The price of a record player can vary significantly based on various factors, including the brand, features, build quality, and overall functionality. Entry-level or basic record players can start at around £50 to £100, while more recommended models with additional features like better sound quality, higher-quality components, and USB connectivity can range from £200 to £500, or even more!
Higher-end or audiophile-grade record players with superior sound quality, precision engineering, and premium components can go well beyond £500 and can even reach into the thousands, especially for turntables aimed at serious audio enthusiasts or professionals.
Ultimately, the right price for a record player depends on things like your budget, desired features, and the level of sound quality you're seeking. It's essential to balance your preferences and budget while considering factors like build quality, brand reputation, and reviews to find the best value for your needs.
So with all of this in mind, here are a few things to consider when looking for your ideal record player…
1 - Build Quality
A record player with solid build quality is likely to be more durable and last longer. Higher-quality materials and construction can withstand regular use, reducing the likelihood of parts wearing out or breaking prematurely.
A well-built turntable can offer better stability and effectively control unwanted vibrations and resonance. This is crucial because vibrations can negatively impact sound quality by causing distortion or skipping during playback.
Investing in a record player with good build quality can be a long-term investment. While it might involve a higher upfront cost, a durable turntable is less likely to require frequent repairs or replacements, potentially saving money in the long run.
2 - Sound Quality
Arguably one of the most important factors to incorporate into your decision-making can also be affected by the player's build quality; a stable construction and effective isolation from external vibrations can contribute to clearer sound reproduction - and a better overall quality of sound.
Of course, if you are after a record player that fits a specific budget, and just want something that will play the collection you own from time to time, then the overall quality of playback may not be that much of a key feature for you, and it might be worth focusing on other areas and features.
3 - Features
The functionality and feature list of a record player may seem pretty obvious and trivial at first, but it may be worth asking yourself if you want your player to just play records, or if you would like it to be able to do a bit more... If the answer is yes, then you may have just saved yourself a little bit of change.
However, you could be missing out on some potentially great features like audio output connectivity, automatic needle placement, and even analogue to digital conversion - allowing you to convert your record's music into a digital format for your PC or other music players.
Things like built-in speakers can also be an interesting feature to look into when purchasing a new turntable, as some cheaper options will advertise built-in speakers as being a great benefit, but in reality, you will get what you pay for - so don't expect the world. In most cases, it is recommended that you purchase a separate speaker system that can connect to your new turntable - this will result in a far superior listening experience when compared to using a deck's built-in set.
4 - Weight and Portability
Do you need your new turntable to be portable at all? It turns out that the cheaper options available on the market right now are often the most portable and lightweight solutions. If you are after a setup that is as professional as it gets, then don't expect to be moving it around from place to place regularly.
These cheaper, portable options don't have a brilliant reputation, however. We would strongly encourage shopping for something that requires external speakers and at a slightly higher price point if you can justify it.
Placement can also be a key factor here, as the size and weight of your new deck can have a huge impact on where it can be placed around the home. For example, you wouldn't want to place a heavier turntable on a floating shelf, but this may absolutely be feasible for a smaller, lighter player. Knowing what space you have available might just broaden the landscape of the types of players you can reasonably buy.
5 - The User Experience
As with any form of technology, it is always worth considering how easy that piece of kit is to use. So, does the player you want look as though you could use it easily with the knowledge base that you currently have?
If you aren't particularly au fait with dedicated music interfaces, then a £1200 turntable might not be the right solution, then again, it very well might be the right solution for someone who has been around equipment like this for most of their lives. The lesson here is to tailor what you are looking at to your level of skill and understanding of the equipment.
6 - Aesthetics
This may seem fairly trivial at first, but may be more noticeable once you have your new player in place - so it is definitely worth thinking about pre-purchase if at all possible. Does your new record player fit the aesthetic of the room or place that it will be kept in?
Modern record players are designed in many different ways these days. Whether it's a wooden-effect style or a more metallic and polished look you're after, definitely consider the ambience of the room in which it will be stored if at all possible. If all other furniture in the room is wooden, maybe lean towards getting a wooden-effect record player too.
More often than not, record players that are housed in lighter materials like aluminium or wood tend to be on the cheaper end of the price scale - around the £50 to £100 mark if you're after specific numbers. It is then when you move into the heavier, yet sturdier and more reliable materials that those prices start to steadily increase - so whilst it may seem trivial, aesthetics can be important.
7 - So What Do We Use?
Here at Atlas Records, we use an ‘Audio Technica ATLP120’ for all of our grading, play-testing, and general audio needs - and it is fantastic!
The Audio Technica retails for around the £250 mark and has some great features like a dedicated turntable stop/start button, audio output connectivity, as well as a freely manoeuvrable tone arm for precision needle placement.
This is likely going to be the sort of price point that you'll be encountering for a player that will be dependable and last for a solid amount of time before it needs replacing. The turntable itself can be easily cleaned when needed, and the needle is incredibly accessible should it require changing.
That being said, we understand that not everyone will have this sort of money to be able to invest in equipment like this, so a bit of research before you buy is always beneficial. Hopefully considering a few of the things featured in this article have made life a little easier for you if you are planning on buying a record player - especially if it will be your first!
