Buying your next record player? Buying your first record player? Buying a loved one’s first record player? Whichever way you find yourself looking at the humongous variety of turntables available today, picking the right one out is, to say the least, a toughie.
This is just as true for seasoned vinyl junkies as it is for those new to the vinyl revival, too; there are so many variables that differentiate one record player from the next, from basic build-quality decisions to techy features and add-ons. Even when you’ve a clear idea of what it is you need, you’re faced with tough choices, in the form of excellent options from stand-out audio brands big and small.
It’s exceedingly easy to get lost down the rabbit-hole when looking at specs and features, particularly if you’ve got a little more in the budget. This is why I’ve elected to make things a little easier for you, in this very round-up of the better record players available to buy right now.
This buyer’s guide is a broad one, taking in everything from entry-level turntables to higher-end, high-fidelity workhorse record players. I’ve elected to steer closer to the lower-middle range of turntable prices, and leant on the scales at the entry level a little too; not everyone has a turntable budget the same size as their new-car budget – besides which, if you’re already looking at record players worth more than $/£5000, you’re probably not interested in reading my advice to begin with!
But if you're eager to get started, I'll give you my top two picks - and you'll find out more details on both of these turntables below. My top choice goes to the Rega Planar 3 - a record player that oozes style and sounds even better than it looks. My second pick goes to a turntable from the ever-dependable Audio-Technica in the shape of the AT-LP70XBT. It's a two-speed, beginner-friendly unit that won't disappoint - and it also features in our guide to the best Audio-Technica turntables.
If you want a few more options to mull over, and from across the (affordable!) price spectrum, please read on. If you’d like a little more guidance on what it is that distinguishes a good record player from a bad one, you can head down to my Buyer’s Advice section for some tips and trivia on what it is that makes turntables tick.
Out top picks
This Rega turntable is an unbelievably clean and clear performer that doesn’t impart its own character on your record collection. Everything you throw at it will sound just as it should – packed with detail, punch, rhythm and impeccable tonality. If you want to hear your vinyl as it was intended, this is how you should do it. Our top pick is simply awesome.
If you're in the market for a great-sounding, beginner-friendly turntable, then I recommend the Audio-Technica LP70XBT. This two-speed, automatic record player is easy to use and, should you wish to replace the stylus in the future, you can - a feature many entry-level turntables don't offer. For the price, you get a lot for your money.
The Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 is a do-it-all turntable that nails the brief. A built-in phono stage and amplifier means all you need add is a pair of speakers – and two-way Bluetooth connectivity sweetens the deal, allowing you to use the built-in amp for streaming audio, or for beaming your wax to your favourite Bluetooth speaker. Add Pro-Ject’s hallmark build quality, and you’ve got a Swiss-army-knife winner in the making.
While the sleek-looking Rega Planar 1 doesn't sport bells and whistles such as Bluetooth or a built-in phono preamp, this is the best-sounding turntable available at this sort of price. If you want to hear your just-bought or much-cherished records just as intended, the Planar 1 is how you do it.
Fluance turntables inhabit a comfortable space between beginner-friendly players and audiophile units. The RT85 has a brilliant Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge, while the whole unit is rock-solid thanks to its acrylic platter. The Fluance RT85 is also available in a range of colour variations, making it a top-quality turntable.
This Technics turntable is a thoroughly modern unit with direct drive, so there's no belt to mess about with. What’s most impressive is how amazing the SL-1500C sounds. Clean, organised and dynamic, it takes a digital approach that digs up all of the detail, but it’s not cold and unfeeling in the way of a hi-res music player.
Best overall
✅ Buy if you want a top turntable that looks the part: This is a solid, belt-driven turntable that plays your records in all their glory.
❌ Avoid if you want Bluetooth functionality: This is a brilliant turntable, but if you want Bluetooth capabilities, you’ll have to look elsewhere.
Sound ★★★★★
Design ★★★★★
Features ★★★★
Overall ★★★★★
The original Planar 3 is now more than 40 years old. Yet, amazingly, if I was to put it and this current version side-by-side, I think most people would be hard-pressed to spot any differences beyond the smarter plinth and updated tonearm.
Under the skin, almost every part had been revised since the last version – the and yet the core character remains. I found this Rega turntable to be an unbelievably clean and clear performer that doesn’t impart its own character on your records. Everything you throw at it will sound just as it should – packed with detail, punch, rhythm and impeccable tonality.
