Today’s vinyl turntables provide music fans with a wide array of choices at a range of price points. Unlike digital components like streamers, Today’s vinyl turntables provide music fans with a wide array of choices at a range of price points. Unlike digital components like streamers, vinyl turntables also provide the ability to customize the hardware with upgraded tonearms, as well as a choice of outboard (external) phono preamplifiers, which are required to amplify the lower output signal of a turntable, and a choice of either moving magnet (MM) or moving coil (MC) phono cartridges.
However, if you’re looking for a quick and easy way to spin your vinyl, there are plenty of turnkey turntables today that allow just about anyone to listen to their vinyl tracks with no extra thought required.
With brands like Pro-Ject, Victrola, Marantz, McIntosh, and more, there are plenty of turntables out there that fit both the affordable and ultra-luxury ends of the spectrum.
18 Turntables that Deliver Analog Audio Bliss
- Audio-Technica AT-LP8X
- Bang & Olufsen 4000C Saint Laurent Rive Droite Edition Turntable
- Clearaudio Concept
- Denon DP-300F
- Dual CS 518 Manual Turntable
- Linn Products Majik LP12
- Marantz TT-15SI
- Mark Levinson No.5105 Turntable
- McIntosh MT2 Precision Turntable
- Music Hall MMF-1.3 Turntable
- NAD C 588
- Pro-Ject T1 EVO Phono Turntable
- Rega Planar 2
- Rekkord F100
- Technics Direct Drive SL-1500C-K
- Thorens TD 203
- Victrola Stream Carbon
- VPI Prime 21
Audio-Technica AT-LP8X
The Audio Technica $999 AT-LP8X builds upon the classic turntable designs of the 1960s and 1970s, and it offers features such as a rubber-damped, anti-resonance aluminum platter and an MDF plinth. The solution ships with the company’s AT-VM95 moving magnet phono cartridge that provides 4.0mV of output and a 47k ohm impedance.
Bang & Olufsen 4000C Saint Laurent Rive Droite Edition Turntable
The Danish luxury audio company B&O is restoring a limited number of its Beogram 4000 turntables from the 1970s to bring them up to modern specifications. The limited release product features a Ziricote wood case that is accented in aluminum, and the table is finished with an etched logo.
Clearaudio Concept
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Available with a moving coil (MC) or moving magnet (MM) phono cartridge, the $2,400 Clearaudio Concept utilizes an MDF construction that includes high-tech plastic to help minimize resonances. The turntable also employs a decoupled DC motor that is paired with a voltage-stabilized power supply.
Denon DP-300F
The Denon $429 DP-300F provides music fans with an affordable fully automatic turntable that incorporates a switchable built-in phono preamplifier. The belt-driven table also includes a MM phono cartridge to offer homeowners a nearly turnkey turntable.
Dual CS 518 Manual Turntable
Dual is a classic brand name in the world of turntables and the current version of the brand offers its $799 CS 518. The company says the CS 518 incorporates a twin-gimbal tonearm design and an Ortofon 2M Red MM cartridge. Dual adds the turntable also offers homeowners a built-in MM phono preamplifier.
Linn Products Majik LP12
The Scottish company Linn Products is a legendary name in the world of home audio, and the company’s Majik LP12 represents its entry into audiophile vinyl. Prices for the Majik LP12 start at $5,130 and Linn supports the table with a choice of either its Adikt MM cartridge or its Koil MC phono cartridge. The company also offers the turntable in a choice of several finishes.
Marantz TT-15SI
The Marantz $1,799 TT15S1 has been around for a several years and the turntable provides a high-performance entry into vinyl. Marantz states the product employs a low-resonance, high-density acrylic chassis and platter, and a floating motor design. The TT-15SI also comes with a Clearaudio Virtuoso MM cartridge.
Mark Levinson No.5105 Turntable
When many people think of audiophile brands Mark Levinson is the first name that comes up. The No.5105 features a 14-pound aluminum platter and a carbon-fiber tonearm. The luxury turntable also utilizes a 12-volt synchronous motor, and the product is available with a choice of a MM or MC phono cartridges. Base prices start at approximately $4,995.
