Editor's Note

• Original review date: September 2019
• Launch price: $999 / £899 / AU$2499
• Target price: $1,299 / £1,099 / AU$1,895

Update: February 2024. Despite its relative age (although anything released within the past 10 years hardly qualifies as 'old' for a turntable – this is heritage physical music) the Technics SL-1500C is still emphatically one of the best turntables on the market. And it's not even the iconic SL-1210! What it is, is a direct-drive turntable built to listen to music (rather than to DJ with) and in the years since its release it has become a benchmark for quality at the price – a price which has actually risen owing to the proposition's success and desirability. Features? It's got a switchable phono stage so it'll work with your amp plus nice hefty buttons, but ultimately this is a deck for the purist and vinyl archivist. For clarity, in January 2024 Victrola's record turntable with repeat function arrived, but the firm's 2023 Victrola Stream Carbon can also work with your Sonos multi-room wireless setup, so the category has seen some breakthrough vinyl-meets-wireless tech since the Technics landed. Do you need any of that, or is wired analog audio still the star in your house? That's up to you. The rest of this review remains as previously published.

Technics SL-1500C: one-minute review

The first time Technics died, it was a long and unnecessarily drawn-out affair. Parent company Panasonic inexplicably lost patience and faith with the brand around the turn of the century (despite it being one of the few true icons of consumer electronics) - starting its slow demise and leading to fewer and fewer Technics-branded products coming to market. 

By 2010 it was official: Technics was no more. Anyone who’d ever visited a nightclub or danced to a DJ set was a little bit heartbroken.

But, in 2015, Panasonic had a change of heart, and Technics was reborn. And while many enjoyed the reborn audio brand, things weren’t quite the same - the first fruits of the brand’s resurrection were both uncharacteristically expensive and a bit misguided.

...Until now. Meet the budget-friendly Technics SL-1500C that will only set you back £899 / $999 / AU$2499. It's still not the most affordable turntable on the market, but it's first the reborn Technics has so far delivered to really remind listeners of what they loved about the brand in the first place.

Technics SL-1500C Turntable review: design

To most people, the words ‘Technics turntable’ means Technics SL-1210 - but the Technics template was set down long before the company designed The World’s DJ Deck, and it would seem strange were they to mess with the formula now. So, naturally, they haven’t.

That’s not to say the SL-1500C is a facsimile of the SL-1200/SL-1210. It’s not built as a DJ deck, but rather as just a record player, so it doesn’t feature pitch control, target light, stroboscope or the other ‘hands-on’  bits ‘n’ bobs that make the SL-1210 look such a purposeful machine. 

But the SL-1500C has the same hefty aluminium top-plate, the same aluminium-with-complicated-composite chassis and the same overweight, utterly inert and resonance-rejecting aluminium platter. In fact, here the platter’s substantially rubberised to make it even more efficient.

And, of course, the SL-1500C is a direct-drive design. Technics has almost always preferred this technology for its record players (not just its DJ decks), and here it’s using a fearsomely over-engineered motor intended to resistance the restless ‘cogging’ effect that can afflict some direct-drive Technics-wannabee turntables. It’s engaged using the big ‘on/off’ dial and big ‘stop/start’ button familiar from the SL-1210.

Technics SL-1500C Turntable review: Features

Technics has gone to significant lengths to make the SL-1500C as user-friendly and painless as possible. Niceties start with the Ortofon 2M Red cartridge that’s pre-fitted to the detachable headshell - it’s simplicity itself to attach or detach it from the S-shaped tonearm.

It stands on four hefty (the word ‘hefty’ springs to mind a lot when trying to describe the SL-1500C) rubberised feet. They’re pliant and have quite a lot of articulation so, while - you should always put your record player on a sturdy shelf, where it can avoid vibrations - the SL-1500C isn’t as unsettled by less-than-perfect positioning as some price-comparable but less, yes, hefty rivals.

It’s also fitted with a switchable phono stage. Not every stereo amplifier has the necessary oomph to make a record player audible (though every mixer attached to an SL-1210 does), but because the SL-1500C is packing sufficient pre-amplification it’s compatible with any amplifier you care to mention.

