The best record players for beginners and enthusiasts, tested by experts

Business Insider

5 hours ago

Streaming apps like Spotify are great for convenience, but as a music enthusiast, I crave a physical connection to my favorite albums. That's one reason I still take the time to pull a vinyl record out of its sleeve and drop it on the platter. The best record players turn listening to music into a more tangible, deliberate experience. Records can also offer better sound quality than compressed streaming, with a distinctly warm tone that some people prefer. It doesn't matter what genres you're into; if you have a similar ache to hold your music in your hands or see it on your shelf, then investing in a record player is a great solution.
But anyone who's started to research record players knows that it can be an intimidating hobby to get into. Sure, there are plenty of turntables out there, but if you're a beginner, it can be hard to tell which ones are actually worth your money. I've been reviewing audio gear for over a decade, from headphones and earbuds to speakers and soundbars, so I've had my share of record players along the way. To help you find the best record player for your needs, I tested a bunch of turntables across budgets and listened to a ton of music.
For this guide, I stuck to options that retail for under $1,000. If you're a huge audiophile, you can easily spend over that, but there are plenty of high-quality choices under that price point. My recommendations include options perfect for first-time buyers, like the easy-to-use Victrola Automatic, which sells for around $200. Meanwhile, if you're looking for a higher-end player to get to that next stage in your vinyl-listening journey, the U-Turn Orbit Special earns my highest recommendation.
Our top picks for the best record players
Best overall: U-Turn Orbit Special - See at Amazon
Best for beginners: Victrola Automatic - See at Amazon
Best overall
The U-Turn Orbit Special is a sleek, modern record player that hits just the right sweet spot for buyers who want a high-quality turntable that's still reasonably priced. It balances handy features and great sound quality while coming in at around $549. It has impressive components, including an Ortofon 2M Red cartridge, acrylic platter, one-piece magnesium gimbal tonearm, and electronic speed control.
The records I played sounded full and natural, complete with finer details that get lost on lesser models. The Special's operation is mostly manual, but 33 1/3 and 45 RPM electronic speed control adds convenience for switching between different-sized records.
Although the Orbit Special is sold as a pre-configured model, U-Turn also offers the option to configure a custom Orbit build. So, if you like the Special but don't want the electronic speed control, prefer a different cartridge pre-installed, or want something else tweaked, you can adjust various elements to suit your needs. The Special doesn't have a built-in preamp by default, but you can select that during the ordering process for an extra $80. Bluetooth, however, is not an option, so this is a wired player only.
In addition to the Orbit Special's high-quality performance and build, the player's design is a visual treat. Anyone into the vinyl lifestyle probably has strong opinions on the appearance of their record player. There are seven colorways to choose from, so there are options that will look at home in nearly any location
Best for beginners
The Victrola Automatic is a great starter option for anyone looking to dip their toes into the world of record players. It's perfect for people who are tempted by the idea of listening to vinyl but are put off by some of the hobby's manual controls and complicated technical aspects.
Victrola makes many models, but the Automatic's budget-friendly price, ease of use, and overall decent sound quality make it the brand's best record player for beginners.
I spent several weeks comparing different entry-level turntables, and the Victrola Automatic was able to rise above the pack. Its compact size means it can fit in most locations, plus it has Bluetooth connectivity so you can easily stream to any wireless Bluetooth speakers without having to worry about cables and an AV receiver or amplifier.
It's also fully automatic, with controls to play, repeat, lift the tonearm, and switch between speeds. This minimalist design allows you to simply place a record down, press a few buttons, and enjoy your music. And there's even an automatic repeat function if you want to keep your music playing indefinitely. That's a rare feature to find on competing entry-level models I've come across. I also appreciate the built-in, selectable preamp.
However, there are a few trade-offs with the Automatic that you should keep in mind. The unit is all plastic, including the tonearm. Because of the construction, the buttons do feel a bit cheap and have a loud clicky sound when pressed. The player's Audio Technica AT-3600LA cartridge isn't as high-end as those found on pricier players, so this isn't the best turntable for big audiophiles. That said, it still sounds respectable for this class and is perfect for more casual listeners who want one of the best turntables available on a budget.
Best all-in-one solution
Buying a record player with a built-in speaker won't get you the best audio experience, but it does make playback more convenient and saves some space. The Qlearsoul One-Q does an admirable job of packaging these components together for a good price.
