Kanto OBI3 Turntable with Phono Preamp at Vinyl Sound Toronto Canada

The Kanto OBI3 is a belt-drive turntable from Kanto Audio (Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada), available at Vinyl Sound in Toronto, Canada. Kanto's first-ever turntable, the OBI3 brings vinyl playback and modern wireless streaming together in a single, beginner-friendly package. A pre-installed Audio-Technica AT3600L cartridge, a weighted aluminum platter, and an aluminum J-shaped tonearm sit in an anti-resonance engineered wood plinth, while a built-in switchable phono preamp and Bluetooth 5.3 provide the flexibility to connect to virtually any speaker system, wired or wireless. A pitch control knob offering plus or minus 10 percent speed adjustment is included, a feature rarely found at this price level. At 8.6 pounds, the OBI3 is meaningfully heavier than competitors such as the Audio-Technica AT-LP60X, providing better vibration isolation from its additional mass. The OBI3 ships complete with a clear dustcover, felt slip mat, and 45 RPM adapter, ready to play straight out of the box. Available in Matte Black, Matte White, and Matte Green, designed in Canada.

Audio-Technica AT3600L Cartridge: Pre-Installed and Factory Calibrated

The Audio-Technica AT3600L is one of the most widely recognized and consistently praised entry-level moving-magnet cartridges, known for its smooth frequency response, reliable groove tracking, and warm, balanced tonal character. Kanto ships the OBI3 with the AT3600L pre-installed and factory calibrated, meaning the cartridge is correctly aligned and the tracking force is set before the turntable leaves the factory. For new vinyl listeners who may not be familiar with cartridge setup, this eliminates the most technically demanding aspect of a turntable purchase and allows the OBI3 to produce accurate, undamaged playback from the first record. The AT3600L's output connects through the OBI3's internal circuitry to either the built-in phono preamplifier for RCA output or to the Bluetooth transmitter for wireless streaming, with the listener switching between the two modes as their setup requires.

Bluetooth 5.3 and Switchable Phono Preamp: Two Connection Paths

The OBI3 provides two fundamentally different connection routes to a speaker system. The RCA output, with its switchable built-in phono preamp, allows connection to any powered speaker with an RCA line input, any integrated amplifier or receiver regardless of whether it includes a dedicated phono input, or any external phono preamplifier for users who prefer to use their own. With the phono preamp switched on, the OBI3 outputs a standard line-level signal compatible with any RCA input, including the RCA inputs of Kanto's YU4, YU6, TUK, REN, and ORA speakers. With the phono preamp switched off, the OBI3 outputs a raw phono-level signal for connection to an amplifier or receiver that includes its own dedicated MM phono stage. Bluetooth 5.3 provides a wireless alternative, streaming the vinyl signal to any Bluetooth-capable speaker, powered speaker pair, or headphone. Bluetooth 5.3's improved interference avoidance over earlier Bluetooth versions helps maintain a stable connection around the 2.4GHz interference typical of home Wi-Fi environments.

Key Features

• Belt-Drive Motor: Belt-drive isolates the platter from the motor's vibration, preventing motor noise from being transmitted through the stylus and into the audio signal, providing quieter and more tonally accurate playback than direct-drive designs at this price level.
• Pre-Installed Audio-Technica AT3600L Cartridge: Factory-calibrated moving-magnet cartridge delivering smooth, balanced, and detailed audio from first use, without any cartridge alignment or setup required by the listener.
• Weighted Aluminum Platter: Polished aluminum platter with added mass for improved rotational stability and reduced speed variation (wow and flutter) compared to lightweight plastic platters.
• Aluminum J-Shaped Tonearm: Lightweight, rigid aluminum J-shaped tonearm with manual cue lever for precise, damage-free record cueing.
• Built-In Switchable Phono Preamp: Integrated moving-magnet phono preamplifier switchable between phono-level output (for amplifiers with dedicated MM phono inputs) and line-level output (for powered speakers and amplifiers with standard RCA inputs only).
• Bluetooth 5.3: Latest-generation Bluetooth with improved connection stability, lower latency, and better interference avoidance compared to earlier Bluetooth versions, enabling wireless streaming to any compatible speaker or headphone.
• Pitch Control with Plus or Minus 10 Percent Range: Intuitive front-panel pitch control knob adjusting playback speed within a plus or minus 10 percent range, a feature rarely included at this price point.
• 33-1/3 and 45 RPM Speed Selection: Two-speed operation covering the full range of standard vinyl record formats, with a 45 RPM adapter included for seven-inch singles.
• Engineered Wood Plinth: Anti-resonance engineered wood plinth providing a rigid, vibration-damping base for the motor, platter, and tonearm assembly.
• Flush-Mounted Hinges: Clean, minimal aesthetic with hinges integrated flush into the dustcover design rather than protruding from the rear of the plinth.
• 8.6-Pound Total Weight: Meaningfully heavier than competing entry-level turntables such as the Audio-Technica AT-LP60X, providing better isolation from external vibration through added mass.
• Complete Out-of-Box Package: Ships with a clear hinged dustcover, felt slip mat, and 45 RPM adapter, requiring no additional purchases to begin playing records.
• Designed in Canada: Kanto Audio is founded and based in Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada.

