Whether you have many old records that collect dust in the attic or you’re an enthusiastic member of the vinyl revival movement, the Best Turntables can be a fantastic investment. Although the idea of a turntable can recall images of the 60s and 70s, you will find that most modern turntables are reasonably well equipped with the latest technologies – that is to say a Bluetooth or USB output integrated that allows you to record printed output on your PC which means you can listen to your vinyl anywhere.
A disadvantage is that, as a result of all these new products and these naming conventions delicate, the market of the best turntables can be confusing but keep it with us and we will find the best turntables for you. Let’s take a look at the best turntables in our comparison chart, then we’ll talk about it briefly.
Best Turntables Comparison Table
Best Turntables
Turntable Name
Phono preamp
Motor
Audio-Technica AT-LP120-USB
Yes
Direct drive
Audio-Technica AT-LP60
Yes
Belt drive
Denon DP-300F
Yes
Belt drive
Fluance RT81
Yes
Belt drive
Pro-Ject Debut Carbon
No
Belt drive
Rega Planar 1
No
Belt drive
Marantz TT-15S1
No
Belt drive
Clearaudio Concept
No
Belt drive
Sony PS-HX500
Yes
Belt drive
Audio-Technica AT-LP120-USB
- Dimensions: 450.0 mm (17.72″) W x 352.0 mm (13.86″) D x 157.0 mm (6.1″) H
- Motor: Direct drive
- Platter: Die-cast aluminum
- Phono preamp: Yes
- USB: Yes
- Speeds: 33 ⅓, 45, 78 rpm
- Stylus: AT95E
The Audio-Technica AT-LP120-USB is the best introductory turntable for ambitious vinyl lovers. Out of the box, it offers the opportunity to play at 33, 45 and 78 rpm, which means that there will never be an album you can not play. There is also a built-in phono preamp, so you do not have to worry about finding it yourself. New disc collectors will appreciate easy installation and features, while more users will benefit from the ability to call in the vertical viewing angle, tracking force and easily replaceable shell.
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It looks like a Rip-Technics SL-1200, but for a fraction of the price, it’s worth it. The AT-LP120-USB also comes with a USB output that allows you to record your collection of discs if you wish. To put it simply, this platform presents the perfect balance between ease of use for beginners, but it still contains more advanced features that you can develop. Overall, this is one of the best turntables you can buy right now.
Pros:
- Great sound quality for the price
- Great for newbies and pros alike
Cons:
- Plastic build
- Mediocre USB output
Audio-Technica AT-LP60
- Dimensions: 360.0 mm (14.17″) W x 97.5 mm (3.84″) H x 356.0 mm (14.02″) D
- Motor: Belt drive
- Platter: Die-cast aluminum
- Phono preamp: Yes
- USB: No
- Speeds: 33 ⅓, 45 rpm
- Stylus: ATN3600
If you are not looking for a fortune on the best turntable in the world and you do not necessarily find it important to take advantage of each LP, the Audio-Technica AT-LP60 is an ideal starting point. It is portable, can play most vinyl records and is by far the cheapest record player on this list. It is also fully automatic, which means that it puts a recording in the queue and places the arm in the rest position without using a manual lever.
The only disadvantage with such cheap platinum is that it does not grow with your vinyl collection. The built-in phono preamplifier means you’re stuck with it, but you can replace the needle as soon as it’s worn out. Although there are cheaper and poorly constructed turntables on the market, it’s not worth it because you run the risk of damaging your valuable discs with misaligned and poorly tuned tonearms. Vinyl is expensive, so we recommend the AT-LP60 for beginners who simply want to start with one of the best turntables.
Pros:
- Fully automatic
- Excellent value
Cons:
- Can’t replace the cartridge
- Passable sound
Denon DP-300F
- Dimensions: 17-3/32 x 4-51/64 x 15″ (434 x 122 x 381 mm); (WxHxD)
- Motor: Belt drive
- Platter: Die-cast aluminum
- Phono preamp: Yes
- USB: No
- Speeds: 33 ⅓, 45 rpm
- Stylus: DSN-85
The Denon DP-300F is a beautiful turntable that sounds as good as it seems. The DSN-85 cartridge provided is not the most accurate, but you still manage to give your music an airy and reasonably detailed, especially for the price. You will have to spend a lot more money to hear more details. Although the DP-300F does not have the USB outputs of some of the turntables shown here, it’s still a great starter for those who do not want to queue their albums manually or have used to fall asleep while listening to music.
