Best Audiophile Turntables Under $3,500: Editors’ Choice 2024

Are you considering a turntable upgrade? Before you empty your wallet on a deck that might seem like the right path for you — we have a few suggestions that might make more sense long-term if your budget is between $600 and $3,500.

There are so many turntable options available right now that it has become rather confusing for both experienced audiophiles and music listeners who have only recently jumped aboard the vinyl train.

Record listening has not been this popular in over 3 decades; the current state of the vinyl record business is a rather complex topic that we recently covered on the eCoustics podcast with Warner Music and Luminate.

A recent online search revealed that there are over 200 high-end turntables available right now for sale which is a staggering number considering where the vinyl format found itself less than 15 years ago.

When you include all of the tonearms, phono cartridges, phono pre-amplifiers, record cleaning machines and other playback accessories — there has never been a better time to enjoy vinyl playback.

Choice is great. But that doesn’t mean that dropping $5,000 on your first turntable makes any sense.

Most of your investment needs to be in the music. Don’t be one of those people with a super expensive deck and 30 audiophile pressings.

Should you spend more on the turntable or cartridge?

Investing more in a better table will pay off long-term and you can always upgrade your cartridge at a later date. We have some excellent suggestions below $750 that are proven performers.

Should you always go with a new deck or can a restored vintage turntable also deliver excellent sonic results?

I have used three restored Thorens turntables from Vinyl Nirvana over the past decade and whilst the return on investment has been excellent — none of these options were inexpensive when you factored in the custom hardwood plinths, tonearms, and associated cartridges.

The minimum investment in one of these turntables is around $1,800 USD.

The build quality on all of these turntables that were originally made in the 1970s is excellent and there have been zero issues with reliability or parts — Dave Archambault has enough to last many years of service.

Archambault’s custom Thorens TD-125 MKII Turntable restorations represent the best value in high-end vintage turntables if your budget stretches that far and you want something that will not only last but can be serviced properly.

But for most people — a new turntable probably makes the most sense.

Audiophile Entry-Level (Below $500)

Fluance RT85N ($499)

Fluance are a Canadian manufacturer with a strong focus on budget turntables and loudspeakers; they also sell direct to consumers which allows them to only charge $499.99 for the RT85N and the RT85 models.

Before you run to check out the differences between the two models, the reality is that the RT85N comes with a Nagaoka MP-110, whilst the RT85 comes with an Ortofon 2M Blue.

The 2M Blue is $139 more than the Nagaoka MP-110 which makes the $499.99 sticker price for the RT85N model rather interesting.

The RT85N features a servo motor, acrylic platter, and a “solid wood” plinth; which translates to a high mass MDF plinth covered with real wood veneer. The Lucky Bamboo and Natural Walnut finishes look rather nice at the asking price.

The tonearm also features a removable headshell facilitating easy cartridge swaps.

The Fluance RT85N does not come with an internal phono stage; something that is offered by Rega and U-Turn on their entry-level turntables which suggests that Fluance thinks owners will already own a better quality external phono preamp or utilize an integrated amplifier with a MM stage already included.

Most entry-level tables don’t offer stellar build quality but the RT85N is almost 17 pounds and we love that it comes with a 45 Adapter and bubble level to make sure the table is actually level during setup.

It can also be tweaked with a cork platter mat from Analog Restorations and certainly benefits from some isolation. You might be surprised at what this deck can do with a better cartridge and phono preamplifier.

Pros:

• Solid build quality
• Surprisingly authoritative sound
• Nagaoka MP-110 is an excellent tracker and clear sounding cartridge
• Easy to setup
• Removable headshell

Cons:

• Some rival decks come with an internal phono preamplifier
• Nagaoka MP-110 is very revealing so careful phono preamplifier matching is important

Where to buy: $499 at Amazon | Fluance

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Audiophile Mid-Tier (Below $1,000)

U-Turn Audio Orbit Theory ($999)

The little engine that could is tucked away in a suburb outside of Boston, and after almost 10 years old it is hard not to be impressed by what Ben Carter and the folks at U-Turn Audio have accomplished.

The new U-Turn Audio Orbit Theory Turntable is a huge milestone for the company that has focused on the market below $400 for most of their existence. 

When I visited the company almost 7 years ago, it was impossible not to notice that they were struggling with the sheer volume of orders and that they needed to find better domestic sources for their platters, plinths, and motors.

Carter and I discussed the rationale for the price structure of their tables and the possibility of manufacturing something in the $700 USD range.

There was already the desire to make something like the Orbit Theory and take on Rega and Pro-Ject, but that required more capital, employees, and the ability to create a tonearm that would be a major upgrade over the tonearm on the existing Orbit.

