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How to choose the best turntable

Get the right vinyl record player for your needs

I've hauled a heavy crate of records across the country from house to house for more than two decades. Why? Because I treasure the warmth and detail of the classic albums I've collected over the years. But I'm not just archiving — I find and purchase new favorite albums all the time.

Whether you’re new to the vinyl game, or an experienced collector in search of an upgrade, this article will give you the knowledge you need to make the right choice when buying a turntable.

What is a turntable?

Every turntable does two very important things. First, it provides a stable platform that spins records at a constant rate of speed. Second, it allows a needle to track through the record groove and “read” the recorded information. Beyond that, there’s a lot of variation in materials and construction that can make a difference in how it sounds.

What do you get when you spend more?

If you’re going to invest in records to get great analog sound, you should play them on something better than a trendy all-in-one record player bought at a clothing store. Build quality and materials make all the difference when choosing a turntable. This list points out key features that make one turntable sound better than another.

Good (typically under $400)

  • aluminum platter and tonearm
  • some plastic body parts
  • automatic operation
  • entry-level cartridge
  • built-in preamp

Better ($400-$800)

  • carbon fiber tonearm
  • steel or acrylic platter
  • manual operation
  • medium-quality cartridge
  • heavy plinth (base)

Best ($800 and above)

  • exotic, sometimes trademarked materials in platter, bearings, and other parts
  • high-end cartridge
  • advanced engineering of tonearm assembly, plinth, wiring, etc.
  • no built-in preamp

If you need some explanation of these parts and features, just keep reading!

Key parts of a turntable

exploded diagram of turntable

A. Platter — The record sits on top of this (hopefully with a good mat in place).

B. Spindle and bearing — ensures smooth, quiet platter rotation.

C. Motor and pulley — Only found in a belt-drive turntable, this provides the torque that turns the platter.

D. Tonearm — Made from strong, lightweight materials like aluminum or carbon fiber, it tracks record grooves with high accuracy.

E. Cartridge — The coil and magnets inside turn the kinetic energy from the record groove into electrical signals.

F. Plinth — Provides a stable, resonance-free base for the moving parts.

G. Feet — Absorb vibrations, so the turntable doesn't pick up skip-inducing rumble from speakers or movement in the room.

Important features

On casual examination, most turntables look pretty similar. Let's "peek under the hood" to pick out some key features you may want to look out for.

Turntable direct-drive assembly diagram

This image shows the intricate construction of a high-end direct drive motor used by Technics.

Belt drive vs. direct drive

This tells you how the motor is connected to the platter, and why that matters.

Direct-drive turntables offer extremely precise platter rotation, which reduces or eliminates "wow and flutter." They also get up to speed almost instantly, and the platter spins free of resistance when the motor is turned off. The latter qualities make them very popular with professional DJs.

On a belt-driven table, an elastic band connected to the motor turns the platter. Devotees of belt-drive believe this decoupling reduces motor noise, and may help bring out more nuance from a recording.

Both drive styles have big fans in the audiophile realm. It's really a matter of personal preference at the end of the day.

close-up on photo cartridge

A phono cartridge turns the kinetic energy from a record groove into electrical signals.

Cartridge

Most turntables come with a cartridge pre-mounted on the tonearm. The cartridge contains the stylus — which most of us casually refer to as a "needle" or "pickup" — that reads the record's grooves and produces sound. The provided cartridge is usually a good entry-level choice, but many music lovers prefer to upgrade to get even stronger performance.

Silver Phone Preamp

An external phono preamp boosts the tiny signal generated by your turntable so your main amplifier can turn it into audible output.

Phono preamp

The initial signal produced by the cartridge is very precise, but also very weak. That's why your turntable needs to feed into a phono preamplifier to get to a level that can make music come out of your speakers. The phono preamp can be built into the 'table, built into a receiver, built into a powered speaker, or housed in a separate component.

An outboard preamp does add a piece of gear to your cabinet, but if you're using a top-notch cartridge, this level of detailed control helps you get the most out of your investment. It will often give you the option to choose whether you want to use a moving magnet or moving coil cartridge.

To learn more, read our phono preamp buying guide.

Manual vs. automated

This feature lets you know how much you'll have to interact with your turntable as it begins and ends playing a record.

Manual: With the help of a manual lever, you physically lift the tonearm and place the needle in the record's lead groove and lift it off at the end of a side. An automated mechanism can introduce noise, so manual operation is standard for those who care more about sound quality than convenience.

Semi-automatic: You get things started by manually lowering the tonearm. When the record is done, the turntable returns the tonearm and shuts off the motor. You don’t have to worry about the stylus bumping around in the end of the groove while you're up to your elbows in a task.

