AudioFu Chart · November 2026
Best Turntables for Intermediate 2026
The top pick is Reloop RP-7000 MkII Professional Upper Torque Direct Drive DJ… ($646). Pro-Ject Phono Box S2 Phono Preamp gives you the most for the money at $73. Ranked by the AudioFu Index from 36 models across 14 brands, prices checked every night.
Last updated: November 8, 2026
Top 10
Full detail for the 10 highest AudioFu Index scores. Every other model is listed below.
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Reloop RP-7000 MkII Professional Upper Torque Direct Drive DJ…
RP 7000 MK2 silver · Reloop
16 for sale on Reverb3 finishes at Thomann
- Weight11.7 kg
If you DJ and want a turntable you can start quickly and control precisely, this one is worth a look. It has direct drive, a quartz lock, a start brake, reverse and a battle position, which are the features DJs use most. Just remember the cartridge and stylus are not included, so plan to buy those too.
Pros
- Direct drive with high torque for quick, stable starts
- S-shaped tonearm with a satin, low-resonance material
- Height-adjustable tonearm base for easy setup
Cons
- Cartridge and stylus are not included, so you need to buy them separately
- At 11.7 kg, it is heavy to carry between gigs
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Reloop RP8000 Mk2 Advanced Hybrid Torque Turntable with Digital…
RP 8000 MK2 · Reloop
11 for sale on Reverb1 finish at Thomann
- Weight11.8 kg
You get a direct drive turntable with a die-cast aluminum platter, three speeds, and a pitch fader that reaches plus or minus 50 percent. It suits you if you want a sturdy deck for DJ work and need to change speed or pitch on the fly. Remember that you have to buy your own cartridge and stylus before you can play records.
Pros
- Upper-torque direct drive with a quartz-controlled hybrid motor
- Precision machined die-cast aluminum platter, static balanced
- S-shaped tonearm with hydraulic lift and anti-skating mechanism
Cons
- Cartridge and stylus are not included and must be bought separately
- Weighs 11.8 kg, so it is not very portable
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- Weight5.7 kg
You get a 7-inch direct drive turntable with a brushless DC motor and a straight tonearm that has rubber damping to minimise resonance. It suits you if you want a turntable with a pitch fader, three speeds and gold-plated outputs, and you already have or plan to buy a headshell cartridge and needle. Keep in mind the pickup and needle are not in the box.
Pros
- Brushless DC motor drives the platter for direct drive operation
- Straight tonearm with integrated rubber damping to minimise resonance
- Non-detented pitch fader with selectable ±8%, ±16% and ±35% control range
Cons
- Pickup system and needle are not included and must be bought separately
- Tonearm connection is made for headshell cartridges and is not suitable for Concorde systems
59AudioFu
Index↓ 4.7%since Aug 17 · lowest so far$591 · Aug 17$563 now$563€504 at Thomann · in stockCheck price ↗ -
- Size8.6"
- Weight5 kg
The Debut RecordMaster II is a well-thought-out entry point for vinyl enthusiasts wanting to digitize their records or enjoy a clean, simple hi-fi setup. Its ease of use and integrated USB make it ideal for beginners or those seeking a convenient recording solution, though seasoned audiophiles might desire more advanced features.
Pros
- Walnut plinth adds warmth and a premium aesthetic appeal
- Pre-mounted Ortofon OM5e delivers respectable detail and tracking
- Built-in phono preamp & USB simplify recording to digital formats
Cons
- Tonearm, while adequate, isn't upgradeable for serious audiophiles
- Limited pitch control restricts DJing capabilities significantly
63AudioFu
IndexStableno change since Aug 17Aug 17$333 now$333€298 at Thomann · in stockCheck price ↗ -
- Weight8 kg
You get a direct-drive turntable with a quartz-driven motor and three speeds: 33 1/3, 45 and 78 RPM. It has a balanced S-shaped tonearm with hydraulic lift and anti-skating, plus pitch control up to +/-50%, which makes it a practical pick if you want to adjust speed while playing records. Because it weighs 8 kg, plan on giving it a steady spot on your table.
Pros
- Quartz-driven high-torque direct drive with a brushless DC motor
- Starting torque of approx. 2.5 kg/cm gets the platter moving quickly
- Pitch control with selectable ranges of +/-8%, +/-16% and +/-50%
Cons
- At 8 kg and 450 x 354 x 143 mm, it takes up a good amount of table space
57AudioFu
IndexStableno change since Aug 17Aug 17$490 now$490€439 at Thomann · in stockCheck price ↗ -
- Weight0.3 kg
You get a small MM phono preamp that fits easily on a shelf. It has internal metal shielding and gold plated RCA connectors, and the external power supply comes in the box. It suits you if you want a simple, compact way to connect a turntable to your system.
