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#50 of 64 Sony PS-HX500 Turntable
Sony · Ranked #50 of 64

Sony PS-HX500 Turntable

The Sony PS-HX500 remains a standout choice for vinyl enthusiasts who want to digitize their collection in true hi-res quality without external ADCs.

Drive BeltSpeeds 33/45 rpmPreamp Built-inBluetooth YesUSB YesSetup ~14 min
4.3out of 5

Bench score

★★★★★

Measured across build, speed stability, noise floor and value — from 4 owner reports and our own bench notes.

◆ Our verdict

The Sony PS-HX500 remains a standout choice for vinyl enthusiasts who want to digitize their collection in true hi-res quality without external ADCs. It pairs solid analog performance with a genuinely useful USB/DSD recording feature, making it ideal for hobbyists bridging analog and digital worlds, even though it lacks modern wireless conveniences.

▤

Specifications

Drive Type
Belt-drive
Speeds
33 1/3, 45 RPM
Recording Formats
DSD 5.6MHz, PCM 192kHz/24-bit
Cartridge
Moving Magnet (pre-installed)
Connectivity
USB, RCA Line Out
◎

On the bench

Wow & flutter
0.124%
S/N ratio
61 dB
Speed deviation
0.48%
Platter mass
1070 g

Wow & flutter measured W.R.M.S. at 33⅓ rpm; S/N ratio A-weighted. Lower wow & flutter and speed deviation are better; higher S/N is better.

⚖

Pros & cons

✓What we liked

  • Excellent build quality for the price point
  • Simple, guided software workflow for digitizing records
  • Sounds warm and accurate through built-in phono stage
  • Solid aluminum platter reduces vibration and noise
  • Great entry point into hi-res vinyl archiving

✕What we didn’t

  • No Bluetooth or wireless streaming support
  • Software recording process can feel dated on newer OS versions
  • Non-upgradeable cartridge limits future sound tweaking
  • Manual belt-drive setup requires careful initial calibration
  • Relatively bulky footprint compared to modern minimalist decks
❝

What owners say

Marcus T.02 Nov 2023 ★★★☆☆

Perfect for archiving my vinyl

Digitizing my old records in DSD has never been easier. The software is straightforward and the sound quality captured is impressive for a turntable in this price range.

Elena R.15 Jan 2024 ★★★★☆

Great sound, dated software

The turntable itself sounds fantastic and feels sturdy. My only gripe is the recording software feels a bit clunky on Windows 11, but it still works fine.

David K.20 Aug 2023 ★★★★☆

Solid entry into hi-res vinyl

Setup took a bit of patience with the counterweight, but once dialed in, the audio quality both live and recorded is excellent. Worth it for the USB feature alone.

Priya S.10 Mar 2024 ★★★☆☆

Exceeded my expectations

I was skeptical about built-in phono stages, but this one sounds clean and balanced. Recording my vinyl collection to FLAC has been a joy.

⇄

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