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BEST RECORD PLAYER 2022: GET YOUR GROOVE ON

Even in 2022, one of the best ways to listen to music is with a record player.

 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 

Written by Allison Murray, Staff Writer

Allison Murray Staff Writer

Allison Murray is a writer based in Chicago. She has three years of reporting
experience on a wide variety of tech-related topics.

Full Bio
on April 1, 2022 | Topic: Home Entertainment
Fluance RT81 Elite High Fidelity
Best budget-friendly option
View now at Walmart
Audio-Technica LP120
Best wireless option
View now at Walmart
U-Turn Orbit Custom
Best customizable option
View now at U-Turn Audio
Pro-Ject T1 Phono SB
Best stylish option
View now at Sonos
Rega Planar 2
Best option for seasoned listeners
View now at Amazon

Record players used to be a thing of the past. With technological advances over
the years like the portable CD player, the iPod, and music streaming services,
the novelty of owning a record player just didn't make sense. However, that's
not the case anymore. 

According to the Recording Industry Association of America, vinyl record sales
hit a 30-year high in 2021 -- from 21.5 million units in 2020 to 41.7 million
last year, or a 61% sales jump. And with all the vinyl records being made and
sold, you need a way to play them. 

These days, the new record players have features like Bluetooth, color
customization, built-in preamps, attractive styles, and more. We've rounded up
the best record players with these features, so you can spin your vinyl
properly. 


FLUANCE RT81 ELITE HIGH FIDELITY


BEST BUDGET-FRIENDLY OPTION

Fluance

Plinth Material: Medium density fiberboard (MDF) | Platter Material: Aluminum  |
Cartridge Model: Audio Technica AT95E Cartridge | Drive Type: Belt Drive |
Supported Speeds: 33 1/3 RPM, 45 RPM | Tonearm Type: Adjustable counterweight
S-Type tonearm | Built-in Preamp: Yes | Cueing Lever: Yes | Anti-skate:
Adjustable

Even though $250 isn't exactly budget-friendly, cheaper versions of record
players will cost you more in the long run (they will ultimately ruin your
records). However, if you can stretch your budget to $250, this is a great entry
option into the world of record players.

The Fluence RT81 Elite is known for its pure analog listening experience. Its
Audio-Technica AT95E Cartridge allows for clear sound free of noise and
distortion, since it rests on your records at just 2.0 grams of tracking force.
There's also a handy autostop feature to help prevent unnecessary wear on your
needle.

The turntable's solid engineered wood plinth that comes in three colors reduces
vibrations, so you don't have to worry about where to put it in your home.

Pros

 * Autostop feature
 * Stylish
 * Great sound and performance for its price range

Cons

 * Have to queue records manually 

View now at Walmart View now at Amazon


AUDIO-TECHNICA LP120


BEST WIRELESS OPTION

Audio-Technica

Platter Material: Die-cast aluminum | Cartridge Model: Audio Technica AT95E
Cartridge | Drive Type: Direct drive | Supported Speeds: 33 1/3 RPM, 45 RPM, 78
RPM | Tonearm Type: S-Type tonearm | Built-in Preamp: Yes | Cueing Lever: Yes |
Anti-skate: Adjustable

The Audio-Technica LP120 allows you to connect wireless headphones, speakers, or
home stereos to the turntable, making it easy to use.

One of the unique things about the Audio-Technica LP120 is that you can convert
your vinyl records into digital audio files through the Audacity software
available on Macs and PCs. That means that the rare, one-off record you found at
your local record store can be turned into a digital file that you can listen to
anywhere you want.

Other features of this Audio-Technica include a forward/reverse operation and
variable pitch control with quartz speed lock. It also has playback controls and
a target light that makes it easier to cue your records when it's dark.

Pros

 * Can turn vinyl records into digital copies
 * Great for vinyl beginners

Cons

 * To play 78 RPM records, you'll need to purchase an additional cartridge 

View now at Walmart


U-TURN ORBIT CUSTOM


BEST CUSTOMIZABLE OPTION

U-Turn

Platter Material: MDF or acrylic | Cartridge Model: AT91B, Ortofon OM5E, Grado
Black3, Ortofon 2M Red, ORtofon 2M Blue | Drive Type: Belt drive | Supported
Speeds: 33 1/3 RPM, 45 RPM  | Tonearm Type: Adjustable Counterweight Straight
Tonearm | Built-in Preamp: Can be included | Cueing Lever: Can be included |
Anti-skate: Built-in/not adjustable

The U-Turn Orbit Custom is an excellent option if you're looking for something
entirely customizable for your taste and needs. You can choose everything from
the color, cartridge, preamp, cueing lever, platter material, etc.

What's great about customization is that you can pay as little as $200 but can
add on features that'll cost you more than $700, making this option perfect for
both turntable beginners and audiophiles alike.

One thing to note about this model is that its belt drive can be challenging to
handle if you're not used to it. Since it is attached to the outside of the
platter, if you are rough with switching your records, you can inadvertently
cause the belt drive to fall off. This can be a huge pain to put back on.

Pros

 * Fully customizable in features and price
 * High-end sound

Cons

 * Even with all the customization, it cannot play 78 RPM records
 * Belt drive can be difficult to handle
 * No adjustable anti-skate

View now at U-Turn Audio


PRO-JECT T1 PHONO SB


BEST STYLISH OPTION

Pro-Ject

Plinth material: CNC-machined MDF | Platter Material: Blasted-glass platter with
felt mat | Cartridge Model: Ortofon OM5E | Drive Type: Belt drive | Supported
Speeds: 33 1/3 RPM, 45 RPM | Tonearm Type: Adjustable Counterweight Straight
Tonearm | Built-in Preamp: Yes | Cueing Lever: Yes | Anti-skate: Built-in/not
adjustable 

Pro-Ject's T1 Phono SB prides itself in "no hollow spaces," meaning there won't
be unwanted vibrations on the plinth. In addition, this turntable is getting
into more of the "audiophile" space, so it's great for those looking to upgrade
to their second record player. 

