Top 10 Best Starter Turntables: Vinyl record players for newbies

If you are new to vinyl records and want a reliable turntable with minimal fuss, here are some of the best starter turntables for first timers and newbies. These turntables cost under 250/300 and will satisfy even the most demanding of audiophiles.

Vinyl records are making a comeback. There are many pros and cons of vinyl records, but we won’t go into this in this article. Know that the format is fully analog and lossless, with enthusiasts claiming that it has warmth and character with more focus on the music.

Vinyl Record Players

Physically owning the media be it vinyl record or CD feels different to just streaming or downloading. There is a sense of ownership, having something you can touch and feel. So pick yourself a turntable and start your media based audio listening journey. Pop out that black disc from its jacket, put the record on the spindle, drop the needle and let the music flow.

Just beware that even though they look the same, the records come in either 33 1/3, 45 and 79 RPM (not common). Most players support different spinning speeds, but you will need to set it manually.

Also, there are two main types of players, belt or direct drive. The more common belt-driven models have an offset motor that drives the spinning platter via an elastic belt. As for direct drive models, the servo-motor is installed beneath the plinth centered on the platter.

Again, there are advantages and disadvantages to each of the models. For me, it is a matter or preference. Know this, direct driven models have a higher starting price compared to belt driven ones.

Top 10 Best Starter Turntables

Not going overboard here, our line-up of turntables for newbies and casual listeners are some of the best players under 250/300. There are more expensive premium models and cheaper, more affordable budget models, but those that make it to our list are some of the best in the market.

1. Rega Planar 1 Turntable Belt-Drive – Manual
2. Audio-Technica AT-LP3BK Turntable Belt-Drive – Automatic
3. Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB Turntable Direct-Drive – Manual
4. Sony PS-LX310BT Turntable Belt-Drive – Automatic
5. Fluance RT80 Turntable Belt-Drive – Manual
6. Crosley C100 Turntable Belt-Drive – Manual
7. Audio-Technica AT-LP60XUSB Belt-Drive – Automatic
8. Crosley C200 Turntable Direct-Drive – Manual
9. Pro-Ject Primary E Turntable Belt-Drive – Manual
10. Crosley C6 Turntable Belt-Drive – Manual

1. Rega Planar 1 Turntable Belt-Drive – MANUAL

Easily the coolest player in our line-up but it doesn’t just stop with good looks. The award-winning Rega Planar 1 turntable received a 5 star rating from What Hi-Fi? With a balanced tone arm and not much else, not even a speed switch in sight, the P1 is the most minimalistic of players. Still, it offers good sound with plenty of details. Just know where to find the power switch, it is hidden beneath the front left corner of the player.

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2. Audio-Technica AT-LP3 Turntable Belt-Drive – AUTOMATIC

Audio-Technica AT-LP3 is yet another award-winning, 5-star rated turntable. It comes with a balanced tone arm and ability to support different cartridges, moving magnet or moving coil. The supplied AR91R dual moving magnet cartridge and removable AT-HS3 universal head shell works with the balanced tonearm set at 2 grams. It won’t be as easy to set up as the plug and play Planar 1 but you only have to do it once. Elsewhere, two speed switch 33-1/3 or 45RPM, hydraulic damped lift control and lockable rest, built-in switchable phono or line pre-amplifier output and captive RCA output cables. We like that the belt-driven turntable offers the flexibility of a universal head shell and support for a different cartridge and balanced tonearm.

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3. Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB Turntable Direct-Drive – MANUAL

The first direct drive turntable in our list, the Audio Technica AT-LP120XUSB has an S-shaped balanced tonearm with adjustable counterweight and tracking but it goes one better, it comes with USB output to easily mix or convert records to digital files on the computer using compatible recording software like Audacity.

The fully manual turntable supports all three speeds (33, 45 or 78rpm) with its direct drive DC servo motor, adjustable dynamic anti-skate control and variable pitch control with quartz speed lock. It also lets you increase the tempo at a press of a button from 8% to 16%. For output, apart from USB, there is a detachable RCA output with RCA cable supplied.

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To minimise vibration, the player use professional grade anti-resonance, die-cast aluminium platter with felt matt but what makes this different from the other players is the use of stroboscopic platter and speed indicator as well as variable pitch control with quartz speed lock. Control the pitch to fine tune the speed of the platter, once you see that the spots on the platter is stationary against the strobe light, use the quartz lock. Another light source is used to help cue the stylus in low light.

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4. Sony PS-LX310BT Turntable Belt-Drive – AUTOMATIC

A close second to the Rega Planar 1 in terms of simplicity in design and minimal good looks is the SOny PS-LX310BT. But there is another advantage the unit has over other turntables here, in that it comes with Bluetooth connectivity so you can listen to your music on your wireless Bluetooth speaker. The turntable received a five star rating from What Hi-Fi? in May 2019, a truly great first player at a reasonable price. The player supports 2 speeds (33 or 45 rpm) has 3 gain modes (low, mid, high) and cabled RCA output like those on the AT-LP3.