There’s even a switchable auto-stop feature. When the needle reaches the run-out groove it can, if you so desire, return to its resting ‘off’ position. Such pandering to the user is not something you’d ever catch an SL-1210 indulging in.

Like Technics turntables of old, the SL-1500C has big ‘33.3’ and ‘45’ rpm speed-selection buttons - and, like Technics turntables of old, pressing them at the same time delivers 78rpm performance. Ideal for the true vinyl archivist. 

Technics SL-1500C Turntable review: Performance

There’s really only one place to start with a Technics record player, and that’s with some thumping dance music. So it’s out with a ‘much-loved’ (for which read ‘slightly knackered’) copy of deadmau5’s single-sided Lack of a Better Name to find out if the SL-1500C is worthy of its illustrious brand name.

The short answer is ‘yes’. The slightly longer answer is ‘yes, all day long’.

Much of what is so prized in the vinyl format - the warmth, detail and texture of its sound, the rhythmic surefootedness, the sense of integration and unity of performance - is here in the SL-1500C, and in good measure. But that’s not what is so initially remarkable about the way this Technics goes about music-making.

Many an otherwise-excellent record player overplays its hand where low frequency information is concerned. The temptation to overstate the luxurious warmth and substance of vinyl-derived bass seems almost impossible to resist - but the SL-1500C is made of sterner stuff. It absolutely snaps into low-end sounds - it doesn’t wallow, it doesn’t drone. Instead, it draws an unarguably straight edge at the start of bass notes and doesn’t let their decay hang around. The result is a sound that has all of the body and momentum vinyl-fanciers delight in, but none of the overhang. The SL-1500C is a snake-hipped listen where too many of its nominal rivals have the bass equivalent of muffin-top.

And above this gloriously well-controlled bottom end, the news continues to be good. One grinding gear-changing from deadmau5 to Ella Fitzgerald’s Dream a Little Dream of Me allows the Technics to showcase its keen eye for the detail and nuance of a vocalist’s delivery. Fitzgerald’s pure tone and impeccable phrasing is served up explicitly by the SL-1500C - her voice is utterly packed with character, and occupies centre-stage in the most natural manner imaginable.

To complete the nap hand of frequency response expertise, the Technics has sufficient bite and attack at the top end to make the fiercer moments of Talk Talk’s Spirit of Eden properly forceful, but there’s never any suggestion things could get splashy or in any way out of control. The same LP highlights the SL-1500C’s confident manner with both high-level ‘quiet/loud/quiet’ dynamics and the low-level harmonic dynamics of Mark Hollis’s piano- and organ-playing.

Sound-staging is impressive, with recordings given plenty of elbow-room for individual instruments to make their presence felt. There’s depth and height to the Technics’ stage, as well as width, but despite all this breathing-room there’s no lack of unity to the sound the SL-1500C delivers. And no matter whether you choose to listen to the cramped, claustrophobic beats of Burial’s Untrue or the wide-open elegance of Brian Eno’s Another Green World, the Technics remains completely authoritative.

Overall, there’s remarkably little to take issue with here. Some alternative turntables (from the likes of Rega and Pro-Ject) will extract even more detail, and manage rhythms and tempos with even more assurance. But they don’t have electronic speed change, or direct drive, or a phono stage, or the build quality to survive a medium-sized detonation.

And they don’t say ‘Technics’ anywhere on the top-plate, either.  

Technics SL-1500C Turntable review: Final verdict

It’s been a bit of turbulent start for the reimagined Technics brand, but with the SL-1500C it seems the company is beginning to find its line and length. This isn’t the most out-and-out accomplished turntable you can buy in purely sonic terms, but it’s not far off - and it’s more robustly made, better specified and has greater cachet than any price-comparable alternative. 

First reviewed: September 2019

• You'll find the SL-1500C on our list of the best turntables

Editor's Note

• Original review date: October 2020
• Launch price: $499 / £499 / AU$879
• Target price: As above

Update: February 2024. The Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo is an update to one of the best turntables available (the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon, which is itself based on the firm's original Debut, launched in 1999) and despite being a fair chunk of money more than its older 2017 sibling, this September 2020 looker is easily still worthy of a spot in our guide. It's devoid of preamp (so you're going to need one) and it's not the deck for your if you want Bluetooth connectivity (look to the Cambridge Audio Alva TT V2) or new-fangled Sonos connectivity (see the Victrola Stream Carbon) but what it does do exceptionally well is play your vinyl records, within a hi-fi system. And that is timeless – because vinyl is going nowhere. The day will likely come when a turntable arrives that can do this specific job marginally better for the same money. But Pro-Ject can rest assured that it still hasn't happened yet. The rest of this review remains as previously published.

Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo: Two-minute review

Pro-Ject introduced its first Debut turntable at the end of the last century, and it’s been refined, upgraded, and become increasingly expensive ever since. This Debut Carbon Evo is the most refined and upgraded model so far – and it’s also the most expensive.

In terms of specification, though, the Pro-Ject goes a long way towards justifying its price. The carbon fibre tonearm is supplied with a very capable Ortofon (or Sumika) cartridge. A new motor design, some damped and adjustable feet, and automatic speed change contribute no end to improved performance and improved ergonomics. And with a choice of nine finishes, including five very attractive new ‘satin’ options, there’s sure to be a Debut Carbon Evo to fit in with your interior decor choices.

Setting up is simple: attach the drive belt, put on the platter, and attach counter- and antiskate weights to that single-piece tonearm. Attach to your wider system with the high-quality phono leads that are included, plug into the mains, and you’re good to go.

And it doesn’t matter the sort of music you like to listen to – the Debut Carbon Evo laps it up. In every circumstance it’s a detailed and revealing listen, able to focus on the minutiae even as it describes the complete picture completely convincingly. 

It has all the warmth and weight the vinyl format is famous for, but it’s not musclebound and it doesn’t get bogged down – instead it simply motors along in the most natural way imaginable. There’s a sort of instinctive correctness to the way the Pro-Ject makes music that goes a long way to explaining why vinyl has endured as a format all these many decades.

It’s not the last word in absolute precision, and there are other similarly priced turntables that offer a little more bite and aggression. But if you value a smooth, informative ride from a beautifully engineered and nice-looking record player, don’t spend any money until you’ve heard the Debut Carbon Evo. 

Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo: Price and release date

• Available now
• $499 / £499 / AU$879

The Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo is on sale now, and priced at $499 / £449 / AU$879.  That makes it far less of an entry-level proposition than 1999’s original Debut – but then Pro-Ject has covered off the entry level with its Elemental and Primary models, while the Debut Carbon Evo is a much better specified device than the original Debut could dream of being.

At this price, the Pro-Ject goes up against some very capable and very well-regarded alternatives. The likes of Rega (with its Planar 2) and Thorens (and its TD190-2) are ready to turn your head – but Pro-Ject’s reputation is the equal of that of any competitor, and the company is always an option at this sort of money.

Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo: Design

• Carbon fibre tonearm
• Ortofon 2M Red cartridge
• Choice of nine (!) finishes

Nobody in their right mind messes with the design of a turntable, do they? Ever since the record player did away with the need for a trumpet horn, they’ve all looked the same (apart from those self-consciously ‘wacky’ designs that are odd for the sake of it). A record player is a rectangle with a circle on it – and, if you’re feeling adventurous, a plastic dust-cover on the top.

And that’s how it is with the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo. At a glance, it looks just like every other record player – certainly it looks enough like the original Debut Carbon from 2017 to make you wonder why the price has risen from the original’s $400 / £349 / AU$550. But like pretty much every record player, a lot of your money goes on the stuff you can’t see: the bearing, the motor, the damping and all the other necessities.    

The Debut Carbon Evo has – ahem – evolved from the original Debut Carbon in a number of places. The new model features the same height-adjustable damped feet fitted to Pro-Ject’s $899 / £749 / AU$1190 X1 turntable, and a new motor design with some hefty decoupling incorporated – the motor’s now barely in contact with the main body of the turntable. 

Its steel platter is now heavier, thanks to a thermoplastic ring on its inside edge – it’s a technique to reduce operation noise and was popularized by, among others, Technics. And there’s now a suggestion of convenience in the shape of a speed-change switch at the bottom of the plinth – previously you’d have to take off the platter and move the drive belt to change speeds, but now 33.3rpm can become 45rpm (or vice-versa) at a press. Of course, if you’re the hands-on type (and you own some properly elderly records) you can change the drive belt itself in order to play at 78rpm. Both belts are included in the package.

