Top 50 Best High-End Analog/Digital Turntable Brands

The PHONOGRAPH is a device invented in 1877 for the mechanical recording and reproduction of sound. In its later forms it is also called a gramophone (as a trademark since 1887, as a generic name since c. 1900). The sound vibration waveforms are recorded as corresponding physical deviations of a spiral groove engraved, etched, incised, or impressed into the surface of a rotating cylinder or disc, called a "record". To recreate the sound, the surface is similarly rotated while a playback stylus traces the groove and is therefore vibrated by it, very faintly reproducing the recorded sound. In early acoustic phonographs, the stylus vibrated a diaphragm which produced sound waves which were coupled to the open air through a flaring horn, or directly to the listener's ears through stethoscope-type earphones. In later electric phonographs (also known as record players (since 1940s) or, most recently, turntables, the motions of the stylus are converted into an analogous electrical signal by a transducer called a pickup or cartridge (colloquially called the "needle"), electronically amplified with a power amplifier, then converted back into sound by a loudspeaker.

Inexpensive record players typically used a flanged steel stamping for the TURNTABLE structure. A rubber disc would be secured to the top of the stamping to provide traction for the record, as well as a small amount of vibration isolation. The spindle bearing usually consisted of a bronze bushing. The flange on the stamping provided a convenient place to drive the turntable by means of an idler wheel. While light and cheap to manufacture, these mechanisms had low inertia, making motor speed instabilities more pronounced.

Costlier turntables made from heavy aluminium castings have greater balanced mass and inertia, helping minimize vibration at the stylus, and maintaining constant speed without wow or flutter, even if the motor exhibits cogging effects. Like stamped steel turntables, they were topped with rubber. Because of the increased mass, they usually employed ball bearings or roller bearings in the spindle to reduce friction and noise. Most are belt or direct drive, but some use an idler wheel. A specific case was the Swiss "Lenco" drive, which possessed a very heavy turntable coupled via an idler wheel to a long, tapered motor drive shaft. This enabled stepless rotation or speed control on the drive. Because of this feature the Lenco became popular in the late 1950s with dancing schools, because the dancing instructor could lead the dancing exercises at different speeds.

By the early 1980s, some companies started producing very inexpensive turntables that displaced the products of companies like BSR. Commonly found in all-in-one stereos from assorted far-east brands, they used a thin plastic table set in a plastic plinth, no mats, belt drive, weak motors, and often, plastic tonearms with no counterweight. Most used sapphire pickups housed in ceramic cartridges, and they lacked features of earlier units, such as auto-start and record-stacking. While no longer as common now that turntables are absent from the cheap all-in-one stereo, this type has made a resurgence in nostalgia-marketed players.

Turntable News, Reviews & Resources

• 10 of the best turntables 2017 - What Hi-Fi?.
• 50,000 digitized pieces of vinyl can now be listened to on Internet Archive - The Verge.
• Best Turntable for Casual Listening - The Wirecutter
• HD vinyl is a promise, not a product - engadget.
• List of phonograph manufacturers - Wikipedia.
• Magnetic cartridge - Wikipedia.
• Meet the Robot that Presses Vinyl in 30 Seconds - Wired.
• Ortofon HiFi Phono Cartridges - "Accuracy in Sound since 1918." Ortofon has long been one of the top two DJ cartridge companies.
• PHONOGRAPH - Wikipedia.
• Pioneer's new turntable digitizes your vinyl collection for $350 - engadget.
• Record Store Day - annual event, founded in 2007, held on the third Saturday of April each year to to celebrate the culture of the independently owned record store. The day brings together fans, artists, and thousands of independent record stores across the world.
• Shinola’s Quest to Make the Best Turntable You’ve Ever Heard - Wired.
• Sony's hi-res turntable & software make it easy to go digital - engadget.
• Technics SL-1200 - series of turntables originally manufactured from October 1972 until 2010 by various manufacturers including Matsushita, under the brand name of Technics. S means "Stereo", L means "Player".
• Technics' SP-10R is its latest high-end throwback turntable - engadget.
• THE BEST TURNTABLE YOU CAN BUY - The Telegraph.
• TRNTBL is the hyper-connected turntable we didn't know we needed - The Verge.
• Turntable - Wikipedia.
• Vinyl LP Frenzy Brings Record-Pressing Machines Back to Life - The New York Times.

Top 50 High-End Analog & Digital Turntables: A-Z

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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• Acoustic Signature - all models.
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• Acoustic Signature Invictus - "Best turntable of the World." This incomparable turntable has been assembled with a total of 479 individual, hand-constructed parts.
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• American Audio HTD 4.5 - discontinued but still available.
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• Argon TT-2
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• Audio Consulting - "Emotion in Sound."
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• Audio-technica AT-LP1240-USB - Professional DJ Direct-Drive Turntable (USB & Analog).

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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• Clearaudio - "For open ears and eyes." High End - made in Germany. All models.
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• Crosley Turntables - all models.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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• DENON - "Pure. Clear. Vinyl." Analog & automatic turntables. All models.
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• DS Audio - "We are proudly announcing our DS Audio Optical Cartridge, DS Master1, to you."
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• Dynavector DV500 - "Well Tempered Lab designed turntable."

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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• Fletcher Audio - "When music comes first." All models.
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• Fletcher Audio Omega Point 3
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• Flexson - "VinylPlay Turntables." All models.
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• Fluance - "Serious Performance." All models.
• Funk Firm - since 2005. All models.
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• Funk Firm Flamenca

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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• Gemini CDT-05 - hybrid professional turntable that features a CD player and an analog turntable all in one unit! Discontinued but still available.
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• Gramovox - "Floating Record Vertical Turntable."
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• GrooveMaster - "The revival of the LP vinyl record has inspired rethinking the traditional turntable. Through the many attempts, audiophile turntables either lack eye appeal or, if beautifully styled, fail the musical fidelity mark. The GrooveMaster represents a new paradigm in turntable design. At last a contemporary vinyl record player looks as good as the sound it delivers."

