II and the TD-160? Here it is, the TD-1601, a sprung semi-automatic turntable that will remind you great designs from Linn, Ariston, AR and any other rig that bounces. Have you been waiting for decades for a Thorens table that’s as good as classics like the TD-124, TD-125 mk. Now imported by LSA and sold by Underwood Hi-Fi, the 元 can be packaged with certain cartridges (the T3 loves Soundsmith) at a great package price. The final result is a ‘table with plenty of character, solid in the groove, and perfect for the audiophile who doesn’t follow the whims of the crowd. This simple and visually stunning turntable was designed by Margules Audio in Mexico–it was a project in the works for many years. Options include a powered subwoofer and additional LP storage racks. This, so far, is the most impressive version of the “good old-fashioned record player,” but it might be difficult to define if you’re the person who needs this–at least until you hear it and you just want it so bad for an office or a bedroom or a vacation spot. The Model One Record Player from Andover Audio is an elegant one-box solution that contains a Pro-Ject turntable and tonearm, Ortofon cartridge, amplifiers, speakers and lots of digital connectivity. When has a turntable like the VPI Player been delivered from a serious player in the hi-fi game?Īndover Audio Model One System (starting at $2,000 USD) We don’t recall ever meeting a true hi-fi turntable with stand-alone listening capabilities. It straddles this murky line between turntable and all-in-one because of its built-in headphone amp. The VPI Player strikes us as a new category of product in terms of hi-fi tradition. Unbox, plug in power, plug in headphones, and you’re on your way. The bearings in the new Rega RB330 arm have remarkably low amounts of friction. This Planar 3 features a stiffer plinth and more bracing, along with a newly-designed bearing and sub-platter. The latest version of this venerable classic is easily the best-sounding P3 yet, with an overall sound quality that surpasses the last-generation RP6 (but not the current P6, of course). “This is a Pro-Ject Debut Carbon table taken to a whole new level.” The EVO version sports a new motor suspension, height-adjustable damped aluminum feet, a new steel and TPE-damped platter and a Sumiko Rainier cartridge. Here’s another strong argument for the world’s best turntable for $500 or less, though Pro-Ject had the advantage of a tested design and continuous modifications applied over the years. That said, the turntable part of Fluance is well-built and it sounds good and relatively quiet, even considering its semi-automatic operation. How does the rule hold up in 2020? The Fluance FT-85 is the answer, and that $500 even includes an Ortofon 2M Blue, almost half the entire cost.

This Canadian turntable made us reconsider the old $500 Rule, a figure derived from the cheapest–but still listenable–turntables 20 to 30 years ago.

U turn turntable