Finding the right turntable for every budget at Needle Doctor
By Dan Kricke
As someone who eyeballed turntables for years before owning one when my fiancé moved in with me, I never had to finally pull the trigger on a purchase myself. But those who can’t do, teach, right? And I am more than happy to direct curious would-be turntable enthusiasts to a variety of excellent options from Needle Doctor.
Whether you’re a could-be DJ who just needs the table, someone looking for vintage options, or someone who wants a little something to plug into the USB-slot of their receiver, Needle Doctor has you covered.
Serious DJs have plenty of options to turn to when it comes to their rigs, but I’m partial to this Stanton turntable myself. For starters, it’s normally $999 and selling for only $599. And while that might seem like a lot, at nearly half off, that’s quite a savings right out of the gate. And the Stanton model’s options are robust. It has isolation feet to eliminate feedback in noisy environments and starts and stops on a dime thanks to a direct-drive motor with twice as much torque as the next table. It also features a reserve switch, can change speeds in under a second, and features three different range settings. And not for nothing, but it won the “Best Turntable” award in the latest T-Scan Awards.
For the music fanatic who wants the best but wants to pay a little less, there’s the Music Hall MMF. It might not seem that much cheaper than the Stanton model above, but it comes with a $100 cartridge, so you’re saving more than you’d initially think. It also features an asynchronous motor built with a stainless steel and bronze bearing assembly that operates silently so you can enjoy your records without feedback or background noise.
Audio-Technica LP120 USB Turntable
As technology marches on, USB-based turntables have become more and more common, and the Audio-Technica LP120 is among the best of the bunch. It’s actually on sale right now down from a list price of $429, and of course comes with a USB output that can connect directly to your computer so you can digitize your vinyl.
Crosley CR6005A Tech Turntable
If you’re buying a turntable, you’re already into vintage sounds. Why not go one step further and get a vintage look for your record player, too? The Crosley CR6005A is built to look retro and it comes in at a tremendous price of $79.95. It can play 33 1/3, 45 and 78 rpm records and even has a built in AM/FM radio to go along with its built-in stereo speakers. It’s an all-in-one set that makes for a great gift for someone who misses their ‘70s style record player.
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