Looking to buy a great record player to listen to vinyl? I’ve tested the best turntables from Rega, Audio-Technica, Pro-Ject and more.
There’s nothing that compares with the immediate sound of a record player, and the booming sales of vinyl are a testament to the format’s longevity. I’ve rounded up the best record players I have tested side-by-side in the CNET audio lab in downtown Manhattan, and taken into account popular features such as Bluetooth connectivity and phono preamps. If you’re looking to purchase a new player, whether as a first-time buyer, an audiophile or as a vinyl collector, these are the best turntables you can buy right now, suitable for most budgets.
What is the best record player overall?
Based on my hours of testing and comparisons between models at every level, the best turntable for most people is the Fluance RT82 ($299). It offers excellent design, killer old-school looks and great sound quality for the money. But if you’re looking to spend a lot more than that, the best turntable I’ve tested is the U-Turn Orbit Theory. It offers superlative sound quality and looks every bit the premium model it is.
If a budget model is what you seek, you could start with something like the
Best record players compared
| Product | Fluance RT82 | Audio Technica AT-LP70X | Audio Technica AT-LP60X | Crosley C10A | Pro-Ject T1 | Pro-Ject Debut Carbon EVO | U-Turn Orbit Theory | Rega Planar 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $300 | $279 | $199 | $290 | $399 | $599 | $999 | $1,364 |
| Cartridge | Ortofon OM10 | Audio Technica AT-VM95C | Audio Technica AT3600L | Ortofon OM5E | Ortofon OM5E | Sumiko Rainier | Ortofon 2M Blue | Ortofon 2M Blue |
| 33/45 speed switch | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
| Onboard preamp | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ | Optional | ✘ |
| Adjustable feet | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
| Platter | Metal | Metal | Metal | Metal | Glass | Metal | Acrylic | Glass |
| Removable headshell | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Weight (lbs) | 14.1 | 6.4 | 5.7 | 12.1 | 11 | 12.4 | 12 | 13.23 |
Factors to consider when choosing a record player
Design
There are four main elements to a turntable: the plinth (or base), the platter on which the vinyl record sits, the motor and the arm. The best designs offer extended bracing and isolation between each of these elements to reduce the noise, which can affect the sound quality of the vinyl.
Motor
Generally, modern record players are powered in one of two different ways: belt drive and direct drive. Direct drive has a dedicated motor that spins the platter directly, and this design is almost exclusively used by DJs — in turntables such as the Technics SL1200. Belt drive models are more consumer-focused and use a motor-driven rubber belt to spin the platter. Belt drive is designed to reduce the noise over direct-drive designs by absorbing motor vibrations which could otherwise be picked up by the stylus. All of the record players in this list offer a belt drive.
Cartridge
A cartridge is the small “box” mounted to the end of the tonearm on your record player. It includes the stylus (or needle) that lowers onto the vinyl itself. The best turntables feature a user-replaceable cartridge, which allows you to experiment with a higher-quality cartridge (such as an Ortofon 2M Red) to produce a better sound.
Speed switch
Another convenience feature to look for include an electronic speed switch which means no more removing the platter to change speeds. If you play a lot of singles, or own audiophile pressings. then you will likely want a hardware switch to choose between 33 1/3 and 45.
Preamp
A switchable, onboard preamp that enables you to use a better phono stage. Unlike most types of players, a turntable needs a preamp to bring music up to “line level.” Otherwise it will sound like pixies singing in a cave. External preamps are generally required for some vintage models as well as intermediate and high-end turntables that sell at a higher price. If you’re looking to keep costs low and convenience high, you may want to consider a turntable with a built-in preamp that then connects to any speaker or receiver. CNET contributor Steve Guttenberg recommends the $100 Schiit Mani phono preamp as a quality budget option.
Additional features
Many modern record players come equipped with features including Bluetooth pairing and USB connectivity.
Price
Turntables start at around $50 and can cost as much as a mortgage payment, but the good ones start at around $300. Audiophile-quality models start from $1,000. This list contains plenty of options, including budget models, to help you stay within your budget.
How CNET tests record players
I test all of the turntables side-by-side in the CNET lab with models which have an equivalent price and feature count. Though some of the models on test have a preamp onboard, I used the phono-level output on each — this output features an unamplified signal and needs an preamp with RIAA equalization. I tested the turntables using a combination of gear including a Rotel RA1592 amplifier, Onkyo TX-NR696 and TX-RZ50, Q Acoustics 3050i tower speakers, and the Cambridge Audio Duo preamp.