Technical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Kanto OBI3?

The Kanto OBI3 is a belt-drive turntable designed by Kanto Audio in Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada, and the first turntable in Kanto's product history. It uses a pre-installed and factory-calibrated Audio-Technica AT3600L moving-magnet cartridge, a weighted aluminum platter, and an aluminum J-shaped tonearm in an engineered wood plinth, with a built-in switchable MM phono preamp for RCA wired output and Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless streaming. It plays at 33-1/3 and 45 RPM and includes a plus or minus 10 percent pitch control, a clear dustcover, felt slip mat, and 45 RPM adapter.

How does the Kanto OBI3 compare to the Audio-Technica AT-LP60X?

The Kanto OBI3 and the Audio-Technica AT-LP60X are both entry-level belt-drive turntables with built-in phono preamps targeting new vinyl listeners. The OBI3 steps above the AT-LP60X in several areas: it includes Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless streaming, a pitch control knob with plus or minus 10 percent range, a weighted aluminum platter versus the AT-LP60X's lighter platter, and an aluminum tonearm. The OBI3 also weighs 8.6 pounds compared to the AT-LP60X's 5.7 pounds, meaning the OBI3's additional mass provides better isolation from external vibration and surface-borne noise. Both use the Audio-Technica AT3600L cartridge pre-installed.

Does the Kanto OBI3 need an external phono preamp?

No. The OBI3 includes a built-in switchable phono preamplifier. When the phono preamp switch is set to the on position, the OBI3 outputs a standard line-level RCA signal that connects directly to the RCA input of any powered speaker, integrated amplifier, or receiver without a dedicated phono input. Kanto's own YU4, YU6, TUK, REN, ORA, and UKI speakers all accept this signal directly on their RCA inputs. When the phono preamp switch is set to the off position, the OBI3 outputs a raw phono-level signal for connection to an amplifier or receiver with a dedicated MM phono stage.

Can the Kanto OBI3 stream vinyl wirelessly to Bluetooth speakers?

Yes. The OBI3's Bluetooth 5.3 transmitter sends the vinyl signal wirelessly to any Bluetooth-capable speaker system, powered speaker pair, or Bluetooth headphone. This includes Kanto's own TUK and REN powered speakers, which include Bluetooth receivers. Bluetooth 5.3's improved interference avoidance compared to earlier Bluetooth versions helps maintain a stable connection in home environments where Wi-Fi routers and other 2.4GHz devices are present.

What does the pitch control on the OBI3 do?

The pitch control knob on the OBI3 adjusts the platter rotation speed within a range of plus or minus 10 percent of the standard 33-1/3 or 45 RPM playback speed. Slowing the speed down makes a record play at a lower pitch and slower tempo, allowing listeners to follow complex bass lines or intricate rhythms more easily. Speeding it up raises the pitch and tempo. Pitch control at this price range is uncommon, and Turntable Lab specifically cited it as a notable advantage of the OBI3 over competing entry-level turntables.

Where can I buy the Kanto OBI3 in Toronto or Canada?

Vinyl Sound in Toronto, Ontario carries the Kanto OBI3 turntable. Vinyl Sound Canada is an authorised Kanto dealer and offers full support for the OBI3 across its available finishes. Contact Vinyl Sound Toronto to confirm current availability in Matte Black, Matte White, and Matte Green, and to discuss pairing the OBI3 with any Kanto powered speaker for a complete vinyl system.

What comes in the box with the Kanto OBI3?

The Kanto OBI3 ships with everything needed to begin playing records immediately: a clear hinged dustcover, a felt slip mat, and a 45 RPM adapter for playing seven-inch singles. The Audio-Technica AT3600L cartridge is pre-installed on the tonearm and factory calibrated, so no stylus installation, cartridge alignment, or tracking force adjustment is required before first use.

Can the OBI3 be paired with Kanto's powered speakers?

Yes, and it is designed with this pairing specifically in mind. For powered speakers with a dedicated phono input such as the Kanto TUK, the OBI3 can be connected with its phono preamp switched off, using the TUK's built-in phono stage. For powered speakers with standard RCA line inputs such as the Kanto YU4, YU6, REN, ORA, or UKI, the OBI3's built-in phono preamp should be switched on, outputting a line-level signal that those speakers accept directly. Alternatively, any Kanto powered speaker with Bluetooth can receive the OBI3's signal wirelessly via Bluetooth 5.3 without any cables.