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Audio-Technica AT-LP60XUSB Review

A great and budget-friendly entry point to listening to music on vinyl
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Audio-Technica AT-LP60XUSB Review
Credit: Laura Casner
Price:  $219 List
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Manufacturer:   Audio-Technica
By Max Mutter and Michelle Powell  ⋅  Jun 28, 2023
60
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#6 of 7
  • Sound Quality - 40% 6.0
  • Component Quality - 25% 7.0
  • User Friendliness - 25% 5.0
  • Vibration Resistance - 10% 6.0

Our Verdict

Offering good sound quality and some nice, user-friendly touches at a relatively low price, the Audio-Technica AT-LP60XUSB is our favorite turntable for those that have just inherited a stack of records, but have no way to play them. For a very reasonable price this turntable offers decent sound and a foolproof interface, so you can get that vinyl creating dulcet tones at the simple push of a button. Sure its sound quality is noticeably thinner than that of the more expensive models, but in terms of sound per dollar, it can't be beaten. If you want better sound quality the Audio Technica AT-LP120XUSB is more melodious and similarly easy to use, but it costs three times as much. If you're on a budget or don't want to make a big investment into a turntable until you know if you like the vinyl experience, the AT-LP60XUSB is a perfect choice.
REASONS TO BUY
Inexpensive
Good sound
Fully automatic operation
REASONS TO AVOID
Dynamic range is a bit stunted
Little adjustability
Editor's Note: We updated this review on June 28, 2023, to note the version we tested is no longer offered by Audio-Technica. Similar versions include the AT-LP60XBT and the AT-LP60XBTUSB, which are both Bluetooth-compatible. Our affiliate links now point to the AT-LP60XBT, but this version does not have a USB connection, so if that's an important feature to you, you'll want to seek out the pricier AT-LP60XBTUSB model.

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards Best Buy Award
Best Bang for the Buck
Editors' Choice Award
Best For Most People
Top Pick Award
Best Vibration Resistance
  
Price $219 List
$219.00 at Amazon
$349 List
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$250 List
$249.99 at Amazon
$249 List$60 List
$49.97 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
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Bottom Line The best sound per dollar value of any of the models we tested, and has user-friendly features to bootGreat sound and user friendliness make this turntable great for almost anyoneGreat for those that want good sound and something that won't skip if the vinyl inspires some dancingGreat for those that want fully automatic cueing and good soundA budget option that doesn't provide good enough sound quality to produce a good listening experience
Rating Categories Audio-Technica AT-L... Audio-Technica AT-L... Fluance RT81 Audio-Technica AT-L... Victrola Vintage 3-...
Sound Quality (40%)
6.0
8.0
7.0
7.0
2.0
Component Quality (25%)
7.0
8.0
7.0
6.0
3.0
User Friendliness (25%)
5.0
9.0
8.0
8.0
3.0
Vibration Resistance (10%)
6.0
6.0
8.0
5.0
6.0
Specs Audio-Technica AT-L... Audio-Technica AT-L... Fluance RT81 Audio-Technica AT-L... Victrola Vintage 3-...
Cartridge Audio Technica ATN3600L Audio Technica AT95E Audio Technica AT95E Audio Technica AT91R Innovative Technology ITRRS300
Drive Method Belt Direct Belt Belt Direct
USB Compatibility Yes Yes No No No
Operation Fully Automatic Manual Fully Automatic Fully Automatic Manual
Platter Material Aluminum Aluminum Aluminum Aluminum Plastic
Mat Material Felt Felt Rubber Rubber Plastic

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Audio-Technica AT-LP60XUSB was a fairly average performer in our testing, but its low price makes it a great value.

audio-technica at-lp60xusb
Credit: Laura Casner

Performance Comparison


The Audio-Technica AT-LP60XUSB performed at or above average in all of our testing metrics. In the sections below we detail its performance in all of the different tests we conducted.

Sound Quality


The AT-LP60XUSB earned a respectable 6 out of 10 in our sound quality testing, putting it a bit above average.


