I don't like it quite as much as the Fluance or new runner-up Monolith by Monoprice overall, but if you can get it under $300, it's a bargain. This vinyl record player sounds good and looks great. Crosley C10A ($350): You may know the brand for its suitcase players, but Crosley's C10A is an excellent hi-fi component.The following are ranked in order of commendability. Most of the turntable models I've tested for this buyer's guide have at least something to recommend them - whether it be design, sound quality or both. That said, it is also worth looking at the pared-back Rega Planar 3, as it offers a touch more sonic subtlety and one of the best tonearms out there. When you pair "true hi-fi" performance with day-to-day ease of use and drop-dead good looks I can't think of another turntable apart from the Orbit Theory that can hold a candle to it. The downside to the Pro-Ject's enthusiastic presentation is that with the "wrong" record, the sound could become a little fatiguing. If your music needs some pep - if your records make you sleep rather than dance - this player is a great way to energize your system. Through testing, I found the Debut Pro has a way of making even well-worn records sound hi-fi with plenty of high-end detail, an expressive midrange and surprisingly deep bass. When paired with a decent system, a high-quality turntable like the Pro-Ject should sound as good as, if not better, than the equivalent digital file. If you've ever heard of vinyl described as "warm," this is definitely not that. Once setup is complete, though, the sound the Pro produces simply astonishes. The only tip I would give a potential buyer of this turntable is to buy a stylus force gauge as the "plastic see-saw" in the box is finicky to set the tracking weight correctly. So impressed that the supercharged Orbit Theory is now my favorite turntable under $1,000.įor instance, the Sumiko Rainier cartridge comes preinstalled, and the combination of adjustable feet and electronic speed change are a godsend for user-friendliness. While the Orbit Plus was a fairly average model for the money, I was impressed with the newest product. If you don't have a preamp of your own, it sounds pretty good, though upgrading will pay dividends with better bass. The model I received had the optional (and defeatable) $70 phono amp onboard. Bass was deep and tight, the midrange expressive and detailed, while there was still that treble forwardness that people often associate with digital. Only here, with the Orbit Theory, the brightness was better kept in check. Sound quality was helped enormously by the Ortofon 2M Blue, which exhibited the same sound signature I'd heard before on the Fluance RT-85 and the Project Debut Pro. I listened to the Orbit Theory against my reference Rega Planar 3 with a Goldring E3 cartridge, and the Orbit performed surprisingly well. Placing the record directly on the acrylic platter is also hella cool. While the package also comes with a felt mat, I found it sounded better without. The model has adjustable feet, speed control, a nifty tonearm lift and almost everything is preinstalled at the factory. The record player is assembled in the US, while the new arm tube is also manufactured here, and the Orbit incorporates almost every "must have" feature (save for automatic operation). Depending on your budget, there's even more players to choose from - so dust off your vinyl collection and keep reading. It offers superlative sound quality and looks every bit the premium model it is. But if you're looking to spend a lot more than that, the best turntable I've tested is the U-Turn Orbit Theory. It offers excellent design, killer old-school looks and great sound quality for the money. What is the best record player overall?īased on my hours of testing and comparisons between models at every level, the best turntable for most people is the Fluance RT82 ($299). Need more information? This guide will fill you in on the models CNET has tested and the features you should be looking out for, from $80 and up. If you're a vinyl enthusiast, you could start with something like the $149 Audio-Technica AT-LP60X workhorse - it's simple and it's good. Superior analog sound often requires spending more money, but it's not necessary. Features vary, but some of the things to look for include adjustable feet and a speed switch - some of these models even include Bluetooth connectivity. That's why CNET has tested and rounded up some of the very best record players on the market right now. With the sales of vinyl booming, music fans will tell you there's nothing that compares to the rich sound of a record player.
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