Free Shipping on US orders above $49
TURNTABLES
TIMELESS ELEGANCE, UNPARALLELED SOUND
Experience the warmth and nostalgia of vinyl with turntables from Audio Advisor. Explore a wide range of turntables that combine timeless design with cutting-edge technology. From entry-level to high-end audiophile models, we have the perfect turntable to suit every budget and preference.
TURNTABLES
TIMELESS ELEGANCE, UNPARALLELED SOUND
Experience the warmth and nostalgia of vinyl with turntables from Audio Advisor. Explore a wide range of turntables that combine timeless design with cutting-edge technology. From entry-level to high-end audiophile models, we have the perfect turntable to suit every budget and preference.
FREE SHIPPING
On Orders Over $49*
60-DAY RETURNS
Satisfaction Guaranteed!
FIRST RATE SUPPORT
Friendly No-Hassle Help
40+ YEARS OF EXPERTISE
Everyone Deserves an Advisor
WHERE TO START
Vinyl can feel complicated at first. It isn’t. Here are four simple starting points:
Getting your first turntable?
Look for a belt-drive turntable with a pre-mounted cartridge. Models from Dual and Pro-Ject are ready to play right out of the box — just add speakers or an amplifier. If your amp doesn’t have a phono input, you’ll need a phono preamp too.
Upgrading from a starter table?
A better cartridge is usually the single biggest sound improvement you can make. Moving from a bundled stylus to an Ortofon 2M Blue or a Sumiko Rainier is like cleaning a foggy window — everything gets clearer. A dedicated phono preamp is the next step up.
Want to protect your records?
Clean vinyl sounds better and lasts longer. A record cleaning machine removes dust, fingerprints, and static that cause pops and clicks. Even a basic wet-clean setup makes a noticeable difference on used records.
Building a full vinyl system?
A turntable needs a cartridge, a phono preamp, an amplifier, and speakers. We can help you put the whole chain together at any budget. Call our team at 1-800-942-0220, weekdays 9am–6pm EST. We love helping people find the right fit.
Questions? Call our team at 1-800-942-0220, weekdays 9am–6pm EST. We love helping people find the right fit.
UNDERSTANDING TURNTABLES
A turntable does one thing: it spins a record at a steady speed while a stylus reads the groove. How well it does that determines how your vinyl sounds. Here’s what to know about the main parts.
Belt-Drive vs. Direct-Drive
Most audiophile turntables use a belt to connect the motor to the platter. The belt absorbs motor vibration, which keeps noise out of the music. Direct-drive turntables connect the motor straight to the platter. They get up to speed faster and hold steady better, which is why DJs prefer them. For home listening, belt-drive is the more common choice. Both sound great — it comes down to preference.
Manual vs. Automatic
A manual turntable requires you to lift the tonearm, place the stylus on the record, and lift it off when the side is done. An automatic turntable does some or all of that for you. Semi-automatic models lift the arm at the end of the record so you don’t have to worry about the stylus sitting in the run-out groove. Fully automatic models start and stop at the push of a button. Manual tables are more common at higher price points because they have fewer moving parts.
What Is a Phono Cartridge?
The cartridge is the small piece at the end of the tonearm that holds the stylus. It reads the grooves in the record and converts the vibrations into an electrical signal. Moving magnet (MM) cartridges are the most common and work with most phono preamps. Moving coil (MC) cartridges offer finer detail but need a phono preamp with MC support. Upgrading your cartridge is one of the best ways to improve the sound of a turntable you already own.
What Is a Phono Preamp?
The signal that comes out of a turntable is very quiet and needs a specific kind of amplification called RIAA equalization. A phono preamp (also called a phono stage) does that job. Some turntables have one built in. Some amplifiers and receivers have a phono input that includes one. If yours doesn’t, you’ll need a separate phono preamp between your turntable and your amp. Adding a good external phono preamp is one of the easiest upgrades in a vinyl system.
How Does It All Connect?
A typical vinyl setup goes like this: your turntable connects to a phono preamp. The phono preamp connects to an amplifier or receiver. The amplifier drives your speakers. If your turntable has a built-in phono preamp, you can skip the external one and plug straight into any line-level input on your amp. If your amp has a dedicated phono input, you can go turntable to amp directly.
There's nothing worse than a damaged or dirty stylus. Learn quick steps to replacing or upgrading yours.
TEAM RECOMMENDATIONS
With dozens of turntables to choose from, here are four our team keeps coming back to:
Best for Beginners
$899
Fully automatic, pre-mounted Ortofon cartridge, and German engineering at a price that’s hard to argue with. Set it up, press play, and enjoy your records.
Best Value Upgrade
Pro-Ject Debut EVO 2 Turntable
$799
Carbon fiber tonearm, Pro-Ject Pick it MM EVO cartridge, and aluminum platter. This is where most people land when they want something that sounds noticeably better than a starter table.
Best for the Serious Listener
$1,295
Dual-plinth design isolates the motor from the platter for a quieter, more detailed sound. Ships with an Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge pre-installed.
For the Reference Listener
MoFi Electronics UltraDeck Turntable
$1,499
Clearaudio’s friction-free magnetic bearing produces dead-silent backgrounds. Once you hear what a turntable sounds like without noise, it’s hard to go back.
Join over one million music lovers who trust us with their sound.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What turntable should I start with?
If you’re new to vinyl, look for a belt-drive turntable with a pre-mounted cartridge in the $300–$600 range. Models from Dual, Pro-Ject, and Music Hall are reliable, sound great, and are ready to play out of the box.
Do I need a phono preamp?
It depends on your setup. If your amplifier or receiver has a “phono” input, it has a preamp built in. If it only has “line” or “aux” inputs, you’ll need an external phono preamp. Some turntables also have a built-in preamp you can switch on. Check the product page or call us — we’ll help you figure it out.
What’s the difference between MM and MC cartridges?
Moving magnet (MM) cartridges are the most common. They’re affordable, easy to replace the stylus on, and work with any phono preamp. Moving coil (MC) cartridges offer finer detail and better tracking, but they cost more and require an MC-compatible phono preamp. Most people start with MM and explore MC later.
How often should I replace my stylus?
A good rule of thumb is every 800 to 1,000 hours of playing time. If you listen to a record a day, that’s roughly two to three years. A worn stylus doesn’t just sound worse — it can damage your records. If things start sounding dull, fuzzy, or distorted, it’s time.
How do I clean my records?
A carbon fiber brush before each play removes surface dust. For deeper cleaning, a wet-clean with a record cleaning machine or a manual cleaning kit removes oils, fingerprints, and embedded grime that cause pops and clicks. Clean records sound better and last longer.
What else do I need to play vinyl?
A complete vinyl system needs four things: a turntable (with a cartridge), a phono preamp, an amplifier, and speakers. Some turntables and some amplifiers include a phono preamp, so you may only need two or three separate pieces. Browse our interconnect cables and turntable cables to connect everything.
Can I use my turntable with powered speakers?
Yes, as long as you have a phono preamp in the chain. If your turntable has a built-in phono preamp, you can plug it directly into powered speakers. If not, put an external phono preamp between the turntable and the speakers.