How to choose the right turntable

What is a turntable?

Every turntable’s got two jobs: spin your records at a steady pace and let the needle ride the groove to pick up the sound. Simple enough, right? But once you get past the basics, things like build quality and materials can really shape how your music comes through.

Key parts of a turntable

A. Platter — Commonly made from vibration absorbing materials, this is where the record sits (hopefully with a good record 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 the record groove with high accuracy.

E. Cartridge — The needle is housed here, and along with the coil and magnets inside, it converts 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.

How much should you spend on a turntable?

If you're diving into vinyl for that warm, analog goodness, it's worth skipping the trendy all-in-one player from the clothing store. A well-built turntable with quality parts can make a huge difference in sound — and experience.

Entry level turntables (under $400)

You'll usually find aluminum platters and tonearms, some plastic parts, automatic operation, a basic cartridge, and a built-in preamp at this price point. These 'tables are perfect for beginners just getting into the groove.

Mid-tier turntables ($400-$800)

At this level, you get nicer upgrades like carbon fiber tonearms, steel or acrylic platters, manual controls, better cartridges, and a heavier base that helps reduce vibrations.

Top tier turntables ($800 and up)

When you reach this level, you’re looking at premium materials (some with fancy trademarks), high-end cartridges, and precision engineering throughout the tonearm, wiring, and base. You’ll also lose the built-in preamp — because by then, you’re expected to bring your own top-notch gear.

This image shows the inner workings of a high-end direct drive motor like the ones Technics uses.

Important features to consider

At a glance, most turntables look pretty similar — but under the hood, there’s a lot going on. Let’s focus in on one key feature you’ll definitely want to consider: how the platter spins. This comes down to how the motor connects to the platter — and believe it or not, it matters.

Belt drive vs. direct drive

Direct-drive turntables spin with precision. The platter hits full speed almost instantly and keeps things ultra-steady and consistent, which cuts down on “wow and flutter” (more on that later). Also, when the motor’s off, the platter spins freely, forward or backward, making this type of turntable ideal for DJs who take advantage of that feature for cueing and scratching.

Belt-drive turntables, on the other hand, use an elastic belt to spin the platter, which helps keep motor noise out of the mix. That bit of isolation can give your music a warmer, more detailed sound. Some audiophiles swear it’s the best way to hear every nuance in a recording.

Both camps have loyal fans, but in the end, it comes down to what you value most — precision and torque, or smoothness and subtlety.

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

Manual vs. (semi-) automatic operation

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

Manual: This was the part of playing vinyl that really resonated with me — the ritual. Using a manual lever, you lift the tonearm and gently lower the needle into the lead-in groove, then lift it off again when the side ends. Sure, automatic mechanisms are easier, but they can add noise. For anyone who puts sound quality over convenience, going manual is the way to go.

Semi-automatic: This is a great middle ground. You start things off by manually lowering the tonearm, but once the record’s done, the turntable takes care of the rest — lifting the tonearm, returning it to its resting spot, shutting off the motor, or some combo of those. No need to worry about the stylus bumping around in the run-off groove while you’re elbow-deep in something else.

Fully automatic: With a fully automatic turntable, you just push a button and walk away. The tonearm slides into place and gently lowers the needle onto the record. When the last song finishes, it lifts itself up, returns to its rest, and shuts off the motor — no hands needed.

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

Cartridge types

Most turntables come with a cartridge already mounted on the tonearm. Inside the cartridge is the stylus — what most of us casually call the “needle.” As it traces the groove, it picks up tiny vibrations and converts them into an electrical signal — that’s what produces the sound.

Most turntables come with a Moving Magnet (MM) cartridge and are a great starting point. However, serious music lovers eventually upgrade to a Moving Coil (MC) model or try a different stylus shape to improve tracking and overall performance.

Just a heads-up: not all turntables have cartridges that are easily removable or upgradable. Some use fixed cartridges or proprietary mounts that limit your options down the line. If you're thinking about future upgrades, make sure the turntable has a standard, user-replaceable headshell or cartridge mount — otherwise, swapping stylus shapes or moving to an MC cartridge might not be possible.

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 external phono preamp — like the Pro-Ject Tube Box DS3 B — boosts the tiny signal generated by your turntable so your main amplifier can turn it into audible output.

Going with an outboard preamp does mean adding another box to your setup — but if you’re using a high-quality cartridge, it’s totally worth it. You get more control, better sound, and often the flexibility to switch between moving magnet or moving coil cartridges.

To learn more, read our phono preamp buying guide.

Important specs to consider

A picture might show off a turntable’s style, but it won’t tell you how it actually performs. That’s where specs come in — though some of them can sound pretty technical. Let’s break down what they really mean so you can compare models with confidence.

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%.

What connections do you need?

Modern turntables come loaded with hookup options, so it’s important to find one that fits your setup.

Connecting to a receiver or amp

The classic (and still super popular) way to spin your records is by running the turntable’s preamp output to a receiver with phono input — or a preprocessor/power amplifier combo — using a simple audio cable. From there, you hook up your tower or bookshelf speakers, and you’re golden. This kind of setup sounds fantastic but can get a little pricey and take up some serious shelf space.

A turntable paired with a stereo receiver or amplifier and a set of external speakers delivers rich analog warmth to your setup.

Connecting to powered speakers

When space is at a premium, a lot of vinyl lovers go for powered stereo speakers. They’ve got simple analog hookups, their own built-in power, and in many cases, even a phono preamp inside — so you can skip the extra gear and get straight to the good stuff.

A set of powered bookshelf speakers with a built-in phono preamp offers a space-saving option for record lovers.

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth® streaming

As turntable tech evolves, so does what you can do with it. Built-in Bluetooth lets you stream your records wirelessly to any compatible Bluetooth speaker or pair of headphones — no extra gear needed.

Some models also include Wi-Fi streaming, giving you even more flexibility. For example, Victrola’s Stream series works with Sonos systems, as well as UPnP supported devices, allowing playback through compatible speakers and amps. Yamaha’s TT-N503 turntable includes MusicCast for network-based control. These features make it easier than ever to enjoy vinyl in any room of your home — even across multiple rooms at once.

USB output

Vinyl is beloved for its analog warmth — that’s a big part of its appeal. But in today’s portable, digital world, some turntables include a USB output, making it easy to digitize your favorite or hard-to-find albums. It’s a great way to preserve your collection and enjoy the music wherever you go.

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

Want to learn more?

We've spent countless hours testing turntables and listening to vinyl, so we're happy to point you in the right direction. Whether you're looking for the right turntable or just need some setup help, our articles are a great place to start.

Articles to help you choose

If you’re looking to explore the wide world of turntable options, check out our top picks — they’re here to help you navigate the choices and find the perfect fit.

Best Turntables for 2025

Best Budget Turntables for 2025

Best High-End Turntables for 2025

Best Streaming Turntables for 2025

Tips for getting the most out of your turntable setup

Once you’ve got all your gear ready to go, you might need a hand getting everything connected and set up. These “how-to” guides are here to walk you through it.

How to Connect a Turntable

How to Balance Your Tonearm

How to Change a Turntable Cartridge

How to Change the Needle on a Turntable

How to Adjust Vertical Tracking Angle

How to Adjust the Azimuth on a Turntable

How to Store Your Vinyl Records

Troubleshooting Common Turntable Issues

8 Tips for Getting Better Sound from your Turntable

Need help making the right choice for your setup?

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.