Are you looking for the best turntables under $200? The market for turntables has grown once again as more and more people go back to vinyl for their listening pleasure. In this article, we’re looking at the best options which fit within a 200 dollar budget.
As there’s such a competitive market, there are a lot of companies trying to outdo one another and give better value. This means that $200 is a decent budget for a record player. You don’t have to part with a huge amount of cash for a good set of features and audio quality.
Here are the best turntables/record players under $200:
- Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT
- Sony PS-LX310BT
- 1byone 471NA-0010
- Numark PT01 USB
- TEAC TN-300
- Rcm Vintage MC-255BT
- Victrola Navigator VTA-600B
- Fluance RT80
- LUKER AT-1
1. Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT
The Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT is a very simple but reliable turntable. It’s the sort of model you might see used by a DJ on either side of a mixer. However, it doesn’t have to be used like this and the turntable can just as easily be used to spin vinyl at home.
It’s well-built, but doesn’t have all of the consumer audio features some of the other turntables on this list can boast.
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If you are looking for an option with a lot of consumer features such as Bluetooth inputs then this might not be for you, but for reliability and sound quality it is hard to argue with the Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT.
2. Sony PS-LX310BT
A similarly minimalist turntable with some modern features is the Sony PS-LX310BT. This turntable is part of a comeback range from Sony who spent decades without manufacturing any turntables or record players. This is one of the best record players under $200 due to its stable design and super easy use.
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If you are looking for a turntable which is easy and can play records with minimal fuss, the automatic start and stop of this model stand out. Though the bass frequencies could be better, the Sony PS-LX310BT is a good turntable for an easy experience.
3. 1byone 471NA-0010
The 1byone wireless turntable is the only option we’ve listed as one of the best $200 turntables which comes with speakers included, but not inbuilt.
Often, the speakers are either a part of the actual turntable itself, or they need to be bought separately and connected either wirelessly or the ‘old fashioned’ way.
Though 1byone isn’t as big a brand as some of the others included on this list, this hi-fi record player system is versatile and there is a lot to like about it. It can replace a lot of other audio devices in your home.
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If you’re happy with good quality from the speakers and don’t mind putting some time in to ensure you’ve set up your turntable correctly then the 1byone wireless turntable hi-fi system is an option. You don’t need to worry about finding speakers separately to install with your turntable.
4. Numark PT01 USB
Well, we promised to provide turntables for a variety of different needs. A lot of people out there are looking for turntables that can turn records into digital files. This can be useful for archiving old recordings, turning your music collection into a digital collection or even for music production needs.
‘Sampling’ is the art of taking small chunks of music from old tracks and repurposing them. This turntable is made by audio tech giants Numark, so we’d say it’s made with producers in mind.
While the Numark PT01 USB has some very cool features, it’s not really built to be the center of a home audio setup. Instead, it is made for ripping vinyl and turning it into files you can use. Keep this in mind when deciding if this could be the top-rated turntable for your needs.
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This is not really built for listening to music at home. If you are looking for something you can listen to when out and about or you want to be able to rip vinyl to your laptop ready for beat-making or just archiving, it’s hard to fault the Numark PT01 USB.
5. TEAC TN-300
This is another relatively simple design of turntable. One thing we really like about it is the excellent inbuilt preamp which can give a clearer sound when you plug in speakers. You don’t need to buy a separate preamp and you might even choose to use passive speakers with the turntable and not have to worry about the amplification.
A lot of people swear by the TEAC audio tech. They have excellent build quality.
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If you want a turntable that you can simply and easily plug in some passive speakers, it is worth considering the TEAC TN-300 analog turntable. It’s well made, with a solid plinth and decent features.
6. Rcm Vintage MC-255BT
This is not the type of record player that audiophiles will go mad for. It has not been made for this market so much as for the home audio market. The 6-in-1 design means that the manufacturers have focused on giving as much functionality as possible. There are even speakers built in.
This is great for those looking to listen in many different ways and who don’t want to mess around with connecting external speakers.
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This is one of the best vintage turntables under $200. As well as being good value, it has lots of additional features included and the ability to listen to music from multiple sources.
It’s not necessarily going to be the choice of audiophiles, but it may well be a good option for listening at home. If you want a top-rated, affordable turntable with inbuilt speakers, consider the Rcm MC-255BT 6-in-1 wireless vinyl record player.
7. Victrola Navigator VTA-600B
Not to be outdone by a 6-in-1 model, Victrola has created an 8-in-1 record player featuring radio, CD and a host of other listening options. It has inbuilt speakers and like a lot of other Victrola models it’s aimed at the consumer electronics market rather than audiophiles.
This product is something of a full-blown entertainment unit. While it doesn’t have the quality of components of the Sony or Audio-Technica options above, it does offer some very fun extra features.
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This is one of the most popular $200 turntables among people who want loads of features and the ability to play music from pretty much any format imaginable. There’s even a cassette player.
The audio fidelity could be higher, and the frequency response of the inbuilt speakers is lacking a little, but for most home audio enthusiasts it is a decent enough sound. If you do want to upgrade, the RCA output allows you to do so. Just make sure you know what are the best speakers for your record player.
8. Fluance RT80
Lots of the turntables on this list try to outdo each other with fancy features and connectivity. The Fluance RT80 keeps it simple. What this turntable offers is an excellent build quality and brilliant components which means a great level of audio fidelity. For the audiophile on a budget, we recommend this as the top choice under $200.
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If you’re not too worried about connectivity, and you don’t want your turntable to also be a vessel for your phone or to connect to wireless speakers, this could be your best option for getting clear sound on a budget. You’ll struggle to find a better made record player under $200 than the RT80 from Fluance.
9. LUKER AT-1
You might be looking to spend as little as possible and to still get a good-quality turntable for your home, or even for portable use.
While we’ll say from the outset that our budget pick isn’t about to receive any awards for audio fidelity, it’s a good choice for people who are just happy to hear their old records again. The LUKER turntable is also portable, and has the bonus of being compatible with lots of other devices.
The LUKER AT-1 is the only model on this list with a suitcase design. This basically means what you probably think it means. It can be folded up and carried like a suitcase, and this is one of the reasons why it is portable.
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For this price, you’re not likely to find a perfect turntable. If you are just getting started listening to vinyl records and want a good-quality budget turntable which is portable and can play audio to a decent level, the LUKER AT-1 is a good choice.
Conclusion
Buying a record player isn’t easy. You need to decide whether you want a modern option or the best vintage turntable under $200. You should consider whether you want features like Bluetooth, whether you need to be portable and even whether you need inbuilt speakers.
We’ve got the best record players under $200 in a variety of categories and designs listed in this article to help you to make the right decision, but you need to consider your own unique needs before making any purchase.
While we recommend all of the turntables on this list in certain scenarios, audiophiles and purists who just want the very best sound quality will find the Fluance RT80 record player very agreeable. The high build quality is a huge plus point. If you need decent fidelity but also USB ripping and Bluetooth, consider a model like the Sony PS-LX310BT turntable.
Ben is a writer, musician and former studio engineer from the UK with qualifications including music technology. A self-confessed audiophile, Ben can also play multiple instruments.
Ben has worked in recording studios in the East of England, and written about all aspects of music equipment and the music business, as well as production and engineering.