The one-piece tonearm is made of carbon fibre, and comes fitted with a very capable Ortofon 2M Red cartridge (except in America, where it features a Sumiko Ranier cartridge instead. Quite why the United States requires a different option is anyone’s guess). All that’s required is for the belt, platter counterweight and antiskating weight to be attached and the Debut Carbon Evo is ready to go.

Mind you, before you get to that point you’ll need to choose between the Pro-Ject’s numerous finishes. As well as the wood veneer and glossy white, red or black of the previous model, the Debut Carbon Evo is also available in five satin finishes: black, white, yellow, blue or green. 

Our review sample is in Fir Green, and very nice it looks too. The finish is flawlessly smooth, and as reassuring as the build quality.    

• How to set up a turntable

Audio performance

Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo: Audio performance

• Full-scale, nicely unified sound
• Detailed and revealing
• Warmth and weight to spare
  

Despite the only branding on the entire product being a discreet ‘Pro-Ject’ logo on the dust-cover, anyone who’s familiar with the Pro-Ject family sound will have no trouble picking out the Debut Carbon Evo as a bit more of the same. And that’s meant almost entirely positively.

The Debut Carbon Evo is a luxuriously full-bodied listen, but that’s not to say it’s in any way languid. It has plenty of the warmth and richness that’s so often held up as an unarguable vinyl virtue, but it doesn’t wallow or slur. It’s easy to listen to, but it’s not uninvolving.

And it’s nigh-on impossible to wrong-foot. From A Tribe Called Quest’s I Left My Wallet In El Segundo to Father John Misty’s Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings, from Leonard Bernstein’s Gee, Officer Krupke to Nina Simone’s Pirate Jenny, the Pro-Ject sounds both right at home and thoroughly engaged. 

Like any worthwhile turntable, it’s very adept and tying everything together. There’s a tangible sense of performance from the Evo, even when it’s playing cut’n’paste collages from the likes of A Tribe Called Quest. The unity of a recording, the way the midrange rides on the low-frequency underpinnings, and the way the treble balances securely on the top, allows every record to sound coherent and convincing. Even with the most processed, machine-derived recordings, this Pro-Ject glides along with the sort of casual authority of sound that can only come from a well-sorted record player.

There’s heat in the low frequencies, certainly, but they’re not overcooked and it’s certainly not at the expense of detail or texture. There’s a similarly lavish amount of detail retrieved in the midrange – it reveals so much about the glee and malevolence Nina Simone imbues her performance with it’s almost hair-raising – and while the top end is rolled off just fractionally, it’s far from a blunt instrument.

The Pro-Ject handles tempos and rhythms with equal assurance. Oh, you’ll get a straighter edge and a more martial approach from a similarly priced Rega turntable, but the Evo counters (and strongly) with its unfussy nature and the almost ostentatious amount of detail it digs out.

It’s not lacking anything where dynamics, both great and small, are concerned either. The sparer and more low-key a recording, the more the Pro-Ject reveals about the harmonic details – and the more full-on and instrument-heavy a recording, the more the Pro-Ject enjoys giving every element full expression.  

Should I buy the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo?

Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo: Should you buy it?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

First reviewed: October 2020 

• Looking for more? Check out the best turntables you can buy today

Editor's Note

• Original review date: May 2019
• Launch price: $149 / £179 / AU$299
• Target price: As above

Update: February 2024. If you're looking for one of the best turntables in the budget arena, you've found it. Yes, it's a few years old, but what of it? This is vinyl, and if it's new tech you seek, this spinner also offers Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX transmission – so you can send your LP music to your wireless headphones simply by putting them into pairing mode and pressing the button on the corner of the Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT's plinth, so deck finds them and hooks up! The newer Lenco LS-410 has a Bluetooth speaker in its base, but that's a different perk entirely, because it means it'll accept and play the Spotify playlists stored on your phone (in addition to the vinyl spinning above it), but you cannot send that which is playing to headphones or other wireless speakers in your home, wirelessly. The also-newer Victrola Stream Carbon will work with your Sonos system, if you've got one, but at this price it would be churlish to ask much more of this plucky little AT deck. In the sound-per-pound stakes, it scores highly indeed… The rest of this review remains as previously published.

