Sound Check: 8 Record Players & Turntables That Are Perfect for Spinning Your Favorite Vinyl
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Nothing beats the sound of a great record player, right?
For music lovers, having a vinyl setup in your home is the ultimate way to enjoy your favorite albums, but with so many record players and turntables out there, it’s hard to find the perfect one.
Fear not, Billboard has your back! In honor of Record Store Day on Saturday (April 22), we searched to find a selection of our favorite record players and turntables (click here for funky, sleek ways to store and display your record collection in your home or studio).
What’s the difference between a record player and a turntable? In short, a turntable is a more isolated version of a record player that tends to be portable, and popular with DJs, while most record players are usually designed to stay in your house (although we do have some portable options on the list).
From low-cost to luxury, see below for a list of eight of the best record players and turntables for all budgets.
Some of the products below are from retailers such as Amazon where Prime members can get free shipping (start your 30-day free trial here) and other benefits — including discounts and access to Prime Video and Amazon Music.
For more product recommendations, check out our tips on how to clean your vinyl records and the best speakers for music lovers.
ByronStatics Vinyl Turntable Record Player
Starting with a bargain, Bryson Statistic’s suitcase record player is a good option for the price. Available in black, blue and dark grey, this three-speed record player has built-in stereo speakers (with a jack for headphones), which deliver a decent amount of sound. The record player supports AUX/RCA and Bluetooth connectivity in select models.
Heyday turntables are another budget-friendly favorite among TikTokers, but they’re currently out of stock at Target. If you don’t mind shopping pre-owned options, HeyDay turntables are available on resale sites like eBay. Plus, there are tons of other record players under $100 such Crosley’s CR8017A Voyager Portable Turntable.
Buy: Fluance RT81 Elite High Fidelity Vinyl Turntable Record Player $249.99
Fluence RT81 is another highly rated record player. Features include an Audio Technica AT95E diamond elliptical tipped stylus (designed to track your record grooves with greater precision and accuracy for a high-definition audio experience) and a rubber slip mat for “superior isolation from unwanted vibrations.” Although Fluence record players don’t have Bluetooth, you can connect them to external speakers, or click here to shop the Fluence RT81 turntable with five-inch bookshelf speakers ($489).
U-Turn Audio – Orbit Plus Turntable with Built-in Preamp (White)
Time for U-Turn! The U-Turn Orbit (available in white, red, black and blue) is known for it’s “balanced and neutral sound” and it’s popular on TikTok. This sleek turntable is equipped with an OA2 gimbal arm that utilizes “precision bearings” to ensure that the stylus moves freely, a low-resistance acrylic platter for “speed consistency” with anti-skate preset and an adjustable counterweight. The external, two-speed belt drive (33 1/3 RPM and 45 RPM) is designed to separate the “low-noise motor from the rest of the turntable.”
Sony PS-LX310BT Turntable
Moving up on the price scale, Sony’s PS-L310BT wireless turntable lets you experience vinyl in full stereo. This $250 turntable features a single button press, high-quality audio, Bluetooth connectivity and both operating speeds (33 1/3 rpm and 45 rpm).
Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT-RD Fully Automatic Belt-Drive Stereo Turntable, Red/Black, Bluetooth, Hi-Fi, 2 Speed
Interested in Audio Technica? The AT LP-60 is discontinued but the AT-LPX60BT is a good alternative for beginners and intermediate listeners. Merging hi-fi audio and Bluetooth technology for wired and wireless listening, the AT-LP60XBT easily pairs with speakers and headphones. The turntable is available in several different colors including red, white, black, blue, silver and lilac.
Carry the music with you. Victrola’s portable, rechargeable Bluetooth record player features a three-speed belt driven turntable and an Audio Technica moving magnetic cartridge. The rechargeable battery lasts for up to 12 hours.
If you can afford to go up in price, the Rega Planar 1 is a good starting point on the scale of higher-end turntables. It features a brand new RB110 tonearm, built with the new Rega designed bespoke bearings with ultra-low friction performance and a 23mm, higher mass, phenolic platter equipped with an improved flywheel effect for better speed stability. The turntable runs on a 24v, low noise, synchronous motor designed to reduce the vibration transfer.
Technics SL-1200MK7 Turntable
For DJs looking to invest in a quality turntable, Technics and Pioneer are among the top brands. Last year, Technics unveiled the SL-1200M7LPA Turntables celebrating the 50th anniversary of the popular series. The limited edition turntables — which were available in red, black, blue, white, green, beige and yellow colorways — were only around for a limited time, but if you want an alternative from the same brand, go for the the SL-1200MK7.
Billboard Staff
Billboard
