Lenco LBT-188 Turntable Review

The Lenco LBT-188 Turntable is a manual belt-drive record player with Bluetooth transmission, USB computer recording and switchable RCA output. It suits beginners who want a proper starter deck with adjustable setup rather than a simple suitcase-style player.

This review refers to the LBT-188WA walnut or dark-brown version where the finish matters, while the core platform sits within the wider LBT-188 family. Its strongest appeal is flexibility: it can work with powered speakers, an amplifier, Bluetooth speakers or headphones, and a computer for occasional vinyl digitisation.

It is not the easiest possible first turntable, because the tonearm and anti-skating need setting correctly. Buyers who are happy to learn those basics will get a more adaptable entry-level deck than many fixed, fully automatic alternatives.

The LBT-188WA has a slim, living-room-friendly look with a walnut-style dark wood finish. It uses an aluminium or metal platter, a metal tonearm, a counterweight and a removable plastic dust cover.

The construction is closer to a conventional hi-fi starter turntable than an all-in-one record player. The adjustable counterweight, anti-skating system and replaceable half-inch-mount cartridge give it more scope for correct setup and later servicing.

There are still clear entry-level compromises. The hanging anti-skating weight can be fiddly, and the deck should be placed on a stable, low-resonance surface away from knocks, footfall and speaker vibration.

Controls are manual rather than automated. The user starts the platter, cues the arm and returns it after playback, so the design rewards care more than convenience.

Bluetooth transmission is the headline convenience feature. It lets the turntable send audio to compatible Bluetooth speakers, headphones or receivers, but it does not receive Bluetooth audio from a phone or tablet.

The switchable RCA output is arguably the most useful feature for long-term system building. Set it to LINE for powered speakers or a normal amplifier input, or to PHONO if using an amplifier phono input or an external phono stage.

USB-B computer output allows records to be captured using recording software such as Audacity. This is useful for occasional archiving or sampling, though it should not be confused with a one-button USB-stick recorder or a specialist digitising setup.

Lenco supplies an Audio-Technica AT3600/AT-3600L moving-magnet cartridge, along with setup items including the counterweight, anti-skating weight, dust cover, RCA cable, USB cable and 45 rpm adaptor. The cartridge has a replaceable stylus and can be changed if the user is comfortable with alignment and tracking-force adjustment.

Initial setup is more involved than on fully automatic plug-and-play models. The user needs to fit the platter and belt, install the counterweight, balance the tonearm, set tracking force, attach the hanging anti-skating weight and choose the correct output mode.

The rear phono/line switch must match the system. Use LINE for powered speakers or standard aux inputs, and PHONO only for a phono input or external phono pre-amplifier.

Daily operation is simple but hands-on. Select the speed, start the platter, cue the tonearm, lower it onto the record, then return the arm manually when the side finishes.

As a belt-drive manual turntable, the LBT-188 plays 33 1/3 and 45 rpm records and supports 7-inch, 10-inch and 12-inch sizes. Official figures list speed variance at ±1%, wow and flutter at no more than 0.15%, and signal-to-noise ratio at 55 dB.

Day-to-day use is straightforward once set up, but there is no auto-stop or automatic arm return. That means the listener must lift the tonearm and stop the platter at the end of a side.

Connectivity is a major strength for the class. RCA is the best route for a more dependable hi-fi connection, Bluetooth is useful for casual wireless listening, and USB gives a simple path into a computer.

Bluetooth range is stated at up to 10 metres and the version is listed as Bluetooth 4.2. No higher-quality Bluetooth codec support is confirmed in the supplied facts, so wireless playback should be treated as convenient rather than the main route to best fidelity.

The LBT-188 should be expected to deliver competent entry-level hi-fi sound when correctly adjusted and connected by RCA to suitable powered speakers or an amplifier. Its moving-magnet cartridge, adjustable tracking force and anti-skating give it a more record-friendly foundation than cheap fixed ceramic-cartridge players.

The supplied AT3600/AT-3600L cartridge is widely used at this level, but it remains an entry-level component. Based on the available evidence, the deck is better judged as warm, clean and satisfying for casual or beginner use than as a highly detailed audiophile source.

Wired RCA output is the sensible choice for the best sound from this turntable. Bluetooth adds compression and pairing variables, while USB recording quality will also depend on the internal conversion stage and the software settings used on the computer.

Placement will matter. A rigid, stable support should reduce the risk of skipping, acoustic feedback or vibration-related problems, especially because the deck has been noted as sensitive to knocks.