You can also buy the Rega Planar 3 with added Elys 2 moving magnet cartridge, which will add a handful of cash to the purchase, but I only think the extra outlay is worth it if you're looking for absolutely top-drawer performance and crystal clear audio.
If you want to hear your vinyl as intended, this is how you should do it. In my opinion, this is the best record player around right now, bar none.
"I didn't think the Planar 3 could get much better at this price, but how wrong I was. Following a near-complete overhaul, Rega's legendary turntable sounds more detailed, more lively and more organised than ever."
Read more: Rega Planar 3 review
Best for beginners
✅ Buy if you want a top automatic unit with Bluetooth: This is an excellent option for first-time buyers, with the LP70XBT turning out great sound... and it has Bluetooth.
❌ Avoid if you have a little more to spend: There are better Audio-Technica models available that’ll better suit more experienced vinyl fans.
Sound ★★★★
Design ★★★★
Features ★★★★½
Overall ★★★★
Audio Technica’s latest beginner-friendly turntable is something of a winner, and in quite a few respects as well. The AT-LP70XBT is the successor model to the LP60XBT, a hugely popular automatic turntable which no doubt has served as a great many people’s first-ever turntable; the LP70XBT takes the essential format and runs with it, resulting in one of the best low-budget turntables on the market today.
Most conventional turntables have removable cartridges, enabling users to replace them with their own or as styli wear down; entry-level turntables often don’t have these, instead hardwiring an inexpensive assembly into the tonearm. The LP70XBT does the best of both worlds, by using Audio-Technica’s new(ish) VM95 series standard for its stylus. It ships with the AT-VM95C stylus, a conical stylus with solid and serviceable fidelity – but you can upgrade it to another in the series at your leisure, and with as much simplicity as operating the turntable itself.
There’s a great deal to love about the AT-LP70XBT. It does a lot of things right that other entry-level turntables don’t, from stable playback to princely treatment of the records you play on it. There are some essential sound- and build-quality trade-offs that come with the price, but as far as budget beginner record players go, this is the bee’s knees.
Best all-in-one
✅ Buy if you want an easy to set up turntable: Project’s offerings are always worth a closer look, and with built-in phono stage and amp, all you need to add is a pair of speakers
❌ Avoid if you’re on a tight budget: All the E1’s bells and whistles means you’re going to have to pay a bit extra to get your hands on one.
Sound ★★★★½
Design ★★★★
Features ★★★★½
Overall ★★★★½
Pro-Ject’s Juke Box E1 stands apart from myriad products with which it shares a niche. A great many all-in-one turntables are budget fare, cramming fairly-decent amps and speakers into a big chassis with a disappointing turntable atop; the Juke Box E1 dares to dream of a world in which convenience and quality really, actually, truly share a body.
This all-in-one turntable pairs an excellent record player, based on the Pro-Ject Primary E turntable, with a phono stage and a capable 50W stereo amplifier. The Ortofon OM 5E cartridge it comes with is a cut or three above other budget cartridges on similarly-designed systems, too. All you need to be prepared to add is a pair of decent speakers – which Pro-Ject are even prepared to provide as a bundle, if you opt to pay a little more.
Not only does the Juke Box E1 simplify the sometimes-arcane process of putting together a hi-fi system, but it brings yet more techy convenience by way of bi-directional Bluetooth connectivity.
You can stream audio to your turntable, or stream vinyl audio from it to your Bluetooth-enabled destination of choice. These possibilities are no longer new, but they are a delight to engage with in a sleek, well-built Pro-Ject chassis.
Best on a budget
✅ Buy if you want a brilliant wallet-friendly turntable: Rega continue to do great things and this is simply the best record player you can buy in this price bracket.
❌ Avoid if you need a unit with a phono stage: There’s no integrated phono stage in the Planar 1, so keep that in mind when you’re planning your spending.
Sound ★★★★½
Design ★★★★
Features ★★★★
Overall ★★★★½
If you are after features such as Bluetooth and USB recording, the Rega Planar 1 isn’t going to be for you. It’s one of the only turntables in its bracket that doesn’t have a built-in phono preamp, which means you’ll need an amplifier that’s got one or will need to factor in the cost of an external unit. But I think it's worth it when the core deck is this good.
This is the best-sounding turntable available at this sort of price. If you want to hear your just-bought or much-cherished records just as intended, the Rega is how you do it.
