You might think paying more for a deck would get you more features, but that's not the case here. Read the full Rega Planar 1 Plus review Best mid-price turntable You could opt for the What Hi-Fi? 2023 Award-winner Planar 1 on its own and use a separate phono stage for a purer performance, but this deck is a neater and more cost-effective solution. It is rather lean-sounding when played straight out of the box – but the sound comes into its own after a couple of days, becoming more full-bodied and rhythmically exciting the longer you play. A rival such as Audio Technica's AT-LPW50BTRW also offers an internal phono stage and even Bluetooth streaming into the mix, but the Rega can't be beaten when it comes to sound. It has been tweaked: the USB section has been taken out entirely, and the cost-saving has gone into improving the audio quality of the phono stage.įor those looking for a talented turntable but want the convenience of a phono stage built-in (or maybe your stereo amp or active speakers don't have one), this Rega is the perfect place to start. We absolutely agree.īut Rega hasn’t simply taken the existing Fono Mini A2D as is and bolted it under the deck. Both have won Awards, and Rega thought it only felt natural to combine them together. The Planar 1 Plus is essentially the brilliant five-star entry-level Rega Planar 1 turntable with the equally five-star Rega Fono Mini A2D phono stage built in. Read the full Pro-Ject Debut Pro review Best budget turntableĭon't partner with any bright or lean-sounding kit Not only a multiple What Hi-Fi? Award-winner, it's also now the best value option at this price point. It goes to show just how talented this superb-sounding Pro-Ject deck is. But the Pro-Ject Debut Pro sounds a little cleaner and crisper, delivering low frequencies with an agility and tautness even the Rega struggles to match. It's now pricier than ever before (£100 more than the Pro-Ject) and offers a bit more in terms of dynamic expression and outright attack and excitement. Pro-Ject isn't short of rivals at this price, mainly the stellar five-star Rega Planar 3/Elys 2, a legendary model that has long held the top spot in this particular price bracket in its various iterations over the years. Stereo imaging and a spacious soundstage prove admirable and we are impressed with the sonic authority on offer. Its presentation is a little on the lean side, but the upside of such a balance is agility. It produces a stable and controlled sound too, one that retains its composure even when the music becomes dense and demanding. This Debut Pro turntable is terrific at digging deep into the production and revealing layers of instrumental textures that most at this level ignore. Pro-Ject’s engineers have carefully developed almost every aspect of the design, from the new carbon fibre and aluminium tonearm to the dedicated Pick It Pro cartridge. It's a classy-looking deck and easy to set up. Pro-Ject's latest Debut Pro model celebrates the company's 30th anniversary and is the most ambitious and sophisticated Debut model yet. The choice is yours.Įvery record player in this guide has been comprehensively tested by the experienced What Hi-Fi? review team in our dedicated listening rooms, comparing each turntable to its closest rivals in price and type, so you can be sure you're getting a genuine, expert recommendation. Plenty of record players now have them built into the deck itself (which makes it easier to plug into any amp or active speakers), but most purist turntables will need to be plugged into an external phono preamp or into a stereo amplifier that has phono stage inputs. Most turntables will also need a separate phono preamp (or phono stage) to raise your turntable's audio output to make it compatible with line-level modern amplifiers and add standardised equalisation. You might need to balance the tonearm and set the tracking weight, but follow the supplied instructions in the box and you'll be fine. Most of the decks here are pretty much plug-and-play, and come with the tonearm and cartridge attached. Our selection features budget turntables alongside more premium and even more high-end decks, wireless Bluetooth turntables for streaming vinyl to headphones, turntables with phono stages built in for convenience, and even those with USB to help you digitise your vinyl collection. We can help you make the right choice with our round-up of the best record players across all budgets and types.
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