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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• hammacher schlemmer - The World's Only Counterbalanced Turntable: US$28,000.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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• ION - since 2003. "Sound Experiences." All models.
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• ION Vinyl Motion Deluxe - Portable Suitcase Turntable.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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• Kronos - "Time for Music." The world's first counter-rotating dual platter suspended turntable. All models.
• Kuzma - since 1983. "30 years of analog progress!" All models.
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• Kuzma Stabi S - our smallest turntable with a design approach normally found only in more expensive models.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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• Langer - all models.
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• Lenco - founded in 1946. Known for its reliable performance and high degree of isolation from acoustic vibrations and floor vibrations. All mode.s
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• LINN LP12 - "Unmatched over four decades, the LP12 is still the pinnacle of turntable design. A revolutionary icon.."
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• Linn Limited Edition Sondek LP12 - "Linn’s highest performance turntable encased in a whisky wood plinth made from the solid oak casks in which Highland Park was matured." Just forty available.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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• MCINTOSH - "A McIntosh turntable will be able to deliver all the subtle nuances that your vinyl records contain." All models.
• Michell Engineering - since 1977. All models.
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• Orbe Michell Engineering - our flagship turntable, the Orbe continues to receive acclaim the world over.
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• Music Hall - since 1998. All models.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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• NAD C 556 - "Extraordinary NAD Quality Sound."
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• Numark TTXUSB - Professional Direct-Drive Turntable With USB.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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• OMA | Oswalds Mill Audio - since 2007. All models.
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• Opera-Consonance - all models.
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• Opera-Consonance Wax
• Origin Live - "To Transform Your Listening Experience." All models.
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• Origin Live Sovereign MK3-2 - "We can't recommend this Origin Live deck highly enough: it has the power to stop a herd of wildebeest with its authority - yet it can also bring a grown man to his knees in tears..." What Hi-Fi.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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• PBN Audio GrooveMaster - "The revival of the LP vinyl record has inspired rethinking the traditional turntable. Through the many attempts, audiophile turntables either lack eye appeal or, if beautifully styled, fail the musical fidelity mark. The GrooveMaster represents a new paradigm in turntable design. At last a contemporary vinyl record player looks as good as the sound it delivers."
• Pioneer - "Vinyl's classic sound, updated for modern listeners."
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• PIONEER CDJ-2000NXS - "Pro-grade digital DJ deck." DJ deck with a 6.1-inch 480 × 234 LCD and the ability to play music directly off USB and SD media.
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• PIONEER PL-990 - "Fully Automatic Turntable." Sometimes you can't beat a vinyl classic.
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• PolyTable Turntable - "For the music lover who wishes for a quality turntable but has a budget."
• Pro-Ject Audio Systems - all models.
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• Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC) - "Audiophile best buy turntable."
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• Pro-Ject RPM 3 Carbon - "Ingenious entry to the world of audiophile luxury." Manual turntable.
• PylePro - all models.
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• PylePro Vintage Phonograph Horn Turntable - with CD, Cassette, AM/FM, Aux-In, USB-to-PC Recording.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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• Rega - all models.
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• Rega RP10 skeletal turntable
• Roksan - since 1985. "Made in London." All models & tonearms.
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• Roksan Radius 7
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• Roksan Xerxes 20 plus
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• Rowen - "Swiss Made." All models.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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• Shinola The Runwell - Shinola's first audio product is The Runwell Turntable, designed inside and out for the discriminating audiophile and easy to use by any music enthusiast.
• SME - since 1946. "Audiophile Turntables." All models.
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• SME Model 20/3 - "The best pick-up arm in the world."
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• Sony PS-HX500 - "Vinyl to Digital Turnable | USB Record Player." Digitally captures analog in its purest form. Turntable for playing vinyl and recording in High-Resolution. Vinyl goes portable in High-Resolution Audio. Convert your records to high quality digital music files.
• Stanton Turntables - "Stanton's "no nonsense" turntables have everything professional DJs need, and nothing they don't." All models.
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• Stanton STR8.150 - "Super High Torque Turntable."

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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• TDK ETVT20102 USB - "Life on Record."
• TEAC - all turntable systems.
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• Teac TN-300 - 2-speed belt-drive analog turntable.
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• Teac TN-570 - "USB Turntable with Digital Outputs." Flagship Turntable that combines style with excellent peformance, including a Dual-material Chassis, “PRS3” and Hi-Res Digital Output.
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• TechDAS Air Force One - "State-of-the-Art turntable."
• Technics - Direct Drive Turntable System.
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• Technics Grand Class SL-1200GAE - "50th Anniversary Limited Edition." Direct Drive Turntable System.
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• Technics SP-10R - "Most premium analog turntable to date."
• Thales - all models.
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• Thales TTT-Slim II - "Most elegant high-end turntable."
• Thorens - since 1883. "The Phono Company." All models.
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• Thorens TD 550 - "The musical experience." High-end turntable with suspended sub-chassis and tonearm base made from carbon fibre.
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• Torqueo Audio Italia - all models.
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• Townshend Rock 7 - "Engineering Hi-Fi."

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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• Vestax PDX-3000MKII - "The Next Style of DJing." Professional Turntable With Midi Input and Adjustable Torque.
• vinylista - all models.
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• VPI Classic turntable - "Made in USA." Since 1984 VPI has manufactured a variety of turntables for audiophiles the world over.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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• Wagner Audio - "Analog aus Leidenschaft."

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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• Zavfino ZV5 Series - "The New Revolution in Analogue."