For first-time or inexperienced vinyl players, the best automatic turntable can help you avoid damaging your vinyl record collection. They automatically place the stylus into your records and lift it off with suitable pressure.
So, how to choose these vinyl players on the diversified market? What to keep in mind before paying for these turntables?
Let's keep reading and find out our top 5 products and the buying guides here.
If you are lazy, here are our choices:
Best Automatic Turntable Review
Denon DP-300F - Best Overall
When it comes to automatic turntables, you can count on the famous brand Denon. Denon DP-300F is a highly rated Denon product from many users.
The highlight of this model is an attractive design, great features, and superior build quality.
It has a heavy base structure to reduce vibration and improve performance with the tone arm featuring a detachable headshell for easy cartridge replacement.
Besides, you can listen to perfect music thanks to rigid die cast aluminum turntables, MM cartridges, DC servo motors with a rotation speed of 33 1/3 or 45 RPM.
What's more?
It's excellent for you to touch one button, then the tone arm is raised and rested smoothly without any scratches or damaging your vinyls.
Moreover, the built-in phono equalizer creates an open sound stage and helps connect to an amp or receiver without a separate phono input.
Lastly, you can use a manual lift mechanism to place the needle in the recording wherever you want to switch to another song.
Note that you have no place to join a ground wire for an outboard pre amp.
Consider this model of Denon if you want a reasonably priced turntable that offers high performance and automation.
Pros
- Sturdy build
- Stylish looking
- Easy assembly and operation
- Amazing sound
Cons
- Reported consistency issues of playback speed
Audio Technica AT-LP60X-BK - Best Budget
If you have a tight budget, consider this turntable from Audio Technica. Despite its low price, it offers you many great features.
This turntable delivers high fidelity sound of vinyl by operating fully automatic turntables with two speeds, including 33 1/3, 45 RPM.
Additionally, you have a built-in switchable phono pre amp to directly connect the stereo system, speakers, computers, and other devices.
The manufacturer also equips an anti-resonance die cast aluminum platter for reducing vibrations and redesigns the tonearm base and headshell to improve tracking and decreasing resonance.
Besides, the integrated Dual Magnet phono cartridge with replaceable diamond stylus is high quality while the AC adapter minimizes noise in the signal chain.
All bring you great sound for your collection of vinyl records. It also comes with a detachable output cable, 45 RPM adapter, and removable dust cover.
One downside is that you can’t change the cartridge. For starters, the original cartridge works well enough for the device until you want to upgrade it.
Overall, this very affordable turntable is suitable for novice hobbyists who don’t want to spend a lot of money.
Pros
- Easy to set up and use
- Excellent sound quality
- Sleek design
- Very lightweight
Cons
- Plastic materials
Crosley C100 - Best For Entry-level
With reasonable price and easy-to-use features, Crosley C100 is the ideal choice for beginners interested in listening to vinyl records.
The product has a 2-speed belt driven turntable mechanism for 33 1/3 and 45 RPM records. As such, you can listen to the sounds of many popular vinyl records on the market.
Furthermore, beginners will love its fully manual operation with the start/stop button. Now you just need to insert the disc, press the button and enjoy the great sound. It's simple to adjust the pitch for better sound.
Crosley offers you an S-shaped balancing arm with hydraulic lift control, anti skate, and rest lockable.
There are also interchangeable pre-phono amplifiers with detachable output cable and die cast aluminum platter with rugged felt slipmat.
All make an excellent and easy-to-use turntable for your home audio system.
Be warned: The clip holding the tonearm may fall into the locked position while the tonearm is playing the recording.
Make sure that it is open before putting the tonearm down to prevent its fall damaging the needle.
Beyond that, this model is ideal for beginners playing vinyl records. You can upgrade to expensive models when you want an authentic HI-FI vinyl sound.
Pros
- Well-built and light
- Fantastic sound
- Simple set-up
- Great work
Cons
- Plastic construction
Rega Planar 2 - Best Value For The Money
This final product is for your large budget. With special outstanding features, Rega Planar 2 brings perfect sound quality to audiophiles.
It has the spectacular refurbished Rega RB220 tonearm to give you the very best sound.
With a low-resonance aluminum wand, super-hard vertical bearings, a three-point plinth mounting, and a new automated system for a variety of cartridges, you just plug and play with Rega Planar 2.
