Music fans and audiophiles alike love the sound of a great record player, and the ongoing vinyl boom is a testament to the format’s longevity. I’ve rounded up the best-sounding turntables I’ve tested side by side in the CNET audio lab, while also taking into account popular features such as Bluetooth connectivity and phono preamps. If you’re looking to purchase a new player, whether as a first-time buyer or as a vinyl collector, these are the best models you can buy right now, suitable for most budgets.

Best record players of 2026

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  Big sonic step up from the LP60
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  Upgradable stylus
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  Automatic operation

What makes it stand out:
With a high degree of usability, a refreshed look and engaging sonics, the Audio-Technica AT-LP70X is the turntable I recommend if you want both great sound and automatic operation. I found the AT-LP70X sounds so much better than the budget AT-LP60X, so if you’re choosing between the two, it’s worth paying the extra $80 for the LP70X. The model comes with three finish options: black/bronze, black/silver or white/silver.

Perfect for these listeners:

With its push-button operation, the AT-LP70X is great for beginners as well as people who don’t want to fuss around with lifting tonearms into the groove. It may also appeal to people who have an eye to decor-friendly audio components.

Consider alternatives if:

At its new price of $279, the AT-LP70X is very close in price to the Editors’ Choice-winning Fluance RT82. If you don’t need automatic operation, the reassuringly solid, more upgradable Fluance will probably serve you better in the long run than the AT-LP70X’s plastic construction.

Best record player over $1,000

Rega Planar 3

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  It’s one of the most beautiful looking turntables available
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  It features a great tonearm
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  Sound quality is rich and detailed

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  It has no automatic features
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  There’s no preamp option

What makes it stand out:
Rega has made turntables for over 40 years and was the first to develop the lightweight plinth (or base) that’s now seen in most modern turntables. Even at $1,125 or more, the Planar 3 sits just in the middle of the company’s range, but it’s arguably the best value. It’s also a thing of elegance, with a simple-to-set-up design and the beautiful RB330 tonearm (if you’re into that sort of thing). With the right cartridge, the Rega Planar 3 offers an exciting, fun sound, while also looking great and just being a complete blast to use. It is highly recommended. 

Note that the Rega comes in several configurations, including one without a cartridge ($1,125), with the Ortofon 2M ($1,364), or with the Rega Elys ($1,395). If you get the bare table, you can choose whichever cartridge you want. A good dealer will fix one without charging extra installation fees.

Perfect for these listeners:

The Rega Planar 3 is a tactile player, and it’s suited for those who want a more analog experience. Plus, it just sounds great. If you’re a tweaker, you can customize almost every part with a wide selection of third-party upgrades.

Consider alternatives if:

There are literally thousands of different turntables available at every imaginable price, and the Rega Planar won’t be the right fit for everybody. Serious audiophiles may look to something even more exotic, while bargain hunters will want to shop in the “$300 or less aisle.”

Size

14 x 4.5 x 17.5 inches

Platter

Glass

Speeds

33, 45 RPM

Audio Output

External Speakers

Motor

Belt Drive

Auto Stop

Yes

What we updated: October 2026

Removed the Crosley C10A and added the Sony PS-LX5BT to the Also Tested section. Updated all pricing and availability.

What is the best record player overall?

Based on my hours of testing and comparisons between models at every level, the best turntable for most people is the Fluance RT82 ($349). It offers excellent design, killer old-school looks and great sound quality for the money. But if you’re looking to spend a lot more than that, the best turntable I’ve tested is the U-Turn Orbit Theory. It offers superlative sound quality and looks every bit the premium model it is.

If a budget model is what you seek, you could start with something like the Audio-Technica AT-LP60X workhorse — it’s simple, and it’s good, and the $199 AT-LP70X upgrade is even better. Need more information? Depending on your budget, there are even more players to choose from — so dust off your vinyl collection and keep reading.

Factors to consider when choosing a record player

Design

There are four main elements to a turntable: the plinth (or base), the platter on which the vinyl record sits, the motor and the arm. The best designs offer extended bracing and isolation between each of these elements to reduce the noise, which can affect the sound quality of the vinyl.

Motor

Generally, modern record players are powered in one of two different ways: belt drive and direct drive. Direct drive has a dedicated motor that spins the platter directly, and this design is almost exclusively used by DJs — in turntables such as the Technics SL1200. Belt drive models are more consumer-focused and use a motor-driven rubber belt to spin the platter. Belt drive is designed to reduce the noise over direct-drive designs by absorbing motor vibrations which could otherwise be picked up by the stylus. All of the record players in this list offer a belt drive.

Cartridge

A cartridge is the small “box” mounted to the end of the tonearm on your record player. It includes the stylus (or needle) that lowers onto the vinyl itself. The best turntables feature a user-replaceable cartridge, which allows you to experiment with a higher-quality cartridge (such as an Ortofon 2M Red) to produce a better sound.

Speed switch

Another convenience feature to look for is an electronic speed switch, which means no more removing the platter to change speeds. If you play a lot of singles, or own audiophile pressings. then you will likely want a hardware switch to choose between 33 1/3 and 45.

Preamp

A switchable, onboard preamp that enables you to use a better phono stage. Unlike most types of players, a turntable needs a preamp to bring music up to “line level.” Otherwise, it will sound like pixies singing in a cave. External preamps are generally required for some vintage models as well as intermediate and high-end turntables that sell at a higher price. If you’re looking to keep costs low and convenience high, you may want to consider a turntable with a built-in preamp that then connects to any speaker or receiver. CNET contributor Steve Guttenberg recommends the $100 Schiit Mani phono preamp as a quality budget option.