And don’t go thinking this is a cold, complicated deck. On the contrary, I found it produced a really fun sound and is pretty straightforward to set-up. If you’re prepared to be just a bit adventurous, this is the deck to buy.
"The Rega Planar 1 may be an entry-level turntable but, with such a long and proud reputation to uphold, Rega was never going to churn out any old rubbish. The Planar 1 still exceeded my expectations, though. Set-up is a piece of cake and the sound quality is absolutely fantastic for the money. A built-in phono stage would've been the icing on the cake, but you can get one of those by opting for the slightly more expensive Rega Planar 1 Plus."
Read more: Rega Planar 1 review
Best mid-priced option
✅ Buy if you want a no-nonsense & robust player: This is a no-frills record player but it’s well-built and has a phono stage.
❌ Avoid if you looks matter in your tech: As solid as it is, the RT85 isn’t the most eye-catching piece of tech out there. Not that should really matter, but still.
Sound ★★★★
Design ★★★½
Features ★★★★
Overall ★★★★
If you ever go to the wider turntable community for advice on picking out a good ‘next’ turntable, you’ll hear the name Fluance a whole lot. Fluance turntables are rightfully vaunted as next-step record players for vinyl converts digging into their hi-fi journey, bridging perfectly as they do the gap between entry-level players and the audiophile hi-fi market – and the Fluance RT85 is a fab example.
The RT85 boasts an excellent Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge, which rules the roost among stock moving magnet cartridges for dynamic range; it’s fitted to a well-designed S-shaped tonearm, so-shaped to improve tracking and look good doing so. The RT85 also benefits from a big fat acrylic platter, which adds weight and stability to the whole shebang.
It helps too that the RT85 is a highly attractive object, with four possible finishes (including Piano Black and an irresistibly executive ‘Walnut’) and the shrewd flourish that is the external belt-drive system. Whether you’re looking for an on-ramp to quality hi-fi from the shonky depths of the sub-£100 suitcase turntable (shudder), or simply looking for a dependable record player you can hang on to for a while, this is an excellent choice for you.
Best for durability
✅ Buy if you want a solid mid-price performer: If you’re looking to move your starter unit to the next level, the belt-driven Fluance RT85 has you covered.
❌ Avoid if you need a few more extras: The Fluance RT85 has no Bluetooth, USB recording or built-in phono stage - just 3 things to bear in mind before you buy.
Sound ★★★★
Design ★★★½
Features ★★★
Overall ★★★★
This Technics turntable is a thoroughly modern unit with direct drive - so there's no belt to mess about with - a built-in cartridge and integrated phono preamp.
It’s also semi-automatic, so while you have to place the stylus in the groove to begin with, the tonearm will lift from the record at the end without you needing to lift a finger.
But what I found most impressive about this next-gen turntable is how amazing the SL-1500C sounds. Clean, organised and dynamic, it takes a digital approach that digs up all of the detail on that big, black slab, but it’s not cold and unfeeling in the way of a hi-res music player.
In short, it’s as straightforward as vinyl gets and it sounds amazing. If you’ve got a grand to drop on your analogue habit, this is the best record player to spend it on.
And if you're looking for a turntable that will last you years - representing incredible value for money - the Technics is hard to beat.
"Spending this amount for an entry-level turntable sounds expensive, but then this is no ordinary entry-level turntable. From top to bottom, the SL-1500C oozes the kind of quality that Technics is renowned for. If you're serious about vinyl, it should definitely be on your shortlist."
Read more: Technics SL-1500C review
Also tested
The above record players are for us, the ones you should be spending your money on. That said, they aren't the only ones we've reviewed. So if you don't see what you're looking for above, here is a selection of other record players we've reviewed.
How to choose the best record player for you
So, you've decided to pull the trigger and purchase a shiny new record player, but what are the key elements to consider before laying down your hard-earned cash?
It might sound obvious but sound quality is the biggest priority by far. While no audio firm has a completely perfect record in this area, sticking to the established and well-respected brands is a great place to start.
There are certainly some flagship brands to keep an eye out for. While our pick for best record player overall is made by Rega, don't forget about Pro-Ject which also boasts an accomplished range, while Technics and Clearaudio dominate the high-end record player sector. Sony and Audio-Technica, meanwhile, are particularly good at pairing true hi-fi audio quality with modern features such as Bluetooth and USB recording. We'd also recommend you take a look at our dedicated guide to the best Audio-Technica turntables.
