getting into 'proper' hi-fi – well, that's no bad thing at all.

Connectivity is largely the same, with a selectable phono preamp and dual RCA output for wired connectivity, along with Bluetooth support. The turntable also has a built-in phono preamp. This means that you don’t need a separate phono preamp to connect it to any audio system with a line-level input. This is a useful feature for people who want to use the turntable with a home theatre system or powered speakers. Final Words Includes dual RCA (male) to dual RCA (male) stereo cable, 45 RPM adapter, rubber mat, and removable hinged dust cover If you're connected over Bluetooth, the speaker should start playing automatically as the vinyl spins on the record. Make sure you've switch to the right output on the turntable (Audio Technica says to use the Line output on the AT-LPW50BTRW) when using Bluetooth.And speaking of looking good, I am in love with the AT-LP2022 limited edition turntable. But I’ll save that for another post. Likes

I then tested how records would sound with the turntable's built-in preamp instead of going through my receiver. Audio-Technica's built-in preamp gives a crisper and cleaner sound than my receiver, but that is just barely noticeable unless you're searching for a difference between the two. If you demand a more traditional approach, the wooden finish and fully manual operation of Audio-Technica's AT-LPW50BTRW might be more appealing. The older members of team What Hi-Fi? are sometimes puzzled why the younger generations are so taken with vinyl, but it makes sense to me. When streaming from Spotify or Netflix from your smartphone or laptop has been the norm, vinyl records – and turntables – offer a wonderfully tactile, physical sense of ownership and connection to music that a digital stream simply doesn't. Being able to disconnect from the shiny screen of doom and instead interact with physical products also does wonders for your mental health.The light blue dashed vertical line at the centre shows the mean actual speed, which you can see is very slightly lower than 33.33 rpm at 33.324 rpm, so 0.006 rpm slow. Not significant. The purple and red dashed vertical lines show the wow measured according to DIN IEC 386 using both the dynamic method (purple dashes) and the 2 sigma method (red dashes). In terms of percentages, the measured wow using the DIN IEC 386 2 sigma method was 0.08% at 33.33 rpm and 0.07% at 45 rpm. You’ll have to re-pair every time the connection is broken (for instance, when you pair the headphones with your smartphone again), but it is stable when it works. We can see many opting for this combination of the Audio Technica turntable and, say, the Sonos Era 100 (a single or stereo pair) as their main sound system. It’s convenient, attractive and takes up much less space (and costs less) than a full stereo hi-fi system. The Audio-Technica AT-VM95E delivered all the songs on ‘Harvest’ smoothly, fluidly and very musically, and you can’t really ask for much more than that. The AT-LPW50BTRW extends Audio-Technica’s line of fully manual, belt-drive wood turntables by adding the option of wireless connectivity. Now you can enjoy optimal high-fidelity audio reproduction from vinyl with your choice of wired or wireless operation. Whether that's a codec compatibility issue or something else, the fact remains that the Bluetooth implementation and pairing process in these wireless turntables (which aren't necessarily cheap) is a letdown. It needs to be better thought out and offer the same seamless standard that we get in current Bluetooth headphones and speakers. Otherwise, it's a real frustration in what should be a really easy playing process.

The belt for the Audio-Technica AT-LPW50BT-RW turntable attaches to the drive motor’s pulley underneath the cast-aluminum platter. You can play your vinyl through every Sonos speaker connected to your network, so you can fill your home with the sound of your favourite records. Just group said speakers together using the Rooms tab in the Sonos app, and it'll play just like any music source. Can you wirelessly connect a turntable to Sonos? Overall, the entire setup took about 10 minutes. Then, it was time to tune in. Listening experienceThe built-in selectable phono preamp and detachable dual RCA output cable enable direct-wired connection to components with or without a dedicated phono input.

Selected items are only available for delivery via the Royal Mail 48® service and other items are available for delivery using this service for a charge. The AT-LPW50BTRW is equipped with a built-in selectable phono preamp and a detachable dual RCA output cable to enable direct wired connection to components with or without a dedicated phono input. The turntable also connects wirelessly to speakers and other devices equipped with Bluetooth wireless technology. The recent new Audio-Technica turntable I reviewed, the AT-LP3XBT, is a really convenient automated record player that I would highly recommend to casual record collectors who want to enjoy analogue music without the fuss and hassle of handling the tonearm. Plus, it auto stops at the end of the record, which even discerning audio lovers like myself appreciate. However, if you are looking for a more professional-styled turntable that still caters to the digital generation, the AT-LPW50BT is probably the one to get. The Era 300, Era 100 and Sonos Roam and Move speakers can also connect to a turntable over Bluetooth, providing the turntable has Bluetooth, of course. To pair, press and hold the speaker's Bluetooth button – when you hear a chime and the status light flashes blue, it's ready for pairing. Then press the pairing button on the Bluetooth turntable, such as on the Cambridge Audio Alva TT V2 or the Audio Technica AT-LPW50BTRW. When the LED on the turntable goes solid, you know it's paired. One of my favourite recordings was recorded by Dutch pianist Jeroen Van Veen in two different versions, both of which are on a double-LP set pressed by Brilliant Classics titled ‘Erik Satie Slow Music: Gymnopedies, Gnossiennes, And Other Works.’ Van Veen achieves a sublime perfection that eludes most pianists. I suspect his success might be because he’s not only also a composer but is also considered by many experts to be one of the leading exponents of minimalism in the world today. These traits, along with him being a great pianist, are obviously what’s required to make the music work!

Audio Technica AT-LPW50BTRW turntable is a belt driven turntable that features a number of very high performance features and technology into a beautiful design that should sit well with any hi-fi system. High Performance The Audio-Technica AT-LPW50PB comes with a clear Perspex dustcover and spring-loaded hinges. It’s nice that these are provided standard, rather than as an optional extra. The spring-loading of the hinges means that if you give the lid a slight push when you first lift it, it will rise automatically to the fully open position without further input from you. Flexibility first: a Bluetooth connection to your speakers means it doesn't matter where you place your products. As long as the turntable is on a level surface, the wireless speaker can be placed pretty much anywhere in the room. When we paired the AT-LPW50BTRW with the Sonos Era 100 away from our usual hi-fi reference system, we simply had them both on a desk, and it was eye-opening just how simple, neat and effective it was. For many, that is a perfect space-saving solution if you're living in a small flat or have to share space with family, housemates or pets.