Best Turntables And Vinyl Record Players For The Money: Teac vs Audio Technica vs Pro-Ject
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There’s nothing like a vinyl experience to get your music vibe going, especially for hard-core music lovers. Join us in our vinyl countdown of the best turntables and vinyl record players for the money. We’ve done our research on the latest and greatest products.
Best Turntables And Vinyl Record Players For The Money
Whether you’re trying to return to your youth with vinyls or are just getting started exploring the record-playing experience, we’ve got you covered. We based our turntable reviews on several factors, including value, sound quality, features and more.
Under $200 | Under $300 | Under $500 | Under $1,000 | Bluetooth | Sonos | Portable | Record Player with Speakers
Best Turntable Under $200: Audio Technica LP60 Review
The Audio Technica LP60 is, without a doubt, the best record player you’re going to find under $200. For this price range, you get a surprising number of features and good sound quality.
This fully-automatic belt-drive turntable includes a built-in switchable phono pre-amplifier with RCA output cables so you can connect to audio systems and powered speakers. And if you can drop a few more dollars, the LP60 comes in additional models with Bluetooth or USB capability. All in all, the Audio Technica LP60 is an excellent value.
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Pricing
All models include two output adapter cables, a removable hinged dust cover and a 45 RPM adapter.
- Check Amazon for availability
- Check Amazon for availability with Bluetooth
- Check Amazon for availability with USB & Analog
- Dimensions: 14.17″W x 3.84″H x 14.02″D
- Weight: 6.6 lbs.
- Available in black or silver
- 1-year limited warranty
Best Turntable Under $300: Audio Technica LP120XUSB Review
The Audio Technica AT-LP120XUSB Direct-Drive Professional Turntable is our pick for the best record player under $300. This three-speed turntable gets a lot of nods as the best value for its impressive sound quality. And it’s equipped with a USB port and PC and Mac compatible software so you can burn audio files.
The AT LP120 also features +/-10 percent or +/-20 percent pitch adjust, a high-accuracy quartz-controlled pitch lock and an S-shaped tonearm. Major audiophiles may be turned off by the direct drive, as many believe belt drives to be superior. But the casual listener shouldn’t be able to tell the difference.
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- $349.00 , includes headshell/cartridge, dual RCA output cables, 45 RPM adapter, USB cable and recording software
- Dimensions: 17.72″ W x 13.86″D x 6.1″H
- Weight 23.5 lbs.
- Available in black or silver
- 1-year limited warranty
Best Turntable Under $500: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon
The Pro-Ject Debut Carbon gets our vote as the best record player under $500. This belt-driven turntable is a popular choice for vinyl enthusiasts looking for a higher-quality sound than cheaper alternatives. It’s designed to be an affordable alternative to the Hi-Fi, mid-range turntables, and it boasts a beautiful sound quality and cool design.
The heavy metal platter (with felt mat) and carbon tube tonearm are features usually found in high-end, $1,000+ turntables. And the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon also uses an ultra-quiet DC-power motor and Sorbothane motor suspension.
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- Check Amazon for availability , includes a removable dust cover
- Dimensions: 16.33″W x 12.59″D x 4.64″H
- Weight 12.35 lbs.
- Comes in 7 glossy colors
- 2-year limited warranty
Best Turntable Under $1,000: Rega Planar 2 Turntable Review
The Rega Planar 2 turntable is our choice for the best record player under $1000. What’s the selling point for this turntable? It’s stellar sound. For sound quality alone, it beats all the other turntables we’ve reviewed, hands down. But you also get some high-end features at a reasonable price.
The Rega Planar 2 includes a high-end cartridge, a custom aluminum arm tube, advanced low friction technology and a 24-volt synchronous motor. Major vinyl enthusiasts give this turntable a big thumbs up for its sound quality at this price range.
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- , includes a removable dust cover
- Dimensions: 17.5″W x 15″D x 4″H
- Weight 12 lbs.
- Comes in glossy black, white or red
- Warranty information unavailable
Best Bluetooth Record Player: 1byone Belt Driven Bluetooth Turntable Review
The 1byone Belt Driven Bluetooth Turntable with Built-in Stereo Speaker earns our nod for the best Bluetooth turntable. The 1byone is perfect for any casual listener who wants to combine old-school vinyls with today’s technology in one product.
Most users report excellent Bluetooth connectivity with multiple devices. And you can record your vinyls to MP3 files. The built-in speakers are decent for this price point (nothing to write home about), but this turntable includes a line out so you can connect to better speakers.
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- Check Amazon for availability , includes dust cover
- Dimensions: 16.93″W x 13.9″D x 6.22″H
- Weight 7.1 lbs.
- Comes in black or natural wood
- 30-day money back guarantee
- 1-year warranty
Best Turntable For Sonos: Fluance RT81 Review
Do you want simple connectivity to your Sonos player? The belt-driven Fluance RT81 High Fidelity turntable is an awesome choice. Sonos and some other stereo systems require pre-amps.
While you can modify your system by placing a pre-amp between the turntable and your Sonos player, the Fluance RT81 makes set up a breeze. That’s why we’ve chosen this as the best record player for Sonos — for its price and sound quality, so you can do your Sonos player justice.
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- $249.99 , includes dustcover
- Dimensions: 16.5″W x 13.75″D x 5.5″H
- Weight 14.1 lbs.
- 2-year limited warranty
Best Portable Turntable: Victrola Nostalgic Suitcase Turntable Review
The Victrola Nostalgic 3-Speed Vintage Bluetooth Suitcase Turntable is an Amazon best-seller and a solid choice for the best portable record player. There are many suitcase turntables on the market, which vary in quality and sound. Keep in mind; these are low-end turntable systems.
You’re not going to get excellent sound out of any of them, but the Victrola is one of the best. This turntable features Bluetooth connectivity, a 3.5mm aux-in jack for playing music from any non-Bluetooth device, an RCA jack and headphone jack. And a plus is that you can connect this turntable to better speakers.
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- $49.97
- Dimensions: 16.65″W x 12.8″D x 7.28″H
- Weight 5 lbs.
- Available in 17 colors
- 1-year limited warranty
Best Record Player With Speakers: Wockoder Turntable 3 Speed Review
Play music wirelessly from your phone with this LP three-speed turntable. It plays 7″, 10″ and 12″ vinyl records with a built-in speaker and it has an additional aux-in option for plugging in an extra speaker. Its natural wood design makes it feel vintage yet still modern and sleek. There’s also a removable cover to keep your player free from dust.
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- $79.99
- Weight 28 lbs.
- 1-year limited warranty
Is There Really A Vinyl Revolution?
Yes! Vinyl is making a big comeback after many years of “new” audio technology taking its toll on the turntable industry. Check out this CBS News report about the welcome resurgence of turntables within the last couple of years.
Want The Best Of Both Worlds?
Do you love exploring vintage vinyl but are still a fan of the latest audio technology? You most certainly don’t have to sacrifice one for the other if music is a huge part of your soul. Most higher-end turntables don’t include Bluetooth or USB connectivity. But if you want to turn your home into a music lover’s dream, we’ve got some additional suggestions for you.
If you don’t have time to savor your vinyls and just want to listen to your downloaded or streaming music on the fly, be sure to read our reviews of the best Bluetooth speakers and best streaming music services. And if you’re looking for easy surround sound for your home in addition to your turntable stereo system, check out our best wireless surround sound system reviews for the total home audio experience.
Which features are most important to you in a budget-friendly turntable?