Audio-Technica boasts a long legacy of creating consumer turntables, but its latest models are looking to the future with the inclusion of wireless Bluetooth connectivity for cable-free listening.

The AT-LP60XBT, which “combines high-quality record playback with the convenience of wireless operation” according to the company, is a great example of how turntables are being refreshed for the age of wireless audio. 

So, is the AT-LP60XBT as convenient to use as Audio-Technica says? We put the wallet-friendly automatic turntable to the test.

• Need some speakers to go with your new turntable? Check out the best stereo speakers

Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT review: Price and availability

The AT-LP60XBT is available to buy for $149 / £179 / AU$299, much cheaper than many of the best turntables, which tend to range in price between $200 and $1000.

It’s not the first time Audio-Technica has released such a budget-friendly deck; one of our favorite turntables is the AT-LP60, which originally retailed for $99 / £140 (around AU$140). 

Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT review: Design

Overall, the design of he AT-LP60XBT is both pleasing and functional with a matte black plinth and space-saving sleek build. 

It’s also incredibly light, coming in at just 2.6kg, thanks to its extensive use of thin plastic. The downside to that is while its neat dimensions and lightness could be an attractive feature for those who are short on space, the AT-LP60XBT does feel slightly fragile. 

That insubstantial feeling is also present in the dust cover, which is also made from clear plastic, and the turntable’s fragile-feeling tonearm; while testing the AT-LP60XBT we found ourselves worrying that it would break. 

That’s not to say that the AT-LP60XBT is badly designed – all its components work very well – but the materials used here aren't as luxurious as you'd find elsewhere. 

Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT review: Features and performance

Setting up the AT-LP60XBT is fairly straightforward, but it does require some assembly before you can start spinning your records. 

Firstly, you’ll need to place the platter (the part that turns the record) onto the spindle (the bit that sticks through the hole in the middle of your vinyl). Once you’ve done this, you can attach the belt to the motor pulley, and place the felt mat onto the platter. 

Audio-Technica recommends that you then “rotate the platter 10 times” using your hands to reset the auto mechanism, get rid of any twists in the belt and make sure the belt “rides smoothly along the drive rim on the underside of the platter”.

You do get an instruction manual in the box, with helpful illustrations to guide you through this process, but if you’re unsure, you can also check out our guide on how to set up a turntable. 

Once you’ve assembled the turntable, you can plug in the AC adapter, and you’re ready to go – pressing the start button will spin the platter and lift and lower the tonearm automatically, which is handy for beginners who are worried about breaking the delicate stylus or their precious records. You can maneuver the tonearm manually as well, if you wish.

It can be used with a wired connection to your speakers or headphones, or wirelessly via Bluetooth. With a built-in phono equalizer function, Audio-Technica says that you can use the AT-LP60XBT without a “phono amplifier or connectable equipment with a built-in phono amplifier”. You can also use it with your own external phono amplifier if you prefer.

We tested the AT-LP60XBT using wireless headphones connected via Bluetooth, and we found the pairing process to be totally seamless – you just need to put your Bluetooth headphones or speakers into pairing mode, and then hold down the Bluetooth button on the bottom left corner of the turntable’s plinth. 

When it's in pairing mode, an LED light will rapidly flash blue and red, before settling on blue to indicate a successful connection. 

We didn’t experience any connection dropouts while using this feature, and we loved the fact that we could combine the grainy analogue warmth of a vinyl with the modern convenience of wireless headphones. 

While the calling card of the AT-LP60XBT is its support for wireless playback, you can of course connect your speaker setup with a wired connection, which audiophiles may prefer for a higher level of audio quality. 

Saying that, as the turntable supports Bluetooth 5.0 aptX connectivity, the sound quality is still pretty impressive over a wireless connection. 

To test the AT-LP60XBT, we played Sufjan Stevens’ Carrie and Lowell album – and it flowed beautifully, with interweaving guitar arpeggios sweetly accenting Stevens’ harmonized vocal melodies. 

