Best Turntables and Record Players (2026)

What are the best turntables and record players in 2026?

Summary

We read the current turntable guides of five outlets that test what they recommend — What Hi-Fi (its main guide, last updated in March 2026, and its budget guide, May 2026), Trusted Reviews (August 2026), Tom's Guide (August 2026), TechRadar (September 2026) and Louder (its main guide, September 2025, and its budget guide, June 2026) — and the full reviews behind each pick [src1, src2, src3, src4, src7, src10, src11]. Every price on this card is a US price. Reviews of European decks usually quote pounds, and the US price is far higher: What Hi-Fi tested the Rega Planar 3 RS Edition at £999 / $1,795, and TechRadar the Rega Planar 1 at £299 / $595 [src5, src13].

The Rega Planar 3 RS Edition replaces the Pro-Ject Debut Evo 2 as the top pick. What Hi-Fi and Trusted Reviews both name it their best turntable overall, Tom's Guide its best premium turntable, and Louder's top pick is the standard Rega Planar 3 that the RS Edition upgrades [src1, src3, src4, src7]. The Debut Evo 2 is What Hi-Fi's best mid-range turntable and stays on the card as the mid-range alternative [src1]. The Rega Planar 1 replaces the Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB as the value pick: TechRadar makes it its top pick, Trusted Reviews its best value turntable and What Hi-Fi its best budget hi-fi turntable [src2, src4, src10]. The AT-LP120XUSB stays as the direct-drive and USB option; Louder still names it the best budget direct-drive turntable [src11]. The Audio-Technica AT-LP70XBT replaces the AT-LP60XBT as the budget pick. Louder calls the LP70XBT the LP60XBT's successor and its best budget turntable, What Hi-Fi gave the LP60XBT three stars and said it "falls well short of being recommendable", and none of the 2026 guides we read names the LP60XBT; it stays on the card as a cheaper alternative with caveats [src3, src11, src31]. The Rega Planar 1 Plus is new to the card: Tom's Guide's best turntable overall and What Hi-Fi's best budget turntable with a phono stage [src7, src10].

Some outlets' picks are not on this card. What Hi-Fi's best budget turntable, the Pro-Ject Primary E, belongs to a range Pro-Ject has replaced with its E line [src10, src43]; that line's Pro-Ject E1.2, Louder's budget pick, is listed below, although in August 2026 its US launch was still only "expected by Fall 2026" [src3, src17]. TechRadar's budget pick is Sony's 2019 PS-LX310BT, which the PS-LX5BT on this card replaces; What Hi-Fi now recommends Sony's cheaper PS-LX3BT to beginners, but TechRadar gave the PS-LX3BT three stars at $399.99 [src2, src6, src10, src44]. The Pro-Ject T1 Evo BT, What Hi-Fi's and Louder's Bluetooth pick, and the Technics SL-1300G, What Hi-Fi's best premium turntable and TechRadar's best-sounding, are not covered here [src1, src2, src11].

Top 12 Models Compared

US prices from the source named in each product's section; the picks table at the top of the page carries the live price we last observed.

Best for Each Use Case

Top pick: Rega Planar 3 RS Edition — Check price

What Hi-Fi names the Planar 3 RS Edition its best turntable overall and says it is the current winner of its Product of the Year award for turntables; Trusted Reviews calls it the best turntable for most people, and Tom's Guide its best premium turntable. All three gave it five stars [src1, src4, src5, src7, src9, src12]. It is the standard Planar 3 with three upgrades: Rega's step-up Nd5 moving-magnet cartridge, the external Neo PSU Mk2 power supply, which adds electronic switching between 33 and 45rpm, and a High Pressure Laminate skin on the plinth that Rega otherwise uses only from the Planar 6 up [src1]. What Hi-Fi found it cleaner, more detailed and more muscular than the standard Planar 3, and "rhythmically precise and dynamically exciting" [src1]. Tom's Guide's reviewer wrote "I'm yet to have a better time with a turntable when it comes to sound", and noted some very slight start-up noise [src9]. When What Hi-Fi reviewed Technics' new SL-1500CS in September 2026, it still called the Planar 3 RS Edition its "current class leader" at the price [src45]. It is fully manual, comes in one brushed-metal finish and has no phono stage, so add one or use an amplifier with a phono input [src1, src9]. What Hi-Fi and Trusted Reviews give its US price as $1,795; Tom's Guide quotes $1,799 [src5, src9, src12]. Amazon's US listing was "Currently unavailable" when we checked on 2026-10-07, so our link goes to Rega's product page; Music Direct listed it in stock at $1,795 the same day [src34, src42].

