Audio-Technica AT-LP8X review

Traditionally, there has usually been an inverse relationship between performance and features in separates hi-fi. Nowhere is this more apparent than with the humble turntable. Look at all the best-sounding options below the £1000 / $1350 / AU$2100 mark, for example, and you’ll invariably find them to be fully manual decks.

In many cases, these decks will take things to extremes and even demand that the user manually moves the drive belt from one step of the motor pulley to the next to change playback speed from 33 1/3 to 45 RPM.

Audio-Technica’s new AT-LP8X takes a refreshingly different approach to the user experience, one that we think many will enjoy.

Design & build

This AT-LP8X record player is a semi-automatic design, which means that it will lift the arm at the end of a record side and stop spinning. Not only that, the cartridge is lowered (or raised) from the record surface by a press of a button rather than the usual manual lift/lower lever.

Add an electronic speed change with a 78 RPM option, alongside the usual 33 1/3 and 45 RPM choices, and we can see this new turntable having plenty of appeal for those who aren’t comfortable operating a fully manual deck such as the Rega Planar 3.

We’re impressed when we take the AT-LP8X out of its packaging. It feels substantial at over 10kg, and is as professionally finished as we would expect from a product made by such a well-established manufacturer.

The plinth is made from 16mm-thick MDF and is available only in a black finish. That’s a bit of a shame, as it would have been nice to have a bit more choice in this respect.

Still, the plinth offers a rigid support for the direct drive motor, 25mm-thick rubber-damped aluminium platter and the decently-engineered ‘J’ shaped aluminium tonearm.

The tonearm has a detachable headshell, which makes swapping cartridges easy. As standard, the package is supplied with the new AT-LT10 headshell, factory fitted with an Audio-Technica AT-VM95E moving magnet cartridge.

We have nothing against the AT-VM95E cartridge, as it is a good budget performer, but we can’t help but think that Audio-Technica has been a little mean here. At the time of writing, this cartridge is available for £49 / $74 / AU$79, which seems a little basic for a deck at this level. Sure, it is possible to upgrade the stylus for something fancier in the AT-VM95 series, but it adds considerably to the cost.

As a comparison, the Rega Planar 3/Nd3 package costs £840 / $1125 / AU$1799, with the Nd3 cartridge available separately for £175 / $345 / AU$380.

Technic’s direct drive SL-1500C is another close rival at £879 / $1299 / AU$2099, and comes equipped with an Ortofon 2M Red, which costs £85 / $99 / AU$161 on its own. The Technics package includes a phono stage but lacks the Audio-Technica’s semi-automatic operation.

Setting up

Setting up the AT-LP8X is easy. Simply find a level and rigid surface for the turntable, fit the headshell with the pre-aligned cartridge in place, and set the tracking weight and bias. The AT-VM95E has a recommended tracking weight of 1.8-2.2g, and we settle on 2.0g after playing around within those limits.

To start playing a record, set the speed, press the Start/Stop button and move the arm to play the beginning of the side or track you want. The deck’s high-torque direct drive motor means it spins up to the set speed quickly. Then, just press the Lift/Lower button. At the end of the side, the turntable automatically lifts the arm and stops. Easy.

We see the AT-LP8X being right at home when partnered with something like the Arcam A5 amplifier (which has a good phono stage) and a pair of Fyne Audio F501E floorstanders, or maybe the KEF LS50 Meta standmounters, if you want something smaller.

We also tried the deck in our reference system of Cyrus Phono Signature/PSX-R2 phono stage, Burmester 088/911 MkIII amplifier and ATC SCM 50 speakers to see how it performs when put under a magnifying glass. In the event, it does well for a turntable package at this price.

Sound

As standard, it is a nicely balanced and capable performer. We play Holst’s Planet Suite and are pleased with the way the Audio-Technica handles this demanding piece of music. Detail levels are fairly good, but it's the surefooted way this package assembles all that information into a cohesive and musically-involving whole that appeals most.

Dynamics are pretty expressive, and the ’LP8X rarely sounds stressed, even when the music becomes challenging.

Stereo imaging isn’t quite as spacious or expansive as we’ve heard at this level, but the various instrumental sections of the orchestra are nicely laid out, and the soundstaging remains stable throughout.

The tonal balance of any record player is mostly dictated by the choice of cartridge, and here the AT-VM95E does well. It is a relatively even and unfussy performer that just gets on with the job at hand with the minimum of fuss.

The AT-LP8X package continues to please as we work our way through our record collection. Billie Eilish’s Happier Than Ever set shows the turntable to have a firm grip on basslines and enough clarity to allow Eilish’s distinctive voice to shine.

Rhythmic drive is decent and the player conveys shifts in musical momentum well. It isn’t the most exciting or dramatic of performances you can get for the money, but there is enough on offer to keep us entertained.

Comparisons with the Technics SL-1500C prove interesting. The Technics is the livelier of the two, delivering a more articulate and engaging sound. There is greater precision in the SL-1500C’s presentation and notably more insight.

Our doubts about the inclusion of the budget AT-VM95E cartridge begin to bubble again, and we swap it out for a Nagaoka MP-200 moving magnet to put more of a spotlight on the deck.

At £449 / $449 / AU$649, this Nagaoka falls on the top end of the kind of cartridge that would be partnered with the AT-LP8X, but using it shows that the turntable is capable of more than the standard fit cartridge allows.

We have generally liked the AT-VM95E whenever we’ve come across it in a budget turntable context. It is a no-nonsense, affordable cartridge without any serious weakness, for the money. However, the Nagaoka brings with it a level of clarity, precision and dynamic expression that the AT-VM95E just can’t live with.

With the MP200 fitted, the Audio-Technica sounds notably clearer and better resolving than before. The use of the better cartridge improves transparency, so that the differences in production and recording quality from records made in the ’70s and ’80s to today are more clearly heard.

If we owned an AT-LP8X, a change of cartridge would be the first upgrade without a doubt.

Audio-Technica is a major cartridge manufacturer, of course, but we haven’t reviewed any in recent years, so we can’t recommend one. Out of the cartridges we’ve tested, Sumiko’s Rainier MM (£159 / $179 / AU$299), or indeed, the Nagaoka MP-200 at a push, would be ideal.

Verdict

Ultimately, judged purely on sound, both the Technics and Rega packages still sit higher in the pecking order, thanks to their greater dynamic punch and rhythmic prowess. Both of these players, but the Rega in particular, are great at pulling the listener into the music. They deliver a more emotional musical experience, and ultimately, that matters most to us.

That said, by general price standards, this Audio-Technica record player does well enough to earn a recommendation.

Overall, it is fair to say that the standard AT-LP8X package is a good performer. It gets all the basics right. The deck is nicely made and a breeze to use. Its semi-automatic operation will appeal to many, while the general level of performance is competitive.

An upgrade to the standard cartridge is recommended in the short to medium term, but regardless, this Audio-Technica remains a charming and fuss-free proposition that will satisfy in the long term.

Review published: 17th June 2025

SCORES

• Sound 4
• Build 4
• Features 5

MORE:

Read our review of the Technics SL-1500C

Also consider the Rega Planar 3/Nd3

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