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For a while, record players and vinyl were almost dead. But they have seen a massive resurgence in recent years, with record sales and turntables becoming in vogue.
With that change in the market, there has also been a huge influx of new record players on the market. So we did the research, tested a wide variety of models, and aggregated tens of thousands of reviews.
We played all genres of music, across a wide variety of different setups. This allowed us to truly and accurately judge each model of turntable – no matter what kind of music you like to listen to.
After extensive testing, we were able to find the best turntable – no matter what your budget. Here are our top picks.
Our Top Pick
Audio-Technica ATLP60
With over 4,418 glowing reviews, this model from Audio-Technica is our top pick. It’s affordable, has great sound quality, and even has an optional Bluetooth upgrade (we recommend it). Whether you want to spend very little, or spend slightly more and get the Bluetooth functionality – we think this is the turntable you should get.
Other Great Picks
Victrola Record Player
This classic-looking turntable from Victrola looks great in any stylish apartment or home. With over 1,842 glowing reviews, it is also quite popular. We also loved the sound quality, as well as the old-time feel. Definitely recommended.
Sony PSLX300USB
With over 563 positive reviews, this basic turntable from Sony is a great buy. It offers a sleek design, great sound, and an affordable price point. A great purchase.
WOCKODER Record Player
With a great price point, over 533 glowing reviews, and an old-school look – this is a great choice. We especially liked the easy-to-use controls, and how minimalist and classy the turntable was. Definitely recommended.
Retrolife Record Player
This stylish record player from Retrolife has over 502 stellar online reviews, and a great look. We also loved the sound quality, and the wireless functionality. Definitely recommended.
Audio-Technica ATLP120USB
Audio-Technica is known for their great sound quality, and this record player is no exception. With over 2,798 reviews, this is one of the most popular turntables on the market, and we definitely recommend it.
Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC Turntable
This high-end turntable from Pro-Ject is definitely not a budget pick – but the quality is worth the price tag. With over 345 glowing online reviews, it is well-regarded, and performed flawlessly for us. Highly recommended.
WOCKODER Record Player
This budget pick from Wockoder offers great sound quality, and has over 515 glowing online reviews. You’ll be hard-pressed to believe that this model costs so little – especially once you hear it in action. Definitely recommended.
Audio-Technica AT-LP1240
With amazing sound quality, and great functionality – this high-end turntable from Audio-Technica is great buy. While it’s not a budget pick, it offers everything you could dream of, from a record player.
Victrola Navigator 8-in-1
With over 1,246 reviews, this classic-looking record play from Victrola is a great machine. It offers 8-in-1 functionality, and has the coolest look of any record player we’ve ever seen. Definitely recommended.
What Is A Turntable?
Records were once on top of the world – they were just as big as CDs were in the 90s. However, until a few years ago, records were all-but-dead.
Then, miraculously, records became a hip item. Urban hipsters decided they wanted records in their apartment, as both a style statement – and something to listen to.
With this, came the re-emergence of turntables. Available in sleek, modern versions, as well as retro models, turntables are a great way to class up your living room.
Turntables also provide warm, pristine audio, if you’re willing to make the investment for high-end units. While CDs do provide digital sound – audiophiles are nearly unanimous that records provide a better sonic experience.
Who Needs A Turntable?
If you love music – and especially love audio quality – a turntable is a must-have. You can listen to your favorite albums over and over again, get great sound quality while you do so – and also look sleek and stylish.
Records have full-size cover art – not just a tiny digital thumbnail image. So they look great in your living room, or on a bookcase.
If you have a serious set of audiophile-quality speakers, a great turntable is absolutely essential. Since records “just sound better” – you’ll notice the difference immediately, on a big set of high-quality speakers.
How To Connect Your Turntable
Connecting your turntable in the traditional way simply involves running the correct set of wires to your speakers. This works well if your turntable has a built-in preamp, and your speakers also have an amplifier built-in.
RCA cables have traditionally been used for this type of connection, and you can also make this type of connection with no wires at all. However, if you do not have the built-in preamp and speakers, you will need to buy them separately.
Bluetooth Turntable
While traditional record players only offered the ability to connect to your stereo with wires, modern day turntables often come with lots of cool extra features. One of our favorites, is the ability to connect your turntable wirelessly to any of your Bluetooth devices.
This means going from your turntable to your wireless headphones, and even connecting your turntable to your favorite wireless speakers. It’s the perfect combination of retro and futuristic technology.
Audio Technica Turntable
Audio Technica doesn’t just make great headphones – they make some of our favorite turntables, too. While Audio Technica models are not usually budget picks, they offer some of the best audio quality we’ve ever experienced.
Portable Turntable
Portable turntables are a much more convenient solution for listening to records, as they make it easy to bring your vinyl from one location to another. It should be noted that portable turntables often do not come with built-in amplifiers and speakers, so you’ll need to hook up to wireless speakers (or some other external amplification system).