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5. Fluance RT80 Turntable Belt-Drive – MANUAL

The Fluance RT80 has a balanced aluminium S-Type tonearm. For cartridge, it uses the Audio Technica AT91 high performance stylus. The aluminium platter with felt mat sits on a belt-driven system housed on a beautifully crafted engineered wood plinth with isolation feet.

To the left is a rotary switch to switch off or select play speed, 33 or 45. It comes with a Texas Instruments pre-amp, ground terminal and gold plated RCA line out to minimise noise and ensures warm and true reproduction of the music. The entire package is suitably weighted which is always a good sign and the gloss finished base gives it an elegance feel.

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6. Crosley C100 Turntable Belt-Drive – MANUAL

The Crosley C100 is yet another manual turntable with an S-shaped tone arm complete with adjustable counterweight and tracking. The tone arm is furnished with hydraulic lift control and lockable rest with NP5 stylus. Like the AT-LP120X, the player has adjustable strobe pitch, use the pitch control to adjust pitch on the fly for the best sound. But unlike the direct drive AT-LP120X, this here is a belt-driven unit. If you are after a direct drive model from Crosley, checkout the C200 below. Built-in pre-amp means you get phono or line output to suit your setup. RCA output ports and detachable RCA cables are supplied.

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7. Audio-Technica AT-LP60XUSB Belt-Drive – AUTOMATIC

The Audio-Technica AT-LP60XUSB is the entry level Audio Technica AT-LP60X with USB connectivity. Another with Bluetooth connectivity is available in the form of AT-LP60XBT. If you have neither the need for USB or Bluetooth, go with the cheaper AT-LP60X.

Being an entry level player, the unit feels a little too light for comfort but can still pump out a balanced sound and music. Perfect for those wanting to convert their records to digital format on their computer. Or use it with your favourite pair of Bluetooth headphones or speaker and enjoy wireless freedom (AT-LPXBT).

On all models, there is also a switchable phono stage built-in to connect to an amplifier or wired headset via the 3.5mm audio output. There is nothing else you need to do beyond putting the platter in place and hooking up the pulley. A 3.5mm to RCA adapter cable is supplied.

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8. Crosley C200 Turntable Direct-Drive – MANUAL

If you like all the features of the Crosley C100 like the RCA output with line or phono settings, adjustable pitch control, adjustable tone arm weight with counterweight and ant-skate adjustment but prefer the maintenance free direct drive over belt drive then the Crosley C200 is your answer. It looks every bit as sophisticated as the LP120XUSB from Audio Technica which coincidentally is also direct driven for extra torque, quick start and stop and smooth operation.

The Crosley C200 Turntable uses an S-shaped tone arm with counterweight to vary the force and is fitted with Audio Technical AT-3600 moving magnet cartridge. Just like other the C100, you get to choose your own cartridge and balance it accordingly. The built-in pre-amp makes magic happens be it for listening over the headphones and over an amplifier and speaker that supports phono or not or just your powered speakers. Our only reservation is the ABS plinth but it is suitably weighted at around 5kg.

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9. Pro-Ject Primary E Turntable Belt-Drive – MANUAL

The Pro-Ject Primary E is a highly rated turntable that received a 5 star rating from WHAT HI-FI? For a budget turntable, it performs well over its price tag. While the unit sounds great, it is a totally stripped back model. There is no pre-amp for phono stage or line output, no USB output or Bluetooth and definitely no automatic operation. Even to change the speed, you need to manually move the belt from one motor pulley to another. This is a fully manual turntable, a true classic.

Still, the Primary E spots a truly minimalist look with a balanced tone arm with adjustable counterweight and Ortofon OM cartridge. It requires very little time and effort to setup with its plug and play design and pre-adjusted tracking force and anti skating. Although allen key and stylus pressure gauge is provided. Pro-Ject Audio Systems insists that the turntable is intelligently designed to keep out unnecessary features with the aim of keeping the cost down. Even the RCA Phono cable is directly soldered.

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10. Crosley C6 Turntable Belt-Drive – MANUAL

The name may be synonymous with budget suitcase or side table type turntables but Crosley managed to win peoples hearts with its C100, C200 and now the C6. The third Crosley turntable in our list, the C6 moves away from ABS plastic plinth to an Audio Grade MDF plinth covered in veneer. It also loses all the features like adjustable pitch control, strobe lighting, dotted platter and anti-skate adjustment. Dialing back on those features does not make it any less good. Most belt driven unit here do not come with pitch controls.

Where it got right are the pre-amp, detachable RCA cables, external DC adapter power supply and adjustable balanced tonearm equipped with counterweight. That plinth looks almost Pro-Ject esqs with a minimalist feel. Crosley moved the motor and pulley system to the bottom of the plinth. It supports two speeds 33.3 and 45 as well as 12-inch and 7-inch records. Like the Primary E, changing the speed does require you to lift the platter and move the belt from one grove to the other.

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