The new U-Turn Audio Orbit Theory is $999 USD — you can also order a version with their internal phono stage for $1,069.

The focus with the new Orbit Theory is clearly on the tonearm, motor, and construction of the plinth. 

For the Theory Orbit turntable, U-Turn decided that they needed to take their OA2 gimbal bearing design to the next level by further reducing points of resonance in the tonearm. Practically speaking, this meant using more rigid materials and minimizing the number of connection points between parts.

The new motor and pulley are so quiet that they can be mounted directly to the plinth, ensuring perfect belt alignment. The motor is electronically controlled by a DC-powered sine wave generator – this provides very stable platter speed and gives you the ability to change between 33/45 RPM with the turn of a knob.

Theory’s acrylic platter is frosted, and all of platter surfaces have been precision machined for maximal flatness and minimal runout. They have also machined a groove into the platter to keep the belt in place.

What better way to celebrate a new turntable than with a new finish? For Theory, U-Turn decided to do real hardwood plinths, but wanted to spice things up a bit. Ebonization is a traditional finishing process that turns wood black without staining or painting.

How does it sound?

Bold. Precise. Far more substantial than any of the decks they have produced before and with excellent tonal weight and speed.

Pros:

• Made in America
• Can be upgraded with a better cartridge, platter mat, and isolation platforms
• Tonearm is a huge upgrade over their previous arms
• Bold and precise sounding
• Does not sound or feel entry-level
• The real hardwood plinth makes a substantial improvement to the sonic performance

Cons:

• You will want to upgrade from the Ortofon 2M Red
• Not inexpensive
• Table needs better isolation

Where to buy: $999 at uturnaudio.com

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Audiophile High-End ($1,200+)

Technics SL-1500C ($1,299)

Technics has been very aggressive during the vinyl revolution introducing a number of new models that have sold out in some markets within weeks. The brand has a proven track record with both DJs and audiophiles and even its top models that sell for more than $3,000 USD have continued to sell well.

The SL-1500C sits in the middle of the Technics product lineup and has been available since 2019. However, looks like it isn’t going away anytime soon as Technics, instead of offering to replace it has decided to offer a new color option in addition to the standard silver and black, the SL-1500C will also be available in matte white (SL-1500C-W).

With its minimalistic look, the SL-1500C-W is designed for great performance and ease of use supported by the following key features. 

The SL-1500C-W incorporates a coreless direct drive brushless DC motor. This allows for a stable rotation that is free from “cogging.”

The two-layer platter provides improved vibration-damping performance.

The highly sensitive S-shaped aluminum tonearm accurately reads record grooves; an S-Shaped tonearm has an equal mass on both sides of its pivot point.

In addition to its S-shape, the tonearm features an Auto-lift. This minimizes needle wear-out and preserves records.

The SL-1500C-W has a high-rigidity cabinet and a high-damping insulator for the thorough shut-out of vibrations. This ensures smooth tracking.

What makes this deck unique?

Fantastic speed stability, combined with rather rugged construction and a solid tonearm make it a reliable platform for a wide range of cartridges. We’ve listened to this range of decks with Ortofon, Hana, Grado, and Golding cartridges and you might be surprised how well it performs with $750 to $2,000 cartridges. It also elevates the performance of less expensive cartridges making it a great platform that you can upgrade over time.

Pros:

• Excellent build quality
• Direct Drive motor provides excellent speed stability
• High quality tonearm can be used with expensive cartridges
• Forceful and dynamic sounding
• Pacing is superior to anything below $1,300
• Will still be working in 20 years

Cons:

• The “DJ” table industrial design looks dated
• Needs a better cartridge to justify spending this much money
• Will make you invest in a better quality phono preamplifier

Where to buy: $1,299 at Crutchfield in black (SL-1500C-K), silver (SL-1500C-S), or white (SL-1500C-W)

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Rega Planar 3 ($1,395)

One of the most iconic turntables in history, the Rega Planar 3 turns 50 in 2027 and is still one of the best-selling high-end turntables in the world. 

The original Planar 3 had a glass platter, a low-noise motor, and a new tonearm. The new Rega-Acos R200 tonearm was a radical departure from the standard tonearms of the time. It was a lightweight design that used a unipivot bearing, which allowed it to track the record groove more accurately. The Planar 3 was an instant success and quickly gained a reputation for its excellent sound quality and value for money.

Over the years, Rega has continued to refine and improve the Planar 3 turntable. In 1983, they introduced the RB300 tonearm, which was a significant upgrade over the original tonearm. The RB300 used a more rigid tube and a more advanced bearing system, which improved tracking accuracy and reduced distortion. 

