Buy Vinyl Turntable _VERIFIED_
Whether you're buying your first turntable having discovered the joys of vinyl, or are looking to upgrade your existing record player, you might be wondering which is the best turntable to buy for your needs and budget.
buy vinyl turntable
We can help you make the right choice. We've rounded up the best record players from our recent product reviews, across all budgets. Our selection features budget turntables alongside high-end decks, wireless Bluetooth turntables for streaming vinyl to headphones, turntables with phono stages built in, and even USB turntables to help you digitise your vinyl collection.
Once you have chosen, it's also crucial you set up your turntable correctly. While some record players are relatively "plug and play", many require a little more time and effort to hear at their best. Want to know more? Read our complete guide to choosing the right turntable.
This Debut Pro turntable is terrific at digging deep into the production and revealing layers of instrumental textures that most at this level ignore. It sounds incredibly precise, crisp and taut. Its presentation is a little on the lean side, but the upside of such a balance is agility.
No turntable has dominated its category like the Planar 3, taking on all-comers since its launch in the 1970s. So if you want a step up in performance, we're only too happy to recommend the Rega Planar 3 with the factory-fitted Elys 2 cartridge you see here (although you can, of course, purchase the Planar 3 sans cartridge).
In short, this latest version is the best RP3 yet, adding extra servings of clarity, precision and insight to an already musical sound. While the price of this turntable/cartridge combo has crept up in 2022, this is still a fantastic, worthy turntable.
The rebirth of Technics has spawned another fantastic turntable. Compared with the high-end SL-1000R found further down this list, the SL-1500C is much more affordable, and it's also one of the best record players we've heard under a grand.
While purists may prefer the slightly more insightful Rega Planar 3/Elys 2 (above), the Technics SL-1500C offers crisp presentation, a built-in phono stage and electric speed control, making it a great choice for those not totally engrossed in vinyl.
Dual dominated the affordable turntable market in the 1980s. Now it's back (after numerous business changes) with a turntable befitting the brand's history. This is Dual's entry-level deck and it's well made (apart from a slightly imprecise tonearm) and looks smart enough for the money. There's electronic speed change and a built-in phono stage.
The Planar 1 Plus is essentially a Rega Planar 1 turntable (as seen above) with the Rega Fono Mini A2D phono stage built in. Both have won Awards, and Rega thought it only felt natural to combine them together. We absolutely agree.
If you're looking for fuss-free entry into the world of vinyl, this brilliant Sony turntable deserves an audition. Set-up is a piece of cake: there's no need to fit and align a cartridge, set the tracking force or set the anti-skate, so once you've put the belt around the motor pulley you're all set to spin. The presence of a built-in phono stage and Bluetooth connectivity are a welcome bonus too.
An updated version of the Award-winning DG-1 Dynamic Groove, the new Vertere DG-1 S continues to offer a fair dose of the performance of Vertere's top-end turntables but at a far more approachable outlay. Clever construction and engineering advances further this deck's performance, which is designed to be easy to use. It even has the option of a fitted Magneto cartridge for those who want a complete package.
Unlike some rivals, which require patience, a steady hand and a calculator to get working, the Concept is a 'plug and play' product. It comes with the company's own moving-magnet Concept cartridge fitted to the Verify Direct Wire Plus tonearm (though there is also a moving-coil alternative available). Clearaudio sets everything, including the cartridge weight and bias, before the turntable leaves the factory so all you need do is supply the vinyl.
The USB ripping feature remains, so you can digitise your vinyl collection is CD quality WAV files up to 16-bit/44.1kHz and 48kHz. If you're after a well-executed design that's well-built, easy to set up and sounds great for the money, the AT-LP5x is worthy of a spot on your shortlist.
Set-up is easy thanks in part to the pre-mounted cartridge. All you need do is fit the tracking weight, set bias and you'll be free to gasp at the levels of clarity and insight, which are reminiscent of pricier turntables.