The Denon auto start/stop function means your needle is not worn at the end of the recording, because the arm returns immediately when an album is ready. The build quality is good for a plastic turntable, but the buttons are not expensive – a small problem, but that should not be a decisive factor for you. If the Audio-Technica AT-LP120-USB is not suitable for your aesthetic, consider using the Denon DP-300F, which is certainly one of the best turntables available on the market.
Pros:
- Fully automatic
- Great sound for the price
Cons:
- Plastic build
- Buttons feel cheap
Fluance RT81
- Dimensions: 16.5” x 5.5” x 13.75”
- Motor: Belt drive
- Platter: Aluminum
- Phono preamp: Yes
- USB: No
- Speeds: 33 ⅓, 45 rpm
- Stylus: ATN95E
The Fluance RT81 is an excellent starter board for amateurs. It’s easy to set up and use for beginners, but you can turn off the cartridge to try out more performance later. Novices do not have to worry about getting a separate phono preamplifier because one is built-in. However, you can disable this option if you want to use a better external preamplifier.
The only drawback is that the “automatic shutdown” announced by Fluance simply turns off the satellite dish, which avoids excessive wear of the needles, but you must always bring the arm to its place of rest. You will also have to manually put records in the queue, which is not a dealbreaker, but an element to consider for those looking for a fully automatic hub. The Denon DP-300F is one of the best turntables for those looking for a fully automated listening experience.
Pros:
- Great sound for the price
- Decent sounding phono preamp
Cons:
- Poor vibration damping
- No auto-returning tonearm
Pro-Ject Debut Carbon
- Dimensions: 415 x 118 x 320mm (WxHxD)
- Motor: Belt drive
- Platter: Aluminum
- Phono preamp: No
- USB: No
- Speeds: 33 ⅓, 45 rpm
- Stylus: Ortofon 2M Red
From now on, things are starting to get a little “real”: the first Pro-Ject Carbon is the best entry-level model for hi-fi decks you can buy. While newcomers to vinyl can lower the price, Debut Carbon is truly an incredible bargain. For the price, you get a very well done deck that is well cushioned for fantastic sound quality. The low-carbon reading arm is light and stiff and is usually reserved for turntables that cost a lot more.
The first Pro-Ject Carbon is aimed at aspiring fans who are committed to collecting records and who, because of his dedication, does not have any interesting features like an auto-retrieve arm, buttons to change the speed or phono preamplifier provided. Novices can be disabled by manually changing the position of the belt to change gears and the lack of preamplifier provided. However, if you want to get more details and resolution in your recordings than the cheapest options on this list, or if you want to get started on the road to a true vinyl record collector, Debut Carbon is probably one of the best turntables.
Pros:
- Excellent value for a hi-fi turntable
- Easy to setup
Cons:
- Manual speed change
- Requires a phono preamp
Rega Planar 1
- Dimensions: 17.5″ (450mm) W by 4.5″ (115mm) H by 15″ (385mm) D
- Motor: Belt drive
- Platter: Phenolic resin
- Phono preamp: No
- USB: No
- Speeds: 33 ⅓, 45 rpm
- Stylus: Rega Carbon
There is a lot of talk about whether Rega Planar 1 or Pro-Ject Debut Carbon is the best entry-level hi-fi. It’s a good match and there are no clear winners, each offering a great starting point for audiophiles on a limited budget. Although the Rega may lack the Pro-Ject’s sophisticated carbon arm, the Planar 1 still sounds great and is well cushioned with its phenolic resin plate. And for beginners, Rega Planar 1 is always easy to set up, even if you have to use your own phono preamplifier.
In the end, the Rega Planar 1 sounds so good that it is difficult to notice anything. The voices are revealing and you hear the texture of instruments such as the violin. The supplied Rega Carbon cartridge is not something special, but it fits well with the turntable. It’s a tough choice between Planar 1 and Debut Carbon, but you can not go wrong because both are the best turntables you can buy right now.
