Vinyl is back, and it is hot. Audiophiles know there’s no substitute for the quality of analog music. But, how many of us kept our clunky turntables around once the cassette craze hit? The answer is…not many. So, how do we spin those old disks today? Turntables have made a comeback, but with so many on the market, choosing the best record player can be mind-boggling. Never fear, we’ve taken the guesswork out of choosing the best record player by reviewing the best record players on the market today. Read on to find out which is one is the best record player to purchase to turn on the jams.
COMPARISON TABLE
[amazon box=”B016YYFZS2,B002S1CJ2Q,B00IIMXATU,B000FMNBXG,B00O8U3ZI2,B01F2EXIFM,B00FJY8LGC,B01M0VXNZV,B001ECQ6PG,B000EI2I76″ template=”table”]
PRODUCT FAQ
1. WHAT IS A RECORD PLAYER?
Record players (sometimes called turntables) play music from vinyl albums. The best record players will also connect to computers to provide analog-to-digital conversion.
2. HOW DO THE BEST RECORD PLAYERS WORK?
The best record players work using gears or belts to turn a platter. The best record players have a diamond stylus that follows the grooves in the record and projects the audio. The best record players have an automatic stop feature that lifts the tone arm off the record when it gets to the end of the groove.
3. WHERE CAN I BUY THE BEST RECORD PLAYER?
We have provided links to the best record players reviewed in this article.
HOW WE REVIEWED
The following products were reviewed based on the following parameters Features, Pros & Cons, Where to Buy, and Warranty.
image via Pexels
WHAT WE REVIEWED
image via Pexels
AUDIO-TECHNICA ATLP60USB LP TO USB DIGITAL BELT DRIVE TURNTABLE
[amazon box=”B016YYFZS2″]
FEATURES
The Audio Technica USB Digital Belt Drive Turntable allows you to transfer your albums to the digital realm. The stereo turntable features a USB output that allows you to connect directly to your computer. The system also includes Audacity, a recording software for Mac and PC. It has an integral dual-magnet Audio Technica phono cartridge, USB, and adapter cables.
The turntable has a built-in switchable phono/line preamp that allows connection to a stereo system equipped with either a phono or line-level input. The turntable is fully automatic and operates at 33 1/3 and 45 RPM. The aluminum platter features a professional belt drive.
PROS
CONS
WHERE TO BUY
This can be found in Amazon.
WARRANTY
This product carries a one-year limited warranty from the manufacturer.
AUDIO-TECHNICA AT-LP120-USB DIRECT-DRIVE PROFESSIONAL TURNTABLE
[amazon box=”B002S1CJ2Q”]
FEATURES
The Audio Technica Direct-Drive Professional Turntable features a high torque direct drive motor. It connects directly to your computer via USB output. The internal stereo phono pre-amp allows the turntable to be plugged into components without a dedicated turntable input. The system includes a USB cable, adapter cables, and Audacity software to digitize your albums. The turntable features a cast aluminum platter with slip mat and a start/stop button with forward and reverse play capability.
PROS
CONS
WHERE TO BUY
This can be found in Amazon.
WARRANTY
This product carries a one-year limited warranty from the manufacturer.
PRO-JECT – DEBUT CARBON DC
[amazon box=”B00IIMXATU”]
FEATURES
The Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC Turntable features a carbon fiber tonearm for stiffness, an updated DC power supply for resolute speed stability, and an Ortofon 2M Red moving-magnet cartridge for exceptional detail retrieval. This arm/cartridge combination delivers exceptional tracking and recovery of the musical nuances found in vinyl grooves. The turntable features a hefty platter, a low noise motor with effective decoupling, stable isolation feet that protect against vibrations, and multiple high-gloss color options. The attractive, piano-gloss finished, resonance reducing MDF plinth supports a heavy, wide low-resonance platter for smooth rotation and low wow and flutter.
PROS
CONS
WHERE TO BUY
This can be found in Amazon.
WARRANTY
This product carries a two-year limited warranty from the manufacturer.
DENON DP-300F FULLY AUTOMATIC ANALOG TURNTABLE
[amazon box=”B000FMNBXG”]
FEATURES
The Denon Fully Automatic Analog Turntable is a rigid die-cast aluminum turntable that comes with a standard mount headshell, MM Cartridge, and a DC Servo motor. It has two rotation speeds—33 1/3 and 45 RPM. The turntable is designed with a heavier base construction that decreases vibrations for a noiseless, rich, and detailed sound. It has an automatic startup feature; with the touch of a button, the tonearm is lifted and comes to rest smoothly to ensure it does not damage or scratch your records. It has a built-in phono equalizer to create an enveloping sound that stays true to the original recording.
PROS
CONS
WHERE TO BUY
This can be found in Amazon.
WARRANTY
This product carries a two-year limited warranty from the manufacturer.
PIONEER DJ DIRECT DRIVE DJ TURNTABLE
[amazon box=”B00O8U3ZI2″]
FEATURES
The Pioneer DJ Direct Drive DJ Turntable is precision engineered for the DJ booth. This turntable features a familiar layout with some next-generation improvements including a high-torque direct drive system, multi-pitch control, club-grade build and sound quality, and detachable power and audio cables. It is built solid for excellent vibration damping and high-grade audio playback. The high torque direct drive ensures stable rotation and exceptional control. The heavy mass, die-cast chassis prevents resonance and vibrations.