To be clear, I've yet to encounter an all-in-one unit that has blown me away. But the One-Q is solid for this kind of player. I still recommend stand-alone turntables over a solution like this, but if you really don't want to fuss with separate speakers and an amplifier, this is a good model.
The player comes with a respectable AT-3600L cartridge, so it's making an effort to provide a good listening experience. The device's weakest link is the four built-in speaker drivers. They sound a bit harsh compared to most dedicated speaker options. They also can't provide the wide stereo separation you'd get from having separate left and right speakers.
However, compared to other all-in-one solutions I've tested, the One-Q sounds relatively full. I also like that it has RCA connectors on the back, so you can still choose to connect to a separate pair of speakers if you ever want to. Conversely, you can also use the player's built-in speaker to play audio from other sources via the device's AUX input or a wireless Bluetooth connection.
For people looking for an even cheaper all-in-one unit, the Victrola Eastwood II is also worth mentioning. It's often sold for $99, has a smaller footprint, and a sleek appearance. But while it costs half the price, the sound is about half as good as the One-Q.
Best midrange
Fluance's RT81+ is a great choice for people looking to upgrade from an entry-level turntable. It's my top midrange pick for the best record player under $500. This model costs about $300, has a solid wood construction, and uses premium components, which breathe life and sparkling clarity into that trademark analog sound that vinyl lovers crave.
Beyond the solid body, the RT81+ uses three adjustable rubber feet to help isolate the sound from vibrations. A 3mm acrylic mat also helps create a better sonic experience with less static than felt. This unit has a precision and quality that you can feel and hear. Its deep, resonant playback is impressive for its price point.
The RT81+ also includes a selectable preamp in case you aren't quite ready to invest in a separate unit. And if you ever do want to buy a dedicated preamp, you can simply add one to your audio chain and deactivate this function. However, the player only supports wired playback, so there is no Bluetooth option.
It's a small feature, but I also appreciate the player's ability to automatically stop a record once the music has finished. This isn't a fully automatic player, so it won't move the tonearm back to its starting place, but you can have it stop spinning when side A has come to an end.
Best for enthusiasts
The Pro-Ject Debut EVO 2 is a worthy consideration for music enthusiasts who want a premium record player. This turntable drips cool with its ultra-modern, clean-cut design. It's also available in several tempting satin color options.
On the music side, the EVO 2 features a custom Pick it MM EVO cartridge made in partnership with Ortofon. The carbon fiber tonearm is stable and precise and helps resist resonance. The height-adjustable feet with TPE dampening add to the stability and avoid unwanted vibrations. There's electronic speed control for 33 1/3 and 45 RPM record options that's cleverly hidden out of sight.
The Debut Evo 2's design and components make the record player feel sturdy and elegant to use, leading to a better auditory experience. There are no compromises when it comes to delivering great performance. The clarity and richness in the music I listened to were immediately evident. I also noticed more consistency across the records that I played.
As a record player geared more toward experienced listeners, the EVO 2 lacks some of the conveniences that casual buyers might look for, like a built-in preamp and Bluetooth support. However, those features are less attractive to enthusiasts since most will want to use a dedicated preamp and focus on wired playback to get the best audio quality.
The EVO 2 builds upon the strengths of the brand's previous Carbon Debut model to deliver a truly stunning experience. It's a joy to use and spin vinyl albums with. If you want a premium turntable but don't want to spend more than $1,000, this is easily one of the best record players to get.
What else we considered
The record players highlighted above represent my top recommendations for the best turntables, but I also tested other models that are still worth considering.
Most notably, I was impressed by the Sony PS-LX310BT, which I consider to be a great step-up alternative to the Victrola Automatic. Though pricier, this automatic player delivers better bass than the Victrola and uses higher-quality aluminum and metal parts. It also has the added bonus of including a USB port that can be used to rip old vinyl records to a computer. However, I don't like that it has permanently attached RCA cables in the back.
Ultimately, the Victrola model is a better fit for beginners who want an easy-to-use automatic player, but the Sony is a good upgrade option.
How we test record players
To find the best record players, I tested several models by listening to dozens of vinyl records. To get a proper comparison, I wired each one up to three different speakers: a Sonos Era 100 stereo pair, a Marshall Stanmore III, and a pair of Edifier R1280T bookshelf speakers. I kept the volumes of the speakers at 50% throughout the tests.
