From Linn's LP12 to Audio Technica's AT-LP5, the best turntables of our lifetime
We’re 43, you know. We know we don’t look it, but we can still reminisce. Here, we pay homage to the best tables we’ve turned over the years
It would be difficult to call yourself a real audiophile without being an admirer of the qualities of vinyl and, as the hefty Turntables section of our Awards listings indicates, more and more players are demonstrating those qualities.
But what good is loving vinyl without having a decent turntable to play it on? And while we’ve been diligently tracking the best turntables you can currently buy – no matter if you’re on a budget or want Usb-compatible – we like to take a trip down memory lane as much as anyone.
So with the likes of Linn, Audio Technica, VPI, Pro-ject, Michell and Systemdek making an appearance, these are the very best turntables we’ve heard since the first issue of What Hi-fi? was published 43 years ago.
Linn LP12 (1973)
Linn’s LP12 turntable was first introduced in 1972 and immediately proved popular with audiophiles. The continual availability of retrofittable upgrades meant keeping this vinyl player up to date was satisfyingly easy.
Almost every aspect of the design has been revised over the years, and while the early breed of the LP12S had a round and rich balance, modern incarnations have moved towards a more neutral, evenhanded sound.
Technics SL1200 (1976)
Perennially the DJ’S favourite, the SL1200 is known for being built to a supremely high standard. It’s plethora of features and direct-drive nature were additional reasons it was such a hit in the clubs.
Tough, fuss-free and having solid sound quality – this player is worthy of its legendary status.
Rega Planar 3 (1978)
Since its introduction in 1978, the Rega Planar 3 has maintained its enviable reputation as a go-to mid-market turntable, and its modern incarnation is still going strong.
It has always sounded terrific and upheld high standards of engineering alongside easy set-up but, in the early 1980s, the inclusion of an unusually advanced RB300 tonearm helped cement the deck’s place in the all-time spinners’ Hall of Fame.
Dual CS505 (1981)
Who says that you can’t get good quality on a budget? Not us, that’s for sure. And it was as true in the ‘80s as it is now, thanks to Dual’s CS505 player. This was a tidy, well balanced performer that managed to bring a decent amount of detail to the table without exposing the entry-level kit it usually worked with.
While it might have looked a little inelegant in the beginning, later versions looked more refined thanks to smarter wooden plinths. But regardless of looks, this Dual delivered satisfying results.
Michell Gyrodec (1982)
In 1982 the Gyrodec was a combination of great sound quality and artistic design. Bring the clock up to date and this player is still available – thanks to a steady stream of upgrades, it remains as competitive today as ever.
This deck sounds detailed, expressive and graceful, ready to outshine other products costing plenty more. It’s not plug-and-play – some assembly is required – but the instructions are clear, and there’s a logic to its design that means it’ll be spinning your discs in no time.
Systemdek IIX (1990)
The Systemdek IIX became our Product of the Year in 1990, and it held that position for the next two years. Its sound quality rose well above that of its closest rivals – timing was confident, and music sounded tuneful and easy-flowing.
Pink Triangle Tarantella (1997)
The first time we heard this wonderfully named turntable, we awarded it a dismal two stars. We were unable to get vinyl turning steadily at 33⅓rpm – which, we’re sure you’ll agree, is a bit of a disadvantage when it comes to playing LPS.
But Pink Triangle brought the deck back to us with all its problems solved and we were thrilled to hear the Tarantella’s open sound and refreshingly clear dynamics.
Although the Pink Triangle company closed in 2003, there’s no doubt the London manufacturer’s legacy lives on.
Pro-ject Debut (1999)
Despite its name, the Debut isn’t the first product to come from Pro-ject – but it’s certainly one of its most significant. It’s simple to use and great value for money, partly because of its European construction – the turntable was designed in Austria before being manufactured in Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
Twenty years of steady improvements now bring us the impressive Debut Carbon, but it’s with this original that Pro-ject came to the fore.
Origin Live Sovereign (2005)
When we first reviewed the Sovereign turntable, we said the first slab of vinyl to hit the deck had us “giggling like helium-addled hyenas”. We’ve calmed ourselves a little since, but our enthusiasm hasn’t dimmed.
This vinyl player has effortless composure and gives tremendous insight into the emotion in a record’s original recording, revealing little details we hadn’t noticed even in some of our personal favourites.
Vinyl junkies will always insist the black stuff sounds better than CD (or streaming), and this turntable will go a long way to proving that point.
Roksan Xerxes 20 (2006)
You should never judge a book by its cover, and the same can be said for turntables. The Roksan Xerxes 20 looks to be your conventional, run-of-the-mill wooden-box turntable, but it is packed with clever engineering.
A motor that turns on its axis to compensate for torque fluctuations, a bearing designed to minimise noise, and rubber suspension tuned to dampen specific frequencies are just some of the tricks Roksan’s engineers built into this player. And they worked, the deck winning high praise in our Temptations pages.
The Xerxes 20 got all the essentials right – this is a player with first-class dynamics beautifully combined with exceptional timing and rhythm. Thorens TD160HD (2008)
Twenty years after the original Thorens TD160 turntable came through our doors, the TD160HD made its way to us in 2008.
While it might appear chunky, this turntable’s performance is anything but. It treats the subtleties in a song well, ensures the vocals are full of life, and gives a sound full of bass and depth – yet you’ll be surprised at how tight your vinyl sounds. Ultimately it’s a faultless, five-star performance. Clearaudio Innovation Wood/ Universal/davinci V2 (2010) One of our reference pieces of kit for several years – and with good reason – this £17,000 turntable sounds as good today as when we first heard it.
Innovation by name, innovative by nature: the ceramic magnetic main bearing minimises friction and noise, its high-quality DC motor and electronic speed governor switches between 33⅓ to 45 or 78rpm at the push of a button.
As audiophiles, we always hope for transparency in our music, and the Innovation delivers in spades. It’s built superbly and a joy to use – a compulsory feature of this list. Kuzma Stabi S/stogi S (2010)
A uniquely designed turntable, Kuzma’s Stabi S is a minimalist, beautifully engineered piece of kit. Its unipivot design, silicone damping system and two-piece counterweight on its arm – to name but a few design choices – all help it deliver top-notch sound quality.
It’s insightful, dynamic and naturalsounding. Plus, it’s able to deliver vocals with real passion: this turntable is something special. VPI Prime (2015)
VPI Industries has a long history of producing great turntables, and 2015’s Prime player is no exception. The steel-reinforced MDF chassis and simpleto-use design both make their contribution towards its splendid sound quality.
It’s a wonderfully confident-sounding product, with plenty of punch and impressive dynamics on scales both small and large. Of all the products VPI has made since its 1978 founding, the Prime is one of the very best. Audio Technica AT-LP5 (2016)
As an Award-winner, and one of our favourite turntables, you can be sure the LP5 has something special to it – in both design and sound quality.
Its J-shaped tone arm harks back to those used by Audio Technica in the 1960s and ’70s, while the AT95EX cartridge is exclusively designed for this turntable. And its sound quality makes it shine: it’s rhythmic and dynamic, with more than enough detail retrieval to keep us satisfied.
A turntable you can plug straight into your amp, with the added bonus of USB output – the LP5 is a winner.