• It's user-friendly
• Beautiful looking and well-constructed
• It features great sound quality

• There's no onboard preamp

What makes it stand out:

The Fluance RT82 offers everything you could want except an onboard preamp, so if you have a receiver or amplifier with a dedicated phono input, this is the model to get. I was mightily impressed by the Fluance's well thought-out inclusions. Auto-start on/off, adjustable feet and even a little bubble-level were included. This high-quality turntable had one of the most entertaining sounds I have heard of anything near the price, with plenty of insight into recordings as well as a healthy bass kick. It comes in black, white and a walnut wood finish

Perfect for these listeners:

The Fluance looks, feels and sounds like a "proper" turntable, and was the best sounding in a comparison between other $300 turntables including the Music Hall MMF-1.3 and the Orbit Plus. This recordshould appeal to people who don't want to pay through the nose for a quality unit. It's an ideal step-up from suitcase-style portable players or the entry-level Audio-Technicas.

Consider alternatives if:

While the Fluance RT82 breaks the "you get what you pay for" homily fairly convincingly, it's still possible to pay more for an even better player. This model needs a preamp and, while you can pay extra for one, some other models such as the Audio Technica AT-LP70X include switchable preamps making them more flexible.

• This turntable is a big sonic step up from the LP60
• It has an upgradable stylus
• It features automatic operation

• The turntable has a plastic construction

What makes it stand out:
With a high degree of usability, a refreshed look and engaging sonics, the Audio-Technica AT-LP70X is the turntable I recommend you want both great sound and automatic operation. I found the AT-LP70X sounds so much better than the budget AT-LP60X, so if you're choosing between the two it's worth paying the extra $80 for the LP70X. The model comes in black with two finish options: bronze and silver.

Perfect for these listeners:

With its push-button operation, the AT-LP70 is great for beginners as well as people who don't want to fuss around with lifting tonearms into the groove. It may also appeal to people who have an eye to decor-friendly audio components.

Consider alternatives if:

At its new price of $279, the AT-LP70X is very close in price to the Editor's Choice-winning Fluance RT82. If you don't need automatic operation, then the reassuringly solid, and more upgradable, Fluance will probably serve you better in the long run than the plastic construction of the AT-LP70X.

• It's easy to setup and use
• It has a choice of line level or phono output
• Sound quality is warm and bass rich
• Affordable yet surprisingly feature-rich

• It has a plastic construction
• Other turntables offer more detail

What makes it stand out:
After extensive testing, I found the Audio-Technica AT-LP60X to be a one-stop shop for budding enthusiasts with fully automatic operation and defeatable preamp. The latter means it offers is a basic upgrade path as the choice of line or phono output allows you to add your own preamp. This AT-LP60X is a great value and comes in black with three finish options: solid black, silver or brown.
Perfect for these listeners:

If you're just starting out in vinyl or looking for a cheap turntable to give as a gift, the relatively inexpensive Audio-Technica AT-LP60X belt-driven turntable offers the warm sound you've heard about.

Consider alternatives if:

While this turntable is a huge step-up from portable Crosley turntables it's still pipped for sound quality by its even-better stablemate, the AT-LP70X, as well as most of the others on this list.

• The T1 offers a refined sound
• Great design and a choice of colors
• It has an onboard preamp

• The unit's ergonomics aren't the best

What makes it stand out:
The Pro-Ject may be pricier than my main pick, but it shows how spending a little more can reap benefits. In terms of sound quality, it really can bring out the best in your records. It offers refined treble, an expansive, detailed midrange and supple bass. It looks lovely, too, with its glass platter -- second only in appearance to the Audio-Technica AT-LPW40WN (but the Pro-Ject sounds better). It comes in several wood finishes as well as black and white. Though it has been replaced by the slightly more expensive T1 Evo, there are still some T1 models available.

Perfect for these listeners:

ThePro-Ject T1 offers a compelling blend of attractive looks and revealing sonics, making it one of the most affordable "lifestyle" turntables.
Consider alternatives if:

The T1's only "problem" is that it's ergonomically awkward -- the switch is deep on the left-hand side instead of on the front, and you need to apply a bit of upward force to remove the tonearm from the rest.

• The Debut Carbon Evo boasts excellent sound quality
• It's easy to setup
• It's a great looking table

• It's not suited to the acrylic platter upgrade
• Awkward tonearm rest hampers usability

What makes it stand out:
The Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo offers everything you want in a player for the money: the best sound quality of turntables under the $600 mark, ease of setup and use and striking looks. You would have to spend twice as much on another brand (*cough* Rega) to get better sound. It comes in several colors including red (pictured below), steel blue, yellow, fir green and a walnut wood finish. It has been replaced by the Debut Carbon Evo 2 (below), but that turntable is $200 more.

Perfect for these listeners:

If your budget is between $500 and $600 then the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo is the turntable I would recommend.