Close up of turntable controls

This fully automatic turntable automatically puts the needle on the record, plays a side, then returns the tonearm to its rest and shuts off.

Fully automatic: With a fully automatic turntable, you push a button and walk away. The tonearm moves into position and gently drops the needle onto the leading edge of the record. When the last song is over, the tonearm lifts itself up, returns to its resting position, and shuts off the motor.

turntable output panel

This turntable has a built-in phono preamp and a USB output for connecting to a computer to digitize analog albums.

USB output

You buy a turntable because you value analog sound. But some 'tables have a feature that lets you create digital copies of your favorite albums so you can preserve them, and take the music with you when you leave the house. If that sounds good to you, look for a turntable with a USB output.

Important specs

Looking at pictures of a turntable won’t tell you much about how it performs relative to other models. Manufacturers use some esoteric-sounding specs to help you make comparisons, so let's figure out what each one means.

Signal-to-noise ratio: Measures how much background noise you can hear. A higher number is better here because you want a lot more music signal than noise. Look for something above 65dB.

Playback speeds: Most turntables give you 33-1/3 and 45 RPM capability. If you purchase a ‘table for spinning 78s, it can handle modern "microgroove" pressings, but not older vintage recordings. Make sure you get a specialized cartridge that’s equipped to handle the wider grooves of these increasingly rare records.

Wow and flutter: This spec tells you how accurately the turntable spins the platter. Too much deviation can cause an audible wavering effect. A lower number is better here, ideally below 0.25%.

Next steps

Once you've bought a turntable, you may get the itch to start tweaking it to make it sound even better. Check out our

Pairing a turntable with speakers

The traditional — and still very popular — way of hearing sound from a record is to connect the preamp output to a receiver with phono input or a preprocessor/power amplifier combo, and listen through a pair of tower or bookshelf speakers. This kind of setup provides superior results, but it can be costly and take up a lot of space.

speaker on shelf with turntable

A powered stereo speaker with built-in phono stage like the Kanto SYD offers a space-saving option for record lovers.

As an apartment dweller myself, I've enjoyed pairing my Pro-Ject Debut Carbon with a pair of Klipsch Reference powered stereo speakers. The speakers have the connections I need, and a built-in power supply, so I don't need to make room for any other components. Powered speaker manufacturers often build in a phono preamp as a nod to us vinyl lovers.

Some manufacturers are adding built-in wireless functionality for added flexibility. The popular Audio-Technica LP-60XBT (and others) feature convenient Bluetooth® output. Yamaha's TT-N503 turntable has MusicCast built in, which lets you put your turntable anywhere you like, and wirelessly broadcast music to compatible speakers throughout your entire home.

Next steps

Once you've got a nice setup, you'll probably start feeling an irresistible urge to start tweaking details to make it sound even better. Don't worry, this is very normal. Read 8 Tips for Getting Better Sound from your Turntable to get an idea where to start.

the author at home playing records

Need help?

You may want some help choosing a turntable and matching it to components like preamps, receivers, and speakers. One of our expert Advisors can talk to you about what gear you have, and what you might need to add. They're knowledgeable, friendly, and they love music as much as you do. Contact us today.

And don't hesitate to call us if you hit a snag during the install process. Free lifetime tech support is included with every Crutchfield purchase.

Please share your thoughts below.

  • John Kortgardner from Rapid City

    Posted on 1/1/2024

    Do they still make linear tracking turntables? If not, why not?

    Commenter image

    Ned O. from Crutchfield

    on 1/2/2024

    Hi John, Thanks for your excellent question. I remember seeing linear tracking turntables at my local hi-fi shop when I was a kid. The best I can learn is that production of linear tracking faded when turntables became less common following the rise of CDs in the late 1980s, and that high production costs have prevented their widespread return thus far. But after some online searching, I did find that some manufacturers still make linear tracking tonearms for high-end turntables.
  • Amanda from Marble Falls

    Posted on 12/27/2023

    So glad I found this, very informative! I'm looking for a player I can have speakers to hook up too. I would say I'm just now upgrading from beginner but am very passionate about vinyl and eager to learn! So I would like to know your suggestion for me?

    Commenter image

    Ned O. from Crutchfield

    on 12/28/2023

    Hi Amanda, thanks for your kind comment. We have a lot of great options to choose from. I've asked one of our Advisors to get in touch with you to learn more about your setup and make some recommendations that will help you get the best sound from your vinyl collection.
  • Maurita

    Posted on 11/8/2023

    I'm a complete novice. I'm looking for a beginner set-up for a teen that is reasonably priced and decent to good quality with space being a consideration. Is it possible for airpods to connect to a turntable setup? Or are headphones the only option (assuming corded). Thanks very much!

