TURNTABLES
DECKS TO KEEP THE VINYL REVIVAL THRIVING
Pro-ject Primary E £149 Best turntable under £200, Awards 2018
Pro-ject has revised a budget deck to nail the £150 market – and has succeeded on every front. Speed 33⅓, 45rpm Size (hwd) 11 x 42 x 33cm
Audio Technica AT-LP3 £199
Best turntable under £200, Awards 2017
A fully automatic turntable that doesn’t scrimp on performance, this is the ideal entry-level deck for those looking to dip their ‘vinyl toes’ in. Speed 33⅓, 45rpm Size (hwd) 13 x 44 x 35cm
Sony PS-LX310BT £200
August 2019
A no-nonsense, fully automatic turntable with built-in phono stage and Bluetooth, offering a surprisingly musical sound.
Speed 33⅓, 45rpm Size (hwd) 11 x 43 x 37cm
Rega Planar 1 £249
Best turntable £200-£500, Awards 2018
This revamped entry-level deck from Rega doesn’t sound anything like an entry-level deck. Pleasingly solid, accurate and agile – it’s a lovely listen. Speed 33⅓, 45rpm Size (hwd) 12 x 45 x 36cm
Sony PS-HX500 £249
Best USB turntable, Awards 2018
A turntable with the ability to rip vinyl into hi-res files, but it’s also an entertaining deck with a big, open sound. Speed 33⅓, 45rpm Size (hwd) 11 x 43 x 36cm
Pro-ject Essential III £259
October 2017
Another excellent turntable from Pro-ject. The Essential III is easy to set up and offers a detailed and musical performance. Speed 33⅓, 45rpm Size (hwd) 11 x 42 x 33cm
Audio Technica AT-LP5 £299
Awards 2016
A pleasure to use and listen to, the LP5 boasts both ease of use and the added bonus of a USB ouput. At this price there’s none better. Speed 33⅓, 45rpm Size (hwd) 16 x 45 x 35cm
Pro-ject Debut III S Audiophile £325
June 2018
Its solid design, smart finish and natural treble reinforce the Debut range’s knack for delivering great, affordable sound. Speed 33⅓ & 45rpm Size (hwd) 12 x 42 x 32cm
Rega Planar 1 Plus £329
July 2018
All the sonic talents of the Planar 1 with an equally talented phono stage built in. The Plus is a winning combination of convenience and excellent quality. Speed 33⅓, 45rpm Size (hwd) 12 x 45 x 36cm
Rega Planar 3/Elys 2 £649
Best turntable £500-£1000, Awards 2018
Rega builds on the 3’s predecessor by adding extra servings of clarity, precision and insight. The result is the best RP3 yet. Speed 33⅓, 45rpm Size (hwd) 12 x 45 x 36cm
Technics SL-1500C £899
September 2019
With a really good built-in phono stage and an auto-lift function, this Technics is a beautifully made, fuss-free record player that sounds great Speed 33⅓, 45, 78rpm Size (hwd) 23 x 16 x 12cm
Clearaudio Concept £1195
Best turntable £800-£1200+, Awards 2017
A thoroughly sorted, easy-to-own package with tremendous sound, combining punch, extension and tonal variation in equal measure. Speed 33⅓, 45, 78rpm Size (hwd) 14 x 42 x 35cm
EAT B-sharp Super Pack £1368
July 2018
EAT’S ‘entry-level’ deck is a fine one that can count among its talents a sense of control, sure composure and a well judged sonic balance. Speed 33⅓, 45, 78rpm Size (hwd) 14 x 46 x 35cm
Rega Planar 6/Ania £1469
Best turntable £1000+, Awards 2018
A refined, articulate and precise turntable that’s lovely to listen to. It requires good system-matching to get the best out of it though. Speed 33⅓, 45rpm Size (hwd) 12 x 45 x 37cm
Rega Planar 8/Apheta 2 £2439
February 2019
Clever engineering and sky-high standards make this Rega’s most ambitious and boundary-pushing turntable yet. It’s gorgeous in sound and design. Speed 33⅓, 45rpm Size (hwd) 13 x 42 x 32cm
VPI Prime £4200
Awards 2015
A confident-sounding package that can organise with the best and maintain composure even when faced with the most challenging music. Speed 33⅓, 45rpm Size (hwd) 18 x 54 x 40cm
VPI Prime Signature £6000
February 2018
An upgraded version of the standard Prime that builds on that model’s strengths, with more insight, stronger dynamics and a lovely stability. Speed 33⅓, 45rpm Size (hwd) 18 x 54 x 40cm
Clearaudio Innovation Wood/davinci V2 £15,900
2010
This gorgeous, mind-blowingly expensive turntable is so good, we’ve been using it as our reference deck for years now. Extravagant, but it’s worth it. Speed 33⅓, 45, 78rpm Size (hwd) 14 x 45 x 36cm
Linn Klimax LP12 £18,670
July 2017
A mightily expensive deck that has the unmistakable feel of real quality. It’s startlingly better than previous LP12 turntables. Speed 33⅓, 45, 78rpm Size (hwd) 14 x 45 x 36cm