The soundstage is generally very warm, which isn’t unusual for vinyl; however, if you prefer your music to have a little more attack in the treble frequencies, you may find yourself craving a bit more crispness – it’s all a matter of taste. 

Audio-Technica is known for producing high quality cartridges, and the one used on this turntable is no exception; the ATN3600L conical stylus fits perfectly into the grooves of the record and reveals details in songs you may have never noticed before – in short, it makes your music an absolute joy to listen to. 

Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT review: Final verdict

With a budget-friendly price, easy assembly, and the convenience of wireless playback, the AT-LP60XBT could make a fantastic first turntable for any fledgling vinyl enthusiast. 

While the plinth does feel somewhat insubstantial, and the sound might not be detailed enough for some, it's brilliant price more than makes up for that – and the inclusion of Bluetooth connectivity makes the AT-LP6XBT feel like very good value for money. 

Hardcore audiophiles may prefer the sound and look of Hi-Fi turntables like the $1700 / £1500 (around AU$2750)  Cambridge Audio Alva TT, but if you’re looking for something super simple and not too pricey, the AT-LP60XBT might be your best bet. 

First reviewed: May 2019

• Read our round up of the best turntables for every budget

Editor's Note

• Original review date: February 2018
• Launch price: $249.99 / £249 / AU$310
• Target price: $250 / £250 / AU$310

Update: February 2024. The Fluance RT81 arrived in May 2016, alongside a slightly cheaper (by $49, owing to the cabinet material and pre-mounted stylus choice) RT80, but it's the marginally pricier RT81 that's stood the test of time. This is vinyl, so anything under 10 years old is still a young buck, but it's worth noting that in summer of 2023 the Canadian company updated the RT81 with a similarly affordable Fluance RT81+ model, which also comes with the built-in preamp and in a stunning walnut finish. We've not yet had the pleasure of testing the tweaked aluminium platter and newer Audio-Technica stylus, (watch this space on that) but for now, know that the original RT81 is still a very relevant starter turntable – and one of the best turntables around. Any deals since its sibling arrived? No. In fact, apart from an all-white model released in 2019 to celebrate Fluance's 20th birthday (which came bundled with a set of speakers and was a corker of a deal at the time), this deck just keeps running off shelves at full price. But that's no bad thing, because frankly it's always been a steal… The rest of this review remains as previously published.

Fluance RT81 turntable: One-minute review

Getting your first turntable can be stressful, especially since there are so many options on the market. You can get a cheap record player that sounds just average and doesn’t have any adjustability but you risk damaging your expensive record collection in the long run. Or, conversely, you could opt for an entry-level audiophile turntable but doing so may mean missing out on convenient features like auto start/stop. 

In between the ultra-low end and entry-level audiophile turntables sits the Fluance RT81. This turntable manages to blend easy setup, sound quality, headroom to grow and features. And now that you can get the Fluance RT81for $250 (£250, about AU$310), it makes the perfect first turntable for most people. 

Fluance RT81 turntable: Design

The design of the Fluance RT81 is classic and understated. The plinth is made of MDF but is finished in a high-gloss walnut finish that gleams. The use of walnut gives the RT81 a retro look and feel while still being modern. 

The turntable is belt driven but you don’t have to reposition it every time you need to change speeds like with the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon. Instead, there’s a metal knob that you can flick to either 33 ⅓ or 45 RPM. That’s a great feature that makes playing records more convenient. 

Adding to the convenience is the RT81’s automatic start and stop feature. With the turntable on, simply moving the tonearm from its resting position will start the platter. Return it to the resting position after a record is done playing and the platter stops. This is great for changing records without having to turn the turntable off. The Fluance RT81 will also automatically stop the platter once it detects the end of a record, though the tonearm doesn’t return itself to resting position like the Denon DP-300F. 

Speaking of the tonearm, it’s made entirely of plastic and its bearings aren’t silky smooth as higher-end turntables. This means the Fluance RT81 is only average when it comes to tracking. The tonearm lets users adjust the tracking force and anti-skate, but there’s no way to adjust vertical tracking angle like with the Audio Technica AT-LP120-USB.

The platter is made of aluminum and topped with a rubberized mat, which is prone to attracting static, which is annoying. It’s not a deal breaker though, as you can pick up a Zero Stat anti-static gun to get rid of static from time to time. 

