Don’t let the term beginner fool you. The Audio-Technica Fully Automatic Turntable is rich in features and delivers a wealth of sound at a price that will leave you enough money to pick up some great vinyl to play as well. Whether this is your first turntable or you are a vinyl collector looking for the best bang for your buck, Audio-Technica AT-LP60-BT Fully Automatic Turntable will exceed expectations.

Why a Turntable?

In my lifetime I have gone from listening to my music on a record player (as they were called then) to an 8-Track Cassette tape to a tape player boombox to a CD Stereo system then on to an mp3 with Bluetooth connectivity. Soundwise, nothing ever beat the record player. For convenience, nothing can beat Bluetooth technology. Audio-Technica AT-LP60BK-BT Fully Automatic Turntable combines both of those.

With vinyl, you feel the music as well as hear it. Try playing David Bowie’s The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars on mp3. Then play the vinyl record. You would be surprised at the missing sounds in the mp3. I’m not talking the crackle you will hear on old vinyl. I referring to actual music the composer wrote into the piece that mp3’s and CD’s missed or cut out thinking it to be noise reduction. A lot of times it actually became music reduction.

 

Design

The AT-LP60-BT has a sleek design and comes in three colors black, navy blue, and white. The base is thin with rounded corners and sits on four legs. It comes with an elegant looking black placemat that is adorned with a large Audia-Technica logo printed in white. If you want to use a different that is fine. You can find placemats several places some designed with the logos of your favorite artists or albums. The AT-LP60-BT has a removable hinged dust cover that keeps dust off of your vinyl while you are plying them. The front has a few buttons for you to operate your fully automatic Audio-Technica AT-LP60-BT.

 

Features

The Audio-Technica AT-LP60-BT Fully Automatic Turntable is a belt-driven turntable with an anti-resonance, die-cast aluminum platter. It is fully automatic and comes in two speeds 33-⅓ & 45 rpm settings. It comes with an adapter for your 45 rpm singles. The AT-LP60-BT comes with Bluetooth wireless technology to connect wirelessly with your devices. It also has a switchable built-in pre-amplifier for wired connectivity to connect to devices with or without a dedicated input line for a turntable. The stylus itself can be changed and replaced by the user without any special skills.

 

Cons

The Audio-Technica AT-LP60-BT’s phono cartridge is built-in and can not be upgraded. There isn’t a counterweight on the tonearm either. Also, the Bluetooth can be bothersome to get connected at times but is easy to operate once connected. If you this is your first turntable those cons should not be an issue, for an audiophile maybe. Bottom line the Audio-Technica AT-LP60-BT Fully Automatic Turntable is the best introduction for anyone looking to enjoy vinyl or for anyone looking for a great value.

 

The Sony WH-1000xM3 and Bose QuietComfort 35 II are the currently among the top noise-cancelling headphones in the market. They both offer great quality and performance at a relatively low price. These are great options for any one looking for headphones that would isolate them from the surrounding environment. However, you can get into a dilemma choosing between the two headphones. Here are features to help you choose the right headphone for you between the two giants in the market.

Design

Bose QuietComfort 35 II is an upgrade from the original QC35. It has the same aesthetics as its original version. However, they boast a sturdier build having been built from nylon filled with glass. It also provides a pleasant comfort to not tire wearing them. The comfort is made possible by the leather-padded outer headband together with soft earpads. The Bose logo reflects the beauty of the already beautiful headphones.

While both headphones are available in various colors, Bose QuietComfort 35 II offers bolder options including Midnight Blue, Silver, Black, and Triple Midnight. With an extra buck, you can customize your Bose headphone. The Sony WH-1000xM3 is only available in Black and Silver. When it comes to design, Bose QC35 II seems to have it all together.

Controls

Sony WH-1000xM3 proves a worthy competitor to Bose QC35 II because of the ingenuity that is associated with it. You can swipe gestures seamlessly, thanks to its highly responsive touch panel. Commands are also performed seamlessly. With a tap on the sensor, you can easily control playback and calls, swipe up/down to increase or reduce volume and navigate your tracks using the left/right control. It has two buttons below the touch panel for listening modes as well as power.

QC35 II is not as ultramodern when it comes to controls. It boasts a series’ signature control scheme on the right side of the headphone. The power/pairing switch on the ear cup is designed with a strong recoil whenever pressed. You will find the volume controls as well as play/pause buttons on the right rear. The action button on the ear cup enables noise-cancelling modes. It is designed with a button layout that offers easy functionality but Sony boasts better touch controls. When it comes to controls, Sony WH-1000Xm3 wins.

Setup

It is pretty simple to connect either headphone to a device through either downloading the accompanying app, Bluetooth or using NFC. You can enhance listening by connecting through the app. Additionally, it is easier to connect through the app. QC35 II pairs faster and the process is more reliable.

Other features

Both headphones utilize advanced noise-cancellation technology but QC35 II’s is more sophisticated. QC35 II is more efficient in keeping ambient noise at bay and bring in amazing sound quality. When it comes to audio performance, Sony WH-1000Xm3 is the victor with its sharper clarity in wired mode. BQC35 II is also outstanding when it comes to other features including digital assistant support, connectivity, and call quality. On the other hand, WH-1000xM3 poses other superior features including better battery life, sound quality, applications and value. If you would make me the judge here, Bose QuietComfort 35 II would emerge the better option.

Unless you have been living under a rock these past few years, then you are probably familiar with Netflix’ sleeper hit that chronicles the origins of the drug trade and the series of wars that it spurred on. While the earlier seasons focused on the story of Pablo Escobar and the Medellin cartel before switching focus to the Gentlemen of Cali. Packaged as a spinoff show, Narcos: Mexico is a thrilling take on the drug war and how it all started.

The storyline, this time around, sheds light on the origin of Mexico’s first drug cartel. Paying particular focus on the characters of DEA Agent Kiki Camarena and drug lord Felix Gallardo, played by Michael Pena and Diego Luna, respectively.

The new Netflix show opens with the narrator saying: “I can’t tell you how the drug war ends, I can’t even tell you if it ends.”

This certainly speaks volumes with regards to the potential of this show, as long as Netflix keeps hitting the mark. Luckily, it seems the streaming giant has once again delivered on the goods. From the opening scene of Narcos: Mexico, one can get a menacing sense of foreshadowing. From start to finish, the show gives its viewers a wild and unpredictable ride to the underbelly of the drug trade.