A turntable is a device for playing analog sound or gramophone records. It has a spindle that supports the record and a pickup that plots the vibrations from the stylus as music, along with artists and pieces of music from those discs.
In response to high-quality audio playback systems, vinyl records have had an increase in popularity. Many people prefer to listen to vinyl for its sturdy construction and warm, natural sound quality.
Table of Contents
Buying Guide
1. Sound Quality:
With a virgin vinyl, you have a record with no grooves to create a unique sound quality. The interior of the record is still soft and will not wear out quickly. The sound will be clear and natural. Some research has been done on vinyl records to show that they have a warmer sound than the modern equivalent, the compact disc.
2. Durability:
If you use a properly maintained turntable and a high-quality needle, vinyl records can be played thousands of times without causing any damage to the record or weakening the needle.
They can be treated just like any other piece of equipment used in your office or home with proper care. The records can be cleaned easily and will only require a few drops of mild soap to clean them up.
3. Pricing:
Vinyl records are relatively inexpensive to buy from a reputable company. If you wish, you can purchase a new record and have it re-cut by a highly skilled record cutter – prices range from forty to fifty dollars. If you use a virgin vinyl, the price will be higher, making the investment more substantial.
5 Best New Vintage Looking Turntables
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1. Fluance RT81 Elite High Fidelity Vinyl Turntable Record Player with Audio Technica AT95E Cartridge, Belt Drive, Built-in Preamp, Adjustable Counterweight, Solid Wood Plinth – Walnut
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The Fluance RT81 is a best-selling turntable from the house of Fluance. They have been around for a while, and have been helped by a fairly good reputation in the market. The RT81 turntable comes with a high-quality cartridge, a belt drive system, a cartridge designed specifically for vinyl records and built-in preamp.
It also has solid wood plinth and comes with an auto start/stop function. This means that it does not require any manual adjustments between each play of the record.
Pros:
- The counterweight controls the location of the stylus and helps you get the most out of your records.
- They also include a high-quality cartridge that hits all the high points for sound quality.
- It does not suffer from distortion and also has a long lifespan.
Cons:
- This turntable can be difficult to set up. If you do not have any experience in assembling them, you may not want to try this one on your own.
2. Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB-BK Direct-Drive Turntable (Analog & USB), Fully Manual, Hi-Fi, 3 Speed, Convert Vinyl to Digital, Anti-Skate and Variable Pitch Control Black
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The Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB is a fully manual turntable for playing vinyl records. It is designed to convert the vinyl record music to digital format. It comes with three different speeds – 33 1/3, 45 and 78 rpm.
It has anti-skate control that helps you get the most out of the groove on each side of the record. The pitch control gives you manual control over the pitch if you are trying to change it.
Pros:
- Comes with an anti-skate control which helps eliminate errors when something goes wrong with the turntable while you are playing a record.
- You can use this turntable on all three speeds. This means that you can use it to play your old records that are not in the same speed as the turntable.
- It is highly durable with a very strong body made of wood. It can also be adjusted to suit your needs. The turntable is also lightweight and easy to move around the office or home.
Cons:
- It does not have a built-in preamp. If you have a high-end sound system, you may want to consider a different model.
3. 1 BY ONE Belt Drive Turntable with Bluetooth Connectivity, Built-in Phono Pre-amp, USB Digital Output Vinyl Stereo Record Player with Magnetic Cartridge, 33 or 45 RPM
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The 1 by One belt drive turntable is all about simplicity. This turntable comes with a magnetic cartridge, Bluetooth connectivity and a built-in phono pre-amp. It can be adjusted manually using the counterweight controls.
Pros:
- It has a Bluetooth feature that allows you connect with it from anywhere in the room. You can also stream your favorite music from your phone or tablet to the turntable and use it as a speaker system.
- The build quality of this turntable is very good and gives you the assurance that you will be using it for some time to come.
- It comes with an aluminum platter that does not warp or warp over time.
Cons:
- The Bluetooth connectivity can be a little buggy at times. You may have to restart the system a few times to get it to work properly.
4. Audio-Technica AT-LPW40WN Fully Manual Belt-Drive Turntable, 2 Speeds, Dynamic Anti-Skate Control, Carbon-Fiber Tonearm Walnut
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The Audio-Technica AT-LPW40WN is a high-quality turntable that comes with dynamic anti-skate control. This feature helps you get the best out of the groove on the record, making it very reliable.
It can be adjusted manually using the counterweight controls and also comes with two speeds for playing your vinyl records at 33 and 45 rpm. It also has a cartridge designed for vinyl records and built-in high-end phono preamp.
Pros:
- Comes with a built-in phono pre-amp that will help you get the maximum output from your vinyl records.
- The anti-skate feature helps to increase the life of the needle and also reduces errors in playback.
- The carbon fiber tonearm offers incredible tracking.
Cons:
- It is not as durable as other models. If you are someone who moves objects around a lot, this may not be the best choice for you. It may also become a problem if you have children playing with it.
5. Fluance RT85 Reference High Fidelity Vinyl Turntable Record Player with Ortofon 2M Blue Cartridge, Acrylic Platter, Speed Control Motor, Solid Wood Plinth, Vibration Isolation Feet – Piano Black
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The Fluance RT85 is a high-quality belt drive turntable that comes with an acrylic platter and a solid wood plinth. It is designed for playing your records and can be used with or without a preamp.
It comes with speed control motor and built-in preamp. The elegant design and the acoustics make this one of the best-looking turntables available.
Pros:
- Comes with an attractive design that is sure to impress any music lover.
- The design is compact and looks beautiful.
- This turntable does not suffer from distortion and has an extended lifespan.
Cons:
- It does not come with a preamp and you will not be able to connect your external sound system to it. If you want to use an external preamp, you may need to look for a different model.
Conclusion:
The turntables in this list will give you the best possible experience in playing your vinyl records. They come with different feature sets and also have different prices.
If you want a turntable that does not cost too much, the Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB is a great choice. It can be used in all three speeds and is an auto start/stop player, which means that it can be left on without having to run through various adjustments before each play of the record.