As part of the tests listened to a number of different albums including these four artists: Bob Marley, Slint, LCD Soundsystem and Miles Davis. On each turntable, I listened for bass response (was it boomy or clean?), midrange detail (low-level instruments and echo effects) and high frequencies (were they recessed or too loud?). The best turntables performed well across all genres.
Two of the models offered a switchable line-level output — the Music Hall MMF-1.3 and the Audio-Technica AT-LPW40WN — and this is handy if you don’t have or don’t want an external preamp. You can plug these models into anything that accepts RCA connectos. I also plugged these two directly into the amplifier and compared them against each other.
It’s worth noting that some of the models are unavailable outside North America, such as the Crosley C10A, Music Hall MMF-1.3, Fluance RT82 and the U-Turn Orbit Plus. If you’re looking for the best alternative to the Fluance RT82, I would recommend the Pro-Ject T1.
Other record players I’ve tested
Most of the turntable models I’ve tested for this buyer’s guide have at least something to recommend them — whether it be design, sound quality or both. The following are ranked in order of commendability.
- Cambridge Audio Alva ST ($699): It’s a close call between the Cambridge Audio and the Pro-Ject Debut Evo and it’s only sound quality that separates the two. The Alva ST is loaded with features and is a more enjoyable deck to use, but the Pro-Ject has a shade more subtlety and detail in its performance. Still at the price, this Cambridge Audio is a great turntable.
- Crosley C10A ($268): You may know the brand for its suitcase players, but Crosley’s C10A is an excellent hi-fi component. This vinyl record player sounds good and looks great. I don’t like it quite as much as the Fluance but at $268, it’s a bargain.
- Music Hall MMF-1.3 ($349): The Music Hall MMF-1.3 is a good turntable at a decent price. It has an even-handed response with all types of music but it wasn’t as engaging as the Fluance RT82. If you’re looking to plug a turntable straight into any receiver without a phono preamp, this is the model I’d opt for.
- Fluance RT85 ($500): Unless you have a mellow-sounding system, the Fluance RT85’s combination of an Ortofon 2M Blue and acrylic platter seems like one upgrade too far. The RT85 will be too much for already bright systems and the Pro-Ject T1 and Debut Evo are a better value at this level.
- Audio-Technica AT-LPW40WN ($499): With its carbon-fiber tonearm and natural wood veneer plinth, the Audio-Technica features excellent design, but it’s a mixed bag in terms of sound quality. The table sounded boomy when plugged into a phono preamplifier, and while it was more neutral with the onboard preamp, it was still a little ho-hum.
- Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo 2 ($799) : Not really a sequel to the original Evo as much as a brand new franchise. While it’s better-sounding and the platter is improved, it’s $200 more than before and not as recommendable.
- Victrola Stream Carbon ($799): The first turntable to work wirelessly with Sonos, the Victrola Stream Carbon is easy to set up and play on any compatible speaker. The turntable’s a lot of fun and the sound quality was fine enough, but sadly the ergonomics were a little off. Specifically, the two components you use every time — the power-speed switch and the tonearm lift — are almost comically tiny. Read my Victrola Stream Carbon first take.
- Monolith by Monoprice Belt Drive Turntable ($199): The Monolith turntable offers a lot for the money including a USB connection and a Bluetooth output. It sounds great and it definitely looks the part. However, turntable setup is a pain, and I’ve experienced some problems such as extreme speed fluctuations.
- U-Turn Orbit Plus ($399): While it’s better-sounding than the original, the U-Turn couldn’t compete with the performance of other players around $300. The turntable sounded truncated with a lack of extended high frequencies, and on the hardware side, the lack of a cue lever felt like a glaring omission.
- Crosley Cruiser Deluxe (around $80, depending on color): The “suitcase-style” portable turntable is hyper popular due to its combination of eye-catching design and cheap pricing. The Deluxe has a plethora of features, including Bluetooth in/out plus RCA out, but some compromises have been made, including a cheaper stylus. It’s a fun toy, but in the end it’s the Crosley’s poor sound quality which disappoints. The Victrola Eastwood (below) sounds better, but it has its own issues.
- Victrola Eastwood ($90): Unlike the competitive Crosley Cruiser Deluxe, the Victrola offers a proper cartridge (no plastic moving parts here) and compact styling. While it also sounds better than its competitor, the Eastwood’s main problem is that the lid gets in the way when you try to change records, which could lead to damaging your vinyl.
