This turntable is a development of the AT-LP5 model, released in 2015. Compared to its predecessor, a more massive disk is installed here, as well as a more solid tonearm with a full range of necessary adjustments, including variable base height. The black support plate is made of polyoxymethylene and has a thickness of 20 millimeters, and it is driven by an AC motor. Rotation accuracy is maintained by sensors installed on the disk. The player chassis is made of 40 mm thick fiberboard.
A nice feature of the Audio-Technica AT-LP7 is the fact that the complete head is equipped with a not-so-bad branded MM cartridge VM520EB/H with a double magnet system and elliptical sharpening of the needle. There is also a built-in, switchable phono module that supports both moving magnet and moving coil cartridges.
Audio-Technica AT-LP7 Review
Recognizing the dominant role of the cartridge in playback, the Audio-Technica LP7 player was created with an eye on the VM cartridge family. Manual control, belt drive, the best materials and technologies – all this reveals the capabilities of the pickup to the fullest. The AT-LP7 comes with a VM520EB dual moving magnet cartridge, with a 10g AT-HS10 headshell and a 0.3 x 0.7 mil elliptical stylus. This stylus can be replaced with any of the six others available in the VM line, allowing you to easily upgrade the stylus without purchasing a new cartridge assembly.
The headshell is attached to a J-shaped tonearm, which inherits the shape of the classic AT models of the 1960s and 70s. The tonearm features a metal suspension system and precision bearings to reduce tracking errors, and also features adjustable counterweight and anti-skate control. The tonearm height can be adjusted from 0mm to 6mm to accommodate a wide variety of cartridges.
The turntable’s body is made from 40mm thick MDF, an excellent anti-vibration damping material that limits low-frequency acoustic feedback. The anti-resonance disc is made of 20mm thick polyoxymethylene and is driven by a sensor-controlled motor that provides a continuously precise disc rotation speed of 33-1/3 or 45 rpm. The AT-LP7 also features a built-in switchable phono/line preamp for connecting to components with or without a dedicated phono input, as well as a selector switch to indicate operation with a moving magnet or moving coil cartridge.
Specifications Audio-Technica AT-LP7
Type: Handmade 2-speed vinyl turntable
DC motor Drive
method: Belt
Rotation speed: 33 and 1/3 or 45 rpm
Sensitivity: 60 dB
Power: 100 V – 240 V, 50/60 Hz , 0.6 A
Power consumption: 5.5 W
AC adapter: 12 V, 2 A
Base plate material: Polyoxymethylene
Base plate thickness: 20 mm
Case material: MDF
Case thickness: 40 mm
Dimensions (HxWxD): 157x450x352 mm
Weight: 8 .3 kg (without cover)
Tonearm: Static balanced J-shaped
Effective tonearm length: 247 mm
Tonearm overhang: 17 mm Tracking
error: Less than 2.5° Tonearm
material: Aluminum
Cartridge stylus: VMN20EB Cartridge
head: AT-HS10
Cartridge weight Cartridge: 10 g (wireless)
Manual cartridge adjustment: -5 to +5 mm
Cartridge: VM520EB (V-shaped dual magnet)
Cartridge weight: 6.4 g
Recommended tracking force: 1.5 to 2.5 g
Recommended impedance connected load: 47 Ohm