The Best Turntable for Audiophiles 2023: 6 Amazing Options

What's the best turntable for audiophiles on the market right now? How do these turntables differ from entry-level options? Our latest guide looks at all the best options on the market right now for answers.

An “audiophile” turntable is something of a misnomer. For one, turntable users, by virtue of their niche nature, are audiophiles by default. You won't find a lot of Bieber-listening, $10 earpod popping users browsing through classic turntable classifieds.

But even within this group of audiophiles, there is a clear hierarchy. There's the “casual” audiophile group that starts off with an entry-level Audio Technica turntable and maybe graduates to an entry-level Rega.

Then there are the serious audiophiles who scour eBay for refurbished Thorens turntables and obsess over Apheta and Exact cartridges.

This article is meant for this latter crowd.

Below, we'll look at some of the best turntables for audiophiles on the market and what makes them so good.

The Best Turntables for Audiophiles in 2020

We looked at some of our top picks for audiophile turntables earlier.

Let's look at these mixers in more detail below:

Best Turntable for Beginners: Rega Planar 2

Rega is one of the first names you think of when you think of “audiophile turntables”. The brand has a storied history and a loyal following among serious musicians and music purists.

So when there's Rega on the market for under $1,000, you can bet it's going to feature right at the top of our list.

Although the Rega Planar 2 is an entry-level turntable, it has a glass platter and a surprisingly complex tonearm. Let's look at it in more detail.

Design

This turntable features a rectangular plinth that is available in black, red, or white laminated finishes.

It also features a removable dust cover, a main brass bearing, an off/on switch on the underside, and a 24v motor.

The platter is made of 10m thick glass that gives it a premium appearance. It has a RB220 tonearm which is 9” in length and is made of aluminum.

The Cartridge is fitted to the tonearm and is from Rega’s line of Rega Carbon cartridges.

Performance

During testing, we found this turntable to produce quite an impressive sound quality. The sound is rich and delivers snappy timing as is expected  from Rega. For testing, we used Yamaha HS10 studio monitors and Pink Floyd's Animals.

We found that the is quite good, and the bass is tight.

What we don’t like

You cannot upgrade to push-button speed changing, which is quite a bummer. Aside from this minor blip, this is a very solid turntable.

We observed noticeable motor noise.

Best Mid-Range Turntable: Pro-Ject 1XPression Carbon Classic

Pro-ject is known for the high-quality of its turntables, and this turntable does not disappoint. This high-end turntable ticks almost all the boxes when it comes to delivering incredible audio performance. For the price, it is one of the best turntables any audiophile can grab.

Design & Features

Pro-ject delivers a turntable with a clean and very appealing design. The tested model comes in a Piano black hue that makes it look incredible.

It is built to last as high-quality materials are used all-round. It comes with an acrylic platter and an Ortofon 2M silver cartridge attached to the arm.

The overall design and build make it look worth more than its price.

It comes with an advanced belt drive system to make for an incredible turntable.

Sound Quality & Performance

During testing, this turntable shattered expectations. Although listed as an entry-level model, it delivers quite impressive performance.

It delivers a high level of detail and fast, controlled sound.

What we don’t like

It is not easy to set up. The instructions manual is rubbish, and we had to revert to YouTube to find how to assemble it. We also didn't like the counterweight calibration and anti-skate mechanism.

Best Performance Turntable: Music Hall MMF 9.1

Music Hall employs the trademark triple plinth construction in this turntable. It has a good design that isolates and amplifies the sound quality. A two-speed belt driven turntable, it is one of the best turntables we have tested at this price range.

Design

It comes with a triple plinth design. The 3 levels of the plinth are demarcated by 4 Sorbothane hemispheres. These hemispheres suspend and isolate the plinths.

The belt is wrapped around the 25mm acrylic platter.  A Goldridge Eroica cartridge is pre-mounted and aligned, which makes it very convenient to install.

It comes with a Plexiglass dust cover that will stay upright when you want to place a disk on the platter.

Sound Quality & Performance

The turntable provides sound with a low detail level, deeper sound stage, and relatively low background noise.

The isolation of the plinths obviously contributes to the great sound it produces. The sound is more neutral than other turntables at this price, and the transients are fast.

What we don’t like

We observed that the factory setup doesn’t really bring out the best in this turntable. It requires some fine tuning and extra alignment.

Best All-Purpose Turntable: PRO JECT 2Xperience SB

This is the second turntable from Pro-Ject featured on this list. It features Pro-Ject’s popular 2Xperience belt-drive concept. This concept has been around for close to 20 years and sparked a revolution of sorts in turntable performance.

Design

The turntable comes in a heavy, compact design that jettisons unwanted vibrations. It comes with a 9cc Evolution carbon-fiber tone arm that greatly improves its sound quality compared to the Pro-Ject 1XPression Carbon Classic.

It also comes with a Sumiko Blue Point MC Phono Cartridge. Coupled with a moving coil design, an alloy cantilever, and standard ½” mounting, this turntable delivers quite stunning performance.

You can choose 3 finishes in either a matte finish or high-gloss finish.

Sound Quality

The turntable offers smooth, rich, and less aggressive highs compared with its closest rivals. Overall, the sound is rich and impressive.

What we don’t like

Compared to higher-end turntables, we observed that the sound is not as pure, focused, and refined.

However, considering the disparity in price, this is not surprising.