Around the back of the turntable you’ll find RCA outputs along with a grounding post. There’s also a power port for the tiny wall-wart power supply included. There are also a couple of switches; one toggles on the start/stop feature and the other toggles the built-in phono preamp. This means you don’t need to buy a preamp to start playing records, but you have the option to add nicer sounding phono preamp down the line. 

Fluance RT81 turntable: Performance

In terms of sound quality, the Fluance RT81 is quite good. There’s a nice amount of detail and the plastic tonearm does a reasonably good job of tracking records. The included Audio Technica AT95E won’t blow audiophiles away but it’s a great beginner cartridge that has a replaceable needle that is very affordable. Since the RT81 takes standard headshells, you can swap cartridges easily if you want to experiment, which is a nice touch. 

The built-in phono preamp actually sounds quite good, and you’ll have to spend the cost of the turntable for a phono preamp that sounds better. We tried hooking the RT81 up to our Musical Fidelity V-LPS and the sound quality was close with a slight edge to the V-LPS for its better soundstage, dynamic range and slightly lower noise-floor. 

We were impressed by the Fluance RT81’s good isolation from footfalls and other vibrations. Although the turntable platter is relatively light, the RT81 does a good job of cancelling out external vibrations from speakers, which is nice if you have your turntable and speakers on the same platform. 

While most people will find the sound of the Fluance RT81 to be quite good, audiophiles will nitpick about the detail retrieval, dynamic range and slightly inconsistent speed. What we mean is that the Fluance sounds like it's hunting and pecking to keep a perfect speed, which is especially noticeable in classical music where a single note is sustained for extended periods.

Fluance RT81 turntable: Verdict

All that said, the Fluance RT81 is an incredible value and is the perfect record player for vinyl newbies. It sounds good, looks great, and has convenient features that’ll keep you playing records instead of fiddling with settings. For more advanced listeners, the RT81 is still a great choice as it gives users the ability to upgrade to a better cartridge and phono preamp in the future. 

In terms of competition, the Audio Technica AT-LP120-USB has more features like USB recording but is more complicated to set up and doesn’t include auto start/stop. The Denon DP-300F is a great alternative to the Fluance and is even more convenient with push button start/stop, but the RT81 sounds better. 

If you’re an audiophile looking for something that’ll scale up with high-end gear down the line, there's always the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon ... but you’ll have to shell out $400 (£349, AU$550). If you just want a turntable that just works, looks good, and can be upgraded later, the Fluance RT81 is the turntable for you.

First reviewed: February 2018

Editor's Note

• Original review date: October 2017
• Launch price: $1,500 / £1,400 / AU$3,000
• Target price: $1,799 / £1,799 / AU$3,090

Update: February 2024. Of all the turntables launched in 2015, not only is the Marantz TT-15S1 top of the heap, it's also aged like a fine wine against the competition – and as you'll see, its price is only on the increase because of that. What you need to know is this: the TT-15S1 is still one of the best turntables on the market and in the world of spinning plates, it is still a relative youngster. From its thick acrylic platter to the detailed setup instructions, if you can afford it, it's emphatically still money well spent. You won't get the Lenco LS-410's Bluetooth speakers squirrelled away in the base, but this is higher-end hi-fi. Here, separates is the way to go. The rest of this review remains as previously published.

Marantz TT-15S1 Turntable: one-minute review

The recipe for the best turntable seems simple. You need a rigid chassis that dampens vibration, a motor that keeps good time and a needle that can track record groves well. While the basic formula is the same for all turntables, the devil is in the detail. 

While most record collectors will be satisfied with the excellent sounding Audio Technica AT-LP120-USB or the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon, there are better turntables for those who truly value audio fidelity. 

One such turntable is the Marantz TT-15S1. Yes, it’s over three times the price of the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon, costing $1,500 (£1,400, AU$3,000) but it sounds monumentally better to the trained ear. While the Pro-Ject was merely good at retrieving detail, the Marantz wows by digging into the grooves and extracting detail you never noticed before. It’s also a work of art.

It seems almost absurd to call the Marantz TT-15S1 a bargain, but that’s exactly what it is. Here’s why.

