With records continuing their 18 year sales growth surge and around half of the buyers (in the U.S. at least) not even owning a turntable to play their collections on, an entry-level turntable could be a no-brainer gift choice for many people. And many of the vinyl fans that do own the required equipment would be happy to have an upgrade. Those suitcase style all-in-one record players look retro cool, but they don’t do the best job of playing records–and some can actually prematurely wear the vinyl. If you’re looking for a turntable to give as a holiday gift (or maybe you want to keep an eye out for one for yourself during the holiday sales), I can help you to make an informed choice.
I’ve put together a list of turntables in different price ranges that make great gifts. There are some big names that you won’t find in the list (Rega for example) and that’s not because they don’t make good products. It’s because this gift guide is curated to only include turntable models that I have personally tested, reviewed and recommended–with a focus on the entry level. I’ve gone hands-on with dozens of turntables over the past decade and these are some of my favorites.
Entry Level
What makes a good entry-level turntable? Price is obviously key, but I look for models that also offer value, won’t chew up records and that are built to last. They should also have an integrated, switchable PHONO pre-amp so they can be plugged into any audio system or speaker with an AUX input.
The $249.99 Fluance RT81 Elite High Fidelity turntable is well worth the price. It offers features commonly found in more expensive models including a heavy MDF plinth, aluminum platter, and an S-shaped tonearm tipped with an Audio-Technica AT95E MM elliptical cartridge. This is the starter turntable that got me back into records and the one that I recommend to friends and family who want something inexpensive to spin their records on.
Also priced at $249.99, the Sony PS-LX310BT turntable (reviewed here) offers an ultra-modern take on the turntable. It’s mostly plastic (as is the case with many entry level turntables), but not cheap looking and Sony uses aluminum for two key components: the platter and tonearm. It’s fully automatic in operation. In addition to the built-in preamp, this turntable can also connect wirelessly to headphones and speakers using Bluetooth.
The U-Turn Audio Orbit Basic technically slides into the entry level price band at $249. However, once you add the optional $50 cue lever (which I would not do without), that is now $299. A built-in preamp is an additional $80. The turntable itself is a nice one, with stylish low profile MDF plinth that’s available in a range of powder-coated colors, an advanced magnesium tonearm, a grooved MDF platter and an Audio-Technica AT91B cartridge. This turntable is also assembled in the U.S., at U-Turn Audio’s Massachusetts facility.
A surprise entry at the upper end of the entry level price band is the $279 Crosley C8. Probably best know for its retro-styled Cruiser suitcase record player systems, Crosley also makes turntables aimed at more serious record listeners who have decided to invest in something a little more capable. The Crosley C8 is a prime example of this strategy. The two-speed, belt-drive turntable features an aluminum platter, adjustable counterweight and anti-skate control, an Audio-Technica ATN3600L cartridge and a chunky MDF plinth in a walnut finish.
Mid-Range
Once you spend over $300, you can expect a turntable to offer more advanced features and capabilities including a better cartridge to get the most out of a record’s grooves, along with less plastic. Built-in preamps are less common as more serious listeners tend to have standalone preamps or amplifiers with a PHONO input. Models in this price range also offer upgrade possibilities, so improved sound at a later date doesn’t mean having to start all over with a new turntable.
The Fluance RT85 Reference High Fidelity continues to be my pick as an outstanding value for a mid-range turntable. For $499.99 you get a substantial slab of MDF wrapped in your choice of finish, including real walnut or bamboo veneer. It has an acrylic platter, three rubber spike height-adjustable feet, a servo-controlled motor, an S-shaped aluminum tonearm and the excellent Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge. For a warmer sound, the RT85N (reviewed here) has identical specs and pricing but replaces the Ortofon cartridge with a Nagaoka MP-110.
High End
It is possible to spend $10,000 or more on an audiophile turntable. Even if a manufacturer was willing to send a review unit, I don’t own an audio system that would be able to highlight the performance in something of that caliber. However, for a budget of around $1,000 you can pick up a very nice turntable indeed. Matched with decent (not necessarily audiophile class) stereo equipment, models in this price range are an investment that will deliver the best in analog audio.
U-Turn Audio is back on the list, this time for my most recent review, the Orbit Theory. Starting at $999, this American-assembled (with some components also domestically manufactured) turntable features a solid hardwood plinth, advanced single piece magnesium tonearm, a grooved acrylic platter, Iso-Level vibration dampening feet and an Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge. Spend the extra $240 to bump the factory installed cartridge up to the amazing Ortofon 2M Bronze and this is a statement turntable that looks as good as it sounds.
All-in-One
Generally speaking, I don’t recommend all-in-one record players. They tend to be a series of compromises and most are aimed at the entry level, casual listener market–which means they don’t sound great, look a little over the top (lots of fake wood and brass) and they are often built around those cheap, vinyl-eating record players…
However, for those in search of an all-in-one that will make their records sound fantastic, look no further than Andover, Massachusetts-based Andover Audio and its incredible Andover-One (reviewed here). Yes, it is priced at $2499, but this is a complete sound system, tastefully encased in a hardwood frame. A turntable from Austria’s Pro-Ject with a carbon tonearm, acrylic platter and Ortofon 2M Silver cartridge sits atop a specially isolated speaker system with 210 watts driving a pair of tweeters and four 3.5-inch woofers for room-filling sound. Forget the record player in a suitcase, this is the ultimate all-in-one for record lovers.
