Audio Technica AT-LP60-USB £100

For starting your vinyl journey or ripping your records, this budget turntable stands out

If gluten-free food, curved televisions and vinyl albums have taught us anything, it’s that fads are often expensive. So when you consider that only four or five newly pressed albums set you back the cost of this turntable, it might be wiser to spend more on a higher quality deck, no?

It’s certainly food for thought, but if the budget is strict and you’re already rubbing your hands together at the thought of ripping vinyl to store on your smartphone or portable music player, the Audio Technica ATLP60USB is a perfectly good option from which to start your ascent to turntable heaven.

Combined talents

Performing above our expectations for a £100 turntable in almost every aspect, the ATLP60USB combines a balanced, organised and articulate sound with a smart, minimalist design and a semiautomatic operation simple enough for any newbie to get on with.

As is often the case in group tests, if we combined the best of each entrant’s talents we’d have a superstar on our hands. With the Lenco’s solidity in the sonic department, and the Crosley’s interesting design, the Audio Technica would be a complete five-star package.

Still, it’s worth the money as it stands. And so is the Lenco LP85, matching the AT for impressive features and design, although proving not quite as precise or convincing in tying a track’s musical strands together.

Heavy handed

That’s two record-ripping decks that join the more traditional Pro-ject Elemental (£150) among our budget recommendations, but sadly we can’t add a third to that list (yet). The Crosley Keepsake, like the Cruiser we tested last year, lets down its unique design concept, all-in-one system claim and straightforward user experience with an uncompetitive and lacklustre performance – not to mention a heavy-handed reading of records that could, over time, cause them damage.

The fact it’s the priciest of the three hardly helps its case, either.