The lower portion is reinforced with an 8mm-thick resin with a 9mm vibration damping material at the base. The rubber insulated tonearm reduces howling and the rubber and springs on the dampening parts of the insulator help absorb external vibrations. The unit has interchangeable power and audio cables that can be easily connected and replaced. The professional quality, gold plated, RCA jacks provide low impedance and amazing sound quality.
PROS
CONS
WHERE TO BUY
This can be found in Amazon.
WARRANTY
This product carries a one-year limited warranty from the manufacturer.
FLUANCE RT81 HIGH FIDELITY VINYL TURNTABLE RECORD PLAYER
[amazon box=”B01F2EXIFM”]
FEATURES
The Fluance High Fidelity Turntable features premium components that allow this high fidelity belt driven turntable to produce a pure analog listening experience. The high-performance Audio Technica cartridge produces outstanding clarity. The diamond elliptical tipped stylus is designed to track record grooves with precision and accuracy for high-def audio. The balanced aluminum S-type tone arm keeps the stylus resting deep in the record’s grooves to reproduce every audio detail.
The cabinet includes isolation feet, an aluminum platter, and a rubber slip mat that results in superior vibration isolation. The high-quality Texas Instruments preamp produces captivating signal clarity. The turntable includes a ground terminal and gold plated RCA line inputs for warm, true sound.
PROS
CONS
WHERE TO BUY
This can be found in Amazon.
WARRANTY
This product carries a two-year limited warranty from the manufacturer.
RELOOP RP-2000-M DJ TURNTABLE WITH QUARTZ
[amazon box=”B00FJY8LGC”]
FEATURES
The Reloop DJ Turntable features a sleek black metallic finish. It meets professional expectations due to its strong quartz-driven direct drive. Unlike belt-driven turntables, the Reloop DJ Turntable transfers the engine power directly to the driving collar for a superior torque generated power. The turntable features a professional start button for exact to-the-second accuracy. This feature not only protects the vinyl but provides a better listening experience. Additional features include a statically balanced S-shaped tone arm, electronic motor brake, shock-absorbing feet, and wheel-away needle illumination.
PROS
CONS
WHERE TO BUY
This can be found in Amazon.
WARRANTY
This product carries a one-year limited warranty from the manufacturer.
REGA – PLANAR 1 (WHITE)
[amazon box=”B01M0VXNZV”]
FEATURES
The Rega Planar 1 turntable features an RB110 tonearm built with zero play bearings with ultra-low friction performance. Every aspect of the Planar 1 has been meticulously designed to improve performance. It now runs a 24v, low noise, synchronous motor to reduce vibration transfer. It features a re-designed brass main bearing for improved fit and to remove stress on the bearing while minimizing potential energy transfer. It has a new 23mm, higher mass phenolic platter with improved flywheel effect for better speed stability. The plinth is thermoset and gloss laminated in black or white.
PROS
CONS
WHERE TO BUY
This can be found in Amazon.
WARRANTY
This product carries a three-year limited warranty from the manufacturer.
NUMARK TURNTABLE WITH USB
[amazon box=”B001ECQ6PG”]
FEATURES
The Numark Turntable With USB is a modern classic with computer connectivity. This unit was designed for the modern DJ with a silicon rubber base that absorbs vibration and lessens low-end feedback. It has an interchangeable tone arm system that adapts to any DJ’s style. The turntable features user-variable torque, an illuminated output bay, a built-in BPM counter, and interchangeable S-shaped or straight tonearms. The built-in USB connector makes it fast and easy to connect to a computer for professional grade vinyl to digital transfer.
The transfer is made easy with the bundled EZ Vinyl Converter software that quickly converts vinyl tracks directly to iTunes. The turntable also features digital outputs for direct sampling, key lock, and pitch control for unlimited mixing options.
PROS
CONS
WHERE TO BUY
This can be found in Amazon
WARRANTY
This product carries a one-year limited warranty from the manufacturer.
MARANTZ TT-15S1 REFERENCE BELT DRIVE TURNTABLE
[amazon box=”B000EI2I76″]
FEATURES
The Marantz Belt-Driven Premium Turntable brings alive the old school charm of analog music. Made with advanced, cutting-edge materials and designed with a unique configuration, this turntable brings back the warmth and realism of analog music. The turntable features a floating motor mount construction that helps deaden vibrations and reduce distortions. It has a solid plinth belt drive, a precision AC asynchronous motor, a heavy platter, an anodized aluminum manual tonearm, and a Virtuoso MM Cartridge with an ebony wood body, a diamond stylus, and a lightweight aluminum cantilever. it provides everything you could need for a great listening experience.
PROS
CONS
WHERE TO BUY
This can be found in Amazon.
WARRANTY
This product carries a three-year limited warranty from the manufacturer.
THE VERDICT
Based on our research, we believe the best record player is the Numark Turntable with USB. The interchangeable tone arms make it a versatile choice for any DJ. The built-in BPM counter and USB connector make it easy to perform vinyl to digital transfer, and the digital outputs make direct sampling a breeze.
