As with the Budget selection, established brands like Pro-Ject and Rega offered updates on classics this year, while others like the Elipson and Audio Technica sought to add value with higher quality peripherals and greater connectivity. The RP1 has been the recipient of an upgrade that includes a new 24v, low noise, motor to reduce vibration along with a new motor cover tray and integrated cooling, redesigned feet and a new arm, the RB110 that includes the usual Rega Carbon cartridge.Īs discussed in our piece on upgrading your set-up, navigating the mid-range can be a difficult process, with fewer fixed reference points and greater variation in value for money. Notable in this new version is a low noise Acryl-IT E platter plus an upgraded motor featuring a new integrated grounding link. The latest release in the Essential line of decks, it arrives with a gloss paint-covered MDF plinth plus three anti-vibration feet and OM10 cartridge. Not a true audiophile creation, sure, but it is derived from the Pro-Ject Essential turntable so it has a good pedigree. Colour choices include matt black, red or white.įor those looking for something different and a vertically mounted turntable that sounds pretty good. Pro-Ject fans will see similarities in plinth design with the older Essential II. Like the company’s basic budget design, the Elemental, the new Primary uses Pro-Ject’s popular 8.6” aluminium tonearm with the Ortofon OM5E cartridge stuck on the end. It might be made from plastic and arrives in gaudy colours but it’s a good alternative to the Crosely alternatives. I was struggling to find a basic, budget turntable release for you, this year until I came across this Lenco which has come up trumps with this semi-automatic, belt-driven design that incorporates a USB port and phono amp. Like our guide to the best budget turntables that won’t ruin your records, these decks find the sweet spot between performance, reliability and affordability, and are capped here at under £300. Now, on with the show!Īmazon and Aldi horror-shows aside, the choice at the budget end of the market has never been wider. If I’ve missed any of your favourites for this year please shout at me and we’ll give that a Mention in Despatches, as it were. To help you on your way, I’ve grouped my top decks in order of budget. So then, you can relax and safely consider buying that new turntable or upgrading to something swish and shiny with some measure of confidence. Turntable sales themselves are expected to rise until 2020. Then the BBC, the BPI and this humble website argued that music streaming apps are boosting vinyl sales. You can add the fact that, in the UK, we’ve even seen vinyl sales popping out of independent record shops with the likes of Tesco and Sainsbury’s selling the stuff. With 3.5 million sales seriously on the cards. The BPI estimated that vinyl sales will breach 3 million in the UK in 2016. Turntable manufacturers off all stripes have been busy and very proactive, releasing a swathe of top quality designs that will suit all budgets. No, this wasn’t an opportunity to upgrade your bedroom DJ set-up, but more an audiophile direct drive turntable aimed at a totally different demographic.Īt opposite ends of the spectrum, thankfully these aren’t the only options out there. Only weeks later, Technics proudly unveiled the spanking new SL-1200G turntable, only to spend most of the time since failing to explain to shell-shocked devotees why the world’s most popular deck – the limited edition of which sold out in Japan in 30 minutes – was going to cost a whopping £2799. While these decks aren’t the kind you’d wish on your worst enemy, it’s clear the appetite was there. The year began with the news that Amazon had sold more turntables than any other home audio product over Christmas. Your guide to the best new budget, mid-range and high-end turntables of the year.Ģ016 was dominated by turntables, and by two stories in particular.
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