Audio-Technica Sound Burger (AT-SB727) review

It’s hard not to think of Audio-Technica’s Sound Burger as anything but a novelty. Originally released in 1983 just as CD took off, the record player’s ultra-compact, portable concept flew in the face of conventional turntable design. Besides, its timing couldn’t have been worse.

As the brand released a limited edition version (called AT-SB2022) in 2022 to celebrate its 60th anniversary, however, it discovered it’s now in a landscape where vinyl is wildly popular again. Such was the demand for this revived Burger that a full-production release and permanent fixture in its line-up was deemed necessary.

The current Audio-Technica Sound Burger (AT-SB727) on review here still feels like a bit of a novelty at first glance, but, just as we discovered when What Hi-Fi? reviewed the original model back in June 1983, it is “full of surprises” once we start using it.

Build & design

The Sound Burger, or “wireless stereo disc player system” as it says on the lid, is a portable Bluetooth turntable. But it is also so much more. Yes, it’s a belt-drive deck with electronic speed change (33 1/3 and 45 RPM) and features a built-in phono stage.

The current model features a Bluetooth output instead of the fixed set of wired in-ear headphones that were attached to the original – in a way, this isn’t too far off the current crop of Bluetooth turntables that are flooding the market.

What makes the Sound Burger unique is its design and charmingly fuss-free use. The record player is stripped down to as compact and elemental as it can be: there’s no large plinth, but a small 9cm platter that gives just enough surface for a record to sit on. The slim, compact body is fairly light but never feels cheap or flimsy; the hinged lid is well-made, and the latch that holds it in place (and releases it) feels secure.

The tonearm is pre-set to the installed cartridge – all this means is that you never have to know what a tracking weight is, nor do you have to fuss about with any initial setting up, as everything is set up for you to use straight out of the box. The included ATN3600LC moving magnet cartridge isn’t upgradable but it is replaceable for very little money.

The controls are simple, too. There are buttons for power and speed switching between 33 1/3 and 45 RPM. Simply extend the tonearm out past the edge of the deck until you hear a click, put a record on, and the motor starts spinning as you move the arm towards the groove.

It’s a well-thought-out, solidly made design. The tonearm mechanism and bearing are of decent quality and smooth in use, and we like how the arm cleverly rests in the rubber 45 RPM adapter when not in use. The die-cast aluminium platter looks classy, too.

The Sound Burger is small and light enough to carry in a tote bag. A transport screw at the back holds the tonearm securely in place when you need to move or carry it from one place to another – another clever touch.

There is also a strap at the rear for carrying it, but it’s worth remembering you can’t actually play a record when on the move like it’s a Walkman or Discman. Audio-Technica does emphasise the need to keep the turntable on a flat surface when playing a record.

It’s all put together very well. We’ve had this Sound Burger model with us for nearly a year now and we are still impressed with just how clever the concept is in use. Most of all, it feels so unlike using any other turntable we’ve come across, and we mean that in a good way. It’s novel, yes, but it’s also fun and accessible.

We think it’s a good entry point for vinyl novices who might otherwise be daunted or put off by a more conventional model, but it’s also a fun departure even for seasoned vinyl enthusiasts like ourselves.

We’ve come across plenty of ‘retro-styled’ turntables that are poorly made and poorly executed; the Sound Burger is easily a class above those trendy all-in-one players, especially at its affordable £199 / $199 price point.

Of course, the very nature of this unusual design means that there are some drawbacks. The small platter size means the whole record isn’t supported and that compromises overall stability, but it does the job well enough for this concept. We’d also take care when moving the tonearm as there is no arm rest or lift mechanism, and make sure that nothing snags the stylus when it is freely moving.

Features

“I have to charge my turntable.” This is a sentence we never thought we’d have to utter. But this Audio-Technica Sound Burger sports a 12-hour battery, which means we do have to remember to plug it into the mains to top it up every now and then.

The battery never drains too quickly and we get ample playtime out of the record player; a flashing red LED will alert you if the battery is getting low.

A USB-C to USB-A charging cable is included, so you simply have to connect one end to the rear of the player and plug the other into a mains adapter (not included in the box), just as you would with a modern portable wireless speaker or smartphone. You can also leave it attached to the mains at all times.

