The Best Record Players to Embrace the Vinyl Boom in 2024

If it’s pure value for money you’re searching for, the basic House of Marley player is about as good as it gets – often available for under £150. This turntable is made with natural bamboo, recycled plastics and recyclable aluminium, while still sticking to top-quality audio quality – with a sturdy aluminium platter, metal tone arm and a replaceable Audio Technica cartridge.

This is a plug-and-play kit that's very affordable and only needs your vinyl to work, spinning 33 or 45 rpm LPs and coming with a built-in pre-amp to connect to your speakers. While it’s a shame that there's no Bluetooth connectivity on this base belt-drive model, we do appreciate the inclusion of a headphone jack for more personal listening sessions, and the chunky body looks great on a vinyl cabinet. Only need the basics? The Stir It Up is one of our favourites.

If you don’t fancy setting up an entire sound system to listen to your LPs, this turntable is an easy-to-use option that’s plug-and-play. It’s not the most head-turning model on our list in terms of its design language, but we like the minimalist design and all-black colour scheme. It’s simple to set up, reduces cable clutter by connecting to any wireless speakers, soundbars or headphones and has a reassuringly strong metal and aluminium build quality.

An aluminium die-cast platter keeps records secure as they spin (it supports 33 and 45 rpm speeds) and it uses a “one-step auto playback” mode to automatically lower the tonearm and get your tunes playing without you having to fumble around searching for a groove in your LP. Get this Sony model if you want a turntable that’s effortless to set up and use, has a clean aesthetic and doesn’t require you to do homework to achieve an optimum sound.

Combining solid audio with a great price, this is the perfect Bluetooth turntable for those looking to upgrade their system with a belt-drive player on a budget. Setup is simple, connecting either straight to Bluetooth or wired speakers courtesy of its built-in pre-amp, you get to rely on Audio-Technica's 60-year, rock-solid reputation for sound quality and performance. There are two colour options – black and white – and both are priced at just under £200.

While the design is simple, we still like the selection of physical buttons that control the speed, Bluetooth pairing, start/stopping and switching between 12-inch and 7-inch record sizes. The tonearm that holds the replaceable Audio Technica cartridge is thinner and not as premium-looking as many of its rivals, but it still offers a strong metal build. This may be quite a basic turntable, but it’s a brilliant all-rounder and has everything you need to get started.

For the same wood-themed design as the Stir It Up model that’s also on our list but with added wireless connectivity for pairing this with Bluetooth speakers – this House of Marley model is a top value pick as it combines beauty and performance while keeping the cost under £200. The belt-drive player sounds great and has the same sturdy aluminium platter, metal tone arm and Audio Technica cartridge – but there are a few extra features to justify the price bump.

Alongside the pairing button (to connect your Bluetooth speakers), it has a USB port for PC recording, letting you easily digitise your favourite LPs. It retains the same overall design, aside from a more premium logo on the front, and supports 45 and 33 rpm speeds. Want more connectivity? There’s also an RCA output and a 3.5mm headphone jack, too. Whether you want a more sustainable player or just an easy setup, this is a great budget wireless option.

Modern tech meets vintage needs in this turntable, which offers a range of 33 ⅓ rpm to 45 rpm speeds, Bluetooth connectivity for pairing with your wireless speaker system and a gorgeous minimalist design that comes in black and walnut variants. Depending on the stylings of your home, both will look great when placed on your vinyl cabinet, and the reassuringly sturdy tonearm combines with a built-in anti-skating system for reliable LP playback.

Unlike some rival models that use physical clicky buttons on the chassis, this player has two attractive dials to control the speed and start/stopping, If you want to level up, the TN-400BT-X is a more advanced model that offers a range of 33 ⅓ rpm to 78 rpm playback as well as aptX capabilities for CD-level sound, plus a USB port that delivers HD quality lossless audio – but that one has a slightly more retro design that we reckon pales compared to the A3.

After vintage style and a compact all-in-one system? This entry-level turntable offers more than you’d expect. It’s an affordable and capable pick that we were able to set up in a matter of minutes. It delivered a warm, clear and satisfying sound when we played some Kate Bush on vinyl from its built-in stereo speakers. It’s ideal if you don’t already have a home audio setup and just want to get listening right out of the box. It also works as a wireless speaker itself and you can connect it to your Bluetooth speakers to play your favourite records too.

The whole package has a lovely classic analogue feel and we found the design looked attractive on our shelves. We reckon it would fit well if you’ve got a smaller space that you don’t want to clutter up with a speaker system or if you want a basic turntable, and while it’s never going to win over any dedicated vinyl lovers who are accustomed to high-end players, this is a brilliant option for beginners who want a device that can do it all without adding extra speakers.

At a quarter of the price of legendary rigs like the SL-1210, this still has all the cut-and-paste features a budding mixmaster requires. This model - which comes in black and white – has a belt-drive operation that plays two speeds – 33 ⅓ and 45 rpm – and has a premium-looking aluminium platter with a 4.5 mm-thick rubber mat to reduce unwanted vibrations.

