Home > Consumer Reviews > Audio Technica AT-PL50 Belt Drive Turntable

I picked out the Audio Technical AT-PL50 after an evening spent evaluating one at a friend's house. I was looking for a basic turntable I could connect to my computer and record tracks from all the albums I collected during the 70s and 80s. My intent was to create digital recordings I could play on my iPod and laptop, and not to add a $200+ high-end turntable to my home stereo for hours and hours of LP playback.

I've been quite happy with the AT-PL50. The built-in phono preamp is a very nice feature, as computers and many amps/receivers don't have the circuitry to properly handle the RIAA equalization used in LPs. It's also nice that you can turn the built-in preamp off when you don't need it. Other positives: The AT-PL50 has a simple cueing system so you can raise/lower the tonearm to pause and resume playback. Moving the tonearm towards the record turns the unit on, and moving the tonarm back to its rest position turns it off. The dust cover is damped so you can raise and lower it gently without fear of it crashing down and disrupting playback. And the stylus is replacable so when it shows signs of wear I shouldn't have to worry about buying a whole new cartridge.

Quality of the digitized recordings has been fine based on listening to playback on my iPod and laptop. I'm comfortable that the turntable is more than a match for the headphones I use and am pleased I didn't spend twice as much for higher-end unit.

My only criticism is that the hardwired audio output cable is too short. It is only about 24 inches long, which wasn't enough to reach across the back of my stereo cabinet and connect to the phono inputs on my amplifier. That's easy enough to deal with by adding an extension cable, but if you didn't have one handy you'd probably be unhappy to have to run to the electronics store before you could enjoy your new turntable.

And though other reviewers have complained, I've had absolutely no problem with skipping on any of the dozens of LPs I've played, many of which are heavily played and have endured college dorm life and garage storage.

Given the price and nature of my intended use, the AT-PL50 is just what I was looking for. (And if you are interested, I highly recommend using 'Audiograbber' software for the recording -- it's feature rich and free!)

This is a low-end turntable, but serviceable. If you want a high-reliability, do-everything turntable I recommend the AT-PL120 instead, at about 3 times the price. This one is small, lightweight, and the cartridge isn't interchangeable; it's fitted into the tonearm in its own unique way. The stylus (needle) is of course easy to replace; it is the common Audio-Technica AT3600.

Having said that... The sound is good, it's easy to operate, and there is not much rumble. You may want to put some rubberized shelf liner under it to help shield it from vibration if it's close to your speakers or if people commonly run around in the room.

To track warped or scratched records, you can add a little weight by putting a dime on top of the tonearm head or by wrapping a bit of copper wire around the tonearm. The tracking force is already 2.5 grams, which I think is a reasonable choice. The consequence is that this turntable will track some records that 1980s "P-mount" 1.5-gram cartridges won't track.

This is my backup turntable. I mainly wanted a way to play my records without subjecting them to undue wear, and this fills the bill. I have a better turntable on my good stereo.

Well, at least the platter rotates and plays records...that's about it. Unless you are going to buy this for someone living in a dorm or for someone who does not have a huge record collection then this budget conscious 'table is suitable. Otherwise, skip it or you'll be sorry you didn't hold out for that pricier/audiophile turntable (Technics, Music Hall,Thorens, Denon, etc.). You will regret not getting that direct drive turntable with a high quality tonearm, smooth running and accurate speed motor, anti-skate adjuster dial, and counter weight balance for stylus pressure...you also have to have that nice pitch control for those records whose mastering speed might be a tad off...

But for those on a tight budget and who don't really give a rip then knock yourself out...Just don't place this table near the speakers as vibrations will affect playback in an audible annoying manner (you see, there was a reason why dad's old Technics or Denon or Pioneer weighed like a tank). Since there is no weight adjustment for tonearm this player may not be able to track those less than perfect records that are slightly warped. Also,you need to have an anti-skating dial mechanism for the tonearm/cartridge. As a tonearm gets close to the center of a record during playback any cartrdige needle will tend to pull more towards the center of the record(pressing more against the left or inner stereo channel) than stay perfectly in the center of the groove---that's the reason you want anti-skating mechanism. Without it, the sound of the record, as the tonearm moves inward to the last few tracks, will have a sort of static-like distortion when it comes to high frequencies or fast musical passages both loud and complex.

Basically, if you are looking for a second household turntable to use (since you already have the higher quality one) or for the young ones to use then the Audio Technica AT-PL50 is the way to go. Also, remember that this is a belt driven turntable so depending on how heavily it will be used better inquire about getting that extra belt just in case (as all belts on such a turntable will stretch within time, develop smooth slipping spots or become dry)...

Vinyl couldn't sound much better than on this little 'table. Sure, you could spend hundreds more, but why? The difference would be difficult to discern, and with the money saved you could purchase improvement parts to your liking. This is just a great buy for any avid record listener.

Pros:
-Warm, crisp tone...not harsh or flat
-Deep stereo imaging
-Built in phono stage accurately amplifies signal
-Beautifully integrated parts

Cons:
-The unit is rather light, but this doesn't seem
to detract from the playback
-High-end users might want to upgrade stylus (small fee)

Overall, you just can't beat this turntable in the price range. It truly stands out as a fine piece of audio equipment in a price range that is full of sub-par machines. I highly recommend buying this turntable - especially if you are using it with a newer receiver that lacks a dedicated phono stage. Don't pass this one up.

*Update as of 8-12-05: I've owned the AT-PL50 for a little over 2 years now with absolutely no problems at all. Most of my records are second-hand and in only moderate condition - and I don't experience any skipping. I would recommend making sure that the 'table is level to prevent unusual skipping. I also wouldn't believe all the hype regarding better turntables. Vinyl LPs have their inherent sonic limitations already (especially older, much loved & used records) and extracting the best sound quality from a record is certainly not rocket science. This is a great product, and it performs exceptionally well for anyone wishing to revive their LP collection.

This is an entry-level, belt-driven turntable. The AT-PL50 does boast a number of attractive features including a switchable built-in pre-amp, a pre-installed cartdrige, a dust cover, automatic playback and return, and, of course, the budget-minded price tag.

My main gripe with this unit is the fact that it does not handle imperfections in the vinyl very well. The bulk of my collection is comprised of second-hand purchases, many of which are in average condition. These albums play without skipping on my father's 30-year-old JVC direct-drive turntable but they regularly skip on the AT-PL50. And since this unit does not offer an adjustable counterweight for the tone arm, there's no way to add weight to the tone arm other than to tape a coin to the head or tie a metal coil to the tone arm.

In retrospect, I wish I had ponied up for a more trustworthy direct-drive turntable.