Whether you've just discovered vinyl and are looking to buy your first turntable or you want to upgrade an older player to get newer features, there are a lot of things to consider when choosing the best record player in 2023.
Since the so-called vinyl revival kicked off a fair few years ago now, companies have been releasing more turntables than ever. But not all turntables are created equal, so choosing wisely is imperative to ensuring the authentic analogue sound quality you've no doubt turned to vinyl for in the first place.
We've gathered together a bunch of the best record players available in 2023, covering off a wide range of features and price points. Keep reading for our top picks.
Our Top Picks: Best Record Player
Rega Planar 1
The Rega Planar 1 might be an entry-level turntable, but performance is top notch, and a fantastic option for almost everyone.
- Great sound
- Easy setup
- Upgrades available
- No built-in phono stage
If you've got money to spend on a turntable, you can't really ever go wrong with flinging it all Rega's way. The Planar 1 is the company's best-selling record player, and its most basic, but there are no grumbles when it comes to performance.
Originally released in 2005, it was recently refreshed to bring it up to date. Pretty much everything has been tweaked to improve its performance, and it features a new matte finish to boot, which really looks great.
It comes with the Rega Carbon cartridge as standard, alongside Rega's handmade RB110 tonearm - and a pre-set bias to make setup quick and easy.
It's a turntable that can grow with you too, with various upgrade paths should you decide to push its performance further.
There's no phono stage here - so you will need a pre-amp, or look into the Planar 1 Plus, which is a little older but comes with one built in for the ultimate plug and play convenience.
Pro-Ject Debut Pro
The Pro-Ject Debut Pro is a fantastic option for those looking to take a step up from their entry-level decks, or have a bit more money to spend.
- Lively, detailed performance
- Great design and build
- Good upgrade path
- Rivals are coming up fast
The Pro-Ject Debut Pro was created to celebrate the company's 30th anniversary - and what a celebration it is.
It's a modern yet simple design, and is built impeccably, with a carbon-aluminium tonearm for perfect tracking and Pro-Ject's Pick It Pro cartridge. You can switch playback speeds between 33, 45 and 78 RPM using the toggle switch, while an electronically regulated synchronous motor drives the die-cast aluminium platter for accurate and stable speeds.
That platter is also anti-magnetic, so you can use both MM and MC cartridges with it, should you choose to upgrade down the line.
Once again, you will need a phono stage here, so do bear that in mind with your budget, but every penny you spend is shown in the sound. Detail and precision abound, with a lively yet solid performance that has a real handle on dynamics.
If you're ready to take the step up from a beginner deck, or have a slightly bigger budget, the Pro-Ject Debut Pro pretty much commands the market at this price.
Cambridge Audio Alva TT V2
For big budgets, the Cambridge Audio delivers top-quality sound with an incredible level of convenience.
- Fantastic build quality
- Superb features
- Detailed, precise sound
- Pricey
For those with bigger budgets, the Alva TT V2 aims to bring you audiophile levels of performance in a high-end convenient package.
That means the Alva TT V2 can hook directly up to any amp or active speaker system you've got, thanks to a built-in switchable integrated phono stage (which can also be switched off if you prefer to use something else).
It comes with a bespoke designed MC cartridge pre-installed for easy setup and all-new tonearm, which looks to minimise resonance to retrieve plenty of detail from your records.
It even works wirelessly, with built-in aptX HD Bluetooth and the ability to stream in high-res to any compatible Bluetooth kit - including headphones.
Wired and wireless connections alike deliver a superb performance here - one that's refined and full of confidence, with great bass extension and plenty of insight. If you've got the budget to spend, we think you'll find all your boxes ticked here.
Sony PS-LX310BT
For the price, this Sony turntable packs in the features and offers a really enjoyable sound to boot.
- Well featured
- Enjoyable sound
- Easy to use
- Lacks some visual appeal
Sony's PS-HX500 is an alumni of our best turntables list, and the PS-LX310BT builds on that legacy, by adding Bluetooth into the mix - all at a great price.
You'll notice this deck won't win any awards for its design. We're all for simple, but this perhaps leans into that a little too much, though does at least feel well built. And performance is great at this level too.
If you read the Alva TT V2 above and the ease of use sounded appealing, the LX310BT offers a similar level of convenience, with a built-in phono stage and a straightforward set up process.
This is considerably cheaper than the Alva, of course, so don't expect the same amount of detail and refinement, but it’s a really enjoyable listen with a robust low end and plenty of drive. A great buy, especially at this price.
Technics SL-1500C
The legacy of the Technics brand is alive and well in this superb premium turntable.
- Looks fantastic
- Big, dynamic sound
- Easy to use
- Pricey
Technics knows a thing or two about putting together a very good turntable indeed, and that’s exactly what it has done in the SL-1500C.
Everything about this deck is premium - from its build quality and specifications to its performance. It actually takes a few of the technologies acquired in the development of its pricier turntables, including the core-less direct drive motor for top-notch speed management, and of course the S-shaped arm that you'd expect from a Technics deck.
An Ortofon 2M Red cartridge is fit as standard here, and there's a built-in phono stage and electric speed control for ease, so you can get up and running with about as much plug and play convenience as you'd want from a turntable at this price. It looks the part too, and is available in black or silver.
The big, dynamic sound you'll get from the SL-1500C might not be the most neutral presentation you can find at this price, but it's a whole lot of fun to listen to- and we are certainly not mad at that.
The best record player: The bottom line
As is often the case, the best record player comes down to the budget you have to spend. For bigger budgets, we love the Cambridge Audio Alva TT V2, while the Pro-Ject Debut Pro is great for a bit more of a mid-range spend.
However, when it comes to pure performance-per-pound value, we just love everything the Rega Planar 1 has to offer. The upgrade path is ready and waiting for you should you ever want to tweak things, but for most people, the Planar 1 will be everything they ever need.
How did we choose the best record players?
Having established expertise reviewing, testing, and researching hi-fi and audio products, we considered the best record players based on our experience and knowledge of the brands, the specifications that they offered, the design and the price. Additionally, we thought about some of the main factors you should focus on when buying a record player, and anything you should think about when it comes to the hi-fi setup you want it to be a part of.
How do I buy the best record player?
To choose the right record player for you, you'll first want to consider your budget. Bear in mind the general advice is it should be no more than a quarter of the cost of your speakers and amplifier combined to ensure your system can do the best with it .
Next consider the system its going into, and any audio characteristics. You'll usually want to match any turntable you buy to the overall character of your system.
Other questions to consider are whether you want a belt drive or direct drive turntable, whether you need a phono stage or not (see more below), and any further features like additional connectivity.
What is a phono stage and do I need one?
A stereo amplifier is not able to retrieve the intricacies of the audio information stored in the grooves of a vinyl record, so a phono stage - or phono preamp - is needed to give it a hand. This can be built into your amplifier, built into your record player or even be a standalone device. As its name suggest, it amplifies the signal enough so the stereo amplifer can take over and do the rest. However, it also helps to return the audio signal to its original state, after it is altered in order to be stored on vinyl successfully. If you are hooking up a standalone record player to your system, you will need a phono stage at some point of the set up.
Should I buy an all-in-one record player?
All-in-one record players without a doubt look great and are hugely convenient, thanks to plug-and-play desirability and their often retro good looks, but if you're looking for the best performance - you'll want to look elsewhere. Firstly, their components are focused towards convenience, not sound quality, so you won't get the purest sound. But also the set up process for getting the turntable up and running is usually quite limited. This can lead to things like heavier-than-ideal tracking weight on the cartridge, which will lead to your vinyl wearing down faster.