In this article, we will pick the best stylish, elegant, and modern looking turntables that also sounds good and offers great value for money.
We all want to buy home audio gear that gives us the most sonic performance for the money, but looks and design plays an important role too. Buying a turntable that match our interior designs and looks good in our homes are important to many of us.
I have to admit that I put a lot of emphasis on looks and design when I chose the Rega Planar 2 as my newest turntable. It is not only one of the best sounding turntables in its category, it also looks great and feels very expensive.
Let’s look at what I think is the 5 best sounding and most elegant looking turntables that fit normal people’s budgets. Sorted from least expensive to most expensive.
1. Audio-Technica AT-LP60X
If you don’t want to spend a lot of money on a turntable, the Audio-Technica AT-LP60X is probably the best option for a good looking turntable on a budget. It looks great and is one of the most popular entry-level turntables on the market today.
It generally receives very good reviews from Hi-Fi critics and it is probably the best sounding turntable in this price range. And it does not have a reputation for destroying records as some other inexpensive record players have.
We won’t get the very best sound quality at this price point. That would be too much to ask for, even tho the AT-LP60X probably sound best in its class. If you are a casual vinyl spinner, the sound quality will probably be fully acceptable. If you, on the other hand, are picky about sound quality, then one of the turntables reviewed below will probably be a better pick for you.
The AT-LP60X is fully automatic and can play 33RPM and 45RM records. It is available in four different color combination.
PROS
- Preamp built-in
- Elegant design
- Comes in a Bluetooth version
CONS
- The cartridge can’t be upgraded
- Feels a little plasticky
- Sounds good but not great
Click here to check price on Amazon.
2. U-Turn Orbit Plus (With Preamp)
If you are looking for an elegant looking and nice sounding turntable that doesn’t cost a fortune, then I think my personal favorite is the US made U-Turn Orbit Plus with preamp.
You will find equally good looking turntables further down this list, but they will require a bit bigger budget. The Orbit Plus offers the perfect balance between price, performance, and design in my opinion.
Designed and manufactured in Massachusetts, US by real and authentic turntable enthusiasts, the Orbit Plus has become a huge success since it was launched in 2012. It is well reviewed by Hi-Fi critics and owners.
I think this will look very good in your home. And it will sound very good for the money. A great choice in my opinion.
PROS
- Preamp built-in
- Several color options
- Cartridge can be upgraded
- US made
CONS
- Cue lever costs extra
Click here to check price on Amazon.
3. Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC
It would not be possible to put together a lost of best modern looking turntables without including the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC.
It is a very popular and high regarded turntable that is one of the best selling in its category. Thousands and thousands of vinyl enthusiasts use this turntable for their vinyl spinning all over the world.
One of its selling points is that it comes standard with an Ortofon 2M Red cartridge, which is a very good (and expensive) cartridge for a turntable in this price range. It will be hard to find a better sounding turntable in this price category.
This Pro-Ject Carbon DC does not come with a built-on preamp, so here you will need a separate one or an amplifier with a built-in phono stage.
It comes in several color finishes, including wood as shown above.
PROS
- Modern and elegant design
- Great cartridge
- Great sound
- Many color options
CONS
- Might not feel as expensive as the Rega turntables below in real life
- Does not include a built-in preamp
Click here to check price on Amazon.
4. Rega Planar 1 Plus
If you are super serious about design and performance, you might consider a Rega Planar 1 Plus. It will cost you a little more than the awesome U-Turn Orbit Plus we reviewed earlier, but it will also look and feel one notch more expensive I think.
In my opinion, Rega designs the best looking turntables on the market today. And Rega have won tons of awards for their turntables since the 1970s, so they really know how to make a turntable that sounds great too.
With their Rega Planar 1 Plus, Rega combine the award-winning Rega Planar 1 turntable with the award-winning Fono Mini preamp into a package that is hard to beat and that offers very high value for money.
Rega is one of the turntable manufacturers in the world with the longest traditions of making very high-quality turntables. And they are probably the most respected Turntable manufacturer today.
You will have a hard time finding a turntable that looks more elegant than this one. It comes in black and white finish.
PROS
- Look and feel expensive
- Great sound
- Elegant design
- Very high-quality preamp built-in
- Cartridge can be upgraded
CONS
- Might start to get expensive for casual vinyl spinners
Click here to check price on Amazon.
5. Rega Planar 2
The Rega Planar 2 will look very much like the Planar 1 above, but it comes with a bit more sophisticated tonearm and a glass platter. So selecting a Planar 2 over a planar 1 has more to do with sound quality that looks and design.
The Rega Planar 2 does not come with a built-on preamp, so here you will need a separate one or an amplifier with a built-in phono stage.
I use the Rega Planar 2 for my vinyl spinning and I simply love how it looks, sounds and feels. It is a product I can highly recommend to everyone that is looking for a great sounding and great looking turntable in this price range.
PROS
- Look and feel expensive
- Great sound
- Elegant design
- Cartridge can be upgraded for better sound
- Sophisticated tonearm
- Glass platter
CONS
- Might start to get expensive for casual vinyl spinners
- Does not come with a built-in preamp
Click here to check price on Amazon.
Stylish Looking Powered Speakers
If you are looking for stylish powered speakers to accompany your new turntable, I will highly recommend the Audioengine A5 Plus Wireless.
If you are looking for the best possible sound quality, I will still recommend a traditional amplifier and passive speakers setup, but if you want a budget firendly, clean and simple setup, these powered speakers are a great option. Specially for the lowest priced turntables on the list above.
These come with a fully analog built-in Class A/B amplifier that is very rare for a powered speakers in this price range and make your whole signal path fully analog which is very cool for a vinyl setup. Vinyl enthusiasts loves analog signal paths!
I have the Audio Engine A5 Plus and use them in my secondary vinyl setup. They are really amazing for the price. They can be bought in several finishes, including the very cool bamboo finish. They can be bought with or without Bluetooth wireless capability.
Click here to check price on Amazon.
Conclusion
The 5 best stylish, elegant, and modern looking turntables are:
- Audio-Technica AT-LP60X
- U-Turn Orbit Plus (With Preamp)
- Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC
- Rega Planar 1 Plus
- Rega Planar 2
For further reading, feel free to check out my complete guide to recommended turntables article.
Related Questions
What is a phono preamp?
A phono preamp converts the small music signal from a turntable cartridge to a standard LINE level signal that can be applied to standard audio inputs on amplifiers, receivers and powered speakers. Many turntables comes with a preamp built in. For turntables without a built-in preamp, a standalone preamp or a receiver with built-in preamp is needed.
What are powered speakers?
Powered speakers are speakers with the power amplifier built in and doesn’t need a separate amplifier or receiver.
What is a phono cartridge?
A phono cartridge is the unit that sits on the tip of the turntable tonearm and includes the stylus/needle. Its job is to convert the physical grooves in the record that is picked up by the stylus to an electrical music signal.
What is a cue lever?
A cue lever helps you safely and precisely cue your records.
