Among three types of turntables, semi automatic is rated as the most optimal choice as it has the advantages of a fully automatic turntable with a more pleasant price for your budget.
Today, we will reveal to you all the best semi automatic turntables in this article. Without further ado, let's get started!
TL;DR - Our editor's picks:
Best Semi Automatic Turntable
Collecting and using turntables is a hobby of many people. However, it doesn't mean that everyone is knowledgeable enough to choose the most suitable ones for themselves.
The following are the top 5 best semi automatic turntables that we would like you to have a look at! Take a closer look to know more about them!
Denon DP-400 Semi-Automatic Analog Turntable - Best Overall
The Denon DP-400 may appeal to you at first sight because of its eye-catching appearance. It’s a classic product but the design is extremely modern and trendy.
With this turntable, you can change the rotation speed to better suit the type of disc you have. And there’re three speeds that you can consider: 33 1/3 RPM, 45 RPM, and 78 RPM.
In addition to the basic design, it has an adjusting button, which allows you to alter the rotation speed more easily and conveniently. Also, the above cover shell can be detached to save space.
Also, the tonearm of this turntable has an S-shape, which helps to reduce harmonic distortion and produce brighter and clearer sounds.
One more characteristic is automatic stop mode after finishing each record, thus, you don’t have to turn off the turntable by yourself anymore.
Although the design of this product is eye-catching and modern, its lid can't close completely, which makes your turntable and records easy to catch dust.
Pros
- Additional features
- Eye-catching and modern design
- Stable quality sounds
- Reasonable price
Cons
- Easy to catch dust design
TechPlay TCP4530 Analog Turntable - Best For Budget
You only have a modest budget, but the desire to have a turntable makes you have butterflies in your stomach? Throw your worry away as we have a solution for you!
With an extremely affordable price, in the segment of products below $200, TechPlay TCP4530's value is more “expensive” than its selling price.
Firstly, you don't have to waste time adjusting the cartridge and stylus regularly - a problem that many users encounter in other more expensive turntables.
Secondly, the low price doesn't compromise the quality of this product. On the other hand, the sound emitted is relatively stable, clear, and especially free from distorting or jarring.
On the contrary, the counterweight of this turntable is not very accurate and received many complaints. So you may have to make an effort to adjust and manage the tonearm.
Overall, with a low price and stable quality, this is a product that you should consider.
Pros
- Bargain price
- Easy to assemble
- Stable and clear output
Cons
- Inaccurate counterweight.
Thorens TD 402 DD Direct-Drive Turntable - Best Features
Thorens is an extremely age-old turntable brand from Switzerland. It has a reputation in this industry for high-quality products, which is not only the durability but also the ability to deliver sounds.
First of all, this product is praised for good design and quality. Thorens TD 402 DD design is simple with basic colors but there are metallic details that enhance the elegance for itself, while make your room more luxurious.
Besides, its sturdy and stable structure set your mind at rest as there is no needs to worry about durability when using it.
In addition, this turntable is improved and applied advanced technology to the stylus as well as cartridge and other parts to optimize the quality of the output audio.
Its smooth and silent engine also satisfies users since you won’t be bothered by the noise of operating anymore. Moreover, you can upgrade this product to meet your requirements by replacing a cartridge, phono stage, etc.
In conclusion, under any circumstances should you ignore this product except that its price is a bit high!
Pros
- Deluxe and attractive design
- Solid structure
- High-quality sound
- Can be upgraded
Cons
- A bit pricey.
Fluance RT81 Elite High Fidelity Vinyl Turntable
If you are a fan of classic and rustic designs, then this turntable will probably fascinate you!
The first thing that will probably catch your attention is its solidity. You're still skeptical about this? Keep reading to know why!
This turntable cabin is made from MDF (industrial wood). This is a common material in producing furniture such as tables, chairs, etc. to make the product more durable and sturdy.
Besides, the wooden base is coated with a gloss lacquer to reduce the effects of heat and water, while minimizing scratches
Moreover, the thick plastic lid is designed to protect the internal part such as a cartridge, vinyl disc, and minimize dust accumulation.
Next, an aluminum S-shape tonearm, along with a diamond-tipped stylus, is meticulously designed to increase the accuracy and clarity of the sound.