Pros:
- Excellent sound quality
- Easy to set up, even for newbies
Cons:
- Manual speed change
- No phono preamp included
Marantz TT-15S1
- Dimensions: 440mm x 350mm x 110mm; (W x D x H)
- Motor: Belt drive
- Platter: High-Density Acrylic
- Phono preamp: No
- USB: No
- Speeds: 33 ⅓, 45 rpm
- Stylus: Clearaudio Virtuoso
The Marantz TT-15S1 takes a lot of money, but you really get a killer. The Clearaudio Virtuoso supplied with the platinum is 1000 USD if purchased separately. In addition, you get an excellent tonearm and a beautiful turntable at a price that is definitely an investment but is not unreasonable. So what brings you the Marantz TT-15S1 about the competition? Attention to detail. Almost all the pieces of the platinum have been delivered as being the best for the price.
The fit and finish are excellent and it’s a pleasure to deal with high-quality components. This is a turntable, you will find that you admire its visual and sound qualities. Newcomers should not have this turntable, because they need more knowledge to configure themselves correctly than the basic turntables of this list. But when you’re ready to collect your CD and listen to the next level, the Marantz TT-15S1 is one of the best turntables to buy today.
Pros:
- Gorgeous design
- Excellent attention to detail
Cons:
- Price is an investment
Clearaudio Concept
- Dimensions: 16.54” x 13.78” x 4.92”; (W x D x H)
- Motor: Belt drive
- Platter: Polyoxymethylene
- Phono preamp: No
- USB: No
- Speeds: 33 ⅓, 45, 78 rpm
- Stylus: Clearaudio Concept MC
If the Clearaudio Concept and the Marantz TT-15S1 sound familiar, the Marantz was built by Clearaudio according to Marantz specifications. This means that everything related to the excellent quality of the Marantz construction is transferred to the Clearaudio concept (that is to say, it is a turntable as beautiful as it may seem). A small but remarkable difference between the Marantz and the Clearaudio is the ability to play 78 rpm records.
Although most people never meet 78, it is good to know that the Clearaudio Concept is able to play them. The Concept also has a convenient speed dial on the base, which saves you from manually changing the position of the belt. As far as the negative aspects are concerned, the Clearaudio concept does not present any significant inconvenience. Yes, it’s expensive, but you still get a good deal in this price range. The included Clearaudio Concept voice coil cartridge costs only $1000.
Pros:
- Excellent build quality
- Detailed, rich sound
Cons:
- Expensive
Sony PS-HX500
- Dimensions: 16.54” x 13.78” x 4.92”; (W x D x H)
- Motor: Belt drive
- Platter: Aluminum Diecast Alloy
- Phono preamp: Yes
- USB: Yes 44.1kHz / 48kHz / 96kHz / 192kHz (16bit / 24bit)
- Speeds: 33 ⅓, 45 rpm
- Stylus: Sony 9-885-210-05
The Sony PS-HX500 is an excellent entry-level disc player for those who have just started collecting discs. The striking feature is the ability to record high-resolution sound from the USB output with 96 kHz/24-bit resolution. This is an excellent feature for those who want to digitize their recordings. In terms of sound quality, the Sony PS-HX500 sounds spacious and offers good detail. However, the supplied needle sometimes seems a little harsh and sibilant and does not have the resolution of more expensive cartridges. While some may like the Sony’s minimalist design, it’s totally forgettable and the plastic construction leaves a lot to be desired. By handling the platinum every day, we want more high-quality materials that do not slam.
Pros:
- Hi-Res audio USB recording
- Good sound quality for the price
Cons:
- Plastic build feels cheap
- Forgettable design
Final Words
Vinyl records are just cool. They play music with the elusive and even romantic warmth that audiophiles still adore. You may be the owner of a huge collection of vintage records, pumped by a full analog tube hi-fi system, or you can simply choose to enjoy one of these portable and battery-powered turntables in the park. Such a way of listening creates an addiction: dealing with the physical product, admiring the work, checking lyrics and generics in a way that you will never do with CDs or streaming.
Our list of Best Turntables consists of some of the best turntables that you can buy right now. Let us know what you think of this list by sharing your thought with us.