While I listened to a host of records on each one, I also made sure to use the same two on each of the units tested. I used the Bond 25 (The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) album and Georgia's Euphoric to get a sense of two extremes, one with orchestral instrumentation and the other heavy on electronic sounds.
For relevant models, I also connected them over Bluetooth to gauge the ease of connection and to listen to their wireless audio quality. While it's preferred to use a wired connection to get the best sound, connecting a record player wirelessly is a convenient option for casual listeners.
Across the various tests and sessions, I listened for clarity of detail and depth. Although not directly competing with each other, I did note how the differently priced models performed relative to each other. I kept an ear open for mechanical sounds and distracting clicks and ticks. I also looked for the smoothness of the parts and the feel of how each of the record players felt to operate.
I also observed how each looked sitting in a place where I've kept a record player for the last five years. Was it suitable to be out and visible in a living room, or was it better in a place with less attention on it? This is ultimately subjective, but some players have stylistic flourishes that will be more appealing to most people.
Record player FAQs
Should you buy an automatic or manual record player?
An automatic record player will move the tonearm for you and place it in the precise location. It will also lift it up once the music finishes. This makes an automatic player easy to use, and it's nice not to have to monitor it so closely. The flip side to that is that there are more parts and potential for things to break or go wrong. Moving parts might also introduce unwanted noise or vibrations. Manual record players are simpler in that way, and they tend to be the player of choice for purists who want a premium sound. There's no right or wrong choice here, just what suits your listening style better.
Do records sound better than streaming music?
The answer to this question is somewhat debatable and dependent on a few factors. Whether you're spinning a record or streaming songs from one of the best music services, the audio performance you get will vary depending on the source quality and components used.
Assuming you have an album in good condition and a quality turntable with solid speakers, a vinyl record can deliver a wider spectrum of sound with higher dynamic range and fidelity than a typical streaming music track. Spotify, for example, presents streaming music in a lossy compressed format that can't match the quality of vinyl. However, there are exceptions.
Some services, like Apple Music and Amazon Music, offer plans that provide lossless music streaming and high-resolution mastering. Streaming tracks that use these features can surpass the quality offered by vinyl. And unlike records, digital music doesn't degrade over time, so you don't have to worry about the sound quality diminishing the more you play a track.
That said, though lossless streaming is technically superior, vinyl records often provide a warmer sound than digital files, and some people prefer this tone, even if it is less accurate. So, the pros and cons of records vs. streaming are ultimately highly subjective, and it really comes down to whether you like the experience of vinyl collecting, the physical act of playing a record, and the unique warmth of a record's sound signature.
What do 33 1/3 RPM and 45 RPM speeds mean?
RPM stands for revolutions per minute, so 33 1/3 RPM means that the record plays correctly when it's spun 33.3 times per minute. Both 33 1/3 and 45 are the most common speeds, and they are supported on most record players. There is a 78 RPM option, which is a bit more difficult to find support for. If you're buying modern records, you shouldn't have to worry about the less common speeds, as most albums are 33 1/3 RPM.
What record sizes are there?
The size of a record will typically correspond to the speed it plays. For example, a seven-inch record plays at 45 RPM and a 12-inch record usually plays at 33 1/3 RPM. The less common 10-inch record will usually play at 78 RPM. Be aware that you may need a center adapter to play seven-inch records that have a 1.5-inch center hole.
Does a record player need an amp and preamp?
Preamps and amplifiers are often required to use a record player with external speakers. A preamp boosts the cartridge's audio level, which is a necessary step to properly hear a record through speakers. Some of the best turntables include a preamp built in, and they are also sold separately. If you're using passive speakers (ones that don't have a battery or plug into a wall for power), you'll also need an amplifier to power them.
Audio receivers are convenient solutions for both these needs since they work as speaker amplifiers, and many include built-in preamps for connecting to a record player. You simply wire your speakers to a compatible receiver's terminals and then plug your record player into the receiver's phono input.
Meanwhile, if you use powered speakers that already have their own amplification built in, you don't need to worry about a separate amp.
What's a record player cartridge, and how important is it to the overall experience?
There are a lot of components that make up a record player, but the cartridge is arguably the most critical to sound quality. It contains the needle that touches the record, and it turns the analog grooves into an electrical signal.
A high-end cartridge is often the part that's most worth splurging on. But in the same way you wouldn't spend the money to put a Ferrari engine into a Corolla, you want to make sure all the pieces around the cartridge are up to its quality and support an elevated listening experience.