Here we’re again with something for the music lovers. So now if you’re thinking about exploring your dad’s turntable records or it’s something suddenly coming on your mind all of sudden and now you finally looking for the best turntable in your budget, this quick guide is here for you.

Honestly, you really need not to get worried about anything. Our Experts’ team has done quick and deep analysis and on the basis of that research, we’re finally come up with the best 5 audiophile turntables for money.

What I feel is you can easily get the best among all under $500. And here in this list, you’ll get all the turntables between $300-$500. No matter if you’re a beginner or an intermediate-level audiophile, all these listed turntables will work well for you.

As a matter of fact, this is the best suitable range that I personally will suggest you get you a turntable. So, you don’t need to spend thousands of dollars to get you a turntable and at just this budget-friendly price, you’ll get the best one for you.

5 Best Audiophile Turntables for Money

Turntables are quite flexible and provide you incredible sound quality. Also, the turntable parts are all movable and can easily be adjusted as per your convenience. There’s no doubt in the performance.

And, yes you need to take care of setting the record in its right place. That means if your record is not set up correctly, you won’t be able to listen to the music in the right pitch. Also, the tracking weight needs to be taken care of, if it’s off it can damage the album grooves.

Let’s just move on to the 5 best audiophile turntables for money-

1. Pro-Ject Debut Recordmaster Walnut Turntable
2. Pro-Ject T1
3. Audio-Technica AT-LP60X-BK
4. U-Turn Orbit Special
5. Denon DP-300F

1.Pro-Ject Debut Recordmaster Walnut Turntable

Pro-Ject Debut Recordmaster Walnut Turntable is the one we’ve put on the top of the list, the best turntables under $500. This is an ideal turntable in this budget range and assures you the value for your money. The Debut Recordmaster comes with the first-class quality Ortofon cartridge that is combined with a sleek 8.6″carbon tonearm.

The most amazing quality of this Pro-Ject Debut Carbon is that it doesn’t skip even a single sound, the turntable literally produces each and every tune you play on your records.

With Pro-Ject Debut Carbon, you get 9 color choices to pick from. It provides you the mind-blowing sound & music quality that once you’ll start listening you won’t be able to get your ears off, you can literally feel the warmth of the music, and yes, you’ll be feeling and falling in it!

The turntable has amazing looks, easy to set up, and easy to control. The brand is well known in the industry for so long and assures the product quality at a reasonable price. The company was started in the 1950s and since back then is simply possessive about their customers and believes in making happy customers.

Pro-Ject Debut Carbon uses ThermoPlastic Elastomers (TPE) for damping in it. With this adjustable TPE, the top best turntable under $500 includes aluminum feet, a TPE damped platter, the motor that works with both mechanical & electrical energy and all new  Sumiko Rainier Ortofon cartridge.

2.Pro-Ject T1

Pro-Ject T1, the second one on the list reviewed 2021 the best turntables under $500. As we already know the brand is in the run since the 1950s and till date, it’s Pro-Ject leading over all others in the industry.

It’s an honor to gain this much and to maintain it actually for such a long period. When it comes to the world of music and especially the turntables, there are no chances that we can ignore Pro-Ject.

The only focus is on assuring the best product quality and yes, it’s the only principle in Marketing to prioritize quality over all other aspects if you actually wanna go a long way. Where there is quality, there is the thing.

Also, there’s a saying, ‘One Happy Customer can give you Thousand Potential Customers while One Unhappy Customer can snatch Thousand Potential Customers’. Always believes in Quality over Quantity!

Every single time, when there is a Pro-Ject launch, the company never fails to amuse us. I guess Pro-Ject is the only company with such 5-star ratings and literally the flock of happy customers. All the models are so well designed and provide you a high-end performance.

There are 3 versions available as of now- T1, TG1 BT, and T1 Phono SB with 6 color options in total but currently you can only have either Black, White, or Walnut. Sooner or later, the company will be soon entering the market with its all-new Bluetooth version.

The sound quality is outstanding with an attractive sleek design. Pro-Ject T1 is considered to be the beast in the list of the best turntables under $500. The turntable has an 8mm thick bead-blasted glass platter.

3.Audio-Technica AT-LP60X-BK

Audio-Technica AT-LP60X-BK is available on Amazon at a price value of $119. There are 4 color options you can get- Black, Brown, Gunmetal/Black, and Red. With color variation, the price will also vary. Both the black options can be grabbed at a price value of $119 while the Red one will cost you $169 and the Brown color is the most expensive one and will get you at around $224.

Audio-Technica is one of the cheapest Audiophile turntables but still can give a healthy competition to all others listed in these 5 best audiophile turntables. With this Audio-Technica, you can experience high-quality sound for your turntable records.

The turntable is actually famous for its fully automatic belt-drive and die-cast aluminum platter. It can operate at 2 speeds- 33 1/3, 45 RPM. The Audio-Technica AT-LP60X-BK is fully anti-resonance.