Along with USB-C, another way the Burger has been modernised is the inclusion of Bluetooth. It’s the standard SBC codec quality you get here, but pairing is swift and uncomplicated: hold down the pairing button on the side and we had it connected to a pair of Ruark Audio MR1 Mk2 powered desktop speakers in no time.

We also connected the Sound Burger to a JBL Flip 7 portable Bluetooth speaker, a Roberts Revival Petite 2 DAB radio, and a pair of Sony wireless headphones.

All of that goes to show just how uncluttered (and unconventional) your vinyl system could be with the Burger. No extra boxes, no wires – just the slim turntable and a compact speaker. We can see the appeal.

If you don’t want to go the Bluetooth route, you can also use a wired connection. There is a 3.5mm aux output on the Sound Burger and a handy 3.5mm to RCA audio cable is included in the box, so it can be plugged into a variety of compatible speakers or amplifiers.

The resulting sound does depend on the calibre of the speakers (or headphones) being used as well. We would recommend the wired route as much as possible, as the jump up in sound quality when using a wired connection to the Ruark MR1 Mk2 speakers is a noticeable step up over Bluetooth.

Would we take this portable Bluetooth turntable out to the garden or a park, connect it to a Bluetooth speaker and hit play? Not quite, if only because lugging around a box of vinyl records is more cumbersome than the Sound Burger itself.

But the player’s portable (or rather, transportable) nature makes most sense if you don’t have the space to have a permanent, conventional vinyl system in your home, so being able to pack it up and tuck it away in a cabinet or corner when not in play has plenty of appeal. We’ve had the Sound Burger stored in our vinyl cabinet when not in use, easily bringing it out for occasional use.

It also means you can move it from room to room, or even take it to a friend’s house to spin some new records they’ve bought but haven’t invested in a turntable yet, as many tend to these days. Transporting it from our home to our test rooms (and back again) has been no bother at all either.

Sound

The most surprising thing about the Audio-Technica Sound Burger? It sounds good, too.

We’re not comparing its sound quality to a conventional turntable here, but even by budget Bluetooth-enabled models, the Burger is a pretty fun listen.

We’ll be straight with you: there isn’t much extension at the top end, nor are there lashings of deep bass. The sound is rather mid-forward, but it’s still nicely balanced enough that it’s no hardship to listen to.

Play a blues record by Son House and his gruff, highly emotional vocals are delivered with fluidity and focus. There’s decent body and solidity to plucked guitar strings and to the Burger’s sound overall that makes it easy and appealing to listen to.

While there may not be heaps of refinement or subtle detail, what the turntable does is communicate the basic elements of a song. It gets the core message of a song and the tone of an instrument right – and does so in a rather confident, friendly manner that makes for an undemanding but likeable performance.

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The Sound Burger has a lively way about it too, meaning it never sounds dull or lifeless. There’s enough tension and moodiness in Portishead’s Glory Box that it holds our attention, while every character’s personality and tone on the Buffy The Vampire Slayer musical soundtrack comes through nicely.

We can forgo a fair amount of refinement and transparency for a sound that’s just enjoyable to listen to as a whole. After all, we’ve heard various ‘trendy’ budget turntables of this type that can be thin or flat sounding, have sluggish rhythm or simply don’t sound enjoyable to listen to at all.

That’s not the case with the Sound Burger. We do wish it were a bit more expressive with dynamics and that details were clearer, but this turntable flows along at a nice pace.

It certainly sounds better when going wired rather than listening over Bluetooth, with more solidity, detail and clarity added to the sound. For fun, we plug the Sound Burger into our test room’s reference system of Naim Nait XS 3 amplifier and Epos ES7N speakers – it doesn’t struggle as much as you’d think, with its lively, musically cohesive presentation remaining as intact as it does through the Ruark speakers.

Verdict

Expectations can spoil a review experience sometimes, but we have a great time with the Audio-Technica Sound Burger. It’s a novel way to experience a turntable and is a genuinely well-executed idea and concept that offers something completely different from the variety of record players available today.

While ultimate sound quality is obviously a high priority, hi-fi and audio products should be fun and innovative and bring us joy – so it’s to Audio-Technica’s credit that this unique design from the 1980s can still find a place in today’s market.

This may not end up being your main vinyl source, but for occasional use, it’s perfectly charming.

First reviewed: April 2025

SCORES

• Sound 4
• Build 5
• Features 5

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