Best Record Player Under $300 Reviews – Open The Mid Range Price Options

Today, music lovers all over the world understand the importance of analog music, so the demand for vinyl record players is growing every day. And since this way of listening to music is more like entertainment for most consumers, it is reasonable that budget record players appeared on the market en masse. In this article, I will answer the question: “Is it possible to find the best turntable under $300?”.

I am an audiophile, so forgive in advance my somewhat condescending attitude to the price category of vinyl players considered in this review. Nevertheless, I have honestly tested each model, and I will tell you about my impressions without hiding the shortcomings (and they are definitely there). Looking ahead, I will say that some models surprised me, and worthy vinyl turntables under three hundred dollars do exist.

Our pick

Sony PS-LX310BT

Best turntable under $300

With the PS-LX310BT record player, you can enjoy clear, natural sound, whether you’re reliving your favorite LP or sharing a stunning reissue with the family. Read the full review.

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Turntables under $300 comparison table

Best turntable under $300 reviews

Sony PS-LX310BT – best overall

The first place is traditionally occupied by a record player that combines the optimal price/quality ratio. The Sony PS-LX310BT is not the most expensive in my chart, but I try to balance the turntable’s sound and its capabilities. Also, an important factor for me in a budget device is durability. That’s why the first thing I’ll tell you about the construction.

So, the PS-LX310BT weighs 7.7 pounds, and even before you start listening, I can tell you that it’s not enough to maintain good anti-resonance. A model like this needs to be placed on as heavy a surface as possible, and it had better be additionally weighted. The plastic case is very reminiscent of Sony’s 80-90s style and looks classically restrained, neat, and quite decent. But I’m fully aware that the parts are unreliable. For example, the pin around which the cam gear rotates is plastic. I’m pretty sure that over time, it will simply break off. Do not immediately discard this model. Read to the end. This flaw can be solved using ingenuity and replacing the part with metal. It’s a matter of a couple of dollars. But I agree with some users whose reviews I studied – it’s not a Sony product but more like Hanpin.

Since the Sony PS-LX310BT is a fully automatic turntable (which can be a big advantage for beginners), there are Auto Return, Auto Start, and Auto Stop functions. What could be easier? Plug in the power and set the turntable. Nothing else will be required of you. The rotation speeds are supposed to be two: 33 and 45 rpm (an adapter is included for this purpose). Among the bonuses – the aluminum tonearm is slightly curved, corresponding to a more accurate needle hitting the record’s grooves. And the trick is that you can’t change that. Although, assuming the category of users who will like the model in question, I doubt they’ll need to (you just won’t hear the difference I’m talking about).

The most attractive things you may find are a USB input and Bluetooth. The first will come in handy for those who want to digitize their records by transcribing them to their PC. The second is for those who like to immerse themselves in music with headphones or wireless speakers. I want to note that the transmission signal level pleased me beyond measure; I did not notice a single failure.

The turntable performed particularly well with the Beatles album Let It Be. I liked the manner of tone transmission, and as the pressure of the composition increased, I could clearly hear the vocals and all the instruments. Although the turntable lacks dynamics, I can still note a rather vivid soundstage.

Fluance RT82 – also great

If you’re willing to pay a little more for a turntable that will bring you closer to truly enjoying vinyl, then I highly recommend the Fluance RT82. This 300-dollar record turntable is claimed to be semi-automatic. However, it only has an Auto Stop function (I’ll talk about it separately later), which means it’s more like the so-called real models that require your constant involvement.

You can already tell by its weight of 14.99 pounds that the RT82 is more robust than the Sony PS-LX310BT. Its case is made of multi-layered MDF, and it has a classic yet vintage look in a glossy finish. Moreover, the cabinet has three rubber adjustable feet, offering you and me more anti-resonance. Other pluses regarding the PS-LX310BT I would mention are the aluminum S-shaped tonearm (considered optimal for records), adjustable anti-skating, and gold-plated RCA connectors. Also included is an aluminum platter with a rubber mat and a removable plastic cover. Reminds me of my grandfather’s turntable; very nostalgic.

The Fluance RT82, like the Sony PS-LX310BT, has two spin speeds. But you won’t find any extra features. Pure vinyl, for those who understand but save money. However, the manufacturer focused on the really important details for the sound, providing the stylus with an Ortofon OM10 cartridge. It’s a very good needle, but if you decide to replace it (or when the time comes), you’ll have to splurge on it separately. I mentioned the Autostop feature, and it must be said that it’s tentative. I’ve encountered many reviews about the option not working at all. It worked for me but with a delay of 30 seconds. The needle just rode on the record, but the mechanism did not work. I still prefer that the stated features work; otherwise, why introduce them?

Anti-resonance design, cartridge, and precision servo-controlled belt-drive motor significantly affect the quality of music reproduction. The overall soundscape is wider, deeper, and richer than any other turntable on my list. I even let it play my vintage samples that have age defects and, oh, wonder! I was surprised at how the RT82 handled them, revealing long-forgotten nuances.

