Best Direct Drive Record Players

Turntables under $1000

Technics SL-100C – best overall

When it comes to your treasured record collection, you know that only the finest will do. Technics SL-100C is the best direct-drive turntable with a stylish, minimalistic appearance and smooth, high-quality operation that will not disappoint even experienced, longtime vinyl enthusiast.

For smooth, stable playback, this model employs a single-rotor coreless, direct-drive, brushless DC motor. The motor accelerates and decelerates quickly and produces no audible noise.

High-sensitivity “S”-shaped tonearm reads all signals contained in grooves, allowing for precise tracking and rich aural reproduction. The tonearm is unexpectedly light and nimble – it opens a broad variety of cartridge upgrades. But here’s a downside – while the auto-lift feature is present, it’s a bit slow, taking up to a minute before the record stops.

Now, let’s talk about the cartridge. The SL-100C comes equipped with the Audio-Technica VM95C cart. To tell the truth, this lower-end component appeared out of place on the premium deck to me. After changing it to a better option (AT-VM95ML), the player revealed its potential – the sound became crisp and well-balanced, as though each frequency had been meticulously fine-tuned. Every note hit its mark with precision, and the bass was articulated beautifully.

Pioneer PLX-1000 – also great

It was quite a challenge for me to choose which model – Technics SL-100C or Pioneer PLX-1000 – would top my direct drive turntable reviews (KW). They are both high-end machines made by reputable brands. So, let’s take a closer look at the current model’s characteristics and compare it with our winner.

The first difference lies in the decks’ purposes: while Technics SL-100C is a solid audiophile-grade device for home use, Pioneer PLX-1000 is designed to satisfy the needs of DJs and musicians mixing music genres from bass, house, hip-hop/reggae, D&B to drum ‘n’ bass. It has an adjustable pitch control that ranges from +/-6% to 0.1%, giving you the versatility and precision needed to adjust the beat speed with such fine increments. There is a slip mat, but my mate, who is a professional DJ, says that a thicker mat will be needed to perform the VTA function properly.

Both TTs feature efficient S-type tonearms, but the SL-100C comes with a cartridge, making it a plug-and-play model. The PLX-1000 requires further investments as it doesn’t include the cart. Actually, many audiophile-level turntables come without this component, respecting critical listeners’ desire to select an ideal match for their deck. So, this is not exactly a downside of the PLX-1000, but a thing to consider when buying. For this player, I recommend using the Ortofon 2M Bronze cartridge that handles literally any genre. Yes, it needs quite a long break-in period – about 100 hours, but after that, it sounds awesome, especially if you appreciate details.

The next thing I like about the PLX-100 is its detachable power and audio cables that make connecting and replacing them a breeze. Plus, gold-plated RCA output jacks provide low impedance and excellent sound quality.

Finally, the SL-100C and PLX-1000 have a similar high-stability design with a matte finish (love such a finish as it doesn’t collect fingerprints and dust). However, the latter is much heavier with its 40.2 pounds, keeping all vibrations and resonance at bay.

Turntables under $500

Audio-Technica AT-LP1240-USBXP – best under $500

The Audio-Technica AT-LP1240-USBXP is a decent mid-range player designed with DJs in mind – it has plenty of useful modern features for professionals. Although the AT-LP1240-USBXP is not as heavy as its more expensive counterpart, the Pioneer PLX-1000, it’s still rock-solid and can withstand rigorous use. It boasts a multipole 3-phase direct drive motor for fast startup & silent operation and an anti-resonance cast-aluminum platter for stable performance.

An adjustable pitch controller, easy back-cueing, forward & reverse play and bright speed indicator are also there.

As an owner of a huge vinyl collection with vintage LPs, I do appreciate that this machine plays at 3 speeds – 33-1/3, 45, & 78 RPM.

I must admit, I was quite impressed with the supplied cartridge’s performance – it comes very close to the sound quality of my preferred Ortofon. The audio is rich and well-rounded, with sharp highs and powerful bass. Yet, my feelings about the tonearm are mixed. The S-type shape is ideal for tracking, which I appreciate. However, the arm lift control lever feels a bit flimsy, and I wish the counterweight had a bit more heft to it.