In 1991, Rega introduced the P3 turntable, which was an updated version of the Planar 3 with a new motor, platter, and tonearm. In 2000, Rega introduced the P3-24, which had a new 24-volt motor and a new plinth design. 

In 2016, Rega introduced a new version of the Planar 3, which had a new RB330 tonearm, a new plinth design, and improved motor control circuitry.

Rega pioneered the use of lightweight rigid plinths. Their innovative use of lightweight particulate core with a highly rigid phenolic resin skin became the foundations of the high level of performance achieved by the now iconic original Planar range.

The current P3 also features refinements including a thicker metal-skin phenolic top brace complimented by a 3mm phenolic bottom brace.

Depending on which retailer you order from, the Planar 3 comes with a pre-installed Rega cartridge, one of the new Ortofon 2MR Series, or without one. 

What makes this deck so special? 

Rega decks have been criticized for decades for being slightly fast when it comes to speed accuracy, but that has also been one of its strengths. Pacing, timing, and attack are without peer at its asking price and music is delivered with a natural sense of flow that grips your attention. 

Not the last word in low end response but the clarity and detail make this a very engaging listen. 

Pros:

• Tonearm is a very solid and proven design 
• Timing, presence, and flow 
• Lightweight but rigid plinth
• Can work with far more expensive cartridges
• Reliable and durable 
• Easy to maintain

Cons:

• Bass could have greater impact 
• Needs some isolation 
• Tonearm might require a shim depending on cartridge

Where to buy: $1,395 at Turntable Lab | Audio Advice

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Pro-Ject X2 B ($1,799)

Does balanced really make a difference? 

My experience suggests that it does if you have to contend with certain noise issues. 

Almost 22 years ago, I invested in a very expensive turntable and felt that I had reached vinyl nirvana. I paid a professional $200 to properly install the cartridge, setup the table which had a finicky suspension system, and help me mount the turntable shelf to the wall.

My building at the time was a pre-war in downtown Toronto that needed an upgrade on the electrical front. Noisy to say the least. 

No matter what I tried, my turntable setup always sounded noisy; ground loop issues, constant hiss, and it became a a source of depression (first world problems). Why bother spending almost $8,000 on such a system if it sounded terrible. 

A local dealer suggested that I have my arm and table modified so that I could run a fully balanced rig; which also included upgrading to a balanced phono stage. I sold a few other items to facilitate the changes. 

Extreme? Perhaps. 

But when I listened to the same records that mattered to me — I was stunned by the differences in clarity, noise floor, and overall dynamics of the sound. 

Does a balanced setup always sound better? Not necessarily and I’m not convinced that every manufacturer who markets “balanced” is really offering that.

The Pro-Ject X2 B offers both single-ended and balanced connection options, but you do need to use an MC cartridge for a balanced setup.

Is there a huge gap between the Debut PRO and the X2 B? Fair question.

If running the same MM cartridge like a Sumiko Wellfleet, I would still give the edge to the X2 B when it comes to impact and overall resolution, but the gap isn’t enormous.

However, when running a MC cartridge into one of the Pro-Ject balanced phono pre-amplifiers or something like the Moon by Simaudio 610LP — the gap between the two tables is rather enormous.

The clarity, bass impact, soundstage depth and width, and overall dynamics of the system totally changes.

The Pro-Ject X2 B goes from being a very good $1,799 turntable to a rather exceptional table that can compete with some tables in the $2,500 to $3,000 range and I’ve heard enough $3,000 tables to know. Read my in-depth review here.

Pros:

• Plinth and platter are very high quality 
• Bass performance and overall clarity are impressive
• Can be upgraded into a high-performance deck with a better cartridge and balanced set-up

Cons:

• Tonearm could be better at its price point 
• You need to use an MC cartridge and balanced phono pre-amplifier to truly experience just how good this table is. 
• Not inexpensive
• Benefits from some isolation 

Where to buy: $1,799 $1,599 at Amazon | Turntable Lab

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Technics SL-1300G ($3,299)

Depending on how far your budget stretches, some of the best high performance options in terms of value/performance exist in the $2,000 to $4,000 range.

Building upon the superb ΔΣ-Drive (Delta Sigma Drive) motor control technology, first introduced in the SL-1200GR2 during last year, Technics is taking the next step and making this outstanding technology accessible one model class higher by combining it with a more sophisticated iron-coreless motor.

The goal is the elimination of minute motor vibrations, resulting in rotational accuracy.

Does it make sense to spend $3,299 USD on the Technics SL-1300G?

Depending on your existing system, record collection, and long-term goals — it might actually be the last deck you ever need. 

Technics has done a remarkable job with their direct drive motors and history tells us that their turntables are built to last.