1 BY ONE H004 – Hi-Fi turntable

Next on my list is the 1 BY ONE H004 Hi-Fi turntable stereo set in all its glory. Yes, I have here representatives of vinyl turntables for every taste. And this option will absolutely satisfy those users who don’t want to bother buying individual components but want “everything, everywhere and at once.” You get a handheld turntable with a built-in preamplifier (as in the previous models) and Bluetooth speakers, which assume “plug and play” functionality.

The impressive weight of 20.9 pounds is mainly due to the 28 cm diameter iron platter. The case itself is slim and neat and has a small “control point” in the right corner, which involves adjusting the volume and switching the record playing speed from 33 to 45 rpm. It’s hard to add anything else to the design description, except perhaps the speakers look nice and harmonious (measuring 6.3 x 6.2 x 9.8 inches). You’ll also find a protective cover and all sorts of cables included. But honestly, I wouldn’t abuse the manipulation of reinstalling this system: the buttons and terminals on the back panel are rather plain and plastic and don’t inspire much confidence.

The tonearm of the 1 BY ONE H004 is straight, distinguishing it from the Fluance RT82 or even the Sony PS-LX310BT. This tonearm is considered the simplest solution, and it does not always allow the needle to precisely hit the record’s grooves. But the cartridge is removable, and for a budget turntable, it’s always a plus, and in itself, it’s not the worst. This is the AT3600L from Audio-Technica. Since the turntable is fully manual, you’ll have to set and adjust the tonearm, anti-skate, and drive belt yourself, but this will make the H004 sound as close to your individual needs as possible. That said, I liked its factory settings, and for the average listener, I wouldn’t bother particularly with customization.

The system sounds good. In all honesty, it’s very decent. The speakers, though, are certainly very basic. The 4-inch woofers and 2-inch tweeters are not bad at transmitting mid and low frequencies, but the highs are rather muffled. But is it worth clinging to the nuances of a budget player, even in a set with acoustics? I don’t think so. Do you want to save money? You get exactly what you pay for. Everything works well, but I won’t sing dithyrambs. By the way, the 1 BY ONE H004, like the Sony PS-LX310BT, can record tracks on a PC.

ANGELS HORN H019 – built-in Speakers

The ANGELS HORN H019 features and functionality are very similar to the 1 BY ONE H004. It also has manual control, two playback speeds, a built-in phono stage, a direct tonearm, and an AT3600L cartridge from Audio-Technica. The most striking difference is that the speakers this time are built-in. And instead of recording tracks on a PC, you have Bluetooth. But more about it all in detail because the details require explanation.

So, in front of me was quite a nice MDF object of impressive size and weight, but I was immediately confused by the finish. If you wipe the surface with a damp cloth, the lamination will swell over time. The platter is made of aluminum rather than iron like the 1 BY ONE H004, but with the overall weight of the H019, this does not significantly affect the anti-resonance. The overall impression is pretty stable. The parts are also quite flimsy, which is expected for its price. It’s mostly plastic, but even the cover seemed flimsy, so I put it away from the sin. I think it’s worth treating it with particular trepidation, the feeling that it’s about to just burst in your hands.

If everything is clear on the main points (I have already said about the similarity with 1 BY ONE H004), we need to explain the function of Bluetooth 5.0 separately. It works only for signal reception; keep this in mind. That is, you can easily connect your smartphone to the speaker and listen to tracks from a playlist or streaming service, but no sound will go to headphones or external speakers. So, I would admonish the manufacturer to make them change the description. I think the user should know they are essentially getting a wireless speaker with record-playing equipment attached.

Regarding sound, in my ranking, this is probably the weakest soundstage. No, we’re not talking about you hearing a medley, but the overall impression is rather blurry; the music sounds muffled, with no highlights. It’s just music playing. Still, it’s fair to say that overall, it’s better than many other options with built-in speakers.

Audio-Technica AT-LPW30TK – fully manual

Nothing too much! That’s how I would characterize my latest entrant in the chart. The fully manual belt drive turntable with DC servo motor is the standard in this category, as it provides two record speeds (33 and 45 rpm) and has a built-in phono stage (like all the others). It is distinguished by its simplicity and the lowest rating cost because we have a turntable under $250, my dear friends, which, nevertheless, provides worthy competition to the other models on the list.

The turntable weighs in at just 8.60 pounds. While Audio-Technica’s website offers the words “Aesthetically pleasing MDF (medium density fiberboard) anti-resonance plinth with simulated teak veneer to limit low-frequency acoustic feedback,” I can only agree with the first part of that statement. There is no anti-resonance here. The feet are adaptive (you can tweak them for leveling), but I was already leveling them again after a couple of records. If you decide to buy the AT-LPW30TK, I advise you to weigh the bottom immediately.

Everything looks very nice. The aluminum straight tonearm is matched with an aluminum platter but is very light and fragile. I could easily operate it, but I’m afraid it’s not durable. But the AT-VMN95C stylus is one of the most popular in this level of turntables, easy to find, buy, and replace if needed. Its excellent pressure adjustment range (0-3 g) sets it apart from many budget models (most of them have 3.5 or higher).