12 Best record player 2024 Audio Technica to Rega
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The best record players to get the most from your vinyl collection

The vinyl boom is at its loudest, and it’s about time you joined the trend. Here’s GQ’s pick of the best record players you need to buy in 2024

Skip to: How we test record players | What are the key record player specs to look out for? | What are some record player problems and how do you avoid them?

How we test record players

If you’re gonna drop a bit of money on a fancy turntable, you’ll want to know your money is going on properly tested gear. We’ve seen a vast array of spinners, having tested the majority of the below ourselves, playing our favourite records – from Metallica’s Master of Puppets to Jay-Z’s The Black Album – to assess audio quality, ease of use and any smart capabilities like HD Bluetooth streaming, wireless pairing with speakers and on-deck controls like auto-stop, level adjustments and record spinning. For everything else, we’ve selected the best-rated models from across the internet.

What are the key record player specs to look out for?

If you’re going to own a record player you’ll have to engage in some of the deep-seated battles that rage across internet forums, which can be a complex and frustrating venture. Talk to any vinyl collector and they'll have their own opinions on platter materials, motor methods, and phono stage systems, so let’s talk through the lingo.

Belt or direct drive?

First up, the method of your spin. There are two options: belt and direct drive. Belt-drive turntables offer the traditional, retro vibe, with the motor powering a rubber belt to rotate the table. These offer great sound but you might get small vibrations through the plate which can seriously hinder your enjoyment of Wet Leg’s debut LP. The alternative is a direct drive turntable, which has the motor underneath the centre of the plate, much like a DJ deck. This unlocks the opportunity to scratch, mix, and rewind records, though these types are typically the more high-end turntables that cost considerably more.

Bluetooth

To make things easier, some of our top picks below are Bluetooth plug-and-play options that let you wirelessly stream your vinyl selection to stereo speakers, smart wireless speakers, soundbars or wireless earphones should you wish – or they might have built-in speakers if they are particularly fancy. Purists may clutch their pearls over this assumed cardinal sin, but you don’t lose out on sound quality in our experience, you just might lose a few hipster brownie points. Alternatives will have built-in phono preamps to let you plug in powered speakers hooked up through a mainline instead.

Most will also have a USB output if you want to plug in older hi-fi systems or other speakers with a USB port instead. While many offer enhanced wireless streaming and APTX transfer to give you crisp audio to Bluetooth speakers, laptops and amplifiers, it might be better to keep things wired to get the most out of your music.

Platter material

Most of our top choices use aluminium platters to rest your precious vinyl on, but there are options that use acrylic or a special anti-skid plastic instead. The differences between materials are largely insignificant and down to personal preference, but just ensure you’re getting a heavy platter to stop vibrations from breaking the audio quality.

For direct-drive turntables, you’ll have to get a slip mat to stop the record from spinning over the top of the plinth and scratching it up when mixing, though most come with one as part of the price.

What are some record player problems and how do you avoid them?

Despite all the technical advancements afforded to modern music lovers, well-used record players tend to develop the same sort of issues after years of use, so you will need to keep an eye on your gear to avoid any future headaches.

The most common issue is a drifting tonearm, where the needle will start to skip back over the grooves of your vinyl, resulting in bouncing disasters in the middle of Fleetwood Mac's Rumours.

The simplest solution is to get a straight high-quality tonearm that doesn't resist your records, though most of the models on our list use sturdy materials to keep things from breaking. It should be obvious, but taking care when lifting or lowering the needle will keep things running smoothly (though this isn't an option if you splash out on a premium automatic model that drops and raises the needle for you).

Most entry-level turntables have specially designed features to take a lot of the stress of vinyl playing out of the experience, so you can pop on your tunes and just relax, but anyone who’s looking for a heartier experience or beginner at-home DJs might need to pay a bit more to find sturdy options that can combat any of these issues.

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Check out GQ's pick of the best record players in 2024…