Amoeba Music

Are you considering buying a turntable for a gift or for yourself? Amoeba Hollywood has a great selection of turntables for vinyl listeners of all types, including models for beginners, mid-level enthusiasts, DJs and aspiring audiophiles. If you're not sure which turntable is right for you, come in and talk to our turntable experts! We can help you select the perfect model.

Read on for some helpful information or watch this short video with Amoeba staffer Bennett, who shared his recommendations for each level of listener.

When it comes to choosing a turntable, whether it’s your first one ever, your first in a long time, or an upgrade, you’ll want to consider a few things: How are you listening to music now? Would an automatic turntable suit you? And do you want to be able to upgrade?

If you already have powered speakers of some sort in your home, most turntables will be able to connect either via Bluetooth or a standard auxiliary cable. If you don't have speakers already, then you'll want to consider whether you want a turntable with built-in speakers (ideal for a beginner) or invest in a set of bookshelf speakers (more on that at the bottom).

Beginner and Entry Level Turntable Recommendations

For a young vinyl listener or someone just wanting to dip their toes into using a turntable, there are plenty of novelty and portable turntables available at an affordable price. But beware, these systems have a very limited sound dynamic, because their internal speakers are built very close to the needle and that proximity is always going to be a problem. These machines generally aren’t designed to last very long given the sound restraints. Most of the appeal of a portable turntable is in the cool vintage look and the plug and play ease.

Looking past the portable turntables, a great starter turntable would be the Audio-Technica LP60. It is affordable with a simple set up, fully automatic, and it's available with Bluetooth. The LP60's very simple, but reliable design gives you plenty of listening hours with less record wear than other entry level tables. The automatic features make play as easy as pushing start and the auto return function guarantees your record won’t spin for hours if you leave it playing. But these convenience features do eventually wear out and shorten the lifespan of these record players, even if just marginally.

Mid-Level Turntable Recommendations

If you’re in the market for a mid-level turntable, this is the time to consider a component stereo system, which is a sonic upgrade. We carry several models of mid-level turntables, including the Denon DP-300F and Audio-Technica LP3, LP5 or LP40. These turntables all share similar features that allow for future upgrades to increase the quality of your sound at your choosing: detachable headshells for needle upgrades, adjustable tonearms for precision, and anti-skating systems that protect records from wear and allow your needle to sit more centered in the groove, providing a purer sound reproduction. For the most part, these record players are at a similar price point and most of the distinction is in style and aesthetic. And as with the Audio-Technica LP60, these all have convenient automatic features.

Recommendations for a DJ Turntable or Aspiring Audiophile

All the tables we’ve discussed so far have been belt driven turntables. A motor spins a small spindle, a rubber belt attaches to it and to your platter, and the record spins. Of course, rubber wears out and you’ll have to replace the belt every now and then. But in the '70s, designers worked on getting more precise, powerful, and pliable ways to spin a record. Magnets proved to be the best, and so, direct drive turntables entered the workforce.

The Technics 1200 became the favored work horse for DJs that needed nearly indestructible and versatile instruments to ply their craft, capable of allowing for pitch control and disc manipulations. Thanks to the rise in popularity of DJs, turntablism became an important part of American culture. Still today, Technics produces a version of the 1200 and we carry it at Amoeba Hollywood, as well as some more affordable tables modeled after the 1200, such as the Pioneer DLX500 and the Audio-Technica LP120X. The Pioneer is a very close facsimile of the Technics 1200, only shorting consumers in the torque department, while the LP120 cuts more features that perhaps only a turntablist would miss. All three tables should last ages as there are no belts or automatic features to repair. And all 3 tables allow for 33, 45, and 78 speed play.

Speakers

Many of you are turning to vinyl records as a way to connect more intimately with your favorite tunes and you may want to consider building a more dedicated sound system. All of our turntables have a built-in preamp that allow for easy connection to any style of powered speakers you might buy. We carry a cool line of bookshelf speakers by Edifier that are pretty compact and powerful. Their defining feature is the adjustable treble and bass knobs that allow for fine tuning to suit however your ears hear music.

If you have questions or you're not sure which turntable is right for you, come in and talk to Amoeba's turntable experts! We can help you select the perfect model, whether it's for yourself or your loved one.

Want even more tips? Check out our Vinyl Care 101 Guide for cleaning and taking care of your records.