Best value: Rega Planar 1 — Check price

TechRadar's turntable guide makes the 2021 version of the Rega Planar 1 its top pick — "the value here simply cannot be overstated" — and Trusted Reviews calls it the best value turntable; both gave it five stars [src2, src4, src13, src14]. What Hi-Fi's budget guide names it the best budget hi-fi turntable and notes it has been a What Hi-Fi Award winner since 2016 [src10]. Rega pairs its Carbon moving-magnet cartridge with the RB110 tonearm; the 2021 update brought a redesigned motor circuit board, an aluminium pulley and a drive belt that is cryogenically treated so it is perfectly round [src13, src14]. TechRadar heard a "spacious, eloquent and substantial sound" and Trusted Reviews "a big, wide soundstage"; TechRadar's one complaint is that it "could conceivably sound perkier" [src4, src13]. It is fully manual — you move the belt by hand to change from 33 to 45rpm — and it has no phono stage; the Planar 1 Plus below adds one [src2, src10]. TechRadar gives its US price as $595, and Music Direct listed it at $595, in stock, when we checked on 2026-10-07 [src13, src35]. We found no Amazon US listing for it, so our link goes to Rega's product page.

Best budget: Audio-Technica AT-LP70XBT — Check price

Louder's 2026 budget guide names the AT-LP70XBT its best budget turntable — "the best budget automatic turntable going" — and its main guide makes it the best beginner deck and calls it the successor to the AT-LP60XBT. Louder gave it 4.5 stars and TechRadar four [src3, src11, src15, src16]. It is fully automatic: press start and the arm drops into the lead-in groove, then returns to its rest at the end of the side. It has a built-in phono preamp and Bluetooth with aptX Adaptive, so it connects to an amplifier, powered speakers or Bluetooth headphones with nothing else to buy [src11, src17]. It ships with Audio-Technica's AT-VMN95C stylus, which you can later upgrade to the elliptical, MicroLine or Shibata styli of the VM95 range without touching a headshell [src11, src17]. Louder's reviewer found it a little light and its mechanical noise louder than average, enough to notice at low volume [src11]. TechRadar called it "a delightful budget turntable" that "could easily be one of the best-sounding 'beginner' turntables on the market right now" [src16]. It launched at $249; ecoustics put it at around $299 in August 2026 [src16, src17].

Mid-range alternative: Pro-Ject Debut Evo 2 — Check price

What Hi-Fi's best mid-range turntable and a What Hi-Fi Award winner, with five stars from What Hi-Fi and Trusted Reviews and four from Tom's Guide [src1, src7, src18, src19]. Pro-Ject replaced the Debut Carbon Evo's steel platter with a heavy aluminium one damped by a ring of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), fitted its new Pick it MM EVO cartridge and offers ten finishes; speed change is electronic, and there is no phono stage [src1]. What Hi-Fi praises its "beautifully fluid delivery and a particularly lovely and sweet-toned midrange", but finds the same-price Rega Planar 2 more rhythmically precise and would like more muscle [src1]. Trusted Reviews calls it "one of the very best models available under £1000 right now" [src19]. Both reviews give its US price as $699; Audio Advice listed it at $799 when we checked on 2026-10-07 [src18, src19, src37].

Direct drive with a phono stage: Technics SL-1500C — Check price

What Hi-Fi's best direct-drive turntable, with five stars, and Louder's most durable pick [src1, src3, src20, src21]. It has a coreless direct-drive motor, Technics' S-shaped arm with a detachable headshell, a fitted Ortofon 2M Red cartridge and a built-in phono stage, and it plays 33, 45 and 78rpm; it is semi-automatic, lifting the arm at the end of a side [src1, src3]. What Hi-Fi says it can "go toe-to-toe with the Planar 3", though it finds the standard Rega Planar 3 more insightful and dynamically expressive [src1, src20]. Louder: "If you've got a grand to drop on your analogue habit, this is the best record player to spend it on" [src3]. Both reviews tested it at $1,199, but Technics' US store now lists it at $1,499.99 in black or white and $1,599.99 in silver, and every finish was unavailable there when we checked on 2026-10-07 [src20, src21, src38]. So was its successor, the SL-1500CS, listed at $1,799.99 [src39]. What Hi-Fi gave the SL-1500CS five stars in September 2026 and called it "a solid sonic upgrade over the standard version", while finding the Rega Planar 3 RS Edition "the more transparent and insightful performer" [src45].