Pros
- Internal metal shielding helps keep hum and noise out of the signal
- Gold plated RCA connectors for the phono input and output
- Compact housing measuring 120 x 32 x 106 mm, easy to fit on a shelf
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- Size8.6"
- Weight4 kg
You get a complete turntable here, with an Ortofon OM NN cartridge already fitted and an integrated phono stage. It uses a belt drive with a synchronous motor and a lightweight aluminium tonearm with sapphire bearings. It suits you if you want to set up vinyl quickly without buying extra parts.
Pros
- Integrated phono stage with switchable phono and line output
- Belt drive with synchronous motor for steady playback
- Ortofon OM NN cartridge included, ready to play out of the box
Cons
- Weighs 4 kg at 420 x 112 x 330 mm, so it needs a fixed spot
60AudioFu
IndexStableno change since Aug 17Aug 17$312 now$312€279 at Thomann · in stockCheck price ↗ -
- Size12"
- Weight4.2 kg
This is a ready-to-go turntable that comes with the tonearm, cartridge, phono preamp, dust cover and rubber mat already in place. You can plug it in and start playing records without buying extra parts. It suits you if you want a walnut-finish deck that plays 33-1/3 and 45 rpm records right out of the box.
Pros
- Belt drive with an electronically controlled DC motor for steady platter rotation
- 12" aluminium turntable with damping ring
- Includes Thorens TP 120 tonearm with detachable SME headshell and Audio-Technica AT95E cartridge
Cons
- Measures 420 x 145 x 360 mm and weighs 4.2 kg, so it needs a fair amount of shelf space
52AudioFu
Index↓ 2.7%since Aug 17 · lowest so far$779 · Aug 17$758 now$758€679 at Thomann · in stockCheck price ↗ -
- Weight6.8 kg
This turntable offers rock-solid timing thanks to its quartz control and direct drive motor. It comes ready to use with a solid Ortofon pickup and adjustable speed settings. Perfect for DJs who want a reliable, classic-sounding platform without extra digital features.
Pros
- Quartz-controlled direct drive ensures rock-solid timing for your sets.
- Adjustable speed lets you hit both 33 1/3 and 45 rpm easily.
- Built-in anti-skating mechanism ranges from 0 to 7 grams.
Cons
- Heavy 6.8 kg weight may be hard to move for some.
- Lacks modern digital controls or USB connectivity options.
51AudioFu
IndexStableno change since Aug 20Aug 20$390 now$390€349 at Thomann · in stockCheck price ↗ -
- Size12"
- Weight5.4 kg
The Thorens TD 101 A is a great entry point into vinyl for folks who want the classic experience without the fuss. It's beautifully simple, sounds surprisingly good thanks to the AT-3600, and the fully automatic nature makes it perfect for someone just starting out or wanting a nostalgic, hands-off vibe.
Pros
- Solid die-cast aluminum platter provides excellent stability and damping.
- Integrated phono preamp simplifies setup for beginners and casual listeners.
- Audio Technica AT-3600 cartridge delivers a surprisingly detailed and balanced sound.
Cons
- The included AT-3600 cartridge is entry-level; an upgrade will significantly improve sound.
- Limited speed options (33 1/3 and 45 rpm) restrict versatility for DJs or serious collectors.
51AudioFu
IndexStableno change since Aug 17Aug 17$444 now$444€398 at Thomann · in stockCheck price ↗
All 36 turntables
Same index, same nightly prices — compact. Colour options of one model share a row. Tap a photo to zoom.