What's exceptional about this turntable is its glass platter. At 8mm thick, it's
heavy, and heavy is always better in the vinyl world. The heaviness of the
platter ends up reducing tonearm wobble from unwanted vibrations. 

Pros

 * Good, solid sound 
 * Vibration-absorbing feet 

Cons

 * No adjustable anti-skate 
 * Have to handle the belt drive manually

View now at Sonos View now at Amazon


REGA PLANAR 2


BEST OPTION FOR SEASONED LISTENERS

Rega

Plinth Material: Acrylic high gloss laminated | Platter Material: Float glass |
Cartridge Model: Rega Carbon | Drive Type: Belt drive | Supported Speeds: 33 1/3
RPM, 45 RPM  | Tonearm Type: Adjustable Counterweight Straight Tonearm |
Built-in Preamp: No | Cueing Lever: Yes | Anti-skate: Yes

One of the renowned brands in the record player world is Rega. Since the '70s,
this UK-based company has designed and assembled every product by hand to
deliver the best music performance, and the Rega Planar 2 is a perfect example
of this. 

The sleek, minimalist design paired with Rega's carbon cartridge allows for a
fantastic listening experience. The turntable is also outfitted with Rega's
RB220 tonearm with an adjustable anti-skate system to adjust the amount of bias
(the sideways force on the cartridge to balance out the inward pull of the
record groove) as the tonearm tracks the record, ensuring even tracking
throughout playback.

The one downside to this turntable is that you have to take the platter off to
manually adjust the speed. While not a huge turn-off -- and for many, it's
preferred -- it's not necessarily the best method. 

Pros

 * Lifetime warranty against manufacture defects 
 * Impressive sound quality 
 * Zero plastic parts and no hollow spots

Cons

 * Have to use an external preamp
 * Must manually adjust the speed 

View now at Amazon


WHAT RECORD PLAYER TERMS SHOULD YOU KNOW?

Plinth: Also sometimes referred to as the cabinet or chassis, the plinth is the
main component that holds all of the other parts of the record player together.
It's the usually square or rectangle box that everything else sits on top of.

Platter: The circular surface that spins and that the actual record is placed
on.

Counterweight: A weight at the opposite end of the tonearm from the cartridge
that allows you to adjust the weight placed on the cartridge to reduce wear on
your stylus (the actual needle).

Tonearm: The tonearm holds the cartridge and allows it to glide through the
grooves as the record spins effortlessly. There are three different types of
tonearm shapes: straight, J-shaped, and S-shaped.

Cueing level: Makes it so that the tonearm lifts and drops slowly, so you don't
damage the stylus.

Cartridge: Holds the stylus and is located at the end of the tonearm. Converts
the vibrations into audio. 




WHAT SHOULD YOU LOOK FOR IN A RECORD PLAYER?

Some of the essential things to keep in mind when choosing a record player is
that it has a counterweight -- and preferably, an adjustable one. The
counterweight allows you to put the correct amount of weight on your cartridge
to reduce the wear on your record and stylus.

Another feature to look out for is anti-skate. This feature keeps it so the
stylus is in the center of the groove rather than on either side of the groove.
Your records might skip more or wear down faster if you don't have anti-skate.

Also, keep in mind that heavier is better, especially for the platter. This is
because a heavier platter maintains speed consistency and prevents unwanted
vibrations.

Most importantly, the sound will be your deciding factor in what makes a good
record player. Good record players produce a rich sound that is distinctive from
any other audio format. 




HOW DID WE CHOOSE THESE RECORD PLAYERS?

Choosing the right record player can be tough, since you want one that is good
quality but doesn't break the bank too much. We carefully selected these record
players based on first-hand listening experience, along with others' knowledge
and research. We paid attention to critical factors like counterweight,
anti-skate, and the cartridge type. We also made sure to include well-renowned
brands known for their quality and to read customer reviews -- both good and bad
-- to back up our claims.

We purposely left out the Crosley Cruiser Turntable models, since these are
known to ruin your records. However, higher-end Crosley turntables are still a
decent option you can look into. 




WHICH RECORD PLAYER IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

If you're purchasing your very first record player, we recommend the Fluance or
the Audio-Technica from this list. If you're looking for something you can
customize, opt for the U-Turn Orbit. And, if you're looking for something on the
higher-end, the Rega or the Pro-Ject is the way to go. 

Record player

Price

Cartridge model

Built-in Preamp?

Fluance RT81 Elite High Fidelity

$250

AT95E

Yes

Audio-Technica LP120

$400

AT95E

Yes

U-Turn Orbit Custom

$200-$730

AT91B, Ortofon OM5E, Grado Black3, Ortofon 2M Red, ORtofon 2M Blue 

Can be included

Pro-Ject T1 Phono SB

$450

Ortofon OM5E

Yes

Rega Planar 2

$775

Rega Carbon

No




ARE THERE ALTERNATIVE RECORD PLAYERS TO CONSIDER?

If you can find a good quality one and are willing to put in the money/work to
restore it, vintage record players are highly recommended. You can find vintage
turntables on Craigslist, eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or your local electronics
store. However, fixing a vintage record player can be challenging, so you'll
probably want to take it to a professional who has knowledge of vintage
turntables and has the parts for them.

Otherwise, here are some other new turntables worth the listen: 



REGA PLANAR 1

$595 at Amazon


MUSIC HALL MMF-1.3 TURNTABLE

$350 at Amazon




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