That cartridge alone typically retails for around 20, or one-quarter of this entire turntable’s price.
However, it does sound a lot better as a result, as ourPro-Ject E1 reviewwill attest.
It has three playing speeds, and while it’s not fully automatic, it does have auto-stop.
The integrated speakers are very small and fire upwards, so don’t expect room-filling audio or earth-shaking bass.
There’s no aptX or anything else higher-res, though.
It also has an aux-out if you prefer thebest wired headphonesto wireless ones.
Do that and the sound starts to get harsh, the middle frequencies taking over as the speakers struggle.
In addition to playing records you can rip them to computer or play from USB.
It’s not apparent on faster, choppier songs, and vocal vibrato tends to hide it for singing.
But it’s audible on very clear, sustained tones such as Edge’s trademark infinite guitar.
This isn’t an audiophile product.
You don’t have to use the integrated speakers: there are phono outs to connect an amp or powered speakers.
Is it up there with turntables that cost four times the price or more?
But with decent speakers it doesn’t sound like it cost 80 either.
On top of the dampened sprung platter there’s a slipmat to keep your records in place.
Unusually for a turntable this affordable, you get a pretty decent Audio-Technica cartridge.
And the platter is smaller than usual too, at 20cm/8 inches.
There are some issues, however.
So for a user-friendly beginner turntable, it’s possible for you to’t get much better than that.
The tonearm is very thin and doesn’t have tracking force adjustment or anti-skid.
Other connection options are easily accessed along the edges, so no usability struggles there.
Frankly, it doesn’t get any easier for your first turntable than this.
It’s less than half of the price we’d typically expect to pay for a decent budget turntable.
The Moto 2.0 is really plug and play: select the source and turn the Moto on via the volume dial.
Or scour the second-hand market for a bargain.
Value score: 4 / 5
Should you buy the Majority Moto 2.0?
Buy it if…
You have no equipmentNo hi-fi kit?
This is a one-box solution that not only plays records but streams from your phone too.
You’re clumsyBuild quality is one area where the low cost is really apparent.
This turntable wasn’t built tough.
It’s fully automatic, delivers an impressive performance and doesn’t cut any corners it shouldn’t.
Here’s our fullAudio-Technica AT-LP60XBT review.
I also streamedAppleMusic from my iPhone to test its streaming prowess.