During our side-by-side sound quality comparisons, the AT-LP60XUSB's clarity was quite impressive. It produced a clear and crisp sound that was only slightly inferior to that of high end models like the Audio-Technica AT-LP120BK-USB. It did struggle a bit in terms of dynamic range. There wasn't a huge volume difference between the softest and loudest notes it played, which made the music sound a bit thin and flat when compared to the more expensive models (namely the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon and the Audio Technica AT-LP120BK-USB, both of which have phenomenal dynamic range). This shortcoming is noticeable, but it doesn't rob you of a pleasurable listening experience. Bottom line, it sounds about as good as listening to a streaming service like Pandora played through a high quality Bluetooth speaker. In other words it sounds good, but not phenomenal.

audio-technica at-lp60xusb - the at-lp60xusb offers quite good sound quality given its price.
The AT-LP60XUSB offers quite good sound quality given its price.
Credit: Laura Casner

The AT-LP60XUSB's sound quality is about even with the Sony PSLX300USB, which lists for just slightly more. The AT-LP60XUSB is worlds ahead of low super cost options like the Jensen JTA-230 and the Victrola Vintage 3-Speed, both of which both sound incredibly thin and shrill in comparison.

Component Quality


The AT-LP60XUSB earned an average score of 5 out of 10 in our component quality testing.


The AT-LP60XUSB has an aluminum platter that is much heftier than the plastic platters of low end models like the Jensen JTA-230, but noticeably thinner and lighter than the aluminum platters of top models like the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon. The felt mat feels of high quality, but likely doesn't make up for the additional vibrations that can make their way through the relatively light platter. The belt drive does serve to limit vibration moving from the motor to the platter.

audio-technica at-lp60xusb - the at-lp60xusb's tonearm and platter are quite high-quality for a...
The AT-LP60XUSB's tonearm and platter are quite high-quality for a budget model.
Credit: Laura Casner

The AT-LP60XUSB's metal tonearm is very light, which is good, but also feels a bit flimsy, which is bad. You want a tonearm that is as light and stiff as possible, so that flimsy feeling is somewhat concerning. Luckily this didn't seem to affect sound quality at all. Other models in the price range like the Sony PSLX300USB had similarly flimsy feeling tonearms. Unfortunately you need to spend a bit more to get a higher quality metal or even carbon fiber tonearm. The cartridge is an Audio-Technica Dual Magnet, which produced a fairly good signal in our testing.

User Friendliness


The AT-LP60XUSB was again above average in our user friendliness testing, picking up a score of 7 out of 10.


Actually getting the AT-LP60XUSB to play music couldn't be easier. Just put a record down on the platter, turn the turntable on, press the start button and you're good to go. The tonearm automatically lifts up, moves over to the record, and settles the needle down onto it. It also automatically senses whether the record is a 33 or 45, and adjusts the speed accordingly. In fact, this automatic cueing looks smoother and more reliable than the same process does on some much more expensive models.

On top of simple playback operation, the AT-LP60XUSB also offers a USB interface for digitizing records. We found this to be a simple plug and play process, with most audio recording software quickly recognizing the AT-LP60XUSB as an input. This is great for those that want to create digital backups for older, hard to find records.

audio-technica at-lp60xusb - we found the automatic cueing to be quite easy and intuitive.
We found the automatic cueing to be quite easy and intuitive.
Credit: Laura Casner

The AT-LP60XUSB lost points in this metric solely because of its lack of adjustability. It has no pitch control, and no way to adjust the tracking force. These are settings that don't require constant adjustment, and would likely only be adjusted by those that really want to tinker with their record player's sound, but they are nice to have in case something just isn't sounding right.

audio-technica at-lp60xusb - the at-lp60xusb features simple controls.
The AT-LP60XUSB features simple controls.
Credit: Laura Casner

Vibration Resistance


The AT-LP60XUSB again scored a 6 out of 10 in our vibration resistance testing. This put it just above average.


In general, the AT-LP60XUSB did not skip at all in our testing unless we bumped the table it was sitting on. It was even able to handle soft bumps without any issue, but a solid, “Oh crap I just knocked my hip on that table and it hurt!” kind of bumping resulted in skipping. This was comparable with the performance of the high-end Pro-Ject Debut Carbon and Audio-Technica AT-LP120BK-USB, with the Fluance RT81 being the only model that could handle a really solid table bump.

Value


The AT-LP60XUSB provides the best value per dollar of any of the models we tested. The only comparable model is the Sony PSLX300USB, which sounds similar but lists for more. In fact, to get better sound quality you'll have to spend at least $150 more, with top-notch sound costing at least $200 more.

Conclusion


The Audio-Technica AT-LP60XUSB is one of the best turntables for those that are on a budget or looking to dip their toe into the world of vinyl without making a big investment.

Max Mutter and Michelle Powell