Turntables worth hearing, and the upgrades that shape them

The Pro-Ject EU Turntable is a premium entry-level deck built around an unusually expressive design: a vibrant blue finish with twelve gold stars on the top surface.

Beneath the visual statement, the feature set is practical for first serious vinyl systems.

The solid wood plinth, heavy 8-millimeter glass platter, precision belt drive, 8.6-inch aluminum tonearm, and pre-installed Ortofon OM10 MM cartridge make it more complete than a bare-bones starter deck. A built-in phono amplifier means it can connect to an amplifier or preamplifier without a dedicated phono input, while Bluetooth transmission gives it a wireless option for compatible speakers or devices.

The Phasemation PP-2200 is not a turntable, but it belongs in a serious analog buying conversation because the cartridge is the first electrical generator in the playback chain.

Developed as the successor to the PP-, the PP-2200 keeps to the moving-coil format while introducing a substantially revised magnetic circuit.

Phasemation says the new arrangement increases generation efficiency and is intended to reduce audible distortion while preserving finer musical information. For owners of compatible arms and phono stages, this is a component-level upgrade rather than a plug-and-play deck purchase.

The Benny Audio Odyssey is a statement turntable conceived as a ground-up redesign of the company’s earlier Immersion II.

Benny Audio describes changes to the drive system, platter bearings, platter, plinth, base, and 14-inch tonearm, so this is clearly aimed at listeners who want a heavily engineered analog platform rather than a compact lifestyle deck.

The construction is substantial: the described three-layer plinth combines black Delrin, steel, and aluminum elements, with the upper and middle plateaus each measuring 300 millimeters in diameter and the lower disc measuring 200 millimeters. It is a high-commitment choice for systems built around mass, mechanical design, and long-arm geometry.

This source article is a broader turntable roundup rather than a single product, and its value lies in the way it frames key choices.

The excerpted entries show two very different approaches: the Pro-Ject Automat A2, a fully mechanical automatic belt-drive model with 33.3, 45, and 78 rpm support, and the Technics SL-1200GR2, a direct-drive design noted for precise speed control and a solid body.

The article also presents practical comparison points such as drive type, rotation speeds, tonearm arrangement, suspension, platter material, pros, cons, and verdicts. It is most useful as orientation before narrowing down to one deck.

The Wilson Benesch Graviton Ti is a tonearm, not a complete turntable, but it is relevant for buyers building or upgrading a high-end vinyl front end.

The design combines a graphene-reinforced carbon fiber arm tube with biomimetic titanium structures, according to the manufacturer.

Particular attention is given to cable routing: the tonearm wire exits vertically over the pivot point and enters a shielded chamber with less than an inch of exposure, a layout intended to remove mechanical force from the wire and protect the signal at a vulnerable point. Its emphasis is precision engineering rather than setup simplicity.

The Victrola Soundstage is a powered soundbase designed to sit directly under a turntable, making it a practical alternative to a conventional stack of phono stage, amplifier, speakers, and cables.

It is not presented as a purist high-end solution; its purpose is to make vinyl workable in homes, offices, and apartments where space and simplicity matter.

Victrola addresses the usual feedback risk of placing speakers beneath a turntable with a vibration-conscious enclosure and driver layout. Low frequencies are directed downward and away from the turntable, while midrange and high frequencies project forward into the room.

The Musical Fidelity M8xTT is a substantial high-end record player inspired by the earlier M1 project and developed around mass, isolation, and a bespoke 10-inch tonearm.

At 31.5 kilograms, it is designed to resist external and internal vibrations.

Its dual-layer base uses non-resonant acrylic and rests on four height-adjustable magnetic supports, with Teflon pads between layers. Musical Fidelity also separates the platter bearing and tonearm mount across different base layers, with insulation material between them. A silicone belt drives a 10-kilogram TPE-damped platter, while electronic speed control handles motor management.

The Rekkord Audio M500 is a turntable for listeners who want a more traditional mechanical platform with useful setup flexibility.

Its aluminum-clad sub-chassis is supported by four parabolic springs for damping, and the tonearm and platter bearing are integrated into that sub-chassis.

The straight aluminum tonearm uses a cardan bearing, a carbon headshell, damped microlift, and proprietary Easy Motion internal wiring. Depending on version, it can be supplied without a cartridge or with a pre-installed Ortofon 2M Blue MM cartridge. Electronic speed switching is handled by a touch sensor with LED indication, while the belt drive motor is damped from the chassis.

The Thorens TD 124 DD Exclusive is a flagship development of the TD 124 line, drawing on the long-established identity of that series while using a modern direct-drive platform.

Its defining hardware is the 12-inch TP 124 tonearm, an evolution of the original TP 124 design, paired with a Tondose 124 Exclusive cartridge developed by EMT.

Thorens says the longer arm is intended to minimize tracking errors and reduce distortion. This is not a casual starter deck; it is aimed at listeners who want a reference-level Thorens package with tonearm and cartridge specified as part of the system.

The Audio-Technica AT-LPW50BT is a manual belt-drive turntable that balances conventional analog setup with modern connection options.

Its 30-millimeter MDF plinth has an anti-resonance design and rosewood veneer finish, while the motor uses an encoder for accurate platter rotation at 33-1/3 and 45 rpm.

The cast aluminum platter is anti-resonant and supplied with a rubber mat. Audio-Technica also fits a straight carbon fiber tonearm with adjustable tracking force and dynamic anti-skating, plus an AT-HS4 headshell and AT-VM95E dual moving magnet cartridge. A switchable built-in phono preamp and Bluetooth output make system matching easier.