Even if the body lacks a premium touch at a glance, that chunky tonearm is a standout feature: the bright red carriage catches the eye, plus it gives you hydraulically damped lift control and a lockable rest for stability. Often available for under £200, this is another option if you want a reliable player for everyday use, and while it lacks any DJ features or digitalisation abilities, you get automatic cueing (so it moves the arm without you needing to fix it in place on the record). This is a wired-only model, but there’s also a Bluetooth version – the AT-LP3XBT – that costs slightly more. Go for that one if you want to connect it to any wireless speakers.

Arguably the best pound-for-pound turntable on the market, Rega's Planar 2 offers the sound quality you'd expect from a four-figure record player in a much more pocket-friendly package, and with one of the sleekest designs around. Seriously, just look at the eye-catching glossy finish on this model, coming in stunning red, white and black colourways.

The sound performance here is very clean and crisp, although it's decidedly old-school in terms of output stakes – with no Bluetooth for the use of wireless speakers or a built-in preamp – you'll need a dedicated amp or powered speakers to enjoy its rich sound. With a thick 10mm glass platter and a heavy tonearm that will keep the cartridge playback smooth, if you can overlook the lack of connectivity options this is a futuristic-looking player with precise audio. There’s also a walnut-effect Planar 2 that came out in 2022 – available for £499.

The Victrola Stream Carbon represents everything we love about high-end turntables in 2024: sleek metallic minimalism, an easy plug-and-play setup, a sturdy build and built-in wireless smarts that seamlessly pair with the best Sonos audio systems. This has a chunkier body than other models on our list but we are serious fans of the chrome casing, and the illuminated circular knob has nice tactile feedback when used to change the volume.

After a simple setup that has you attach the belt and adjustable counterweight, you’ll download the relevant apps, enter your wifi details, add the speaker and you're ready to go – no fuss and, crucially, no annoying cables. The Ortofon Red cartridge that comes bundled with the player sounds glorious when blasting out the distorted guitars and raspy vocals of Reuben’s alt-rock classic, 'Racecar is Racecar Backwards'. Expensive? Sure. Brilliant? Undoubtedly yes.

After a more retro feel to record playing? Go back to basics with this belt-driven Denon DP turntable which strips back all the fancy tech for an analogue experience. There's no Bluetooth, automatic tonearm, or technical wizardry here, you'll be placing records yourself and spinning or scratching with your fingers; just how a record should be played.

It does have a built-in preamp which is handy for linking up to additional non-wireless speakers, and it's made of a single block of aluminium so it still looks pretty flashy in our eyes. It’s a great option for anyone new to the world of LPs and vinyl or if you want a player who just wants the basics, and as it’s frequently around £100 it’s also one of the best options if you have a limited budget but don’t want to go for an all-in-one turntable with a built-in speaker system.

As its name suggests, Pro-Ject’s debut turntable at the back end of the ‘90s has been refined and tuned up over 30 years since to offer modern features like a lightweight tonearm, a heavy platter and gold-plated sockets for all your audio needs.

This is the best pick for audiophiles looking for a top record player at a sensible price, delivering a low-vibration package with a stiff carbon fibre tonearm and a pre-installed Ortofon 2M Red cartridge. Packed in a minimalist design, this fire-and-forget turntable is great for syncing up with any Sonos Bluetooth speakers you might have.

It may come with a fairly high price compared to budget players, but there are plenty of reasons to invest. We reckon it's a player that'll have you rediscovering albums you've owned for years, and you'll struggle to find better sound at this price.

Think of a classic DJ-style turntable, and there’s a good chance your mind goes to a player that looks like this. For good reason: Audio-Technica’s AT-LP120 takes inspiration from the iconic Technics SL1200 – a design known by music lovers and audiophiles the world over.

You can get this for a slightly lower price than the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon while it delivers excellent comparable sound quality (you'd only notice a difference if you pay serious attention in a side-by-side listening session). The AT-LP120XUSB makes for a tremendous option if you're after some of the best dynamic sound from a mid-priced turntable.

Yes, the body is chunkier than some models on our list, but this direct-drive model has a strong aluminium platter, pitch control and support for 33/45/78 RPM speeds. It also lets you convert vinyl to digital audio files.

If money is no object, the Alva TT V2 is a direct-drive turntable that combines beauty and performance. It may be the most expensive record player on our list but we love the sturdy aluminium-topped design and thick platter that's reassuringly heavy in the hands.

This premium record player brings a new tonearm and cartridge to refresh the original TT, which was the first model to launch with aptX HD Bluetooth support. The presence of both wire-free playback and the audiophile-friendly build quality make this an excellent pick as a high-end package that's both accessible and appealing to vinyl purists.

This plays at speeds of 33⅓ and 45 rpm and has a clean aesthetic that will look great on display in your living room, while its hi-res Bluetooth capabilities will leave you without wires cluttering up your space too.