Automatic Bluetooth step-up: Sony PS-LX5BT — Check price

Trusted Reviews' best affordable Bluetooth turntable, with five stars from What Hi-Fi and 4.5 from Trusted Reviews and TechRadar [src4, src6, src22, src23]. The PS-LX5BT, Sony's 2026 follow-up to the PS-LX310BT, is fully automatic, streams over aptX Adaptive Bluetooth and has a switchable phono stage; it has no USB output [src4, src22]. Trusted Reviews found it sounds nearly identical over Bluetooth and wired, but its unbranded cartridge tracks above 3.1g and the tracking weight cannot be adjusted [src4]. What Hi-Fi calls it "an excellent do-it-all turntable", while a purist deck such as the Rega Planar 1 Plus gives a more musical, engaging sound — without Bluetooth, and with manual operation [src22]. TechRadar: "one of the best pound-for-pound Bluetooth turntables around" [src6]. TechRadar and Trusted Reviews give its US price as $499 [src6, src23].

Rega with a built-in phono stage: Rega Planar 1 Plus — Check price

Tom's Guide's best turntable overall, with 4.5 stars, and What Hi-Fi's best budget turntable with a phono stage, with five [src1, src7, src10, src24, src25]. It is the Planar 1 with Rega's Fono Mini A2D phono stage built in, minus that unit's USB section, so it plugs straight into powered speakers [src1, src10]. What Hi-Fi found it "cleaner, leaner and times a little better" than a Planar 1 with a separate Fono Mini A2D, which has more authority and muscle [src25]. The built-in phono stage cannot be switched off, which Tom's Guide lists as a drawback, and TechRadar suggests the standard Planar 1 and a separate phono stage if you plan to upgrade [src2, src24]. Tom's Guide reviewed it at $599; Audio Advice listed it at $725, sold out, when we checked on 2026-10-07 [src24, src36]. Our link goes to Rega's product page.

Mid-price alternative: Fluance RT85 — Check price

Louder's best mid-price record player, with four stars [src3]. It pairs an Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge with an acrylic platter and an external belt drive, in four finishes; it has no phono preamp, Bluetooth or USB [src3, src26]. Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity found it "delivers top-tier performance at an entry-level price", although its auto-stop never stopped at the end of a side in their test [src26]. Fluance listed it at $549.99 on its own site when we checked on 2026-10-07 [src40]. Fluance also sells the RT85N, which has a Nagaoka MP-110 cartridge instead; this card's pick and link are the RT85 with the 2M Blue [src40].

Most customizable: U-Turn Orbit Special (Gen 2) — Check price

Tom's Guide's best customizable turntable, with 4.5 stars [src7, src27]. U-Turn builds it at its US factory in Woburn, Massachusetts, with an Ortofon 2M Red cartridge, an acrylic platter and electronic speed control, in seven colours; a built-in phono preamp is an option [src7, src27, src41]. It is manual, with no auto start or stop [src7]. Tom's Guide found it warm and welcoming with every genre, and lists three drawbacks: the dust cover can fall, there is some belt noise on start-up, and the counterweight is difficult to adjust [src7]. Tom's Guide gives its price as $549 without the preamp and $629 with it, and U-Turn's own site listed the Orbit Special at $549 when we checked on 2026-10-07 [src27, src41]. U-Turn calls the current model "the next generation Orbit"; our link is its Gen 2 listing [src41].

Manual budget deck: Pro-Ject E1.2 — Check price

Louder's best budget record player in its main guide and best manual turntable in its budget guide, with five stars in its review [src3, src8, src11]. The E1.2 replaces the E1's polymer platter with die-cast aluminium and comes with Pro-Ject's Pick It MM E cartridge, factory-calibrated; it has no phono preamp, and its RCA cable is permanently attached [src3, src8]. Louder: "As starting-points go for a brand-new turntable to kickstart a brand-new hi-fi journey, this is tough to beat" [src8]. In August 2026 ecoustics reported US prices of $399 for the E1.2, $449 for the E1.2 Phono and $549 for the E1.2 BT, with US availability "expected by Fall 2026"; our link goes to Pro-Ject's product page [src17]. It belongs to the E line that replaces Pro-Ject's Primary range [src43].

Direct drive and USB: Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB — Check price

Louder's best budget direct-drive turntable, with 4.5 stars in its review, and four stars from Trusted Reviews [src11, src28, src29]. It has a direct-drive motor, a pitch fader with a ±8% or ±16% range and a quartz-lock button, 33, 45 and 78rpm, a built-in phono preamp, a USB output for recording to a computer and an AT-VM95E cartridge on a removable headshell [src11]. Louder found it "supremely solid" but heard a persistent low-level whine in its USB recordings [src11, src28]. Trusted Reviews: "If you're looking to get into vinyl or DJing, the LP120XUSB will happily get you started", though it found the Rega Planar 1 sounds better [src29]. It is the only deck on this card with a USB output. TechGearLab gives its list price as $449 [src30].

