Information

TEST
RECORD TURNTABLES
PERFORMANCE FEATURES SPECIFICATIONS
Price ($) Overall score (%) Listening score (%) Ease of use score (%) Technical score (%) Pre-amp built-in Tone arm clamp Damped cueing 78rpm support Pitch stabilisation Removeable hinged lid 45rpm spindle adapter On/off switch Stop/start Tracking force adjustment Anti-skate / bias adjustment Drive type Tonearm material Cartridge model Cartridge type Stylus model Recommended tracking force (gram force) Stylus type Stylus shape Platter construction Platter mat Motor type Operation Speed change mechanism Number of feet H x W x D (mm) Weight (kg) Country of origin Warranty (yr) Website
Audio-Technica LP120-USB 499 80 78 77 89
          
direct metal AT95E MM ATN95E 1.5–2.5 diamond elliptical aluminium felt DC manual pushbuttons 4 157 x 450 x 352 10.7 China 1 audio-technica.com.au
Thorens TD 158 690 80 78 74 91
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belt metal TAS 257 MM DN 251 S 2 diamond conical aluminium felt DC full auto lever 4 130 x 420 x 360 4.5 Germany 3 thorens.com
Pro-Ject Audio Debut Carbon DC 599 76 76 60 90
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(C)
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belt
carbon OM 10 MM Ortofon 10 1.5 diamond elliptical metal felt AC manual belt shift 4 118 x 415 x 320 5.6 EU 2 project-audio.com
Pro-Ject Audio Elemental Phono USB 399 73 75 56 86
 (A)     
belt metal OM 5E MM Ortofon 5E 1.75 diamond elliptical MDF felt AC manual belt shift 4 90 x 430 x 300 2.8 EU 2 project-audio.com
Denon DP-300F 649 72 66 81 83
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belt metal DSN-85 MM DSN-85 2 diamond conical aluminium
rubber DC full auto pushbutton 4 122 x 434 x 381 5.5 China 3 au.denon.com
NAD C556 599 72 75 51 83
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belt metal Rega Carbon MM Rega Carbon 1.4–2.5 diamond conical phenolic resin felt AC manual belt shift 3 115 x 447 x 360 4 England 3 nadelectronics.com
Rega RP1 599 70 66 60 93
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belt metal Rega Carbon MM Rega Carbon 1.5–2 diamond conical phenolic resin felt AC manual belt shift 3 112 x 442 x 362 4.2 England
ns rega.co.uk
Rega RP3 + Elys 2
1349 70 71 51 84
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belt metal Elys 2 MM Elys 2 1.75 diamond elliptical float glass felt AC manual belt shift 3 114 x 44 3 x 364 5.9 England ns rega.co.uk
Marantz TT5005 499 69 75 50 70
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belt metal DSN-82 MM DSN-82 3.5 diamond conical aluminium
rubber DC full auto pushbutton 4 97 x 360 x 357 2.8 China 3 marantz.com
Marantz TT-42 599 68 66 66 78 (B)
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belt ns DMS 251 S MM DN 251 S 2 diamond conical metal felt DC full auto dial 4 119 x 420 x 360 5.5 Germany 3 marantz.com
Thorens TD 170-1 890 61 54 72 73 (B)
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(D)
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belt ns OM 10 MM Ortofon 10 1.5 diamond elliptical aluminium felt DC full auto lever 4 125 x 420 x 360 4.6 Germany
3 thorens.com
USING THE TABLE Price Recommended price, as of August 2015. Scores The overall score is made up of listening (60%), ease of use (20%), and technical score (20%). (A) The inbuilt pre-amp can’t be switched off. (B) A version with inbuilt pre-amp is also available. (C) A pulley kit is available to play 78s. (D) Cartridge must be changed to play 78s. ns Not stated.
$599
$399
$649
$599
73% Pro-Ject Audio
Elemental Phono USB
Winning the prize for most unusual
design and least expensive of the
models we tested, the Pro-Ject Audio
Elemental USB can output record
tracks to digital files. The platter hangs
over a slim base, with the tonearm
hanging out in space like a tiny crane.
The pulley belt system to change the
rotational speed for singles is finicky.
There was no cover available for this
model although the company claims
one will be available towards the end of
the year. The built-in pre-amp can’t be
switched off, which means it would not
be suitable for a system with its own
pre-amp (commonly found in high-end
component music systems).
72% Denon DP-300F
The Denon DP-300F is a very easy to
use, fully automatic turntable, with
controls for rotational speed and
record size.
Technical performance for tracking
force and rotational accuracy is also
very good, and although our listening
panel didn’t rate it among the top
models for audio quality, it’s still within
the range you’d expect to find in a
turntable at this price point.
A switchable built-in pre-amp makes
the Denon a good option for any home
entertainment system whether it has a
phono input. However the Denon but
might not be the ideal family-friendly
option, as there’s no clamp to keep the
tonearm in place.
72% NAD C556
The NAD C556 has a start
and stop switch on the
base as the only visible control,
with the rotational speed adjusted by
lifting the platter and changing the
belt from one pulley to another. The
listening panel found the audio quality
to be good. Technical performance
results were also very good.
Our tester found the initial set-up to
be finicky, requiring an alignment of the
cartridge using a cardboard gauge as
well as fitting the tonearm weight and
adjusting the tracking force bias.
The extra set-up may have been
worth the effort, as our listening panel
preferred the NAD over the virtually
identical Rega RP1.
76% Pro-Ject Audio
Debut Carbon DC
Coming in a range of colours and with
no visible controls, the Pro-Ject Audio
Debut Carbon DC is arguably the most
attractive turntable we tested. The
turntable is turned on from the main
switch and the rotational speed is
adjusted by lifting the platter and
changing the belt from one pulley to
another. The anti-skate setting is
controlled via a small weight system on
a thin wire – stylish, but fiddly.
Fortunately, good audio quality lends
substance to the design.
If you want to add this model to your
existing music system, make sure it
has a phono input as there’s no inbuilt
phono pre-amp.
WHAT TO BUY
80% Audio-Technica
LP120-USB
This is the only model tested that uses
a direct drive to rotate the platter, but
its accuracy is as good as any of the
other models using a belt drive, and
the controls are easy to find and use.
A switchable built-in pre-amp and
USB out (to digitise your records)
makes this a versatile turntable that
can be used in a variety of home
entertainment systems. DJ features
such as pitch stabilisation, pitch
adjustment and a stroboscope light
give users a lot of control over how
the record will sound, and let you
move seamlessly from one track to
another.
$499
80% Thorens TD 158
Equal favourite for sound quality, the
TD 158 also delivered excellent
performance for our technical tests
for tracking force and rotational
speed accuracy – which is fortunate,
as you can’t adjust the tracking force.
Fully automatic operation means you
don’t have to hover around the
turntable when a side is finished, and
the settings for speed, tonearm
pickup and starting the turntable are
clearly marked and easy to use.
If you want to add one of these to
your existing music system, make
sure it has a phono input, as the TD
158 does not have an inbuilt phono
pre-amp.
$690
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