Press Release: Audio-Technica’s Wireless Turntable and Head of the Class Headphones for Back to School

Wireless Turntables?! Say What?! Announced today and just in time for back to school Audio-Technica introduced their newest product lines that include the AT-LP60-BT wireless turntable, QuietPoint® noise-cancelling ATH-ANC33iS in-ear and ATH-ANC50iS over-ear headphones, and Sound Reality ATH-SR5BT wireless on-ear high-resolution audio headphones. How cool would you be in the dorms spinning some classic vinyl?

I’ve been the queen of audio since I started writing for Cutegeek and Hi-Tech Chic. I’m also a HUGE fan of vinyl and when I lived in San Francisco I would frequently visit a great record store in the Haight/ Ashbury district that had a dollar bin.True story, I actually found the Thriller album in the dollar bin after Michael Jackson passed away. It actually shouldn’t have been in the dollar bin (neither the Stevie Wonder album I also got for a dollar) but since it was marked one dollar I got both for just that. 

Turn table 1

I would love to test out the AT-LP60-BT Fully Automatic Wireless Belt-Drive Stereo Turntable with all my vinyl. It would be interesting to see if the audio of the AT-LP60-BT wireless turntable is as good as my not wireless old school record player. Besides that it’s wireless with bluetooth capabilities the AT-LP60-BT can pair with up to eight different pairs of speakers, headphones or other devices that utilize Bluetooth® wireless technology and can be stored in the AT-LP60-BT memory.

I hope to get a review unit of the AT-LP60-BT to test out and feature it in an article but till then here is the official press release from today.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

STOW, OH, August 16, 2016 – Before long, students will be returning to school and getting ready for another year of studying, tests and homework. But when it’s time to relax, what better way to unwind than to listen to their favorite music with A+ sound quality and convenience? Audio-Technica makes it easy for students to enjoy high-quality music listening with the AT-LP60-BT wireless turntable, QuietPoint® noise-cancelling ATH-ANC33iS in-ear and ATH-ANC50iS over-ear headphones, and Sound Reality ATH-SR5BT wireless on-ear high-resolution audio headphones.
Audio-Technica’s AT-LP60-BT lets students listen to records using Bluetooth® wireless technology. LP enthusiasts can spin vinyl in their room and anyone with a compatible wireless device can listen elsewhere in the dorm or building. The fully automatic AT-LP60-BT (SRP: US$179.00) provides vinyl playback through compatible Bluetooth wireless speaker systems, headphones, A/V receivers or other wireless playback devices. It’s available in black (AT-LP60BK-BT), white (AT-LP60WH-BT) and navy (AT-LP60NV-BT).

The AT-LP60-BT features completely automatic operation for 33-1/3 and 45 RPM records. It remembers up to eight wireless devices for ready pairing with the listener’s favorite audio sources. The Audio-Technica AT-LP60-BT includes a built-in switchable phono preamp and pre-mounted cartridge and offers wired as well as wireless connectivity, enabling the turntable to be used in a wide variety of music systems.

Audio-Technica’s QuietPoint ATH-ANC33iS in-ear headphones provide up to 90% noise-cancellation along with outstanding sound and smartphone compatibility. The ATH-ANC33iS features an in-line microphone and controller for answering calls and controlling music. Its high-quality omnidirectional mic ensures clear voice transmission without requiring the user to speak directly into the mic. The headphones deliver detailed audio reproduction with a smooth frequency response and powerful bass.

The ATH-ANC33iS (SRP: US$79.00) includes ComplyTM Foam Tips, made out of special memory foam that expands to fit in the ear canal for superior sound isolation and comfort. The headphones come with standard silicone eartips in S, M and L, a soft carrying case, an airline adapter and an AAA battery.

The over-ear ATH-ANC50iS (SRP: US$99.00) provides outstanding noise cancellation performance (up to 87%). Its large 40 mm drivers deliver detailed, impactful sound with exceptional imaging in an immersive sound field. Like all Audio-Technica QuietPoint headphones, the ATH-ANC50iS will continue to work even if the battery runs out.

The ATH-ANC50iS has heavily padded earcups that fit snugly yet comfortably over the ears and further enhance isolation from environmental noise. It’s supplied with a detachable 3.9-foot (1.2 m) cable with in-line control and microphone, a zippered protective pouch, an airline adapter and an AAA battery.

The ATH-SR5BT wireless Sound Reality Hi-Res Audio headphones with Bluetooth technology offers superb high-resolution sound and cable-free convenience. The headphones employ aptX® sound-improvement technology, specifically created to yield the best-possible audio performance over a Bluetooth transmission. The smartphone-compatible ATH-SR5BT features specially designed 45 mm drivers with a 5Hz – 40,000Hz frequency range to deliver extraordinary resolution and clarity with a smooth, wideband tonal balance, and the ATH-SR5BT is Hi-Res Audio compliant when used with its supplied cable, making it ideal for use with high-resolution audio source material and playback devices.

The ATH-SR5BT (SRP: US$199.00) remembers the last eight wireless devices for ready pairing with the listener’s favorite audio sources and the headphones’ NFC (Near Field Communication) capability allows it to be paired with an NFC-compatible device simply by touching the device to the headphones. The ATH-SR5BT’s rechargeable battery provides up to 38 hours of continuous use and can be recharged using the included USB cable. The ATH-SR5BT is available in black (ATH-SR5BTBK) and white (ATH-SR5BTWH) and comes with a handy carrying pouch.

In Brief: The Move to Hi-Res Audio

While many listeners may believe that high-resolution audio came along with the introduction of the Compact Disc in 1982, constraints on the disc’s storage space always prevented CD audio (standardized at 44.1 kHz/16-bit) from fully and completely reproducing the original recorded sound. The advent and subsequent popularity of MP3s only made this problem more pronounced – the necessary compression of these files causes audio information to be lost, thus greatly reducing the audio quality. But with lossless audio file formats, faster Internet speeds, and storage space increasingly easy to come by (and in ever-smaller packages), the push is on to create audio equipment capable of capturing and reproducing true Hi-Res Audio, generally considered to be 96 kHz/24-bit or better. The Hi-Res Audio logo certifies that a product meets the Hi-Res Audio standards. Per these standards, headphones must have transducer frequency performance to at least 40 kHz. As a producer of these types of audiophile headphones since 1972, Audio-Technica is well-positioned to provide audio solutions that meet the demands of Hi-Res Audio media formats, allowing for the full reproduction of their extended sonic characteristics.