Best Entry-Level Audiophile Turntable: Thorens TD 203

The Swiss manufacturer Thorens has a sterling reputation among audiophiles. Part of this can be attributed to history – Throens has been around as a company in some shape since the late 19th century. But mostly, it's because of the sheer quality of their turntables.

And if you're looking for your first “grown-up” audiophile turntable, you can't go wrong with the Thorens TD203.

Design & Build

The TD203 has a solid build and design. The turntable is made of high-quality materials that make it look and feel premium. For example, the main bearing is made from 100% real bronze.

Nevertheless, it looks good, and it features a TP-82 arm and a Thorens TAS 257 cartridge. It comes in 3 different colors: red, black, and white high-gloss lacquer.

You can rest assures you will use the turntable for a long time.

Unlike other turntables, like the Music Hall MMF 9.1 for example, it does not have much going for it in terms of suspension.

Since it lacks active protocols against resonance, it might be smart, placing it away from the speakers and on a surface with low resonance. The innovative uni-pivot design gives this turntable a unique competitive advantage and contributes to durability.

Sound Quality & Performance

The sound quality is decent. We won’t say it is great because it delivers better in some aspects than others.

For example, the highs are not especially memorable. Overall, the sound seems a tad flat and does not deliver the punch we’d expect. With regards to sound quality, it does not sound different from most other turntables.

What we don’t like

As stated above, the sound quality falls a tad flat.

Best High-End Turntable: Rega RP-8

The Rega RP8 is one of the best and most intriguing turntables we have tested. It is a high-end offering from Rega. It looks and sounds expensive too.

Design & Build

It comes with a light-weight plinth made of closed cell polyolefin foam. The plinth is actually 2 pieces. Despite the appearance, it’s actually 2 decoupled pieces. The inner plinth has the bearing, tonearm mount, and the motor.

Phenolic resin skins are designed for the top and bottom surfaces to deliver a glossy black coating that looks simply stunning.

The skeletal design of this turntable enhances the premium look and helps to reduce the natural resonance of the turntable.

Sound Quality & Performance

Just as most Rega turntables, this turntable deliver wonderful performance.

The treble is snappy, the bass is joyfully bouncy, and the mid-range is simply incredible. Get ready to be as blown away as we were. Sound is tight and controlled, and you'd be hard pressed to find a flaw.

What we don’t like

The single problem we have with this turntable is that, for the price, the soundstage sounds a tad muffled. It isn’t as expansive as we hoped it’d be.

Best for Digitizing Vinyl: Denon DP-450USB HiFi Turntable

As the very first company to commercially produce CDs, Denon has always been big on digital. With the Denon DP-450USB HiFi turntable, they incorporate a digital option into a turntable – a true game changer, especially for casual users.

Design

The Denon DP-450 features a modern looking turntable. The shape is quite appealing with its rounded corners and a gloss finish.

It is a semi-automatic turntable. After a record is done playing, the tone-arm lifts up just like a normal turntable. However, it is possible to switch off this feature. The tone arm is “S-Shaped.”

Overall, the design is simple yet appealing. The dust cover can be used as a stand for album covers.

Performance

We love the fine details of this turntable. It combines sound admirably to give a great sound. The sound is clear, vocals stand out, and the bass plays out with enthusiasm.

Despite the sleek appearance, the turntable is solid and heavy, which helps mitigate vibration. Considering the price, the sound is decent.

With the USB option, you can digitize your vinyl records.

What we don’t like

There is obviously room for the sound to get better.

Best for Casual Use: Audio-Technica AT-LP5

Audio Technica is easily the best known brand on this list. It's also a brand that dominates the low-end of the turntable market.

Despite its popularity, Audio Technica isn't really the first name you think of when you think of ‘best turntable for audiophile'. And that's true – as good as AT's turntables are, they don't pass the test for “audiophile” gear (high-finesse performance).

But what if you wanted a turntable that just…works? That doesn't require audiophile knowledge to get 95% of audiophile performance?

Then this AT-LP5 turntable is for you.

Design

The AT-LP5 has a simple but elegant appearance. At first glance, it appears worth more than its actual price. The platter is aluminum cast, and the tone arm is perfectly weighted.

It is a modern looking turntable. Although bigger and bulkier than other turntables, for example, the Rega Planar 2, it looks solid and durable.

Sound Quality

This turntable works well with almost any song you throw at it.

The treble is clear, the bass is solid, and it overall sounds great. It delivers a punch that will leave you tapping your toes.

Considering the price, it offers better sound than expected.

What we don’t like

Despite the great overall sound, we found the tone to be a tad too bright at times. Another bother is the lack of a dust cover.

Final Words

This brings our list of the best turntable for audiophiles to a close. Based on your requirements, pick any of the models above and you won't be disappointed.

Just to recap, here's the complete list  again:

1. Rega Planar 2 (Best for beginners)
2. Pro-Ject 1XPression Carbon Classic (Best mid-range)
3. Music Hall MMF 9.1 (Best performance)
4. PRO JECT 2Xperience SB (Best overall)
5. Thorens TD 203 (Best entry-level)
6. Rega RP8 Turntable (Best for true audiophiles)
7. Denon DP-450 (Best for digitizing vinyl)
8. Audio-Technica AT-LP5 (Best for casual user)

Questions, suggestions, or doubts? Send us an email!

References:

• How to digitize your vinyl collection?
• How to start collecting vinyl?
• Rega (official website)
• Audio Technica (official website)
• Thorens (official website)
• PRO-JECT (official website)

Experts referenced for this article:

The following writers, DJs, producers, and audio engineers contributed their suggestions for this post: