James Williamson Listen, many will say it’s not but- $500 is a perfect budget to start your vinyl journey or upgrade your entry-level turntables.
Many options are available in the market, but selecting the perfect turntable is a difficult task.
You need to have a deep understanding of the turntable and its components, such as cartridges, stylus, tonearm type, and drive mechanism, and, most importantly, a clear understanding of your needs and requirements.
Some people often want a turntable with more features, while others settle for an aesthetic turntable with only a few features.
Well, it’s neither good to go for a unit having more features without looking at its quality nor good to have an aesthetic turntable that doesn’t even have basic features. A perfect balance of looks, features, and quality is essential to look out for while shopping for turntables.
I have been in the vinyl world and listening to music through turntables, record players, and gramophones from my childhood and now, I have developed a deep knowledge and understanding of turntables and their components. I know what component a turntable must have to output the perfect sound quality that every vinyl enthusiast wants their unit to output.
Throughout these years, I have tested many turntables ranging from $200 to $2000, and out of those units, I have created a list of best turntables under $500 which has featured the best units among automatic, manual, belt drive, and direct drive categories. I have tested these units personally and according to my test results, these units are a perfect balance of looks, features, and quality. You will get amazing sound quality and on top of that, these units are durable, upgradeable, and value for money.
Now, let me help you to find the perfect turntable for you.
Comparing Best Turntables Under $500:
Now, let me share my testing results and reviews of each turntable separately.
1) Fluance RT85
Fluance RT85 is the best turntable under $500 that you can buy without thinking twice. It is a belt drive fully manual turntable and yes, it does have the auto stop feature.
Looking at the features and performance of this turntable, I think the manufacturer has priced it way below its actual worth.
Well, this unit comes with a 3 lbs acrylic platter, which surprised me. I don’t think any other turntable in the market offers a similar platter at the same price. And, the unit has an Ortofone 2M blue MM cartridge with a nude elliptical stylus which is known for its detailed, crisp, and reproduction of the sound as close to an artist’s vision as possible.
Well, these two things combined with the build quality of RT85 can beat any turntable in sound quality in a similar price segment.
Even, this turntable is owned by some popular vinyl enthusiasts like Jarrett (@VinylEyes), and Frank Landry (@Channel33RPM) and also got positive reviews from @AndrewRobinson.
Now, let’s proceed with the testing results and my reviews on this unit.
Things I like:
1) Sound quality is impressive (crisp & detailed)
I am totally satisfied with the sound quality.
As I already told you, this unit has an Ortofon 2M moving magnet cartridge which is one of the most loved cartridges by audiophiles because of its sound reproduction and tracking abilities.
The cartridge has a nude elliptical stylus, which means the whole shank and the tip are made from a single piece of diamond, and the amazing tracking abilities of the elliptical shape allow this cartridge to output detailed sound with great accuracy and richer mid-range and low frequencies.
And, the vertical tracking angle (VTA) is 20° (non-adjustable), which is the recommended setting, and this angle helps the stylus track the grooves better, and thus, the sound quality gets a boost.
The 3 lbs acrylic platter also helps in boosting sound quality a lot. Well, this platter damages the vibrations and makes the sound more richer. That’s one of the reasons you mostly see me recommending acrylic mats for better performance.
There is one more thing that I have experienced with the turntable’s sound, there is no coloration added, i.e., no high frequencies or low frequencies are boosted which means you will be hearing the real reproduction of sound.
2) Build quality is amazing
The plinth is made up of MDF (medium-density fiberboard), which is considered the best material for turntable plinths.
The aluminum s-type tonearm, better-isolated adjustable turntable feet, and good-quality DC motor speak for the build quality itself.
3) Speed is accurate and consistent
The results of the speed test are also amazing. Thanks to its DC motor with servo controller, we got wow/flutter under 0.07%, which shows that the turntable speed is consistent.
To keep the speed consistent for longer durations, the motor’s servo controllers analyze the speed 500 times per second and make adjustments automatically to maintain it.
4) Auto-stop feature
This is a must have feature otherwise, your stylus won’t last long.
5) Upgradable
The unit is completely upgradable and customizable.
Things I don’t like:
1) You can’t play 78 RPM records:
Sadly, you can’t play your 78RPM records or shellac records.
2) No built-in phono preamp
Despite being a good budget turntable, it doesn’t come with a built-in phono stage. You need to make an additional purchase for the external phono stage, or you can also use the phono input of your receiver or powered speakers.
Verdict:
While testing this turntable, I found out that this turntable is offering way too much value that no other turntable is providing under the $500 segment. Out of its total cost, the cartridge and acrylic platter themselves cost around $350 (retail price), which shows how much value you are getting.
And, with that much value, I won’t mind spending $100 extra for a good-quality phono stage, or you can always use phono input from powered speakers or stereo receivers.
According to me, this is the best upgrade to any entry-level turntable or the best turntable in the $500 price segment to start your vinyl journey.
2) Pro-Ject T1 Phono SB
The Pro-Ject T1 phono SB is one of the few variants that Pro-Ject has launched in the $500 price segment. This is a fully manual belt drive turntable that comes with a pre-adjusted tracking force and cartridge alignment, so it is one of the units on which you can listen to your records within a few minutes of setting up.
It is more suitable for beginners or people who want to listen to records without diving deeper to understand the technical stuff like balancing the tonearm, adjusting tracking force, cartridge alignment, etc.
Now, let’s talk about its performance, sound quality, and other important aspects.
Things I like:
1) Tonearm is unique and better
This turntable offers a unique, super-light one-piece aluminum tonearm that features low friction bearings, which directly improve accuracy, and tracking abilities that result in better sound reproduction.
2) Sound quality is very good (well-balanced)
The sound quality is very good, you will hear a balanced reproduction of the sound. Well, I have compared the sound quality with other turntables that also have an Om 5e cartridge using the same phono stage and speakers, and guess what? Project T1 does sound better.
As I said above, the turntable has an Ortofon Om 5e moving magnet cartridge with an elliptical diamond tip stylus, which is normally found in turntables in a similar price range, but the combination of the Om 5e cartridge with the lightweight one-piece aluminum tonearm allows the stylus to track the record grooves more accurately.
Normally, other cartridges like Ortofon 2m red or Nagaoka mp110 do some optimization on the sound to boost the lows or highs, but the Om 5e cartridge outputs a very balanced sound, i.e., no other frequency is compromised to boost another one, which I liked a lot.
On top of that, you will get a heavy glass platter, which is a lot better than the plastic and aluminum platters that you get with other turntables, and this platter dampens the vibrations further and improves the sound quality.
Well, the in-built phono stage is good, but an external phono stage does beat the internal phono preamp sound quality very easily. Although beginners won’t notice a major difference, a seasoned audiphone will.
3) Build quality is amazing (handmade unit):
This is a handmade unit built in Europe, and the build quality has amazed me. You won’t find any plastic on this turntable. The plinth is made from a combination of MDF and foil wrap to reduce resonance.
4) Speed is accurate and consistent:
This turntable supports 33/45 RPM, and the only Phono SB variant offers an electronic speed change while in other T1 variants, you need to manually change the belt position to change the turntable speed.
While testing, we got wow and flutter under 0.23%, which shows that the turntable offers a consistent speed. Although the motor doesn’t have a servo controller like the RT85 and AT-LP120XUSB, it still offers accurately regulated speed stability to get consistent speed for longer durations.
5) Attractive design:
The design is very minimalist and attractive. Although the unit is available in different colors, I fell in love with the walnut plinth. It is just amazing. Normally, I like thick plinths, but I am amazed and totally satisfied with the design of this turntable.
Things I don’t like:
1) No auto-stop feature:
You won’t get an auto-stop feature, which is a major con of this turntable, but you can encounter this problem by using an additional device, i.e., the AT6006R safety raiser, which will work exactly as an auto-stop feature and will lift the tonearm as it reaches the end of the record.
2) Inner groove distortion:
While testing, I noticed a slight inner groove distortion.
3) Non-adjustable feet:
The unit doesn’t have adjustable feet. So, if your surface isn’t flat, then you need to add some packaging under the feet to level it using a bubble leveler.
4) Tonearm rest:
The tonearm rest doesn’t give me the feeling of owning a premium turntable, and I don’t like it.
5) Can’t play 78 RPM records:
Sadly, you can’t play your 78RPM records or shellac records.
Verdict:
The only thing that affects the sound is inner groove distortion. I got it tested by a friend who is an occasional vinyl listener, and he didn’t notice any distortion, so I think it’s my trained ears. But yes, Project T1 is an amazing choice for an upgrade from the low-end turntable or even starting your vinyl journey.
3) Denon DP-300F
Denon DP-300F is the only fully automatic belt-drive turntable that has made its place on our list. Unlike other turntables in this list, this turntable has a fully automatic auto-stop feature i.e. after the records are finished, the mechanism will lift the tonearm and send it back to its resting position.
Just like RT85 and AT-LP120XUSB, you need to balance the tonearm, adjust tracking force, and anti-skating yourself but once you are done with technical stuff, the operation of this turntable is super easy.
And, this easy operation is one of the main reasons for its popularity among beginners.
Now, let me share our testing results of this turntable.
Things I like:
1) Sound quality is good (clean sound with good dynamics):
Well, the cartridge looks like AT-3600L but the manufacturers haven’t shared much information so I can’t say much but it is indeed an MM cartridge with a CN-6518 stylus.
The sound is very detailed and clean sound with good dynamics. I didn’t face any sort of tracking issues and I heard no inner groove distortion. The headshell is easily removable and you can replace or upgrade the cartridge in no time.
Well, to improve the sound quality further, I recommend you upgrade the cartridge to Ortofon 2m blue, Ortofon 2m red, Shure M97xE, or Grado Green 1 with a nude elliptical stylus.
Talking about the in-built phono stage, it does a wonderful job but just like other turntables, a $100 external phono stage or phono input of an old receiver can easily output better sound quality.
2) Speed is consistent but a little inaccurate
I am satisfied with the platter speed. I got wow & flutter under 0.10% testing but there is one thing that I noticed, the platter is spinning a little faster than the selected speed, i.e., I am getting 33.37RPM on 33(1/3) RPM mode and 45.05RPM on 45RPM mode.
After that, I did some research online and found out that many users are facing similar problems but it isn’t a major one. You won’t be hearing any noticeable difference in output and you can even totally ignore it.
Regardless of the difference between the expected speed and the speed we are getting, the consistency of the speed is perfect. Thanks to its DC servo motor, you will get a consistent speed for longer durations.
3) Automatic operations:
This feature is the deal maker for this turntable. I didn’t find a turntable with automatic operation that performs better and outputs good sound quality.
With this turntable, you don’t need to place the tonearm manually over the platter every time, you just need to press the button and the internal mechanism automatically lifts the tonearm and places it on the platter. Similarly, when the record ends, the same mechanism lifts the tonearm from the record and sends it back to its armrest.
I really liked this feature a lot.
4) Build quality is amazing:
The turntable weighs around 12 lbs and has an amazing plinth with good-quality adjustable feet.
Things I don’t like:
1) Aluminium Platter:
The unit has an aluminum platter that can transfer the vibrations to the stylus. Although the manufacturer has supplied a felt mat which does an amazing job but, I still recommend you replace it with either a cork mat or an acrylic mat to further dampen the vibrations.
2) Can’t play 78 RPM records:
Sadly, you can’t play your 78RPM records or shellac records.
Verdict:
This is a great turntable for people who are looking for a fully automatic belt-drive turntable with good-quality sound and amazing performance. But, looking at the price tag, except for the automatic operations and in-built phono preamp, the Fluance RT85 beats this turntable in every aspect, i.e. sound quality, platter, cartridge, etc. So, the choice is yours at the end.
4) Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB
The Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB is a good choice for people who are more into a fully manual direct-drive turntable. Compared with turntables in a similar price range, this turntable is the most affordable direct-drive turntable with cool features.
With manual operation, you need to adjust everything yourself, i.e., from balancing the tonearm to cartridge alignment, which I think are the most loved tasks for any vinyl enthusiast.
Things I like:
1) Sound quality is impressive:
The sound quality is quite impressive. The turntable comes with an AT-VM95E dual MM cartridge with a 0.3 x 0.7 mil elliptical stylus, which is considered the best mm cartridge with an elliptical stylus at an affordable price range. The cartridge outputs 4.0 mV and offers excellent channel separation and low distortion, which means you are going to get deep and crisp sound quality.
On top of that, the cartridge is upgradable to any VM95 series, so you can upgrade it to VMN95EN (elliptical nude), VMN95ML (microline nude), and VMN95SH (shibata nude) and boost your sound quality to a whole new level.
The built-in phono preamp is of good quality, but according to our test, I’m able to achieve better sound quality by using a high-end external phono stage instead of a built-in one. Trust me, there was a huge difference in sound quality when I started using an external phono preamp.
2) Speed is instant, consistent, and accurate:
According to the speed test, we got wow and flutter at around 0.08 to 0.12, which is amazing, and the unit has a perfectly dampened DC servo direct-drive motor that has a sensor that checks and adjusts the motor speed up to 500 times a second and makes sure that the turntable is spinning at a consistent speed without any need for manual adjustments.
So, with the motor’s high torque, advanced features, and wow/flutter under 0.12%, I assure you that you will be getting instant and consistent platter speed.
3) Design is amazing:
I loved the design a lot. It reminds me of my old, legendary Technics SL-1200 turntable, which is a nostalgic feeling for me.
4) Can play 78 RPM records:
Well, 33(1/3) RPM and 45 RPM are common speed options available on all the turntables, but the capability of playing 78 RPM old shellac records is not a common feature for turntables available under $500. But don’t forget to replace your current stylus with one made to play shellac records.
Things I don’t like:
1) No auto-stop feature:
The unit having no auto-stop feature is the biggest disadvantage of this turntable. But I found a tweak to encounter this problem. You can buy the AT6006R safety raiser, an additional device that will raise your tonearm when the record ends. This device will work exactly as an auto-stop feature.
But still, I think the auto-stop feature is a must-have feature on any turntable.
2) Built quality (mostly plastic):
Although the build quality is good, The turntable weighs around 17.5 lbs, which is heavy, but the whole turntable is built with plastic except for the tonearm and platter. The plastic plinth doesn’t give the feeling of a premium turntable, which I don’t like about it.
3) Aluminum platter:
It comes with a die-cast aluminum platter, which can transfer vibrations to the stylus. The manufacturer supplied the felt mat, which dampens the platter well, but still, I recommend you use a cork mat or acrylic mat for better results.
Verdict:
In the tests, the AT-LP120XUSB turntable delivered an amazing performance, and it is way above the entry-level turntables. The turntable has only three cons, of which we found tweaks to encounter two of them. Talking about the price, this turntable is listed at an amazingly lower price depending on the features it offers. Normally, other turntables offer similar features at double or even triple the price. Well, you can go for this unit without thinking twice.
We have shared unbiased reviews of each turntable after testing their performance, sound quality, speed consistency, and other important factors and then comparing these with each turntable. If you have any queries or want to know some additional details of any turntable then please comment below. We will get back to you as soon as possible.