The turntable has integrated switchable phono pre-amp and RCA cables so that you can use it with various receivers, speakers, and other A/V equipment. It also includes a USB port, allowing you to connect it to your desktop for simple LP-to-digital conversion. More than that, you can easily convert the music on vinyl to WAV, MP3, and other formats by using Audacity® or other suitable software.

An interesting detail: it’s said that if you listen to certain ’70 recordings backward on this turntable, you can hear a hidden message.

Audio-Technica AT-LP5X

It wasn’t difficult for me to include three Audio-Technica vinyl players in my list since the company makes great turntables that are reasonably priced. The AT-LP5X is an interesting model for many reasons, here are just some of them.

This is a 3-speed (33-1/3, 45, and 78 RPM) record player with Bluetooth connectivity, making it highly versatile and user-friendly. You can stream your vinyl through speakers without any wires.

The combination of a lightweight headshell and the J-shaped tonearm, reminiscent of the brand’s classic models, work together seamlessly to minimize tracking mistakes. And although the included AT-VM95E cartridge is far from critical ears may desire, it’s still good. As I was exploring a variety of records, from ’70s rock anthems to modern electronic rhythms, the TT showcased a pure soundstage. The audio balance was particularly notable: bass tones were deep yet clear, and the highs were sharp without being overwhelming.

A built-in RIAA equalizer phono preamplifier/headphone amplifier allows you to plug mono or mono/stereo RCA cables into the back of your speakers when using external amplifiers. However, if you plan on hooking up the turntable to a receiver, it’s better to purchase a phono preamp as well.

Other features I like include rubber feet to reduce vibrations, a lightweight AT-HS6 headshell with preinstalled stylus protector and 45 RPM platter lock for more stability during use.

Now, let’s talk about the player’s downside. Right from the start, as I unpacked it, I knew that the setup process would be quite challenging. Getting the tonearm balanced and tweaking the anti-skate feature required a level of precision that really tested my patience. Honestly, this TT isn’t for anyone looking for plug-and-play simplicity – it requires a commitment of time and a bit of technical know-how.

Turntables under $300

Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB – best under $300

The AT-LP120XUSB is an entry-level DJ’s player. It may be a good buy for those who only try the waters.

This fully manual, direct drive record player allows you to quickly switch between 33, 45, and 78 RPM speeds. It has a built-in phono preamp, so you can plug and play it right from the box. However, the preamp is very basic – it sounds quiet and flat. Luckily, there is a switch on the rear of the unit to disable the integrated preamplifier and connect an external one if you want to improve audio quality. Actually, when I did this, the sound became much clearer and brighter.

The player includes adjustable dynamic anti-skate control, variable pitch control with a quartz speed lock, and a balanced S-shaped tonearm with hydraulically damped lift control and lockable rest. Although the components are mostly plastic and not the highest quality, they’re surprisingly durable and don’t seem fragile. However, I hate the felt mat – it tends to slip off during use. I definitely recommend upgrading to a better one!

AT-LP120XUSB has a USB port that allows you to connect directly to your computer and digitize your old collection. In addition to the USB port, the unit includes a detachable dual RCA output for those who don’t want to download their digital files as well as an AC adapter for those who do want to convert it immediately on playback. Housed in the removable hinged dust cover and base, this turntable requires no additional installation.

Crosley C200

When you are shopping around for an under-$300 player and encounter Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB and Crosley C200, you may feel frustrated – they look like twins and have almost the same characteristics. Which one to choose? Well, let’s compare them and find out.

Both are fully manual, direct-drive motor turntables (KW) with damped die-cast aluminum platter, S-type tonearm, built-in switchable preamplifier, and pitch control. But when testing these models, I immediately felt Crosley’s cheaper nature. First of all, it’s lighter (11.02 vs. 17.5 pounds), making it less vibration- and resonance-resistant. Next, the AT-LP120XUSB boasts a sturdier build, better-quality controls, and more precise operation. Plus, it plays at 3 speeds (33/45/78 RPM) and includes a bit more useful features – free Audacity recording software, a USB cable, and a 45 RPM adapter.

I also noticed the C200 doesn’t quite hit 33 RPM when the pitch control is set to “0” – a slight manual adjustment was necessary; however, it was straightforward. Additionally, while listening on the Crosley was quite enjoyable, the sound quality feels somewhat less rich compared to the Audio-Technica, even with the same amp and speakers.