RecordPlayerAdvice.comUpdated February 2026
RecordPlayerAdvice.com - Vinyl Made Simple
RecordPlayerAdvice.com - Vinyl Made Simple

Vinyl Made Simple

Honest guides, practical tools, and clear recommendations for vinyl lovers.

Why We Built This

We remember the frustration. You hear a record at a friend's place, decide to start your own collection, and suddenly you're drowning in conflicting Reddit threads about cartridges, preamps, and platter materials. We went through that journey ourselves—the mistakes, the upgrades, the "why didn't anyone just tell me this" moments. Now we're sharing what we learned so you can skip the confusion and start enjoying vinyl faster.

Before You Buy

Real talk from expert research, community consensus, and many listening sessions. Just the insights that actually matter when you're choosing gear.

Illustration for Finding Your First Turntable

Finding Your First Turntable

Finding the right turntable doesn't require spending thousands. A solid turntable that will bring years of listening pleasure can cost under £300.

Budget: £100-200 The Audio-Technica AT-LP60X (around £120) is where most people start. Fully automatic, built-in preamp, reliable performance. The Sony PS-LX310BT (around £180) adds Bluetooth.

Mid-Range: £200-400 The Audio-Technica AT-LP120X (around £270) offers direct drive, adjustable controls, and upgrade potential. The Rega Planar 1 (around £300) focuses purely on sound quality with British engineering.

Match your turntable to your speakers. Balance matters more than flagship models.

Complete turntable comparison Read Full Guide

Gear Referenced

Audio-Technica

Audio-Technica AT-LP60X

Audio-Technica

Fully automatic belt-drive turntable with built-in phono preamp. Perfect entry-level choice with rel...

View on Amazon UK →
Sony

Sony PS-LX310BT

Sony

Belt-drive turntable with Bluetooth connectivity for wireless playback. Combines traditional vinyl e...

View on Amazon UK →
Audio-Technica

Audio-Technica AT-LP120X

Audio-Technica

Professional-grade direct-drive turntable with adjustable pitch control and removable headshell for ...

View on Amazon UK →
Rega

Rega Planar 1

Rega

British-made audiophile turntable focusing purely on sound quality. Handmade tonearm from Essex, phe...

View on Amazon UK →
Illustration for Best Turntables Under £200

Best Turntables Under £200

Under £200 gets you a turntable that sounds good and treats records well.

The AT-LP60X at £120 is the top budget pick. Automatic operation, decent sound, reliable. The Sony PS-LX310BT adds Bluetooth for £180.

Avoid suitcase players under £80 - they damage records with heavy tracking force.

Budget options compared Read Budget Guide

Gear Referenced

Audio-Technica

Audio-Technica AT-LP60X

Audio-Technica

Fully automatic belt-drive turntable with built-in phono preamp. Perfect entry-level choice with rel...

View on Amazon UK →
Sony

Sony PS-LX310BT

Sony

Belt-drive turntable with Bluetooth connectivity for wireless playback. Combines traditional vinyl e...

View on Amazon UK →
Illustration for Turntable Setup Basics

Turntable Setup Basics

Setting up properly makes the difference between good sound and frustration.

Place on a level, stable surface away from speakers. Balance the tonearm. Connect to the right input (phono or line-level depending on your preamp).

Most issues trace to improper setup, not equipment quality.

Step-by-step instructions Setup Guide

Gear Referenced

Edifier

Edifier R1280T

Edifier

Powered bookshelf speakers with built-in amplification. Classic wood finish, dual RCA inputs, and ro...

View on Amazon UK →
Pro-Ject

Pro-Ject Phono Box E

Pro-Ject

Affordable MM phono preamp offering significant upgrade over built-in preamps. Clean sound, low dist...

View on Amazon UK →

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