Consider alternatives if:

At this price, the Debut Carbon Evo starting to get into "Rega territory" but Pro-Ject's usability isn't quite up with there with the Planar turntables of the world. If ergonomics and upgradability are important you may want to consider the P1 or P2 (on sale) .

• The U-Turn Orbit Theory has great features and is great sounding
• It's not as uncomfortably trebly as the competition

• None to speak of

What makes it stand out:
The Orbit Theory may look similar to the Orbit Plus, but this is a vastly superior turntable. Seemingly every component has been upgraded -- from a hardwood plinth to a solid magnesium tonearm -- and U-Turn charges handsomely for these improvements at $999. 

The model has adjustable feet, speed control, a nifty tonearm lift and almost everything is preinstalled at the factory. While the package also comes with a felt mat, I found it sounded better without. Placing the record directly on the acrylic platter is also hella cool. It comes in three different wood finishes: oak, ebonized oak and walnut.

I listened to the Orbit Theory against my reference Rega Planar 3 with a Goldring E3 cartridge, and the Orbit performed surprisingly well. 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. Only here, with the Orbit Theory, was the brightness better kept in check. Bass was deep and tight, the midrange expressive and detailed, while there was still that treble forwardness that people often associate with digital. The model I received had the optional (and defeatable) $70 phono amp onboard. If you don't have a preamp of your own, it sounds pretty good, though upgrading will pay dividends with better bass.

While the cheaper Orbit Plus was a fairly average model for the money, I was impressed with the company's newest model. So impressed that the supercharged Orbit Theory is now my favorite turntable under $1,000. 

Perfect for these listeners:

The Orbit Theory has a smooth, fun sound and should appeal to people looking for a mix of both "analog" warmth and "digital" detail. If you want to buy American-made, the new arm tube is manufactured here while the player is fully assembled in the US.
Consider alternatives if:

The Orbit incorporates almost every "must have" feature, but it doesn't include automatic operation. But, then again, almost no models at the price do.

• It's one of the most beautiful looking turntables available
• It features a great tonearm
• Sound quality is rich and detailed

• It has no automatic features
• There's no preamp option

What makes it stand out:
Rega has made turntables for over 40 years and was the first to develop the lightweight plinth (or base) that's now seen in most modern turntables. Even at $1,125 or more, the Planar 3 sits just in the middle of the company's range, but it's arguably the best value. It's also a thing of elegance, with a simple-to-set-up design and the beautiful RB330 tonearm (if you're into that sort of thing). With the right cartridge, the Rega Planar 3 offers an exciting, fun sound, while also looking great and just being a complete blast to use. It is highly recommended. 

Note that the Rega comes in a number of configurations, such as without a cartridge ($1,125), with the Ortofon 2M ($1,364) or with the Rega Elys ($1,395). If you get the bare table, you can choose whichever cartridge you want. A good dealer will fix one without charging extra installation fees.

Perfect for these listeners:

The Rega Planar 3 is a tactile player, and it's suited to people who literally want a more analog experience. Plus, it just sounds great. If you're a tweaker you can customize almost every part with a wide selection of third-party upgrades.

Consider alternatives if:

There are literally thousands of different turntables available at every imaginable price, and the Rega Planar won't be the right fit for everybody. Serious audiophiles may look to something even more exotic, while bargain hunters will likely shop in the "$300 or less aisle."

• The Sound Burger is very portable and comes with a convenient carry handle
• It's fun to use and makes a great conversation piece
• The player offers balanced sound quality

• It's a little bit flimsy
• No analog headphone output or speaker onboard

What makes it stand out:
Forget the suitcases. If you want a portable player then you're going to have to think more laterally. This is one of the most eye-catching turntables you will ever see -- it's a handheld case...thing that plays records. This updated version of Audio Technica's original(and much emulated) "Sound Burger" offers all of today's mod cons including USB-C charging and Bluetooth connectivity. I found that pairing a set of headphones was easy enough -- holding down the Bluetooth button on both the turntable and a pair ofBowers and Wilkins P7 headphones connected the two straight away. The turntable has a 33/45 button and the rubber tonearm rest doubles as a 45 adaptor. Sound quality was better than expected, with plenty of bass from M/A/A/R/S' Pump Up the Volume as well as a decent midrange and some treble sparkle.

Perfect for these listeners:

If you're a crate digger, having one of these swinging from your belt could prove to be invaluable. It's quite the conversation starter as well. And if you have a Bluetooth speaker handy, it could power a decent party -- provided your friends treat the unit with care.

Consider alternatives if:

Turntables are delicate affairs as is, with their precious stylus tips, but the Sound Burger dials the fragility to 11. It's all manual operation and it's easy to miscue the record if you're not watching, and if you don't push the tonearm back enough, it can dangle in free space between records, making it prone to knocks. Also, you need to lie the player flat for playback, so you may need to rethink those daydreams of jogging or even commuting with one of these. If you're a purist, then the lack of a wired headphone out or onboard speaker may be a deal breaker -- it's line-out only.