Technics Turntable
Technics is a legendary turntable manufacturer, and many DJs swear by the 1200 model. Unfortunately, this particular model is no longer in production, but there are many other great Technics turntable models still available.
Turntable Needles
Also known as a stylus, there are actually multiple variations of turntable needles available. They include spherical, micro-ridge, elliptical, and hyper-elliptical.
Believe it or not, the type of stylus you use can actually impact the sound of the record. While beyond the scope of this article, we recommend researching the sound quality supplied by the different types of turntable needles, if you’re a hardcore audiophile.
Turntable Sound Quality
While one might think that a turntable has no real bearing on sound quality (like is the case with CD players) – a turntable actually has a huge impact on the final sound quality you hear from your records. In a nutshell, due to better engineering and better components – the more you spend on a record player, the higher the final sound quality will be.
Drive Method Of Turntables
Belt-drive and direct-drive models are both common drive methods of turntables. While they are technically different, we did not notice any real differences in our testing – so we recommend either drive method.
Turntable Tonearm
Tonearms are less important for record playing, but they still offer options to choose from. You can choose between a straight or curved tonearm, with straight tonearms being the preferred shape for DJs, as it’s easier for scratching.
Turntable Cartridges
The cartridge is important because it is the unit connected to the end of the tonearm, and it literally translates the record into an electrical signal to be sent to your speakers. Additionally, the cartridge holds the stylus, which is the needle that picks up the vibrations from the record itself.
Turntable Platters
The platter for a turntable is simply the surface that a record is placed on, which spins in a circle. It is crucially important for preventing vibrations from reaching your stylus, as well as in maintaining consistency and speed during playback.
Turntable Tracking Force
Tracking force is important because proper pressure needs to be applied to a record. Too little or too much, and your record will either skip, or you will wear out the stylus or record itself.
Cartridges should apply a carefully calibrated amount of pressure, so the record plays smoothly. Tracking force can be adjusted at the end of the tonearm.
Phono Stage (Phono Preamp) For Turntables
Interestingly, turntables provide a weaker signal, when compared to CD players or other audio sources. This means they require a phono stage (or a phono preamp) to boost the signal.
These devices also help balance the bass and treble levels, which is not naturally done by your turntable. This is called the RIAA curve, and is part of why so many experts say that vinyl “just sounds better”.
Phono stages are often built-in to either your stereo or turntable. But if neither comes with a phono stage, you’ll need to purchase an external one.
Azimuth Adjustment
Azimuth adjustment is essential for a great turntable, as it allows you to make sure that the stylus is directly perpendicular to the record that you are playing. The azimuth adjustment allows you to tweak the tonearm, so that the stylus is in the exact right position for the most optimal listening.
Vertical Tracking Angle For Turntables
Another important aspect of a good turntable, is the vertical tracking angle. This is crucial because records have different thicknesses, and there are also varied cartridge sizes.
The tip of the stylus and the body of the cartridge should be directly parallel to the record, when you are listening. Many tonearms offer a way to adjust this vertical tracking angle, so you can achieve a very precise listening experience.
MC Cartridges vs. MM Cartridges
Cartridges are important for record playing, at they help turn the vibrations from records into sound. A cartridge also contains the stylus.
If you’re big on sound quality, you’ll be able to tell the difference between a cheap cartridge, and a high-quality one. Cheap cartridges have a thin sound, and you likely won’t enjoy it very much.
However, high-end cartridges are also quite expensive, so they may not be a realistic option for everyone. Like many things in life, the more that you pay for a cartridge, the higher performance you’ll get from it.
The two main cartridge types are MC and MM. These terms stand for moving coil and moving magnet.
These are the components inside the stylus that actually convert the vibrations into sound you can hear. MM cartridges are the normal type often found in record players, while MC cartridges are for audiophiles, who have a higher budget to devote to their sound system.
Is There A Difference Between A Record Player And A Turntable?
While we (and many others) use these two terms interchangeably, there is actually a difference between a turntable and a record player. A turntable is technically just the part of a record player that spins the record itself.
You will need to purchase a separate amplifier and speakers, if you buy a standalone turntable. However, a record player is technically different, in that it will come complete with amplifiers and speakers.
We (and most others) use these two terms interchangeably. But if you purchase a turntable, you’ll have a much easier time moving it around – compared to a heavy (and rather immobile) record player.
How Do I Choose The Best Turntable For Me?
Choosing the best turntable is more than a bit of a solo journey. Since turntables are usually purchased by those who truly love music – we rated sound quality as the most important factor, when determining our final scores.
However, this may not be as important to you personally. You may want to choose a turntable model that looks cool, or perhaps opt for the cheapest model.
Ultimately it’s up to you to decide what is most important in a turntable. What may be the perfect model for me, could be the absolute wrong model for you.
The Best Turntable
There you have it – our top picks for the best turntable. There are also tons of other great products in the home audio category, so make sure you to check out our other product reviews, in the tech category.