Whether you’re a vinyl veteran or just starting out, we’ve got a list of the best turntable for you.
Vinyl isn’t just a fad for hipster kids. The record resurgence is here to stay and as a result, audio companies are releasing new turntables at various price ranges to fit any music-lover’s budget. WIth so many new turntables being released on the market, which one is best for you?
This turntable buying guide will walk you through the intricacies of picking the right deck for your needs and budget. Belt drive? Direct drive? Do I need a phono preamp? We’ll answer all of these questions and will get you listening to your favorite records in no time.
Turntables come in all shapes and sizes with drastically different features. When shopping for a turntable, you’ll want to pay attention to the materials used, motor configuration, and additional features like USB recording.
The most important aspect of choosing a turntable is how well damped it is. This means looking at how manufacturers combat vibrations, whether internal or external, through the use of materials and motor configurations. Typically, belt driven turntables are seen as being quieter and therefore offering higher fidelity but there are direct drive (where motors are connected directly to the platter) that sound phenomenal.
Last but not least, you’ll have to think about your personal needs. If you’re starting out, you probably don’t want to be messing with a complicated turntable with adjustable vertical tracking angle, anti-skate and azimuth. Do you want to digitize your record collection? If so, look for a turntable with a USB output and good software to get the job done.
Here are our picks for best turntables:
1. Audio-Technica AT-LP120-USB
2. Audio-Technica AT-LP60
3. Denon DP-300F
4. Fluance RT81
5. Pro-Ject Debut Carbon
6. Rega Planar 1
7. Marantz TT-15S1
8. Clear Audio Concept
9. Sony PS-HX500
The best starter turntable with all the features you’ll ever need
The Audio-Technica AT-LP120-USB is the best beginner turntable for serious vinyl collectors. Out of the box, it comes with the ability to play 33 ⅓,45 and 78 RPM, meaning there won’t be a record you can’t play. There’s also a built-in phono preamp so you won’t have to bother buying another thing
Newbies will appreciate the simple setup and features while more advanced users will love the ability to dial in the vertical tracking angle, tracking force and easily replaceable headshell. Sure, it looks like a Technics SL-1200 knockoff but at a fraction of the price.
The AT-LP120-USB also comes with a USB output that allows you to digitize your records if you want. Overall, this deck strikes the perfect balance of ease of use for beginners while offering more advanced features for you to grow into.
Dummy-proof automatic turntable for beginners on a budget
If you don’t have a lot of money to spend and don’t care about extracting every last bit of detail from your records, the Audio-Technica AT-LP60 is a perfect starting point. It’s small, can play most records and is by far the cheapest turntable we have on this list. It’s also fully automatic, meaning it’ll queue a record and return the arm to resting position without using a manual lever.
The only catch with a turntable this cheap is that it won’t grow with you as your record collection grows. The built-in phono cartridge means you’re stuck with it, though you can replace the needle once its wears down.
While there are cheaper, poorly engineered turntables out there, you risk damaging your records with poorly aligned and poorly weighted tonearms. Records are expensive so we recommend the AT-LP60 for beginners just looking to get started.
A gorgeous, full automatic turntable that doesn’t break the bank
The Denon DP-300F is a gorgeous-looking turntable that sounds as great. The included DSN-85 cartridge isn’t the most revealing but it manages to make your music sound airy and somewhat detailed. Unfortunately, you’ll have to spend a lot more money to extract more detail.
While the DP-300F lacks the USB outputs of some of the turntables in this list, it’s still an excellent beginner turntable for those who don’t want to manually queue their records or have a propensity to fall asleep when listening to music. The Denon’s automatic start/stop means your needle won’t be worn down at the end of the record as the arm automatically returns when a record is done.
Build quality is good for an all-plastic turntable, but its buttons feel cheap – a minor issue but shouldn’t be a deal-breaker for you. If the Audio-Technica AT-LP120-USB doesn’t suit your aesthetics, consider the Denon DP-300F instead.
An alternative to the AT-LP120-USB for those who don’t need USB
The Fluance RT81 is an excellent starter turntable for the enthusiast. It’s simple to set up and use for newbies but you can switch out the cartridge to squeeze out more performance later on. Newbies also won’t have to worry about getting a separate phono preamp, as one is built in. However, you can turn it off if you want to use a better external preamp.
The only downside is that Fluance’s advertised “auto-off” feature simply turns off the platter, preventing excessive needle wear but you’ll still have to return the arm to its resting place yourself. You’ll also have to manually queue records, which isn’t a deal breaker by any means but is something to consider for those looking for a fully automatic turntable. The Denon DP-300F is a great choice for those looking for a fully automated record listening experience.
An excellent entry-level turntable for vinyl enthusiasts
Now we’re at the part of the list where things start to get a bit more serious: The Pro-Ject Debut Carbon is one of the best, if not the best entry-level hi-fi turntables you can get.
While vinyl newcomers may balk at the price, the Debut Carbon is actually incredible value. For the money, you get an extremely well made turntable that’s damped properly for excellent sound quality. The carbon fiber tonearm is lightweight and stiff, and is usually reserved for turntables costing much more.
The Pro-Ject Debut Carbon is for the enthusiast that’s committed to the record collecting hobby and as a result, it doesn’t feature niceties like an auto-returning tonearm, buttons for changing speed or an included phono preamp. Newbies may be turned off by the manual changing of the belt position to change speeds and the lack of an included preamp. However, if you want to extract more detail and resolution from your records than the cheaper options on this list, the Debut Carbon is a great choice.
One of the best entry-level hi-fi turntables for tinkerers
There’s a lot of debate whether the Rega Planar 1 or the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon is the best entry-level hi-fi turntable. It’s a close match and there are no clear winners, each providing an excellent starting place for audiophiles on a budget.
While the Rega may lack the fancy carbon tone arm of the Pro-Ject, the Planar 1 still sounds excellent and is well damped with its phenolic resin platter. And for newbies, the Rega Planar 1 is still easy to setup, though you’ll have to provide your own phono preamp.
Ultimately, the Rega Planar 1 just sounds so good that it’s hard to fault it too much. Vocals are revealing and you can hear the texture from instruments like the violin.
