All of the turntables here are recommended but I’ve tried to offer 10 different price points. There’s a turntable here, in effect, to suit your budget.
VIDEO CONTENTS
00:00 – Introduction
3:39 – Audio-Technica Sound Burger
7:20 – Pro-Ject Primary E
9:03 – Lenco L-3809
10:25 – Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB
12:25 – Fluance RT81
14:21 – Rega Planar 1
15:59 – Pro-Ject A1
17:39 – Audio-Technica LP5x
19:43 – Fluance RT83
21:32 – Pro-Ject Debut EVO
23:25 – Final Thoughts
BUY HERE:
PRO-JECT PRIMARY E
UK – https://amzn.to/3TW7zXF
EUROPE – https://amzn.to/3Xisiro
USA – https://ebay.us/zTk5aM
LENCO L-3809
EUROPE – https://amzn.to/3ERwneM
UK – https://amzn.to/3tK5uU1
USA – https://ebay.us/UWfsJH
REGA PLANAR 1
UK – https://amzn.to/3i2M4XC
EUROPE – https://amzn.to/3XiJZXV
AUDIO-TECHNICA 120X
UK – https://amzn.to/3tLpHIW
USA – https://amzn.to/3tMbzz0
EUROPE – https://amzn.to/3UV0Ka5
FLUANCE RT81
UK – https://amzn.to/3hWTNXk
USA – https://amzn.to/3AyQ7BH
PRO-JECT A1
UK – https://amzn.to/3S9AF4C
USA – https://amzn.to/3D46pUM
EUROPE – https://amzn.to/3VBjtrG
AUDIO-TECHNICA LP5X
UK – https://amzn.to/3i331Bu
USA – https://amzn.to/3ER2WcW
EUROPE – https://amzn.to/3AW7YTl
FLUANCE RT83
UK – https://amzn.to/3i2idhX
USA – https://amzn.to/3UXMMnC
PRO-JECT DEBUT EVO
UK – https://amzn.to/3EPBX1g
USA – https://amzn.to/3EPC398
EUROPE – https://amzn.to/3ABt8WC
PRO-JECT PRIMARY REVIEW: https://theaudiophileman.com/primary/
CONTACTS:
PRO-JECT: https://www.project-audio.com/en/ or https://www.henleyaudio.co.uk/
REGA: https://www.rega.co.uk
AUDIO-TECHNICA: https://www.audio-technica.com/en-gb
FLUANCE: https://www.fluance.com
LENCO: https://lenco.uk
Check out my website at: https://theaudiophileman.com
#turntable #buyer #guide #top10 #review #paulrigby #theaudiophileman
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IMAGE CREDITS
Image by Miguel Á. Padriñán from Pixabay
Image by Egle P. from Pixabay
Image by andreas160578 from Pixabay
Image by Agnieszka from Pixabay
Image by Steen Jepsen from Pixabay
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OTHER CREDITS
Old Bossa by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Artist: http://www.twinmusicom.org/
source
Great to see Paul, hopefully you introduce more people into the wonderful world of turntables and vinyl.
Jim 🏴🙂
Nice consumer video, trouble is, some vinyl these days are so expensive that is values at 10-20% of the turntable worth lol….
Thank you for a review that focuses on a price range that reflects the times we currently live in. However, without going high end, may I suggest you do the same thing for turntables from £500 to £1000. It's not that I think this video was poor. Far from it, but next level up is still not high high end and it would help the people that are not beginners and want to upgrade, without going mad on price. Thank you.
Great video . The AT LP 5 floats my boat . I recently heard one on a vinyl youtube channel and it held its own against a far more expensive Technics , at least on Y Tube, and i find J shape arms far more elagent looking over the common S shape
Vinyl is definitely not a convenient format to begin with, so the REGA sounds like a clear winner especially when you upgrade the cartridge to match the price of the Debut Evo.
Yeah the primary E is a great tt one suck under the radar.
if you're looking for your first tt that's the one to go for spend the extra money on the Golding 1042 and you got a great TT that can compete with sub 1000 package.
Yeah the primary E is a great tt one suck under the radar.
if you're looking for your first tt that's the one to go for spend the extra money on the Golding 1042 and you got a great TT that can compete with sub 1000 package.
Nice summary video Paul. I don't need a new Turntable as I am quite happy with my Linn Basik with Akito Tone Arm MK II which is 30 next year. I have changed the Stylus recently for a Audio Technica AT-VMN95EN which sounds great. Techmoan reviewed the Soundburger and he was quite pleased with it and he was able to get it running at the correct speed. It is line only and has no headphone socket. Techmoan did a video this past week to point out that a Headphone Amplifier is required to use Headphones with the Soundburger.
Is it just me or does Audio-Technica likes robbing other company's product designs? Technics for their actual record players and Sony for the Sound Burger….
Absolutely great review of the best affordable (but not exhaustive) turntables up to £500 mark. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences with this selection detailing the pros and cons as you go up the price and the ethos deployed by the various companies. Great work.
Nice one. Will you make a higher price list to?
Paul. Your "final thoughts" time stamp is incorrect. Great review, thanks!
