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A Lifelong Turntable for Most
Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB
Best-Looking Upgrade
Fluance RT81+
For Tight Budgets
Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT
Best Sound for the Money
Pro-Ject Audio Debut Carbon Evo
Vinyl’s biggest selling point isn’t the sound. It’s the physical experience: shiny, delicate records; liner notes writ large; covers you want to frame and hang on your wall; and the way the stylus spins across the jagged surface, reproducing your favorite artists’ music as if by magic.
Maybe you’ve always been interested in building a record player setup for listening to LPs and 45s, but you don’t know where to start. Maybe you’re like WIRED editor Julian Chokkattu, who owned a record but no turntable to play it on. Maybe you’re just looking for an upgrade. No problem: There are many great record players out there, and most will easily connect to whatever audio system you already own. I’ve tested dozens, and these are the best turntables right now—from utilitarian, budget-friendly classics to more luxe options for those seeking audiophile-grade sound.
Check out our other audio guides, including the Best Speakers, Best Computer Speakers, and Best Soundbars.
Updated November 2024: We’ve added the Technics SL-1300G and Fluance RT81+.
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Photograph: Audio Technica
A Lifelong Turntable for Most
Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB
The LP120 is the most iconic entry-level turntable for a few reasons: It sounds great, the build is extremely durable, and it can be easily upgraded with fancier components down the road. I like this USB-enabled model because it allows you to plug the device directly into your computer so you can rip your records to MP3 files—great for preserving the playing condition of rarer vinyl finds while still getting to enjoy the music.
It also comes with a built-in phono preamp. This is a necessary component that raises the output signal of a record player so it can be listened to on a modern stereo system, a pair of powered speakers, or a set of headphones. Vintage stereo systems from the 1970s and ’80s often came with phono amps on board, but that feature is rarely found on modern-day audio equipment like digital stereo systems and smart speakers. So the inclusion of a preamp here makes the record player compatible with the majority of stereos from every era right out of the box. Just plug it into anything with standard RCA (red and white) inputs or a USB port, and you’re good to go.
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Photograph: Amazon
Best-Looking Upgrade
Fluance RT81+
The Fluance RT81+ has everything you could want in a turntable at this price and in a pretty faux wood package. I tested this table by swapping it with the similarly priced Pro-Ject Essential III in my living room mid-grade hi-fi system (a NAD D 3020 amp and ELAC bookshelf speakers with a powered subwoofer). The Fluance was a noticeable upgrade all around.
It has great clarity even in low frequencies (the Wild Wild West soundtrack was my reference material) and a pleasant warmth. That’s due to well-chosen components and a solid design, including three rubber-covered isolation feet, a built-in preamp, stable hinges for lifting the dust cover, and gold-plated connections. It ships with the Audio-Technica VM95E cartridge, which sounds great but can be easily swapped for five others in the same line, four of which are upgrades. The counterweight and dropping mechanism works noticeably better than other turntables I’ve tested at this price. —Martin Cizmar
Alternative: It’s a little cheaper, but I also like the Crosley C10a ($260) if you want something that looks nice in your living room. It comes with an Ortofon OM5e cartridge preinstalled for solid out-of-the-box performance, and the light wood veneer looks as good as the Fluance above.
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Photograph: Audio Technica
For Tight Budgets
Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT
If you plan to spin records only occasionally, or if money is tight, you’ll like this affordable Audio-Technica turntable with Bluetooth. It easily pairs with your favorite Bluetooth speakers, which makes it great for setups where wires might be an issue. You can plug it into an actual stereo (it has a built-in phono preamp) to get the best analog audio, as anything sent over Bluetooth has been digitally converted and may not sound its best. But even running wirelessly, the LP60 does the job for most people who are just (ahem) scratching the surface.
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Photograph: Pro-Ject Audio Systems
Best Sound for the Money
Pro-Ject Audio Debut Carbon Evo
The Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo (9/10, WIRED Recommends) sounds magnificent. It may not have the bells and whistles of some of our other picks, but Pro-Ject instead opts for high-quality components arranged in the simplest configuration possible. That includes a carbon-fiber tonearm, a custom thermoplastic elastomer-damped metal platter, and a house-made cartridge that typically retails for $150 alone.
Downsides? The platter doesn’t automatically stop spinning when the needle reaches the end of a record’s side, so you’ll have to stand up, walk over, and return the tonearm to its cradle a few times every hour. You’ll also have to buy an external phono preamp (I like this one) or connect it to a stereo equipped with a phono input since it doesn’t come with a built-in preamp. It’s worth noting that there’s a slightly newer model, the Debut Evo 2, though we haven’t tested it yet.
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Photograph: Rega
Also Amazing
Rega Planar 1
The Planar 1 is similar to the Debut Carbon Evo in its simplicity but offers even more premium components. There’s a special motor that reduces music-muddying vibrations, and a high-mass spinning platter to keep your record stable and rumble-free throughout your listening. It’s spendy, but this is widely considered to be among the best turntables under $1,000. It will last you decades if you treat it properly. Like many higher-end models on this list, the Planar 1 doesn’t have a built-in phono preamp, so you’ll need to provide your own.
Alternative: The Rega Planar 2 ($775) is an exceptionally nice turntable that also fits in the “elegantly simple” category. It comes with a redesigned motor that is even lower-noise and a new central bearing, and you can now get it with a faux-walnut finish if you’re into more woody looks. Just be aware that you’ll need to supply a preamp.