Additional features

Many modern record players come equipped with features including Bluetooth pairing and USB connectivity.

Price

Turntables start at around $50 and can cost as much as a mortgage payment, but the good ones start at around $300. Audiophile-quality models start from $1,000. This list contains plenty of options, including budget models, to help you stay within your budget.

How CNET tests record players

I test all of the turntables side-by-side in the CNET lab with models that have an equivalent price and feature count. Though some of the models on test have a preamp onboard, I used the phono-level output on each — this output features an unamplified signal and needs a preamp with RIAA equalization. I tested the turntables using a combination of gear including a Rotel RA1592 amplifier, Onkyo TX-NR696 and TX-RZ50,  Q Acoustics 3050i tower speakers, and the Cambridge Audio Duo preamp.

As part of the tests, I listened to a number of different albums, including these four artists: Bob Marley, Slint, LCD Soundsystem and Miles Davis. On each turntable, I listened for bass response (was it boomy or clean?), midrange detail (low-level instruments and echo effects) and high frequencies (were they recessed or too loud?). The best turntables performed well across all genres.

Two of the models offered a switchable line-level output — the Music Hall MMF-1.3 and the Audio-Technica AT-LPW40WN — and this is handy if you don’t have or don’t want an external preamp. You can plug these models into anything that accepts RCA connectors. I also plugged these two directly into the amplifier and compared them against each other.

It’s worth noting that some of the models are unavailable outside North America, such as the Music Hall MMF-1.3, Fluance RT82 and the U-Turn Orbit Plus. If you’re looking for the best alternative to the Fluance RT82, I would recommend the Pro-Ject T1 Evo. 

Other record players I’ve tested

Most of the turntable models I’ve tested for this buyer’s guide have at least something to recommend them — whether it be design, sound quality or both. The following are ranked in order of commendability.

• Sony PS-LX5BT ($499): The Sony PS-LX5BT is a very likable automatic player that, in testing, I found offered an elevated sonic performance. The downsides are that it makes a loud clunking noise when the system engages, and it’s $200 more than the equivalent Audio-Technica AT-LP70XBT.

• Cambridge Audio Alva ST ($699): It’s a close call between the Cambridge Audio and the Pro-Ject Debut Evo, and it’s only sound quality that separates the two. The Alva ST is loaded with features and is a more enjoyable deck to use, but the Pro-Ject has a shade more subtlety and detail in its performance. At this price, this Cambridge Audio is a great turntable.

• Music Hall MMF-1.3 ($349): The Music Hall MMF-1.3 is a good turntable at a decent price. It has an even-handed response with all types of music but it wasn’t as engaging as the Fluance RT82. If you’re looking to plug a turntable straight into any receiver without a phono preamp, this is the model I’d opt for.
• Fluance RT85 ($550): Unless you have a mellow-sounding system, the Fluance RT85’s combination of an Ortofon 2M Blue and acrylic platter seems like one upgrade too far. The RT85 will be too much for already bright systems, and the Pro-Ject T1 and Debut Evo are a better value at this level.
• Audio-Technica AT-LPW40WN ($499): With its carbon-fiber tonearm and natural wood-veneer plinth, the Audio-Technica features excellent design, but it’s a mixed bag in terms of sound quality. The table sounded boomy when plugged into a phono preamplifier, and while it was more neutral with the onboard preamp, it was still a little ho-hum.

• Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo 2 ($799): Not really a sequel to the original Evo as much as a brand new franchise. While it’s better-sounding and the platter is improved, it’s $200 more than before, so I can’t recommend it.
• Victrola Stream Carbon ($999): The first turntable to work wirelessly with Sonos, the Victrola Stream Carbon is easy to set up and play on any compatible speaker. The turntable’s a lot of fun, and the sound quality was fine enough, but sadly, the ergonomics were a little off. Specifically, the two components you use every time — the power-speed switch and the tonearm lift — are almost comically tiny. Read my Victrola Stream Carbon first take.
• Monolith by Monoprice Belt Drive Turntable ($250): The Monolith turntable offers a lot for the money, including a USB connection and a Bluetooth output. It sounds great, and it definitely looks the part. However, the turntable setup is a pain, and I’ve experienced some problems, such as extreme speed fluctuations.

• U-Turn Orbit Plus ($399): While it’s better-sounding than the original, the U-Turn couldn’t compete with the performance of other players around $300. The turntable sounded truncated, with a lack of extended high frequencies, and on the hardware side, the lack of a cue lever felt like a glaring omission.
• Crosley Cruiser Deluxe (around $80, depending on color): The “suitcase-style” portable turntable is hyper popular due to its combination of eye-catching design and cheap pricing. The Deluxe has a plethora of features, including Bluetooth in/out plus RCA out, but some compromises have been made, including a cheaper stylus. It’s a fun toy, but in the end, it’s the Crosley’s poor sound quality that disappoints. The Victrola Eastwood (below) sounds better, but it has its own issues.
• Victrola Eastwood ($90): Unlike the Crosley Cruiser Deluxe, the Victrola offers a proper cartridge (no plastic moving parts here) and compact styling. While it also sounds better than its competitor, the Eastwood’s main problem is that the lid gets in the way when you try to change records, which could damage your vinyl.

Record player FAQ

Senior editor Ty Pendlebury has been reviewing TVs and home entertainment for CNET since 2006. He has a cat named after one of the best TVs ever made.

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