You also have a low noise motor, high-gloss acrylic multi-layer plinth, self-protective brass bearing, float glass platter, and anti-vibration legs.
Moreover, the Carbon MM cartridge and the cover of the motor tray increase the convenience function of the product.
Thanks to the synchronous operation, these features enhance playback accuracy, eliminate noise, prevent unwanted energy transfer, reduce stress, and wear for optimal listening experience.
One thing to note is that you can hear a quite loud engine noise when you close the dust cover. You should lubricate the engine bearing.
When you want a turntable with incredible looks and sound, this model from Rega meets your needs. Its glass table design captures the look of your visitors.
Pros
- Excellent sound quality
- Nice design
- Great build
- Simple to use
Cons
- Manual speed changes
Sony Fully Automatic Stereo Turntable - Best for Vinyl Archiving
Thanks to USB output, the famous Sony brand gives you the best product for vinyl archiving. How good is this USB Stereo Turntable?
First, you can use the USB connection to import music to your computer and create MP3 files to store on your PC or your mobile player. This handy feature helps you digitize your vinyl collection very quickly.
Next, Sony's Audio Studio software makes it easy to save music from vinyl and optimize its audio quality. So, you have better sound quality for these music tracks.
How about its design?
With a beautiful appearance, this turntable with S-shaped tonearm and diamond-made stylus gives you an efficient belt drive system with the ability to play and control precisely 33 1/3 and 45 RPM records.
Also, the built-in phono pre amp and RCA output connect to a broader audio system, a dust cover helps protect the device, and an EQ switch and fully automatic operation enhance utility.
However, this turntable may sometimes not stop at the end of the album, so you need to stop manually.
If you want to enjoy a great audio device to complement your entertainment center, you should choose to buy this model from Sony.
Pros
- Great quality sound and performance
- High-quality build
- Easy to install and use
Cons
- No Bluetooth
- Moving coil cartridge
Buying Guide For The Best Automatic Turntables
There are many features to pay attention to when buying the best automatic turntables. Here they are.
The Speed Of Rotation
Depending on the type of vinyl you own, you can choose a turntable size of 33 1/3, 45, or 78 RPM. Ideal for 78 RPM records.
The first two types are popular for vinyl, while the third one is for the collection of recordings that have better sound quality.
Turntable Type
There are two types of turntables: belt drive turntables and direct drive turntables. You hardly find a difference when listening to music with the automatic turntable.
However, belt drive turntables often give slightly better music quality than direct drive turntables due to less vibration in the disc.
Platter, Cartridge, And Stylus
You need to invest in the best stylus, cartridge, and platter to have awesome sound quality.
Manufacturers often make stylus from diamonds and upgrade cartridges so that you can choose according to your needs.
How about the platter? You should choose a heavy and solid one to avoid vibration and noise when playing your recording.
Today's turntables often have cast an aluminium platter with vibration-reducing features like a rubber mat.
Tonearm
Choosing high-quality tonearm is essential for you to enjoy fantastic sound. You can choose straight or curved tonearm like the S-shaped for more flexibility in the stylus.
If your budget is small, you can buy a cheaper model and later upgrade the tonearm for your record player.
Integrated Pre-amplifier
The built-in preamplifier raises the audio signal from the cartridge to the audio level for transmission through headphones or speakers with a cable.
You can also buy these amplifiers to connect external turntables, but it’s difficult for inexperienced vinyl listeners to use them.
USB Port
Another essential feature for automatic turntables is a USB port to connect to a computer for recording audio playback from your vinyls.
So you can digitize your music collection or listen to your favorite songs through computer speakers.
If you a huge fan of semi automatic you could check out our Best Semi Automatic Turntables.
Which One Is Your Best Automatic Turntable?
The best product list gives you five options depending on your specific needs.
For a tight budget, you can select Audio Technica AT-LP60X-BK. In case you are willing to spend a lot, buy Rega Planar 2 comes some pretty awesome high end features.
For general needs, the Denon DP-300F is an ideal one. Besides, beginners who listen to vinyl records can buy the Crosley C100, and those who want to digitize their collection need Sony USB Stereo Turntable.
Which of these five great turntables will you choose? Let us know in the comments section below.
*Table's last update on 2023-05-30. Information is from the Amazon Product Advertising API. They're accurate as of the date and time indicated and are subject to change.