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Photograph: U-Turn Audio
To Match the Drapes
U-Turn Orbit Plus
The clear, acrylic platters and bright colors of U-Turn’s Orbit Plus make it easy to match them to your decor, and the unit also showcases great sound, sleek design, and a (relatively) affordable price. I like the way the Orbit Plus has you change speeds between 33 and 45 revolutions per minute, something you do when switching between larger, long-playing records and smaller, single-song records: you physically move the belt that spins the platter, lifting it from one rung of the motor to the other. It’s like switching from the larger gear to the smaller gear on your bicycle’s front chainring.
Plus, it looks really cool to have an exposed belt spinning your tunes. There’s no phono preamp on this one, so hook it up to a vintage stereo or buy an external preamp.
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Photograph: Pro-Ject Audio Systems
An Auto-Return Turntable
Pro-Ject Audio Automat A1
There’s no such thing as “set it and forget it” in the world of vinyl, but Pro-Ject’s Automat A1 does make starting and stopping sides easier than most. Simply flip the switch on the right side of the deck to start and stop playing, and the tonearm will automatically detect the end of each side and return to its cradle. Many other players either stop spinning with the needle in the middle or simply spin on forever. This is a much more elegant solution for people who put on a record while cooking dinner and might take a minute to flip it over.
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Photograph: U-Turn
For Retro Audiophiles
U-Turn Orbit Theory
Known for its relatively affordable, minimalist decks, U-Turn went all in with the Orbit Theory (9/10, WIRED Recommends). Blending retro style with premium materials like a hardwood plinth and housemade magnesium tonearm, this turntable looks and feels as great as it sounds. The Theory’s midcentury aesthetic is an instant vibe, while its belt-driven design is simple to set up and use. Don’t let its nostalgic looks fool you though. This table is flush with tech, including advanced dampening; a whisper-quiet, dual-speed motor; and a controller that adjusts record speed thousands of times per second to keep the sound on point.
There’s no built-in preamp by default, but U-Turn will drop in its Pluto 2 for an extra $70. There’s also no auto-return or stopping mechanism, so you’ve got to stay close by, but with a machine this sweet you won’t want to mosey too far anyway. —Ryan Waniata
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Photograph: Technics
Direct Drive Bliss
Technics SL-1500C
Technics makes some of the world’s most renowned direct-drive turntables (those with a motor beneath the record platter), and the SL-1500C is a sweet ride from start to finish. This beast of a table is solidly built and sparks a distinct Tron vibe, especially in the new white colorway I tested. Tactile silver control keys make playback convenient and fun, while the discreet auto-lifter function keeps your records safe without adding unwanted noise.
The deck’s coreless direct drive motor, isolated power supply, and included Ortofon 2M Red cartridge assure pristine sensitivity for performance that’s vibrant, smooth, and effortlessly detailed across your collection. A built-in phono preamp and EQ complete the package for a stylish and intuitive all-in-one system. —Ryan Waniata
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For Classic-Loving Audiophiles
Technics SL-1300G
This 26-pound Technics turntable is the finest high-end turntable we have tested so far (8/10, WIRED Recommends). It features a special zero distortion direct drive motor, as well as an aluminum tonearm and a transformerless power supply. Pulse width modulation control means the turntable can make sure it’s spinning at exactly the correct speed.
The real reason to buy a turntable that’s this nice and looks this classic? Nobody will ever suspect you have anything other than the classic Technics SL-1200 models, which cost thousands less, and are ubiquitous in clubs and theaters the world over. Be an audiophile without the judgment of your non-nerd peers! The downside? You’ll need to spring for a cartridge, as this doesn’t come with one.
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Photograph: Rega
For Wealthy Minimalists
Rega Planar 8
What Rega—a British turntable specialist that recently celebrated its 50th anniversary—has done to create the Planar 8 is a methodology more commonly found in the motor industry. You take a well-regarded and high-performing model, remove everything that can be deemed unnecessary, and then thoroughly overengineer everything that remains until you’re left with a stripped-back vehicle that’s ready to go racing.
Why not? It’s not as if the Rega RP8 (the model the Planar 8 follows up) was the last word in luxury. The Planar 8 is pared back in the manner of a greyhound. But while your money doesn’t appear to buy much actual stuff, what you get is utterly uncompromising. Everything that matters (the arm and cartridge obviously, but also the main bearing assembly, the aluminum sub-platter, and the laminated glass platter) is engineered without concession. The result is a turntable that’s almost humbling in its fluency and articulation, its authority and outright fidelity. You buy a turntable to listen to, not to look at. That’s why you should listen to the Rega Planar 8. —Simon Lucas
Vinyl Listening Accessories and Tips
Photograph: Art Pro Audio
Apart from a speaker setup, the main accessory you might need for your turntable is a phono preamp, if one doesn’t come built in. Phono preamps take the quiet signal from the turntable and bring it up to line level—the level your stereo expects from CD players, tape decks, and digital devices. The phono signal is usually always passed to the amp through the red and white RCA inputs on the back. There are plenty of good, cheap options for phono preamps. I like the Art DJPreII ($65). I wouldn’t spend less than $50 on one, but you don’t need to spend crazy money either. You can skip the ones that cost hundreds of dollars until you have a nicer turntable, but if you want to upgrade I like the Cambridge Audio Alva Solo preamp ($199).
Other basics you’ll need are tied to maintenance and setup. You’ll want a record brush (often included with turntables), a way to clean your stylus, and a level to make sure your turntable is set up properly. Check out this video to see exactly what you need to do before you play your first record.
Lastly, if you need a place to store all those LPs and 45s you’ve been buying, try a Flipbin. The company makes handsome table-top bins for safely displaying and protecting your records. Check out our Best Vinyl Accessories guide for more.