It's also important to put some thought into whether you’ll actually use those kinds of high-tech features. While it’s nice to have lots of options at your fingertips, don’t splash out on tech you'll never use, as you could save yourself a bit of cash. If in doubt, remember this: the techiest turntable is almost never the one that sounds the best.
FAQs
Are record players easy to set up?
It's worth bearing in mind that setting up a turntable for the first time can be a fiddly business – though this is somewhat dependent on the kind of turntable or hi-fi setup you end up with. Some turntables are simpler than others in this regard, especially the cheaper automatic turntables which are functionally plug-and-play. Some all-in-one turntables, like the Pro-Ject Juke Box E1, simply need some bookshelf speakers or a Bluetooth destination to work.
Most manual turntables are designed to be plugged into a hi-fi amplifier, which itself is hooked up to speakers. Further, they may need to first go through a phono preamp, which boosts your turntable’s output signal; many record players now come with these built in, though. If your new turntable already has a phono stage, it’ll be more than happy being plugged straight into a hi-fi amp via phono cable, or even potentially via a 3.5mm aux cable.
There’s also the matter of ensuring the turntable itself is properly set up, and able to play your records without sounding awful – or worse, damaging them. Again, entry-level plug-and-play automatic turntables are often pre-calibrated right out of the box, albeit not the most trustworthy with prized records. The further up the turntable food chain you get, though, the more adjustability and customisability you encounter.
Think of the record player as three components: the cartridge, that picks up vibrations from a vinyl record and converts them to electricity; the tonearm, that holds the cartridge and allows it to move inward with the record’s groove; and the plinth, that spins the record.
Properly setting up a record player tends to involve calibration of the first two, from counterweighting the tonearm for best sound and minimal damage to adjusting the positioning of the cartridge. We go into more detail on how to properly set up a record player in this article.
Do I need speakers for my record player?
While some record players do come with built-in speakers – mostly at the budget end of the spectrum – these speakers tend not to be the most earth-shatteringly impressive with respect to fidelity or character. Don’t get me wrong: these can be ideal for passive listening, the teenage bedroom, or, if you’re going down the portable record player route, even out in the garden or park.
However, if you’re planning on spending a bit of cash on your turntable and want to get the best from your vinyl, then I do recommend purchasing a dedicated set of turntable speakers. You may need some additional components too, including a separate phono preamp, but more on that below.
Do I need a phono preamp for my record player?
If you’re boarding the vinyl train for the first time or getting back into the hobby, it’s a good call to start with familiarising yourself with some key components. If you’re not buying a turntable with Bluetooth connectivity or built-in speakers, you’ll likely need a hi-fi amplifier to receive your turntable’s signal and send it to speakers. You may also need a phono preamp, a step-up amplifier that increases the tiny output of a record player to a level that a standard stereo amplifier can work with.
I say ‘may’ because many newer models of turntable have a phono stage already built-in, as do some stereo amplifiers. Having a built-in phono stage may be convenient, but it’s actually better if you end up needing to buy a phono preamp; this gives you more control over the sound of your system, and can lead to far better results.
So, the question is, does your new record player come with one built-in? If it’s a yes, then you should be able to hook your speakers/amp up directly to your deck. If not, you’ll need to factor in additional budget for a phono pre-amp. Without one, your vinyl will sound quiet and weedy, and nobody wants that.
We have a guide covering this topic in more detail, plus our pick of the best phono preamps available today.
How much should I spend on a record player?
The only real answer as to how much you should spend on a record player is “however much you’re comfortable with”. There are excellent models available at every price point, as evidenced by this very list! Of course, the more you spend, the better returns you get in terms of build quality and sound fidelity. As such, it might help to figure out which budget range you’re comfortable looking in.
If you’re going truly budget, then you can pick something up for up to around the $/£150 mark. Drop anywhere from $/£200-400 and you’ll be comfortably into territory where the components are better, the sound starts to improve and you’ll get an extra dollop of style. Above $/500, and you’ll find yourself starting to split hairs over what matters to you features-wise.
Truth be told, that £/$200-400 lower-middle range is the sweet spot for most budgets, and where you’ll find the most competition between lauded turntable brands. Just make sure you have your list of must-haves to hand before you start narrowing down to your preferred price. You may find yourself paying a little extra for quality turntables with features such as Bluetooth and USB connectivity.