Was I correct in hearing that the Lenco had a more robust build than the Audio-Technica LP120X even though the latter sounded superior, or did I just mishear you? Wish the Lenco made a purist design. No phono preamp, no auto shut off. Wish someone made a Direct Drive for around $800 that was really robust and simple. I have a 40-year-old Linn Sondek LP12 but no nearby dealer and it is getting long in the tooth.
Great video, which has me thinking….. I have a Marantz 6300 I bought new in 1976…. Stored for some years in my closet, runs like a top but I need a new cartage, any thoughts…?
I have the RT 81 and I love it! I have actually upgraded to the AT orange cartridge and the accompanying PA10 preamp. Both of these were a substantial upgrade in sound.
Since we're focused on price. The best turntable by far is anything you can find second hand locally. Currently very satisfied with a 1980 Technics SL-B3 Belt Drive Automatic that I purchased 3 weeks ago at an estate sale for $20 USD. I did have to put on a new belt from Amazon which costed me $4.29.
How about Planar 2? Any experience to share?
Another great video Paul, just one thing the Sound Buger has a built in phono stage ( line out ) so an amp and speakers or active pair of speakers are still required. Yes I can vouch as my sound test video, its a surprisingly nice sounding unit for what it is and the money. Fingers crossed for a Yellow one in the new year.
I love a DJ turntable eaven through I would not dream of doing any scratching
Hi Paul love the detailed reviews! I have recently passed my project elemental onto my son! I’ve been looking at the Rega Planar 1 or Project debut carbon evo. I do love the Roy Handy Engineered approach. On the other hand your review of the Project and it’s ability to be as good as the P3 has me torn between the two! Anything that would clinch one over the other for you personally?
i’m looking to buy my first turntable and have been doing loads of research, have found your videos very helpful! i think im leaning towards the AT-LP3XBT as i still live at home so need the bluetooth for my headphones when everyone is home, and think i would prefer having an automatic TT as a beginner! do you think this is a good choice?
Well done. I'm just surprised that there was not one turntable here from Dual.
Great watch! Also great more affordable turntables coming out with quiet good quality/price. Owning many turntables over the years somehow I always seem to go back to the more heavy duty vintage ones. I buy and sell every years some. Right now owning a nice serviced Garrard 4HF with Audio-Technica AT-XP5 cartridge, A Lenco B55 with custom bearing + Lenco L78 with custom bearing. These idler wheel turntables are just so rock solid with a great 'punch' and with some customisation often also having same or better wow and flutter in comparing to new turntables. But design wise I like several of the modern turntables, like Clearaudio etc.
Excellent review. The cost of LPs seems to be climbing now sadly which might defeat your valiant attempts to save us cash on the player!
When I looked for turntable, I wanted Fluance RT84 or RT85, but it's shipping costs from official website was waaaay too high for me (100euros btw) so I went with Audio Technica at beginning I wanted LP5x but it was sold out on Audio Technica's website, so I went with their LPW30TK.
If you wonder why I just don't buy from store, then I can tell you that there was a lot of cheap ones there, like Crossley suitcase knock offs and those all-in-one turntables. There was some of Lenco and Pro-ject ones but didn't knew how good they are. Since a lot of people suggested Audio Technica as well I went with that, after seeing shipping cost for Fluance. I wish I could find some Fluance in some local store to be honest, then I would buy for sure.
I bought a AUDIO-TECHNICA 120X and was very disappointed. The build quality is poor. It reeks of being 'cheap' in all senses.
The Technics replacement is so much better. The AT is gathering dust. Ironically, I love their cartridges – perhaps they should just do what they do best
Nearly 4 minutes before the video starts. I knew what it was all about in the first 30 seconds. Get on with it a little bit boarding at the beginning
Hi Paul! Myself and probably a lot of your subscribers would really want to hear from you how you enjoy listening to the music…in what atmosphere…( at night maybe … I heard it feels/sounds differently , sipping on a glass of your favourite drink, an album at the time or going randomly…). Thank you , here in United States today is Thanksgiving Day….so one more reason to be thankful for your advices and work overall!!
Another great video, thank you. I recently moved from a Fluance RT85 (which I highly recommend as one of the best performing tables at it’s price point) to a Schiit Sol. Yes, I bought an out of production hobbyist turntable.
Here’s why:
I really want to mature into a VPI Avenger or Triangle Art. However, I need to be sure that I enjoy and am able to manage the very manual setup and optimizations required for an audiophile class turntable. Probably a smart thing to do at that price point.
For me, the Sol hits that mark perfectly and therefore is my “Trainer”. In addition, it performs so well that it easily leverages much higher grade phone stages and cartridges with a clear improvement in sound quality. That allows me to upgrade those critical elements now and then use them with my dream table later.
My plan in process is:
Vincent PHO-701 to a Sutherland 20/20 (really wish you had a review on the Sutherland) – Open to recommendations in this price point.
Stock AT-VM95ENVM95 to a Zephyr MIMC – Also open to recommendations.
I already replaced the anemic Sol power supply with a Sbooster BOTW linear power supply to squash a low frequency background hum and I’m deep into research on higher grade alignment tools, so I improve my setup precision.
ProJect A1 is an exact copy of the Thorens TD 170. Maybe a co-op or shared platform. I believe Fluance has the best value but it is not sold in the EU for some reason…