McIntosh MT2 Precision Turntable
Featuring McIntosh’s famous classic industrial design, the MT2 can play 33 1/3 and 45 RPM records. The N.Y.-based company states the approximately $5,000 turntable comes with a Sumiko Moonstone MM phono cartridge. The Moonstone cartridge offers a rated output level of 3.0mV and a 47K ohm load impedance.
Music Hall MMF-1.3 Turntable
Over the past decade or so Music Hall has become known to music fans for its turntables. Carrying a retail price of about $350, the MMF-1.3 provides music fans with an electronically controlled three-speed belt drive motor. The affordable MMF-1.3 incorporates an aluminum tonearm with a removable headshell that comes fitted with an Audio-Technica AT3600L phono cartridge. The turntable also provides users with a built-in phono preamplifier and a dust cover.
NAD C 588
NAD has always been known as a provider of value-minded high-performance home audio products. The $999 C588 lives up to the company’s reputation through features such as MDF plinth, as well as a 9-inch carbon fiber tonearm, and factory-installed Ortofon 2M Red MM phono cartridge. The turntable also offers gold-plated RCA output connections and metal feet that provide vibration isolation.
Pro-Ject T1 EVO Phono Turntable
Carrying a retail price of $599 the T1 EVO offers music lovers an MDF plinth, along with an 8.6-inch aluminum tonearm and a vibration-free bearing. Pro-Ject is a go-to manufacturer of turntables, and the T1 EVO utilizes an 8mm glass platter with felt mat and an Ortofon OM10 MM phono cartridge. Additionally, the T1 EVO incorporates a built-in phono preamplifier that provides the ability to bypass the phono preamp to use the phono preamp of someone’s choice.
See it at Pro-Ject Audio Systems.
Rega Planar 2
Available for roughly $795, the Rega Planar 2 offers features like the company’s RB220 tonearm, along with an acrylic-laminated plinth and a float-glass platter. Rega also emphasizes the Planar 2 supports the platter with its precision bearing that sits in a hub made from phenolic material. Additionally, the turntable employs a 24-volt low-noise motor, and the tonearm is fitted with the company’s ND3 MM phono cartridge.
Rekkord F100
The $399 Rekkord F100 turntable offers users a well-built and simple-to-use analog audio solution that can be used in a traditional audio system or in modern configurations such as a desktop system paired with an active set of loudspeakers. The turntable comes preloaded with an Audio-Technica 3600L cartridge, and the turntable also includes a setup where the tracking force and anti-skating settings are pre-adjusted for accurate playback.
Technics Direct Drive SL-1500C-K
Technics has been a popular manufacturer of turntables for years. In addition, for being known for its DJ products, the company offers a selection of home audio products that includes its Direct Drive SL-1500C. The $1,399 turntable incorporates a built-in phono preamplifier, and it includes an Ortofon 2M phono cartridge.
Thorens TD 203
Through famous products like the TD 160 turntable, Thorens has been an integral part of audiophile dream systems for decades. The $999 TD 203 is a fully assembled turntable that includes the company TP 82 tonearm, along with a low noise electronically speed controlled DC motor, and the company’s TAS 257 phono cartridge.
Victrola Stream Carbon
Victrola is one of the oldest names in home audio and turntables, but the brand’s $599 Stream Carbon turntable represents one of the most modern tables currently available. Fitted with an Ortofon 2M Red cartridge, the Stream Carbon provides traditional phono connections, as well as Wi-Fi with UPnP compatibility, and the ability to wireless stream to Sonos speakers.
VPI Prime 21
For more than four decades VPI has been making its turntables in the U.S. and the company’s Prime 21 is designed to deliver audiophile performance and an easy setup process. The Prime 21 utilizes an outboard 300rpm motor, a 20-pound platter, and the company’s JMW-10-3D tonearm as standard equipment. VPI offers Audiophiles an easy-to-implement upgrades of the $4,700 turntable that include VPI cartridges and other turntable accessories.
