The best turntables you can buy to play records

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The Insider Pick:

Music technology has progressed quite a bit in the past few decades. We’ve gone from vinyl records, tapes, and CDs to digital music files. If you long for vinyl’s rich sound, the Sony PS-HX500 USB Turntable is a great choice, because you can play records and rip your vinyl to digital music files.

One unwritten rule of style is that what once was popular will come around again. Things like shoulder pads in dresses, mirrored sunglasses, and glittery shirts are coming back in style.

But when it comes to technology and media, most old hardware doesn’t come back. Nobody’s clamoring for a permanent return to VCRs, black-and-white TVs, or 8-track audio tapes.

For some reason, though, there is one piece of technology from the past that is making a big-time comeback — vinyl records. We think it’s because playing vinyl just seems cool and retro.

If you are ready to join the movement and start playing your old records again — or maybe even buy some new vinyl — we’re guessing you don’t have a working record player at hand. You’ll need a nice new turntable to play your records, so we’ve rounded up the best ones you can buy.

Read on in the slides below to learn why the Sony PS-HX500 USB Turntable is our top pick and why you might also like the Marantz TT-15S1 Reference Belt Drive Turntable, the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Turntable, the Audio-Technica AT-LP60-BT Bluetooth Turntable, and the Musitrend Turntable Portable Suitcase.

The best turntable overall

Sony

Why you’ll love it: The Sony PS-HX500 USB Turntable lets you play vinyl records and digitize them, so your record collection is portable.

If you’re buying a turntable, it’s probably because you like the sound of vinyl. But with the Sony PS-HX500 Hi Res USB Turntable, you’re not limited to just listening to your records on the turntable.

The PS-HX500 has a USB port that allows you to play the vinyl on the turntable and rip the music to a high-res WAV or DSD file stored on a computer. That way, you can merge the best of both worlds: old-school vinyl records and new digital music files.

Now don’t expect those digital music files ripped from vinyl to sound impeccable. Some people don’t notice a significant difference, but others say the digital file doesn’t quite capture the best parts of the sound of vinyl, nor does it match the pristine quality of original digital files.

Regardless of what the serious audiophiles say, the Sony turntable can record up to DSD 5.6 MHz audio quality, which is quite good. In its review, What HiFi said this is one of the best USB-ripping turntables you can buy — period.

Even with its somewhat high price, Home Theater Review says the PS-HX500 is a good value because of its excellent digital capabilities.

One owner named Bern says the turntable produces excellent audio quality, and the ripping software from Sony is easy to use, too. Another Amazon reviewer likes the simple look of this turntable, as it doesn’t have a bunch of knobs and controls needed to operate the turntable, giving it a sleek design.

Although most buyers and reviewers rate the Sony turntable favorably, Wired says the overall design of the Sony PS-HX500 doesn’t justify its price tag, as it doesn’t offer enough high-end components versus other USB turntables in its price range.

Pros: Delivers the ability to rip vinyl music to a digital format, outperforms many other USB-enabled turntables, produces good audio quality on the turntable, stylish design and look

Cons: High price tag for an entry-level turntable, doesn’t have high-end components

Buy the Sony PS-HX500 USB Turntable on Amazon for $ 498

The best entry-level turntable

Audio Technica

Why you’ll love it: You can play your vinyl over your existing wireless speaker system with the affordable Audio-Technica AT-LP60-BT Bluetooth Turntable.

You easily can spend several hundred dollars or more on a new turntable and speaker system. But it’s pretty tough to justify that kind of outlay if you are less interested in pristine audio quality from your vinyl and more interested in having fun playing your records.

The Audio-Technica AT-LP60 Bluetooth Turntable carries a lower price point than most turntables with decent audio quality, which makes it a good entry-level option. It can’t quite match the rich audio quality of some more expensive models, but it compares favorably to similarly priced turntables.

This turntable is Bluetooth enabled, so you can connect it to your existing wireless speaker system at home. That way you don’t have to spend extra money on wired speakers.

The PC Mag review says having the option of using Bluetooth wireless speakers or traditional wired speakers is especially helpful, although the Bluetooth pairing process can be tricky. Plus, when you’re using the Bluetooth connection, the audio quality is better than expected, according to My Mac, giving you a nice option for porting your vinyl music anywhere.

One owner named Savannah says the audio quality on this turntable outperforms other entry-level and lower-priced options. Another buyer named Yessenia says the Audio-Technica AT-LP60-BT is a great starter turntable for those who want to play music from the records they have in their vintage collection.

However, don’t expect to find high-quality components in this Audio-Technica turntable. Trusted Reviews called the unit “plasticky,” but using cheaper components is understandable at this price.

Pros: Outperforms other low-priced turntables for audio quality, works with existing wireless speakers you may already own over a Bluetooth connection, fun for starting out with playing vinyl

Cons: Audio quality doesn’t match pricier units, making Bluetooth connection can be tricky

Buy the Audio-Technica AT-LP60 Bluetooth Turntable on Amazon for $ 179

The best minimalistic turntable

Pro-Ject

Why you’ll love it: The Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Turntable will grab your attention with its beautifully simple design, but it’ll keep that attention with great music quality.

Those of you who are new to playing vinyl will want a turntable that’s easy to set up, but also delivers good music quality for the price. The Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Turntable is a popular choice because it checks all the boxes.

This Pro-Ject turntable will grab your attention with its minimalistic design. It doesn’t have visible buttons or ports, so it’s a simple turntable with arm on top of a base. You can get it in a few colors, including the red one pictured above.

Beyond its simple design, the What HiFi review says this turntable delivers sound clarity and detail far beyond what you’d expect from a turntable in its price range. Tech Radar calls the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon a perfect turntable for those who are new to playing vinyl.

However, the fact that you must manually change the spin speed is a disappointment because you have to remove the platter and manually move the belt to swap between 33 1/3 and 45 rpm.

Audio Advice says this turntable delivers a greater audio quality than other turntables in its price range, especially in terms of any distortion you’ll receive, although it does lag behind high-end models in delivering bass sounds.

One owner named Sue Freivald agrees, saying the only thing you’ll hear when playing records on the Pro-Ject Debut Carton is the music. You won’t be distracted by hisses or other unwanted noises.

However, another Amazon reviewer says the components used with this turntable feel cheaply made, which makes it tough to justify its price tag.

Pros: Very nice design that keeps it simple, delivers better and cleaner audio quality than you’d expect in this price range, works well for those new to vinyl or for those wanting a mid-range unit

Cons: Must manually change the platter speed by moving the belt, some components feel inexpensive