Pick your best: Audio-Technica AT-LP5 vs Audio-Technica AT-LP3

The comparison of Audio-Technica AT-LP3 vs Audio-Technica AT-LP5 should rely on personal experience. From your own point of view, you compare one feature of the product versus another significant aspect. I wish my thoughts have helped you.
The performance of two units from the same company may be similar or may diversify in lots of aspects. Let’s compare the output level of Audio-Technica AT-LP5 vs AT-LP3. AT-LP has Pre-amp “PHONO”: 3.5 mV nominal at 1 kHz, 5 cm/sec. Pre-amp “LINE”: 150 mV nominal at 1 kHz, 5 cm/sec. AT-LP3 has 3.5 mV nominal at 1 kHz, 5 cm/sec.
If we talk about the cartridge type both turntables are equal. They both have a moving magnet (MM). The same goes for playback speeds. Each flagship has 33.3, 45 RPM.
Design & build quality
Audio-Technica has extensive experience in the manufacture of this class of equipment, which is fully reflected in the AT-LP5 player. The device is equipped with an infrequently used direct disk drive, which has a number of advantages.
The AT-LP5 player has two plate speeds with electronic switching and uses an aluminum support disc with a thin damping mat. The latter effectively dampens all spurious vibrations that can degrade the sound quality, and at the same time looks very organically on the player, without violating the integrity of its design.
Regarding AT-LP3, yes, its body is made of plastic. However, the player does not look cheap; everything is done very carefully, in a strict classic design. Audio-Technica does not neglect trifles even in such an inexpensive design, and here we see, for example, a very convenient lid mount - simple, intuitive and very reliable. The tonearm has a removable shell of a standard design; fixing the head does not present any problem.
The tonearm is direct, the clamping force is set by rotating the counterweight, for which a scale rotating on the counterweight is used - the design is simple. Anti-skating is set by the twist in the base of the tonearm. The instruction recommends setting a value equal to downforce.
Audio-Technica AT-LP5
- Direct drive disc.
- High Rotational speeds.
- Audio-Technica Type MM Pickup - AT95, in the exclusive version of Ex.
- Inconvenient location of the power button.
- The small distance between the RCA connectors can interfere with the use of thick wires with massive connectors.
Audio-Technica AT-LP3
- Fully automatic.
- Two electronically controlled disc speeds.
- Built-in switchable MM phono stage.
- There are no manual speed correction tools.
- In fact, of all the upgrades, the owner can change only the head and disable the built-in phono stage.