In addition, Fluance RT81 Elite is a dynamic and flexible turntable. It can play many types of coal discs. The diamond-shaped stylus will go into each groove on vinyl records to produce the sounds as vibrant as possible.
Moreover, the product goes with a pre-amplifier so you don't have to pay extra for separate purchases. The amplifier allows you to upgrade and customize according to your needs when you can change the phono stage or cartridge.
However, some user reported that they encountered problems adjusting the rotation speed. Therefore, you need to adjust the RPM more carefully and precisely as sometimes it will have a deflection.
There is a brother of RT81 Elite and we have a detailed review about it. If you're interested, here is the Fluance RT80 detail review
Pros
- Super solid structure and materials
- Attractive design
- Pre-amplifier is included
- Built-in phono stage
Cons
- Hard to adjust rotation speed.
Technics SL 1700 MKII
As a brand of Panasonic - a leading electronics manufacturing corporation of Japan, Technics has obtained many achievements in the production of audio equipment.
In terms of design, the Technics SL 1700 MKII possesses a solid design made from high-quality materials, with the metal-covered cabinet helping to increase the bearing capacity as well as reduce impact from the environment.
Moreover, you won't have to spend a lot of time assembling since it's easy to set up.
While Technics SL 1700 has received a lot of compliments from users, this version of MK2 is more favored thanks to these new features.
You can easily adjust the height of the tonearm to achieve the desired sound quality by changing arm height for VTA, Quartz lock speed control, etc. Not to mention its robust and silent engine operates smoothly with many types of vinyl as well as produces clear sound without any distortions.
In general, the price of the Technics SL 1700 MKII isn't cheap. Hence, you need to deliberate about the budget before making a decision.
Pros
- Study structure
- High-quality sounds
- Smooth and silent engine
- Durability
Cons
- Pretty high price
Buying Guide
Rotation Speed
Rotation speed is one of the most significant factors to consider when choosing a turntable. Do you know why?
If you buy an unsuitable rotation speed product, then you will probably have to spend some extra money to buy new vinyl records or even a new turntable.
Rotation speed is characterized by revolutions per minute (RPM), which indicates the average speed of the turntable.
33 1/3 or 45 RPM is the most common speed you can find at most turntables on the market. However, there are some exceptions like 78 RPM or others depending on the recorder you choose.
You can check the rotation speed of the vinyl records at home before shopping for a turntable. In case you don't have any vinyl records? Choosing the most popular speeds such as 33 1/3 and 45 RPM are the smart choices!
Cartridge
The cartridge may be included or excluded when you buy a turntable, but most are included.
A device that comes with the cartridge will ensure smooth coordination between parts. On the other hand, you can utilize the old cartridges if they’re not included.
Tonearm
Tonearm directly affects the sound quality of turntables. Although you can change or upgrade your tonearm after purchasing and using it, consider the one that suits you best.
Straight tonearm helps the stylus move more evenly while the curved one will increase the flexibility of your stylus.
The best way to choose is to pick a high-quality turntable to ensure your tonearm quality.
Pre-Amplifier
Most turntables are integrated with pre-amplifiers. The function of this unit is to convert the emitted sound to an audible level so that it can be amplified by the speaker.
Some turntables don't come with a pre-amplifier and you have to buy them separately. Nevertheless, think twice about the problems you may encounter when using an external amplifier.
Features
In addition to Vinyl discs playing features, some turntables allow you to use a USB connection to emit sounds. And certainly, products with more additional features will cost more.
To Sum Up
In conclusion, all products in the top best semi automatic turntables we recommended have their pros and cons that you should pay attention when narrowing down your winner.
To pick up the best turntable, we appreciate Thorens TD 402 DD Direct-Drive Turntable the most.
First, Its elegant design fits every space. At the same time, quality materials will help extend the product life. Furthermore, with its properly aligned parts, you won't encounter difficulties in adjusting factors such as tonearm, cartridge, and so on.
Don’t forget to take note of noticeable things from this article as it can be of the great help
*Table's last update on 2023-05-31. Information is from the Amazon Product Advertising API. They're accurate as of the date and time indicated and are subject to change.
