Best Turntable Under $1000 of 2020
When you decide to purchase a turntable, there are two ways that you can use it.
- While sitting on the couch as you relax with a glass of wine in hand and some soft lighting, or
- At a packed club as you spin records and make awesome sound mixes for the thousands of people on the dance floor.
While the latter is the most popular reason to get a turntable these days, we do have a mixture of solutions on our list for those who want to listen to their vinyl collection, too.
So where can you find the best turntable under $1000?
Have a look at our suggestions below to find out.
Top 6 Turntables Under $1000 Overview Chart
| Picture | Name | Price | Rating (1-5) |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 1. Pro-Ject 1-Xpression Carbon Classic | $$$$ | 5.0 |
 | 2. Numark TTX Professional Turntable | $$$ | 4.3 |
 | 3. Music Hall MMF 5.1SE Turntable | $$$$ | 4.3 |
 | 4. Technics SL-1210M5G Black Record Turntable | $$ | 3.8 |
 | 5. Music Hall - MMF-5.1 | $ | 3.8 |
 | 6. Thorens TD 190-2 Fully Automatic Turntable | $ | 3.0 |
For Listening to Vinyl
If you’re more interested in listening to some of your favorite vinyl records on the turntable, here are a few things to look for and consider before you select on:
- Setup. Different turntables require different setups and accessories in order for you to hear the sound.
Some require an amplifier set up, others an active speaker setup and then you have those that can hook up to your computer. You’ll most likely need a preamp, as well, which converts the output signal of the turntable into a signal that the speakers or sound system require.
Some systems have a built-in preamp, which make them easier to use.
- Driver Motor. In order to enjoy the music output of a vinyl record, it’s best to use a belt drive motor. Skip down a few paragraphs to see what this is
For DJs
If you plan to DJ with your turntable, here are some things to remember:
- Driver Motor. There are two types: direct-drive and belt drive.
Direct drive motors are located under the center of the platter and help maintain a higher torque, lower wow and lower flutter. As a DJ, these are essential to your success and sound quality.
Belt drive motors have an off-center motor that is connected to the platter via a belt. These are not helpful when DJ-ing because they just can’t maintain a constant rotation speed of the platter yet they do help prevent vibrations and offer better sound quality for vinyl records.
- Torque. The higher the torque the better when you’re DJ-ing. This will help the platter accelerate faster and it will not slow down as much when you press the record down onto the slipmat.
- Pitch Control Slider. Make sure it slides up and down smoothly so you can avoid any jumpy movements as you quickly move your hands around the table.
3 Best Turntable Under $1000 Reviews
1. Pro-Ject 1-Xpression Carbon Classic
As a belt drive turntable with synchronous motor, the Pro-Ject 1-Xpression is a great choice if you want to throw in your favorite vinyl record after a long day at work.
It features a carbon tonearm with spin-off EVO technology, a resonance damping counterweight that will provide quality performance with any cartridge type and the motor runs quietly. The turntable feet also help reduce the risk of unwanted acoustic feedback
The modern design and classic sound make it the perfect addition to the home of any modern vinyl lover. It’s definitely one of the best turntables for under 1000 dollars in terms of quality and design.
2. Numark TTX Professional Turntable
DJs should have a look at the direct drive Numark TTX Professional turntable.
It features a digital display, a high torque motor and a handy illuminated digital display to help you control the pitch, speed and BPM counter. It is also vibration resistant.
With seamless vinyl-to-digital transfer and the EZ Vinyl software, you can easily transfer and archive your audio files directly into iTunes.
Don’t skimp on the quality of your turntable if you want to spin professionally at clubs or for special events. Take your skills to the next level with a quality turntable like this one!
3. Music Hall MMF 5.1SE Turntable
And now we’ll head back to the good ole’ turntable that you can enjoy your records on.
If you like the vintage look but want modern sound quality, the Music Hall MMF 5.1SE is the way to go.
It features a dynamically balanced alloy platter with felt mat and screw-on record clamp, a complete analog playback system, tonearms and cartridge.
This has a two-speed belt drive motor and is ridiculously easy to set up. A great find for under $1000!