- 11
Audio-Technica AT-LP140XP-BK Direct-Drive TurntableAT-LP140XP Black · Audio-Technica · 2 finishes51↑ 7.8%$524€469$524€469Check ↗
- 12
Thorens TD 402 DD blackThorens51↓ 1.3%$847€759$847€759Check ↗
- 13
Korg handytraxx playKorg41↓ 2.9%$410€367$410€367Check ↗
- 14
Korg handytraxx tubeKorg39Stable$725€649$725€649Check ↗
- 15
Sonifex Redbox RB-PA2Sonifex37↓ 0.7%$602€539$602€539Check ↗
- 16
Pro-Ject Phono-Box E BT 5Pro-Ject54↑ 7.2%$150€134$150€134Check ↗
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Pro-Ject Optical Box E Phono BlackPro-Ject57Stable$122€109$122€109Check ↗
- 18
Dual DTJ 301-1 USBDual38Stable$256€229$256€229Check ↗
- 19
Technics SL-1200MK7 TurntableSL-1200MK7 · Technics66Stable$1,114€998$1,114€998Check ↗
- 20
ART Precision Phono PreampART54Stable$108€97$108€97Check ↗
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Thorens TD 1601 TP 160 walnutThorens · 2 finishes56Stable$4,464€3,998$4,464€3,998Check ↗
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SPL Pro-Fi Phonos blackSPL54Stable$2,120€1,899$2,120€1,899Check ↗
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SPL Phonos Duo BlackSPL54Stable$3,237€2,899$3,237€2,899Check ↗
- 24
Technics SL-1210MK 7Technics · 3 finishes52Stable$1,114€998$1,114€998Check ↗
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Thorens TD 403 DD matt oakThorens · 3 finishes52Stable$1,450€1,299$1,450€1,299Check ↗
- 26
Stokyo Record Runner BT cherry redStokyo · 2 finishes37Stable$133€119$133€119Check ↗
- 27
ART DJ Pre IIART40↓ 2.7%$82€73$82€73Check ↗
- 28
Technics SL-1200MK7 TurntableSL-1200MK7 Case Bundle · Technics40↓ 1.4%$1,223€1,095$1,223€1,095Check ↗
- 29
Millenium PHP 2Millenium34↑ 4.7%$22€20$22€20Check ↗
- 30
IMG Stageline SPR-6IMG Stageline31↑ 11.5%$32€29$32€29Check ↗
- 31
Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 HiFi Set redPro-Ject · 3 finishes32Stable$892€799$892€799Check ↗
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Technics 2x SL-1210MK 7 Mix SetTechnics · 2 finishes29Stable$2,388€2,139$2,388€2,139Check ↗
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Reloop 2x RP 7000 MK2 Club SetReloop26↑ 4.4%$1,584€1,419$1,584€1,419Check ↗
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Reloop 2x RP 8000 MK Club SetReloop26↑ 4.1%$1,741€1,559$1,741€1,559Check ↗
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Technics 2x SL-1200MK7 Mix SetTechnics26Stable$2,388€2,139$2,388€2,139Check ↗
- 36
Behringer Microphono PP400 Phono PreampPP400 · Behringer24Stable$16€14$16€14Check ↗
Turntables by the numbers
Measured across all 61 models we track, not a sample.
Median $608 — half of all turntables here cost less.
median of 47 models · 0.55 kg–11.7 kg
median of 16 models · 7"–12"
How the AudioFu Index works
Five measured signals and nothing else — no stars from strangers, no “tested by experts” we didn’t do. The weights are fixed and public. We don’t play these instruments; we measure the market around them.
This chart covers 61 turntables from the Thomann catalogue. Before you buy, read hands-on reviews and, where you can, play it. Full methodology.
AudioFu earns a commission when you buy through our Thomann links. It never changes the order — the index does.
- Demand40%
How many of this exact model are for sale on Reverb right now — what musicians actually buy and resell.
- Lineup20%
How many finishes Thomann stocks — makers expand the models that sell.
- Price15%
Where the price has moved since we started tracking in August.
- Specs15%
How completely the maker documents it.
- Maker10%
How deep the brand’s range is in this category.
Questions
What should I look for when buying turntables?
Key factors include build quality, sound characteristics, playability, brand reputation, warranty coverage, and value for money. Consider your musical style, skill level, and intended use to find the best match.
How much should I spend on turntables?
Budget depends on your needs and experience level. Beginners can find quality options for $200-500, intermediate players should consider $500-1500 range, while professionals often invest $1500+ for premium features.
Are expensive turntables worth the investment?
Higher-priced turntables typically offer better materials, craftsmanship, and performance. They're worth it if you're serious about music, perform regularly, or need professional-grade features.
What are the best brands for turntables?
Top brands combine quality, innovation, and reliability. We evaluate brands based on build quality, sound performance, durability, and customer satisfaction to recommend the best options for different budgets.
Should I buy turntables online or in-store?
Both have advantages. Online offers better prices and selection, while stores allow hands-on testing. We recommend researching online first, then testing in stores if possible. Many online retailers offer excellent return policies.





