Vinyl record fans with a love for the PC no longer have to rely on manufacturer Ion for USB turntables (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/05/02/review_ion_usb_turntable/), because Sony has stepped up to the mic and spun out a USB model of its own.

The PS-LX300USB isn’t particularly stylish, but then how many turntables are? Nonetheless, an up-and-coming Fat Boy Slim can scratch to their heart’s desire at 33-1/3 and 45rpm speeds.

A USB port’s built-into the turntable and Sony’s throwing-in its own Sound Forge Audio Studio software for editing your mixes on a PC, before exporting them to an MP3 player.

Clubs are loud places, but Sony clearly doesn’t want the Noise Police on its back and so has built-in a belt drive system to reduce, it claimed, the turntable’s motor noise. It provides added rotational stability, it added.

A static balance arm features a bonded diamond stylus that, Sony claimed, reduces the amount of wear and tear caused to your vinyl. It comes with a dust cover, but no felt-pad for dusting your LPs to prevent the inevitable pops and clicks of the analogue era.

Sony’s due to go old school with the PS-LX300USB turntable in the US (http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665361524) next month for $150 (£75/€100). It hasn’t laid down a UK release date yet.

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