Audio-Technica today announced the introduction of its 60th Anniversary AT-LP2022 Manual Belt-Drive Turntable. It’s a $1,200 USD limited-edition record player that celebrates 60 years of excellence in high-performance analog audio. A limited number of AT-LP2022 turntables will be offered worldwide, each carrying a unique serial number.
“Audio-Technica was founded in 1962 by Hideo Matsushita with the intention of bringing the joy of experiencing high-fidelity music to listeners,” noted Kurt Van Scoy, Audio-Technica U.S. Executive Director of Product Development. “In his honor, it is only fitting that on our 60th anniversary, we offer the finest turntable A-T has ever created, to carry on his legacy and exemplify the commitment to analog listening that Audio-Technica has pursued for 60 years.”
The AT-LP2022 combines exceptional record-playback performance with a completely new, elegant 60th Anniversary design. The turntable is built upon a 30 mm thick, high-density clear acrylic chassis that reduces unwanted resonances while imparting a distinctive look. The chassis is complemented by a transparent anti-resonant acrylic platter with a mounted black AT-VM95E cartridge and also includes a clear AT-VMN95SH Shibata stylus.
We participated in last week’s “Art of Analog” NYC celebration and it’s clear that the storied Japanese manufacturer has a lot of support in the music industry for its turntables and phono cartridges.
Features
- 60th anniversary limited-edition turntable clearly demonstrates the purity of analog audio
- Fully manual, belt-drive operation with two speeds: 33-1/3 and 45 RPM
- AT-VM95 cartridge is compatible with any VM95 Series replacement stylus, offering a wide choice of options for every budget and application
- Includes a 0.3 x 0.7 mil elliptical stylus, plus a limited-edition, clear-body Shibata stylus
- 30 mm-thick chassis made from low-resonance, high-density clear acrylic
- Motor features a speed-sensor system to maintain accurate platter rotation speed
- Transparent acrylic platter for stable rotation
- Carbon-fiber tonearm with metal tonearm lift and base, and VTA (vertical tracking angle) adjustment
- Adjustable dynamic anti-skate control
- Lightweight AT-HS4SV headshell
- Exclusively designed high-isolation, height-adjustable feet
- AC adapter handles AC/DC conversion outside of the chassis, reducing noise in the signal chain
- Includes dual RCA (male) to dual RCA (male) stereo cable, 45 RPM adapter, and removable hinged dust cover
The turntable’s sensor-monitored belt-drive motor system provides quiet, accurate and stable playback of 33-1/3 and 45 RPM records. It features a carbon-fiber tonearm mounted on a metal base, with adjustable VTA (vertical tracking angle), tracking force and anti-skating.
The AT-LP2022 offers users a unique opportunity to evaluate different diamond profiles, as it includes two separate styli with different geometry. An elliptical AT-VM95E is premounted on the AT-HS4-SV headshell, and the AT-VMN95SH, a special-edition Shibata stylus with a clear housing, is also included.
The VM95 cartridge platform also offers additional stylus shapes to accommodate listeners’ vinyl playback preferences. The AT-LP2022 features newly designed isolation feet that are height-adjustable.
The turntable’s external power supply prevents any unwanted electronic noise from intruding upon the sonic purity of the signal. The AT-LP2022 also comes with a removeable dust cover, detachable RCA cable and 45 RPM adapter.
Specifications
| Type | Belt-drive manual turntable |
|---|---|
| Motor | DC servo with Active Speed Stabilization |
| Drive Method | Belt drive |
| Speeds | 33-1/3 RPM, 45 RPM |
| Turntable Platter | 16mm-thick acrylic platter |
| Wow and Flutter | < 0.15 % WRMS (33 RPM) at 3 kHz |
| Signal-to-Noise Ratio | > 60 dB |
| Power Supply Requirements | 100 to 240 V, 50/60 Hz, 0.5 A Max. |
| Power Consumption | 1.8 W |
| Dimensions | 420 mm (17″) × 340 mm (13″) × 135 mm (5.3″) (W × D × H) |
| Weight | 8.0 kg (18 lbs) |
| Accessories Included | ・Dust cover ・Platter (with drive belt) ・Dust cover hinges ・Counterweight ・Headshell (AT-HS4 SV) with VM stereo cartridge (AT-VM95E BK) ・Replacement stylus (AT-VMN95SH CL) ・45-RPM adapter ・RCA audio cable (Approx. 1.0 m (3.3′)) ・AC adapter (Approx. 1.5 m (4.9′)) ・Hexagonal wrench ・Gloves |
| AC Adapter | 12 V, 1.0 A |
| Tonearm Type | Static balanced straight carbon tonearm |
| Effective Arm Length | 223.6 mm |
| Overhang | 18.6 mm |
| Tracking Error Angle | Less than 2.0° |
| Stylus Pressure Adjustment Range | 0 to 3.0 g |
| Applicable Cartridge Weight | 11.5 to 16.5 g |
| Replacement Stylus | AT-VMN95E BK, AT-VMN95SH CL* (sold separately) |
| Replacement Headshell | AT-HS4 SV (sold separately) |
| Replacement Belt | AT-LP2022 exclusive belt (sold separately) |
*Note: The replacement stylus (AT-VMN95SH CL (clear color)) is a limited product of AT-LP2022. Repair parts are limited. Please note that Audio-Technica may not be able to fulfill repair requests if repair parts are no longer available. In such cases, a commercially available replacement stylus (AT-VMN95SH (brown color)) can be used.
Price & Availability
The Audio-Technica AT-LP2022 Belt-Drive Turntable is now available for purchase at a suggested retail price of US $1200. Check audio-technica.com for availability.
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ORT
November 1, 2022 at 10:03 pm
Hmmmmmm…Were it not actually there one might say this was the “Emperor’s New Turntable”.
Reminds one of the anatomical model series of the ’60s and ’70s, the “Visible Man”, the “Visible Horse”, the “Visible Woman”. This ‘table shows how little actually goes in to a turntable but then that is true of so much these days what with the use of PCB and teensie-weensie ICs, et al.
Nothing wrong at all with that. Mayhap ‘ts the “Emperor’s New Turntable” after all? This thing is cool looking in the same way Tallulah Bankhead was cool even or rather, especially when she guest-villanessed (izzat a word?) on “Batman” in the ’60s. She also authored one of the most funnest things to say to someone you have grown weary of dating…
“I’ll come and make love to you at five o’clock. If I’m late start without me.” -Tallulah Bankhead
For those that are lost in my missive’s meandering and therefore are internally musing over what Tallulah has to do with this ‘table?
I would call it “Tallulah”. Why? Because you can see through it but that in no way makes it common. It makes it honest. Indeed.
ORT The Chaste Sophist
Richard Johnson
November 5, 2022 at 7:53 pm
Full disclosure: I have a high-end VPI that I love. And there are lots of very good turntables in this price range, but all seem to have compromised in one area or another. Not the AT LP2022. From the esthetics to the carbon fiber tonearm, adjustable height, it nails every checklist item a vinyl lover could ask for, except maybe a record clamp, an that’s arguably an accessory. Even two styli types – that just makes the whole cartridge discussion kind of a moot point. I might have to buy one just to build a second system behind. We’ll done, AT. If it sounds as good as it looks, you may have just delivered the first truly iconic turntable in a very long time.