8 Best Turntables For Beginners

Turntables have evolved and aren’t as rusty as the ones you might see at your parent’s place. They’re modern devices with all the essential functions for a music lover. You’ll find the high-end turntables with USB outputs and Bluetooth connectivity allowing you to record straight onto the PC. It has also given the portability to listen to the vinyl anywhere. We’ve also seen an upward trend in the sales of the turntables. So, to get rid of the dust from the vinyl in the attic, there will never be a better time than now.

We’ve researched and brought the list of turntables. Here’s one for everyone. So, let’s check them out.

1. Audio-Technica AT-LP120-USB

• amazing sound quality for the price
• usable for both newbie and pros
• the downside is that it has a plastic build

The Audio-Technica AT-LP120-USB is for the budding vinyl enthusiast inside of you. It’s the best starter and an introductory turntable. Out of the box, it comes with support for variable rpm, which means a wide variety of support for music tracks. The phono preamp comes in-built, so forget the worry of finding one. Regular record collectors will love the easy setup portion.

2. Audio-Technica AT-LP60

• Automatic
• Value for money
• Negative being passable sound and you can’t replace the cartridge

Audio-Technica AT-LP60 is the perfect dummy-proof turntable that comes at a very cheap price. It is the perfect starting point for newbies. Its support for vinyl is huge and is the most inexpensive one of the lot. The automatic function lets you queue another record and rest the arm without the manual movement. The only downside is the cheap cost which implies that the turntable won’t last as long as your vinyl collection. This device has a phono preamp in-built.

While cheaper and poorly built turntables may point towards being not so worth it.

3. Denon DP-300F

• Automatic
• sound worth the money

The Denon DP-300F is the turntable that looks good as well as it sounds good, that too without breaking the bank. The DSN-85 cartridge isn’t that accurate but does a great job with the sound at the given price point. If the budget isn’t the problem then details on the tracks can be heard. Although the device lacks a USB port, it’s great for a newbie looking to listen to vinyl. It comes included with a start/stop function that comes to the rest position once the album is done.

4. Fluance RT81

• Worthy sound for the price
• high-quality phono preamp

The Fluance RT81 can be a replacement for AT-LP120-USB just with the notable absence of USB port. The straight forward setup is easy to follow and the cartridge can be replaced to extract more performance from the device. The device has an automatic off function which can be the only con. The needle has to be manually put to the rest position even after the record stops playing. There’s no support for queuing hence it should be kept in mind for the ones looking for a fully automatic one.

5. Pro-Ject Debut Carbon

• hi-fi turntable at an incredible price
• easy setup

Pro-Ject Debut Carbon is among the few best entry-level turntables present today. Although the price may be a setback to some, it is worth every penny. At this price point, you get a turntable that has a well-damped deck for perfect sound quality and the carbon fiber arm is meant for long term usage. It is more of a device for someone professional rather than a newbie due to the absence of automatic changing rpm, pre-installed phono preamp, etc. But it works perfectly for the people who want to extract more detail and resolution from the tracks.

6. Rega Planar 1

• High sound quality
• Setup is easy

Rega Planar 1 competes with Pro-Ject Debut Carbon due to the similar features they provide. Although the Planar 1 lacks the hi-fi carbon fiber arm, it’s phenolic resin platter provide more refined sound with the struggle of providing your preamp. The sound quality here is too good to be found flaws in. It doesn’t have any special kind of cartridge but still manages to be among the best turntables so far. It will entirely depend upon you to choose between Planar 1 and Pro-Ject Debut Carbon. But none of them will disappoint you.

7. Marantz TT-15S1

• Stunning design
• minute attention to detail

We’ve now entered the high-end realm where the pro turntables exist. The Marantz TT-15S1 is a bit of a steal at the price point compared to its design and details. There’s no room for unreasonable expense here, it’s the best kind of future investment. The feel of the entire device and its high-end components is what makes it so desirable. The setup is a little tricky on this one so not recommended for newbies. But if you’re willing to step up your listening and record collecting game, then go for it.

8. Clearaudio Concept

• Amazing build quality
• Rich and detailed sound

The gorgeous build of the device gives it a premium feel. The facility of a handy speed dial means that the best swap will occur automatically. It’s a flawless device but with a hefty price tag.

In all of the above turntables, we’ve seen so far that it entirely depends upon the user as to what the requirements are, so look for what you need and choose the best one. Although a little experience will help in deciding what specific model to purchase and what features to look for. Happy hunting!…