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To all the audiophiles, it sometimes becomes really hard to look for a good thing when there is a price constraint. So, are you looking for a good record player and that too under $700? No worries, we’re here for you and I assure you’ll get the best of all.
This blog will give you the world’s best 5 record players under $700. There is no doubt that the best record player is something that only an audiophile can understand the value of, how precious it is for playing all your LPs.
Indeed, if you’re new to this, you can start with the cheap ones surely. If you love enjoying it, you’ll again go with the upgraded one and this way it keeps on getting collected.
But there’s one thing that is actually important and to keep a note in mind about, i.e. the needles and the belts. What’s with that? Well! To be very honest, when it comes to the record players, the needles and belts play a vital role and if you’re looking for the low models, these important factors do not stand up to your expectations and cannot provide that quality.
Record players are actually here to produce the best sound quality while playing the superior vinyls. You know what, the best record players are so capable that can give you the warmth and the vibe you never experienced.
Also, one more thing to be kept in your mind, the record players are quite sensitive and hence, require extra precision while handling.
Guide to the Record Players
Interested in starting with vinyl records? But have no idea about the process or anything related!! No worries, we’re here and all you need is just to go through this guide to get you the one for you.
Honestly, it’s easy to start with the vinyl records but the process is quite difficult. Let’s just move forward-
The first question that I would love to answer is, “Why Switching to Vinyl?”
The first and foremost thing that you need to know- It’s not digital rather the vinyl is an analog format!! An analog format is nothing but it’s something where sound vibrations are represented by a wave.
It’s quite weird, representation of sound by waves but this is how it follows. So, basically, the music you listen to has thousands of wavy sound vibrations. The same is with the vinyl records too, If you will ever look it through a microscope, you’ll see waves literally.
So what happens is, when the record player starts working, the needle comes into the action, reads the grooves or the waves, and then these vibrations are passed over to the speakers and finally, the speaker produces the sound that you hear from your ear.
This is all about the Analog format that is here in the record players. Let’s have a quick look over the Digital Format too.
“Sound in Digital Format”~
So, in the digital format, unlike the Analog Format, there are no waves. Sound is not represented by waves rather, there are tiny dots to represent the sound vibrations.
Just like in the computer binary language where the patterns have made using the bits 0 and 1. The same scenario is here in the digital format of sound representation too. All these patterns are made of using o and 1 bits.
The digits are used to artificially create the vibrations of the sound. You even have remembered when you used to play that dot connection drawing in your childhood and the more the dots, the more realistic the drawing. Consider that same thing here only in the digital format.
But then here’s the thing that the speaker only understands the analog format. Basically, in the digital format, when the bits reach the speaker, there comes various processes like encoding, decoding, compression, etc that actually convert these bits to the analog format, and finally, the speaker generates the output that we hear.
Ultimately, the waves or the bits, both these variants lead to the analog thing!!
One more thing, I would like to mention here is that the analog format is considered to be more accurate as compared to the digital format. But when there are thousands of bits coming with the high frequency, it’s not possible for the human ear to recognize the pattern that it’s hearing to.
“Vinyl Sound Quality”~
The vinyl sound quality is so good that you won’t regret at all switching on to the vinyl record players. The intimacy, the warmth, the over quality is actually remarkable. And, this is something that is more soothing than the digital ones.
You know what happens with the vinyl? If you’re listening to a song, you won’t be able to skip the track and move on to the second one without completing it. Vinyl is damn beautiful, no matter what, you will ultimately fall in love!!
“Drawbacks”~
I think there’s nothing perfect in this world, be it humans or things. So, the vinyl also has downsides too. Over time, it catches rust, dust, and dirt sometimes and can no longer use further. This completely spoils the sound quality of course! It sometimes even result in a crackling sound.
With the vinyl, there’s a problem. As a matter of fact, the vinyls are more likely to get affected by dust and other imperfections. That clearly indicates, even the brand new vinyls can have some problems too.
Another drawback is the vinyl is no doubt expensive. But as I always use to say, all you need is good research and googling skills to get you the best out of all. And, honestly, you’re here on the right page and you’ll surely get the one as per your requirement and budget.
4 Best Record Players Under $700
So, finally, if you’re thinking to move towards something different this time apart from the headphones or speakers, then you have made a good move truly.
It’s really good to hear these kinds of melodies and I’m literally telling you, with the record players, you will gonna have a different vibe and feel.
Record players are quite flexible and provide you incredible sound quality. Also, the record player’s parts are all movable and can easily be adjusted as per your convenience. There’s no doubt in the performance.
