

The U-Turn Orbit Custom is an excellent option if you're looking for something entirely customizable for your taste and needs. Specs: Platter Material: MDF or acrylic | Cartridge Model: AT91B, Ortofon OM5E, Grado Black3, Ortofon 2M Red, Ortofon 2M Blue | Drive Type: Belt drive | Supported Speeds: 33 1/3 RPM, 45 RPM | Tonearm Type: Adjustable Counterweight Straight Tonearm | Built-in Preamp: Can be included | Cueing Lever: Can be included | Anti-skate: Built-in/not adjustable The turntable's solid engineered wood plinth, which comes in three colors, reduces vibrations, so you don't have to worry about where to place it in your home.

There's also a handy autostop feature to help prevent unnecessary wear on your needle. Its Audio-Technica AT95E Cartridge allows for clear sound free of noise and distortion since it rests on your records at just 2.0 grams of tracking force. The Fluence RT81 Elite is known for its pure analog listening experience.

However, if you can stretch your budget to $250, this option is a great entry to the world of record players. Specs: Plinth Material: Medium density fiberboard (MDF) | Platter Material: Aluminum | Cartridge Model: Audio Technica AT95E Cartridge | Drive Type: Belt Drive | Supported Speeds: 33 1/3 RPM, 45 RPM | Tonearm Type: Adjustable counterweight S-Type tonearm | Built-in Preamp: Yes | Cueing Lever: Yes | Anti-skate: AdjustableĮven though $250 isn't exactly budget-friendly, cheaper versions of record players will cost you more in the long run (ultimately, they will ruin your records). If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article.

Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping.