If you do have a little more to spend, though, you’ll find yourself comfortably in the realms of a deck that delivers premium components, exceedingly stable playback and robust build quality. Whatever you buy, with the right money behind it and the right research, will be sure to last.
How we test record players
We’re music fans first and foremost here at Louder so, while we are certainly interested in the spec sheet of any record player we test, we’re less focused on the nitty gritty detail of a deck that will deliver marginal gains. For us, we’re all about how the turntable sounds.
We listen to music around the clock - it's part of our job - so we know how albums are meant to sound. For our tests, we hook each turntable up to our home systems and spin an eclectic variety of genres, and albums from classic to modern, to really put the gear through its paces. That means we can test if the deck delivers the fullness of modern metal, the low-end of hip-hop, the richness of classical, the lo-fi grit of punk etc. We’ll often call on the ears of a colleague or family member to give us a second opinion, too.
On the whole, we are testing decks with albums we know inside out, so we know how they're supposed to sound. We want to know if a new deck can do them justice.
To cap it all off, we also test how easy the record player is to set up, operate and adjust to work exactly as we want it. Anything that makes it harder to get on with listening to our favourite albums gets marked down.
Finally, we take a look under the hood of any other features a turntable offers, such as computer-connectivity for digitising our records, an automatic tonearm or built-in preamp.
Read more about how we test and rate products at Louder.
Why trust us
⚡ Louder was established in 2017 and founded on long-running brands including Metal Hammer, Classic Rock and Prog (launched in 1986, 1998 and 2009 respectively)
⚡ Over 80,000 products reviewed on site, from music listening tech to albums and box sets
⚡ Our reviewers are all passionate music fans who draw on decades of testing experience
Louder’s reviewing team consists of music fans, musicians and professional product testers, who between them have accumulated decades of product reviewing experience, writing thousands of words on music listening gear across thousands of reviews on Louder. Our tests also inform our buyer's guide - just like this one.
As lifelong music fans, we're serious about the tech we listen to our favourite artists on. We want them to sound incredible, giving us all the detail those bands intended us to hear, and deliver the perfect balance of bass, mids and highs. We're looking for pure immersion in our chosen sounds, whether it's a classic '70s rock album, or a cutting-edge noise band.
And we test turntables with albums we know inside and out, and that we've listened to on a variety of systems already, so we know exactly what we should be hearing and when we're being short-changed by lackluster audio.
Meet the experts
Tom Parsons is a music and film fan who's been testing audio kit of all varieties for over 15 years - from turntables and headphones, to speakers and TVs - most of those at What Hi-Fi?. Tom has also worked as reviews editor and then deputy editor at Stuff, and over the years has had his work featured in publications including T3 and The Telegraph, plus appeared on BBC News, BBC World Service, BBC Radio 4 and Sky Swipe to talk tech.
Scott has spent 35 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, writes about the best deals for music fans, keeps on top of the latest tech releases and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more for Louder. Over the last 11 years, Scott has written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog.
Chris Barnes is the eCommerce Editor for Guitar World, MusicRadar and Louder, and is also a drummer. With the sound of crash cymbals permanently ringing in his ears after 20+ years of playing, and with 26 years of attending and playing live gigs under his belt, he knows the importance of quality ear protection and has used everything from free foam earplugs to custom moulded in-ear monitors.
James Grimshaw is a freelance writer and music obsessive with over a decade in music and audio writing. They’ve lent their audio-tech opinions (amongst others) to the likes of Guitar World, MusicRadar and the London Evening Standard – before which, they covered everything music and Leeds through their section-editorship of national e-magazine The State Of The Arts. When they aren’t blasting esoteric noise-rock around the house, they’re playing out with esoteric noise-rock bands in DIY venues across the country; James will evangelise to you about Tera Melos until the sun comes up.
Latest updates
Recent updates
18/03/25: The guide has been updated to include the Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 turntable. Expert verdict boxes have been added to where applicable and "At a glance" boxouts have also been added highlighting clear pros and cons. Star ratings are also now included for each record player. The FAQ section has been expanded and a "meet our experts" section now features so you discover the faces behind the names.
Read more
You can trust Louder Our experienced team has worked for some of the biggest brands in music. From testing headphones to reviewing albums, our experts aim to create reviews you can trust. Find out more about how we review.
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