Sony PS-HX500

Sony's hi-res ripping deck: records vinyl to DSD and high-resolution PCM over USB, with a decent manual belt-drive platform underneath.

One of very few turntables that rips vinyl to DSD.

Who it suits

Best suited to: a first serious turntable for an existing or planned amp-and-speakers setup. Less ideal for: plugging straight into passive speakers with no amp — check the built-in phono stage row above, and note most hi-fi decks still need external amplification; anyone who wants a manufacturer warranty — this model is no longer sold new.

Compatibility and setup

• The cartridge is fixed to the headshell rather than user-swappable — the stylus itself is usually still a separate, replaceable part, but you can’t fit a different cartridge model later.
• Manual operation: you cue and lift the tonearm by hand at the start and end of each side — there’s no auto-return or auto-lift.

Good to know

• Has a built-in phono stage, so it can feed a normal line input on an amplifier or powered speakers without a separate phono box.
• Has a USB output for recording vinyl to a computer.
• This is a used-market purchase. Ask about condition, originality and service history — for this drive type, check the drive belt (often perished or stretched with age) and bearing, plus the stylus regardless.

Specifications

Where to buy the Sony PS-HX500

2 UK merchants handle used or discontinued decks like this — each outbound link searches the deck on that merchant’s site.

Compare it

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