Audio-Technica AT-LP2022 60th Anniversary Limited Edition – The Art of Analog

With the new Audio-Technica AT-LP2022 60th Anniversary Limited Edition, Audio-Technica Ltd. wants to bring a very outstanding turntable to the market at the beginning of the coming year, but only in a strictly limited edition, as the name already suggests. The new Audio-Technica AT-LP2022 60th Anniversary Limited Edition is thus an Anniversary Edition entirely in the spirit of the 60th birthday that Audio-Technica Ltd. can celebrate this year. The turntable presents itself in the quite unusual design for Audio-Technica Ltd. with transparent platter and transparent chassis.

On the 60th birthday of Audio-Technica Ltd.

60 years ago, Hideo Matsushita founded Audio-Technica Ltd. in a small apartment in Shinjuku in the Japanese metropolis of Tokyo. Hideo Matsushita’s intention was to develop affordable audio systems for as many people as possible in order to bring them closer to the enjoyment of high-quality music.

This is exactly what the Audio-Technica AT-LP2022 60th Anniversary Limited Edition is supposed to stand for.

Audio-Technica AT-LP2022 60th Anniversary Limited Edition – Modern Aesthetics

The manufacturer speaks of the new Audio-Technica AT-LP2022 60th Anniversary Limited Edition as a record player that presents itself in the most modern aesthetics, whereby the special design can certainly be seen as a metaphor.

Thus Audio-Technica Ltd. speaks of absolute transparency in the sound, accordingly the turntable also presents completely transparent, both at the turntable, as well as the chassis, yes even the pickup system features here a transparent housing.

Designed as a manual turntable with belt drive, the Audio-Technica AT-LP2022 60th Anniversary Limited Edition demonstrates the purity of analog sound.

Thus, the chassis is made of transparent acrylic with a thickness of 30 mm, a material that is used very often anyway due to its special properties in terms of damping, but at Audio-Technica Ltd. especially for this special model.

The platter is also made of transparent acrylic, although it is comparatively flat with a thickness of 16 mm and is driven by an externally running flat belt specially made for this platter.

The DC servo motor with Active Speed Stabilzation is integrated directly into the chassis and allows a speed selection between 33 1/3 and 45 revolutions with the help of a rotary switch, which was also recessed into the chassis on the left in front of the platter. Interesting detail: of course, the transparent chassis gives a direct view of the circuit board.

The turntable rests on solid metal, damped and height-adjustable feet, whose anchoring in the chassis is also visible in detail.

The so-called Static Balanced Straight Carbon tonearm is – nomen es omen – made of carbon fiber and has an effective tonearm length of 223.6 mm with a transition of 18.6 mm. It rests in a metal tonearm base, which holds all the relevant options for adjustments for different cartridge systems and an always optimal setting ready. The tonearm features a particularly lightweight headshell, the Audio-Technica AT-HS4SV.

Transparent pickup system – Audio-Technica AT-VMN95SH CL

We already mentioned it briefly, the pickup system that comes with the Audio-Technica AT-LP2022 60th Anniversary Limited Edition is also made with a transparent body, it is an Audio-Technica AT-VMN95SH CL with a Shibata cut needle. Also the Audio-Technica AT-VMN95SH CL with Clear Body is manufactured alone in the limited number of pieces and is offered alone with the record player. In this respect, it is quite relevant that the manufacturer states that all options of the Audio-Technica VM95 Series Replacement Stylus are available for this.

It should also be mentioned that the Audio-Technica AT-LP2022 60th Anniversary Limited Edition has dimensions of 420 x 430 x 135 mm and thus weighs 8 kg. Of course, the drive comes with matching dust cover, a power supply, a phono cable and gloves.

“It is an honor to provide a quality audio experience to millions of people throughout the world. What begins as a simple vibration – a subtle movement – results in an emotional connection, whether that be when listening deeply to an album or sharing your voice with the world.”

Kazuo Matsushita, President of Audio-Technica Ltd.

Price and Availability

Audio-Technica Ltd. states that the Audio-Technica AT-LP2022 60th Anniversary Limited Edition is expected to ship in early January 2023, but can be pre-ordered now. So far, however, it can only be found on the company’s US site, where the price is listed as US$ 1.699,-.

Getting to the point

With the new Audio-Technica AT-LP2022 60th Anniversary Limited Edition, Audio-Technica Ltd. wants to be able to present a worthy turntable on the occasion of the Japanese company’s 60th birthday. This turntable, in which not only the chassis and platter, but even the housing of the cartridge system have been made transparent and thus, not least with the tonearm in carbon, gives a very elegant, modern impression, is supposed to stand for everything that has distinguished solutions from the house of Audio-Technica Ltd. since year and day.