    Commenter image

    Ned O. from Crutchfield

    on 11/9/2023

    Hi Maurita, We have several turntables that have Bluetooth, which would allow them to connect wirelessly to Airpods. I have an Audio-Technica AT-LP60BT in my home and love how easy it is to use with my portable Bluetooth speaker. I've asked one of our Advisors to get in touch with you to help you choose the best turntable for your situation.
  • Larry Covi from Sun City West, AZ.

    Posted on 4/8/2023

    I have a Sony PS-LX250H turntable. When I play an album, it sounds like it is spinning faster than it should. Turntable is set for 33 RPM. Could the rubber belt be stretched out? If so, who would I contact to purchase a replacement? Thanks for your help.

    Commenter image

    Eric A. from Crutchfield

    on 4/10/2023

    Larry - I can't say for sure that's the problem, but it would be relatively easy to replace the belt and see if that fixes the problem. We don't carry any replacement belts, but I googled 'Sony PS-LX250H turntable belt' and got several hits, so they're definitely out there. Hope this helps!
  • Jim Hirakawa from Schaumburg

    Posted on 11/10/2022

    I have a 1981 Pioneer PL-600 direct drive turntable that I bought when I was in the Navy. The push buttons started to stick recently but a good cleaning with DeOxit D-5 solved that. I got a new HE stylus for my Shure V15, Ty 111 Cart from Juco. I still need to upgrade the original RCA cords. I purchased a protractor and followed your instructions to set the turntable and now it sounds better than ever. I don't know how much longer I can keep the old relic running, but the Shure V15 Cart is a keeper.

    Commenter image

    Eric A. from Crutchfield

    on 11/11/2022

    Jim - I'm glad we could help you keep that legacy system up and running. We love vintage gear as much as we love the new stuff around here.
  • Mark from Lake Forest

    Posted on 10/1/2022

    Hi, I need a fully automatic turntable and powered speakers. Mid range to higher. I want a good player (do I want to upgrade the needle?) and good speakers where I can adjust the bass and treble.

    Commenter image

    Eric A. from Crutchfield

    on 10/7/2022

    Mark - My favorite fully-automatic 'table that I've used is the Dual CS 429. It sounds great with the included cartridge, but you can always upgrade if you want more. There are a few other good ones out there, but this is one I've used personally several times, and want to add to my own setup. For powered speakers, I love the Kanto TUK, which allows you to make the bass and treble adjustments from the remote. There are plenty of other options, but these are my favorites.
  • Jbesterman from West Harrison

    Posted on 8/5/2022

    Very informative

  • Mike from Bremerton

    Posted on 8/4/2022

    Have a Micro Seiki DD40 . What is your opinion? It is in excellent condition and need a new cartridge. Running a Sansui AU 2000 amp and looking for new speakers as well. Mike

    Commenter image

    Eric A. from Crutchfield

    on 8/4/2022

    Mike - I must admit I haven't had the pleasure of using a DD40 personally, but it looks like those who own them enjoy them. If you're looking for speakers that sound great with vinyl, I favor options with the AMT tweeter, like the Wharfedale EVO4.1 and its brethren. Hope this helps!
  • Ronald McGuire from erie

    Posted on 4/20/2022

    Very helpful thank you

  • Jason Todd Gonzalez from SAN ANTONIO

    Posted on 9/23/2021

    Some time ago I was able to sample cd's from my own collection on the Bowers and Wilkins 705 S2 in a show room and completely blown away! Since then, I knew those were the speakers I wanted. But my problem now is finding and paring the best Stereo receiver, CD, phono and Cassette deck but without over breaking the bank. I've watched many videos on comparisons and audio advice but still feel at a loss of where to begin. I feel at this point I could go with almost anything but, knowing myself, would feel better about my investment but seriously don't know much about all the technical aspects...Any suggestions.

    Commenter image

    Eric Angevine from Crutchfield

    on 9/23/2021

    Jason - I'm not sure I can fully answer this question in a comment, because it takes a bit of back-and-forth to narrow down the options (which our Advisors excel at). The very first thing I'd consider, however, is choosing a receiver/integrated amp that has enough clean power to drive those speakers the way they need to be driven. And then I'd make sure it has the inputs you need to connect the other stuff and work from there. But I'd highly recommend contacting us via phone or chat to properly build out a system. Thanks for the question!
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