The exact dimensions of the turntable is 452.00mm W x 352.0mm D x 141.6mm H. Audio-Technica is actually popular for Bluetooth streaming and integrated phono stage.

Not only this, but the turntable also makes the digital copies using its USB output. It has an amazing sound quality to offer you, the high notes, the detailed mids, and the lower pitches, everything is just so perfect with this Audio-Technica AT-LP60X-BK.

For beginners, this turntable is just perfect, easy to use, and easy to operate. All you need is just to plug it in and you’re ready to play. No extra efforts required, nothing!

And, yes one more thing, while unboxing the Audio-Technica AT-LP60X-BK, you first have to start with switching on the aluminum platter, then move on to fix the cartridge with the tonearm, and finally, connect it to the dust-cover. Here you’re done with this unboxing thing and all set to start with.

Audio-Technica AT-LP60X-BK is designed with the aim of refurbishing the tonearm base along with the headshell to decrease the overall resonance of the turntable.

At last, the Audio-Technica is also capable of AC/DC conversion and ultimately leading to reduce the noise in the signal chain.

4.U-Turn Orbit Special

U-Turn Orbit Special is one of the high-quality turntables in this list of the best 5 audiophile turntables for money. U-Turn is a Boston-based company and we all know Boston-based companies are pretty good when it comes to something related to technology.

If you really want to move to extremely high-end quality, honestly, U-Turn Orbit Special is the one to go with. The company has literally struggled a lot and finally made its name in the table of the United States.

The U-Turn Orbit Special’s table is made up of high-quality wood that is made out of a slab and this is the reason the table of the turntable is pretty solid. What usually happens is the normal turntables sit directly on the surface but this U-Turn Orbit Special turntable sits on three feet. Ultimately, reducing the overall vibrations.

Just like all other turntables listed, U-Turn Orbit Special also features the platter that is made up of acrylic and this is there in the turntable to improve the efficiency and enhance performance.

All the objects that are used in designing the U-Turn Orbit Special not only enhance the functionality and operability of the turntable but also make the turntable attractive and appealing in looks too.

To operate this U-Turn Orbit Special, you need to put the belt across the edge of the turntable as this is belt-driven and won’t be able to work until and unless you won’t attach the belt. Also, there’s a motor that is located in such a way that it won’t generate any motor noise.

The most attractive feature of the U-Turn Orbit Special turntable is the second-generation tonearm. This technology enables the arm to generate less friction and makes the needle move freely.

There are no compatibility issues when using the turntable and it’s compatible with almost all the phono cartridges, thanks to its heavy build in counterweight. Also, there is no restriction to use a particular cartridge of any specific type. You can use any of the needles or cartridges as per your preference.

With the U-Turn Orbit Special, it makes the sound even better while playing records. Here comes the built-in preamp that you can turn on or off as per your requirement.

There are two versions, one with the built-in preamp and the other without the built-in preamp. So, if you’re just a beginner with the turntables, you should go with the one having the built-in preamp. If you go with the built-in preamp, of, course, you’ll be having the option to upgrade it with the one without a built-in preamp.

5.Denon DP-300F

Denon DP-300F, available at $329, assures full automation, unlike the Rega models. So, If you want fully automated turntables, you can opt for Denon DP-300 also.

Denon DP-300F features a mount headshell, MM cartridge, and DC servo motor. With this turntable, you can adjust the speed either at 33 1/3 or 45 rpm. One can literally have an all-new experience with the turntables and follow the passion for vinyl as this is one of the best turntables when it comes to vinyl records.

For better performance, Denon DP-300F has low vibrations. Well! the slim-designed Denon has a heavy base construction that ensures low vibrations and hence achieving high sound quality.

Denon DP-300F with the vinyl material, the turntable weighs 12.1 pounds. For an amazing noiseless and rich quality sound, at this budget, Denon is the one. Such smooth and gentle automatic motions Denon provides just with the touch of a button.

The tonearm can easily be adjusted as per your preference and hence making sure there are no scratches or any damage to your records. Herein, the Denon DP-300F also has an in-built phono equalizer that makes sure your vinyl records be true to their original recording. Since the turntable is absolutely automatic, easy to set up and easy installation.

Summing Up

This is all about the best turntables as reviewed in 2021. The most important factor that you should consider while buying a turntable is the ‘Damping’, which means how properly is it damp.

Damping is something related to vibrations. How deep the intensity of vibrations both internal as well as external. This damping is dependent on the different motor configurations and also on the usage of the components.

Majorly, there are 2 kinds of turntables- belt driven and direct driven. It has been observed that the one with the belt-driven turntables offers you high fidelity and in terms of performance also, the belt-driven turntables are more efficient and effective comparatively.

But at last, it’s about your requirement and your personal choice. So, you just hear about everything but do what you feel is right. Also, I would like to mention one more thing, if you’re still a beginner then you just go with the one that is easy to operate and use, no need to go with the one with more complexity.