All new turntables are tested in comparison with rival turntables at the same price level (and often cheaper and more expensive alternatives, too, where relevant), and all review verdicts are agreed upon by the team as a whole rather than a single reviewer, helping to ensure consistency and avoid individual subjectivity. That's why our reviews are trusted by retailers and manufacturers, as well as consumers, the world over.
We choose the top turntables to feature in this Best Buy from all our reviews. That's why if you take the plunge and buy one of the products recommended here, you can rest assured you're getting a What Hi-Fi?-approved product.
First off, you'll want to check out the best stereo speakers; after all, a turntable is only as good as your speakers you hook it up to. Or, you might want to look into the best over-ear headphones and wireless earbuds to go with your record player.
The best-sounding turntable is one you enjoy listening to. Some people prefer the rich, authentic quality of an older turntable. However, many of the newest turntables bring you that same sound, but with a bunch of new features and a more reliable experience.
This is, also, partly down to price. If you have an older turntable but it's much more expensive and higher quality than a newer, cheaper model, you might prefer the older sound. You should also consider if it's in need of some TLC. Older turntables might need repairing to sound as good as they once did.
Finally, what do you want to listen to? If you're looking for high-end audio that sounds exactly as intended, you might want to try a newer turntable. If you want a more gravelly sound and don't mind sacrificing some quality, use the old turntable you already have.
However, if you don't have as strong an ear for music or you simply don't need perfection, you'll be just as happy with a cheaper turntable. That's why we've included different record players with varying budgets so that the more typical music fan can still enjoy what's here.
One of our current favourite mid-range turntable is the Rega Planar 1, which has a list price of 299 / $595 / AU$645. But while it's an undeniably great turntable, Rega has chosen to spend its money on the core components and high quality engineering rather than gee-whiz features or fancy materials. Its more expensive models follow that philosophy too, focusing on delivering the most pristine audio quality possible.
As with most audio equipment, it comes down to what features matter most to you. If you already have high-end audio kit then it's worth spending that little bit more to get a really premium sound. But as our guide above demonstrates, you can get a really great turntable for a lot less than you might expect.
For us, reliable means a turntable that's a fantastic all-rounder and good value for money. With that in mind, you can't go wrong with the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo that sits at the top of our list of the best turntables, with an expansive, detailed sound and impressive specs.
If you're willing to spend a little more, then the Cambridge Audio Alva TT V2 is our high-end option. This futuristic, fantastic-looking turntable brings you a balanced and insightful sound, as well as modern connectivity options. In contrast, the Fluance RT81 is a mid-range option with no-frills but a great sound for the price.
This largely depends what you're looking for. We judge a high-quality turntable on the build, the different playback speeds that are on offer, the compatibility and how well-damped the deck is. It's also worth looking for extra features, like USB ports.
Beginners may want to find an easy-to-use turntable rather than a high-quality one. We recommend looking for simple setups, built-in phono stages and wireless connectivity, like Bluetooth. Style matters too, so pick out a look you like as well as a solid and dependable design.
It depends what you're comparing them to and if they're truly original vinyls. Yes, original vinyls do tend to sound better than MP3s. They also tend to sound better than CDs because they're an end-to-end analog format, meaning that they're recorded and pressed in a way that's close to what the artist originally intended.
If you know you're dealing with original vinyl, then it does tend to be much richer, with the distinctive sounds and vinyl distortion that purists love. But original vinyls do not always sound better than modern copies and even digital music.
The vinyl renaissance has meant even more great turntable options are available. Take our current top pick, the Pro-ject Debut Carbon Evo: it's so good it'll give your goosebumps goosebumps. If your budget doesn't quite stretch to the Pro-ject, that's not a problem: as the Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT demonstrates, you can get serious sound without having to spend serious amounts of money.
One of the best turntables will transform your music, making it smoother, richer and injecting some of that authentic analog style into your favorite tracks. Many of the top record players you can buy today are packed with the latest audio tech, delivering impressive sound and unlocking details you might never have fully noticed or appreciated before.
Don't let the price put you off if you can afford it and want the best turntable your money can buy. In terms of specs, it justifies its price, with a new motor design, automatic speed change, improved performance and ergonomics, a choice of nine finishes. 041b061a72