Cheapest automatic Bluetooth deck, with caveats: Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT — Check price

The AT-LP60XBT, the AT-LP70XBT's predecessor, is fully automatic, streams aptX Bluetooth and has a switchable phono preamp [src3, src31, src32, src33]. The reviews split. Trusted Reviews gave it 4.5 stars and Louder four ("warm, balanced soundstage and robust Bluetooth connection"), but What Hi-Fi gave it three, saying it "falls well short of being recommendable" to anyone semi-serious about vinyl [src31, src32, src33]. Trusted Reviews' sample arrived with its tracking force set to 3.5g, which it suggests backing off [src32]. Its dual moving-magnet cartridge has a replaceable stylus; the LP70XBT's step up is a stylus from Audio-Technica's VM95 range that can be upgraded [src3, src33]. None of the 2026 guides we read recommends it, so choose it only if the AT-LP70XBT is out of reach. The LP60XBT's review prices date from 2019 and 2021; see the picks table for the live price [src31, src33].

Key Market Trends (2026)

• Rega leads the 2026 guides: The Planar 3 RS Edition is What Hi-Fi's and Trusted Reviews' best turntable overall, the Planar 1 is TechRadar's top pick and Trusted Reviews' best value, and the Planar 1 Plus is Tom's Guide's best overall [src1, src2, src4, src7].
• Sony is back with two automatic Bluetooth decks: The PS-LX5BT ($499) and the cheaper PS-LX3BT ($399.99) follow the 2019 PS-LX310BT. The reviews favour the PS-LX5BT, with five stars from What Hi-Fi; TechRadar gave the PS-LX3BT three [src6, src10, src22, src44].
• Pro-Ject's E line replaces the Primary range: The E1.2 is Louder's budget pick, and in August 2026 ecoustics reported US prices of $399 to $549 for the E1.2, E1.2 Phono and E1.2 BT, with US availability expected by fall 2026 [src3, src17, src43].
• Technics updates the SL-1500C: The SL-1500CS adds motor control from Technics' premium decks; What Hi-Fi gave it five stars in September 2026, and Technics' US store lists it at $1,799.99, $300 above the SL-1500C [src1, src38, src39, src45].
• US prices for European decks run far above UK prices: £999 against $1,795 for the Rega Planar 3 RS Edition, £299 against $595 for the Rega Planar 1, and £599 against $699 for the Pro-Ject Debut Evo 2 when What Hi-Fi tested it, now $799 at Audio Advice [src5, src13, src18, src37].
• Budget automatic decks are improving: Louder says the AT-LP70XBT adds quality-of-life improvements to the AT-LP60XBT, and TechRadar that it succeeds where other sub-$250 automatic turntables fail [src11, src16].

Important Caveats

• A turntable is not a system. Every price on this card is for the deck alone. The Rega Planar 3 RS Edition, Rega Planar 1, Pro-Ject Debut Evo 2, Fluance RT85, Pro-Ject E1.2 and the U-Turn Orbit Special without its preamp option need a separate phono stage, or an amplifier with a phono input, before they make a sound [src1, src2, src3, src7, src8].
• Automatic vs manual is a usability decision. The AT-LP70XBT, AT-LP60XBT and Sony PS-LX5BT are fully automatic; the Technics SL-1500C lifts its arm at the end of a side; every other deck here is cued and lifted by hand [src1, src3, src4, src7, src11].
• Review prices in pounds are not US prices. Reviews of the Rega and Pro-Ject decks quote UK prices far below what US dealers charge; use the US prices on this card [src5, src13, src18].
• Bluetooth converts the signal. The analogue signal is converted to digital before it travels over Bluetooth; for an all-analogue path, use the wired output [src17]. Trusted Reviews found the Sony PS-LX5BT sounds nearly identical either way [src4].
• Set the tracking force. What Hi-Fi recommends an inexpensive tracking-force gauge, because a force that is too heavy or too light changes the sound and can affect your records [src1].
• Rega cartridges use a three-bolt mount, which Trusted Reviews says makes moving to another Rega Nd cartridge simple [src4].
• Availability, checked on 2026-10-07: Rega Planar 3 RS Edition, Amazon US unavailable and Music Direct in stock [src34, src42]; Rega Planar 1, in stock at Music Direct [src35]; Rega Planar 1 Plus, sold out at Audio Advice [src36]; Technics SL-1500C and SL-1500CS, unavailable at Technics' US store [src38, src39]. The Pro-Ject E1.2's US availability was expected by fall 2026 when ecoustics reported it in August [src17].
• This comparison covers turntables sold in the US. Availability and pricing differ in other regions.