Whilst they might not be the “sexiest” looking decks on the market, the bottom line is that they offer excellent speed accuracy and have proven to be a great platform for a wide range of MM and MC cartridges.

You might be surprised just how good high-end carts (above $1,000) can sound on this table, leaving many to wonder what more expensive turntables truly offer for a lot more money.

Build quality is excellent throughout. The removable headshell facilitates using different cartridges and that’s something we could definitely get behind.

For those with more limited cartridge budgets, one could use something like the Ortofon 2M Bronze, and swap it out for a Hana EL or Denon DL-103 rather easily.

The brass platter is definitely not there for cosmetic reasons. 

This platter consists of three layers: aluminium die-cast builds the fundament for high rigidity. A top layer of 2mm-thick brass, thoroughly fixed to the die-cast platter, further eliminates vibrations and adds an extra portion of touch & feel.

Finally, heavy wight rubber underneath the platter dampens the remaining vibrations. Because the heavier platter means higher mass inertia, the rotational accuracy of the SL-1300G is expected to be outstanding.

The table itself (30 pounds) is extremely inert and lifting it up for even a brief moment was a bit of a challenge.

Music has excellent pace, layers of detail, and this overall feeling of solidity in the space between the loudspeakers — Technics has seemingly engineered an outstanding turntable designed to last a very long time

Pros:

• World class speed accuracy 
• Built like a tank 
• Will still be working in 20 years 
• Tonearm is good enough for $2,000 cartridges 
• Excellent pacing and presence 
• Removable headshell facilitates easy cartridge swaps
• Worth the money 

Cons:

• Not a sexy looking turntable unless you like the DJ look
• Expensive 
• Almost forces you to invest in a better-quality cartridge and phono preamplifier 

Where to buy: $3,299 at Crutchfield | Amazon UK

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Vinyl Nirvana Thorens TD-125 MKII Restoration

With so many new turntable options, why would anyone consider a used vintage deck?

Do vintage turntables really offer a better listening experience than modern tables below $2,000?

There is no question that certain vintage turntables offer superior build quality and reliability but that also comes with a higher asking price if repairs need to be done or parts need replacing.

One of the most iconic belt-driven vintage turntables of the 1970s, the Thorens TD-125 is in serious demand in 2024.

Companies like Vinyl Nirvana now offer custom restorations of this deck with a specific tonearm and cartridge options.

Thorens sold more than 100,000 TD-125s in 1975 alone (according to the numbers), and that means that there are lot of tables and parts floating around. 

What made the TD-125 so unique was the electronic speed control that was a major feature of the turntable. The pitch control was a very important feature that high-end buyers demanded and it makes the turntable a very stable platform for a myriad of tonearms. The TD-125 was originally sold with its own tonearm, but users began switching them out for SME tonearms for their superior performance. 

It’s a heavy suspended design with a 7-pound platter and they are made to last.

The TD-125 is an easy turntable to service, modify, and restore making it very popular with audiophiles who remember its excellent speed stability, and very pleasing tone.

It doesn’t offer the same degree of low-end extension of some comparable modern decks, but it’s a great table with something like the Ortofon 2M Black, Denon DL-103, or Hana low-output moving coil cartridges.

Why purchase a restored Thorens TD-125 MKII from Vinyl Nirvana?

Dave Archambault has proven to be unique and beyond trustworthy in a category filled with people who don’t actually know what they are doing; not to mention that his customer service is second-to-none and he goes overboard with his packaging to make sure your table arrives in perfect condition.

He can also offer his restorations with over 40 different types of wood plinths and his internal modifications improve the performance making it an ideal deck for a wide range of high-end cartridges.

Archambault’s work is not inexpensive but you definitely get what you pay for and he’s a mensch.

The one thing to remember is that every Thorens TD-125 MKII restoration is a custom order and not something that he usually sells on the website. His TD-160 Super restorations are still available for sale on a regular basis. 

Pros:

• Built like a tank
• 100,000+ in circulation making it easier to find spare parts
• Reliable 
• Excellent sound quality 
• Can be restored to new condition with a superior tonearm and more inert plinth
• Incredible customer service and shipping  

Cons:

• Popularity has made samples in good condition more expensive 
• New and used parts are not available from Thorens requiring 3rd party sources
• Suspended design requires isolation 
• Restored versions with high-end tonearm and cartridges will cost more than $2,500

Where to buy: Contact Vinyl Nirvana to place a custom order.

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Related Reading

• Podcast: Best Audiophile Turntables of 2024
• The Best Phono Cartridge Below $500: Grado, Goldring And Sumiko
• Best Affordable Audiophile Phono Preamplifiers
• The 12 Best Affordable Phono Cartridges to Upgrade Your Turntable: Editor’s Choice 2024