Let’s just dive into the list of the 4 best record players under $700 as reviewed in 2022-
- Pro-Ject – Debut Carbon Esprit SB
- Rega FONO MC Phono Stage
- Pro-Ject Debut Recordmaster Walnut Turntable with USB and Phono Preamp
- Rega- Planar 1
1.Pro-Ject – Debut Carbon Esprit SB
- Brand Name - Pro-Ject
- Connectivity Technology - Wired
- Item Weight - 5 Kilograms
Pro-Ject – Debut Carbon Esprit SB is available on Amazon at a price value of $599 in black color.
This is an ideal record player in this budget range and assures you the value for your money. The Pro-Ject – Debut Carbon Esprit 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 Esprit is that it doesn’t skip even a single sound, the audio player literally produces each and every tune you play on your vinyl records.
With Pro-Ject – Debut Carbon Esprit, you get 2 color choices to pick from- the Black one that is available at $599 and the Walnut that will cost you $649. 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 audio player 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 Esprit 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.Rega FONO MC Phono Stage
- A Superb Sounding Outbaord Phono Preamplifier
- All-discreet operation in an extruded aluminum chassis
- Input sensitivity: 3mV for 200mV output
- RIAA accuracy (50KW load): +/-0.2dB 100Hz to 100KHz
- Frequency response (50KW load): 17Hz (-3dB) to 100KHz (-0.2dB)
Rega FONO MC Phono Stage is available on Amazon at a price value of $495 in black color. This is something we can say the high-quality premium record player that is designed with an aim of improving and enhancing the capability of the MC cartridge.
No matter if it’s about the efficiency, the durability, the effectiveness the portability, this FONO MC Phono Stage is just perfect. The record player is compatible with all the linear systems even at low frequencies.
There’s something in the record player that it automatically set it up according to the linearity and low noise to get the best output from the MC cartridge.
The FONO MC Phono Stage features the MUSE operational amplifier that is herein for equalizing the amplifier. Also, there are polypropylene capacitors used for amplifier equalization and signal path.
The frequency response of the FONO MC Phono Stage is 13Hz-100kHz.
3.Pro-Ject Debut Recordmaster Walnut Turntable with USB and Phono Preamp
- Brand Pro-Ject
- Connectivity Technology - Wired
- Motor Type AC Motor
The Pro-Ject Debut Recordmaster Walnut Turntable with USB and Phono Preamp is available on Amazon at a price value of $499. The record player weighs 5 kilograms and comes with an AC motor.
The signal-to-noise ratio of the sound record player is 68dB. 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!
The sound quality is outstanding with an attractive sleek design. The Pro-Ject Debut Recordmaster Walnut Turntable 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.
4.Rega-Planar 1
- A Superb Sounding Outbaord Phono Preamplifier
- All-discreet operation in an extruded aluminum chassis
- Input sensitivity: 3mV for 200mV output
- Frequency response (50KW load): 17Hz (-3dB) to 100KHz (-0.2dB)
- Two-speed stepped motor pulley for 33? and 45 rpm
Rega-Planar 1 is available on Amazon at a price value of $475 and here are two color choices- White and Gloss Black. The record player weighs 9.26 pounds and just like the above-mentioned record player, Rega-Planar 1 also comes with an AC motor.
The supported signal format in the record player is Analog. Rega-Planar 1 is entirely made up of using brass material.
Rega Planar1 is not that simple to operate. It requires some manual efforts to operate it but that’s adjustable I guess. It comes with a flexible tonearm and gives you an amazing sound quality that’s what matters the most.
When it comes to music, this is all what is the foremost requirement, If an instrument is able to bring out the excellent sound quality, this is it. Everything else can be adjusted further.
Rega Planar1 is absolutely user-friendly except for the fact that the Planar1 requires some manual setup. It’s no less than a good modern turntable. The turntable doesn’t provide you automation but with its flexible tonearm comes wonderful speed. You can easily adjust the tonearm with multiple options to select as per your choice.
If you want to have some upgraded version and not starting with an entirely new track, this Rega Planar1 is the one with a reference drive belt, a wool mat, and the Rega Bias2 magnetic cartridge.
Summing Up
This is all about the best record players under $700 reviewed in 2022. Rediscover Your Passion with the Vinyl Records using the listed best turntables that can completely change the language of your music.
All these listed record players are within the budget and user-friendly. Though Rega and Pro-Ject are the ones leading over but with Rega, you need to add some extra efforts to get it set up and installed properly