Record players--also called turntables--are enjoying a tremendous renaissance, and we can’t say we’re sorry about it. Few things are more pleasurable than a great album cranked up on a great turntable and fortunately for you, finding the best record player to do just that isn’t difficult.
A record player, however, is an investment, and often requires additional equipment and tools, plus basic expertise. Choose the wrong turntable, and you could end up damaging your records--which aren’t cheap. Lucky for you, we’ve got your guide to finding the best record player.
We walk you through what you need to know before you choose a new turntable--and how to find the right one for your budget and your preferences. Plus, to make things even easier, we’ve lined up the ten best record player options for just about any price range. Let’s get started!
Comparison Table
Record Player FAQs
To help you learn what you need to about how to choose the best record player, here are our answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about record players.
1. What Do I Need to Know About Record Players?
2. What Other Equipment Do I Need?
3. How Do I Find the Best Record Player?
How We Reviewed
To create this list of the best record players, we put in a considerable amount of time and effort to research each of the record players we include below--and a lot of the turntables we didn’t include. We want you to feel comfortable and confident about the record player you choose not just because you’re investing, but because we love turntables and we want you to have a great experience!
Overall Price Range
Record players can vary hugely in price. Honestly, you don’t need to spend more than $100-$200 to get a decent turntable (you can even get one that includes a preamp for that price), and while you can spend more than $1,000, it’s not necessary unless you’re a serious pro. About $400-$1000 seems to be the sweet spot, but you can get a very good turntable for less.
Ultimately, a more expensive model will make sure you get extra features and an included preamp. It will also mean you’re getting a better platter and tonearm. These aren’t deal breakers for everyone, but they might be for you, which is why we’re including record players at a variety of price points.
- Connectivity Technology: Wired
- Included Components: Headshell/cartridge
- AC line cord
This is one of three picks from Audio-Technica; it’s the more expensive of the three, but it comes with a fantastic sound and excellent features for a value price.
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- REDISCOVER YOUR PASSION FOR VINYL Give your old analog records a digital rebirth with...
- MORE FEATURES, MORE FLEXIBILITY The DP400 is equipped with weighted belt driven...
- A UNIQUE CURVED TONEARM DESIGN – Carefully designed horizontal tracking angled...
This Denon is near twice the price as our top pick, but it packs a serious punch when it comes to sound quality.
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- Convert your vinyl records to digital audio files
- Mac and PC compatible Audacity software digitizes your records
- Fully automatic belt drive turntable operation with 2 speeds: 33 1/3, 45 RPM
You can’t go wrong with anything from Audio-Technica and while this record player won’t blow your mind, at $ it doesn’t have to.
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- PURE ANALOG LISTENING EXPERIENCE - Premium components allow this high fidelity belt...
- HIGH PERFORMANCE CARTRIDGE - The Audio Technica AT95E featuring a diamond elliptical...
- SUPERIOR RECORD TRACKING - Enjoy perfect playback using the balanced aluminum S-Type...
The RT81 from Fluence has an Audio-Technica cartridge that produces a clear, beautiful sound. And the turntable design itself is beautiful. At the same price as our top pick, this is another terrific option for somebody who wants to start at the lower end of the price range.
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- The Rega Planar 1 turntable features a brand new RB110 tonearm built with the new...
- Every single aspect of the Planar 1 has been meticulously designed to improve...
- Re-designed brass main bearing, offering improved fit and removing stress on the...
If you’re looking for a showstopper, look no further. The REGA Planar 1 is as modern and artful as you could wish--and the sound lives up to its design. The tonearm puts out extremely low friction, and the setup on this record player is one of the easiest on the list (you won’t need a stylus gauge).
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- Acrylic platter provides improved speed consistency and clearer more detailed...
- Ortofon OM5E cartridge with elliptical diamond stylus.
- Precision OA2 gimbal tonearm for accurate tracking and low distortion. Features...
U-Turn does a great job of letting you choose the features you want (and don’t want). You can pay more or less depending on the features, but we like this particular model because it requires zero setup and has a fantastic sound quality.
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- 8.6" carbon tonearm
- Increased platter size with more weight
- Precision belt drive with synchronous motor
Another affordable record player, this one from Pro-Ject stands apart from the crowd thanks to its carbon-fiber arm. For around $$, this arm creates exceptional sound quality and, paired with the belt-driven motor, very little rumble.
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- SUPERIOR SOUND: Our Stir It Up Turntable offers a modular Audio Technica cartridge...
- PREMIUM FEATURES: Play any 33 or 45 RPM records while the anti-skate control and the...
- UNMATCHED DESIGN: The minimalistic, streamlined design of this record player makes...
This turntable from maker House of Marley has something the other record players on this list don’t: construction from sustainable and eco-conscious materials. That doesn’t mean you’re sacrificing sound quality; however; most users report a high level of satisfaction.
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- High-Quality Analog Playback
- Plug-and-Play Effortlessness
- Pre-Mounted Cartridge
The Teac TN-400S not only plays all three record speeds but comes with a preamp, all for less than $300. The belt-driven platter means your records will vibrate minimally, while the glossy walnut MDF finish is attractive enough to turn heads.
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- ✔ SELECTABLE SPEED: Selector two-speed (33/45 RPM) turntable. Stereo speakers...
- ✔ AUX IN: to connect to your device, iPod, MP3 player, iPhone or other digital...
- ✔ VINYL-To-MP3: Vinyls conversion to MP3, USB encoding for turntables. Includes...
This is the only turntable under $100 that we recommend, and that’s only because most in this price range can cause damage to your records. However, we feel confident that the Lauson CL502 will get the job done without ruining anything--and you might even be surprised by the sound quality.
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This list of record players is by no means exhaustive, but it does offer ten solid choices for you to select from. Whether you’re looking for a budget pick or you’re ready to prioritize sound over budget, every pick on this list should give you ample support for whatever record you want to play. Happy listening!
Last update on 2021-05-18 at 00:17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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