Marantz TT-15S1 Turntable: Design and features

The Marantz TT-15S1 is stunning to look at. Its plinth is made out of a single piece of frosted acrylic with three beefy feet to dampen vibration from speakers and footsteps. This acrylic plinth has two cutouts for the tonearm and the motor. 

Speaking of, the tonearm itself is a work of art and comes out of the box wired and ready to go. You simply have to drop it in the hole, line it up and tighten a single set screw. If you’re using the included turntable mat, you’ll need to use the felt spacer included to space the tonearm up so that the vertical tracking angle is appropriate. 

The motor itself is completely detached from the plinth to control vibration. It seems odd at first but it actually works very well. The motor simply sits by itself and is connected to the frosted acrylic platter via a clear rubber belt. 

Speed changes are done manually by putting the belt on the appropriate pulley (33 ⅓ RPM on the smaller pulley at the bottom and 45 RPM on the bigger, upper pulley). This isn’t a big deal as the belt change takes a few seconds. However, there’s no ability to play 78 RPM records, which is a shame.

The platter, similarly, is thick and heavy, and sits on a suspended spindle. 

Combine all of these elements together and the Marantz TT-15S1 has an incredibly dark background when playing records: There’s no hum from the motor, no audible vibration from the platter or plinth. All you hear is what’s on the record and nothing else. 

Marantz includes a simple felt slipmat in the box and a Souther Clever Clamp in the box to help stabilize records. You have the option of using the included flt mat or putting records directly on the acrylic platter. We recommend using the included mat as it sounds much better. The Souther Clever Clamp may work for stabilizing terribly warped records but it doesn’t make much of a sonic difference on normal records. 

While the included slipmat and clamp are perfectly acceptable, upgrades like a proper record weight and mat like the Herbie’s Audio Lab Way Excellent II make the Marantz sound even better. 

Marantz TT-15S1 Turntable: Setup

Setting up a new player is nerve racking as it requires assembly, however setup here is actually quite simple as Marantz includes a very well written set of instructions with pictures to guide you through the process. 

The included Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood cartridge was designed to work with the Marantz’s tonearm and simply needs to be seated as far forward as possible.  

You’ll likely need to tweak the turntable a bit after set up to make sure you’ve really dialed in the geometry so be patient. It’s a shame Marantz doesn’t throw in a basic cartridge alignment tool in the box, but you can pick one up for cheap. 

Thankfully, since the Clearaudio cartridge was chosen for this turntable, it sounds great out of the box when dialed to Marantz’s instructions.

One thing to note is that he vertical tracking force isn’t easily determined by simply balancing the tonearm and adjusting the weight to the appropriate setting. We highly recommend picking up a vertical tracking force gauge like the Shure SFG-2 to properly set the weight.  

Marantz TT-15S1 Turntable: Performance

For the amount of money the Marantz TT-15S1 costs, it had better sound excellent. Thankfully, it does. 

The first time we dropped the Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood on a record, our jaws dropped as the turntable provided such dark backgrounds and dynamic range that we spent the first night rediscovering our record collection. 

All the work that Marantz and Clearaudio (the TT-15S1 is built by Clearaudio to Marantz’s specifications) put into damping and isolation paid off. The TT-15S1 provides silent backgrounds, which lets the music stand out more. Violin strings reverberate with authority and there’s an excellent sense of space.

It’s this sense of space that separates the Marantz from entry-level hi-fi turntables like the Proj-ect Debut Carbon. The cheaper turntables just can’t match the sense of space or the inky dark background of higher end turntables like the Marantz. 

The Marantz TT-15S1 paired with the Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood provides an exceptionally neutral presentation. This means bass lovers will be disappointed by the lack of bass emphasis of this turntable. Bass is deep and textured but lacks the impact that some listeners may desire. If your audio system is a bit on the warm side, the TT-15S1 would be a complement to bring it back to neutral. However, if your system is already bright, the TT-15S1 may exacerbate the highs. 

Mids are excellent and female vocals like Norah Jones and Sia sound incredible with tons of texture and timbre. To many, the neutral presentation of the Marantz may sound a bit boring and at times too detailed. The TT-15S1 is unforgiving in the way it digs details. If a record was poorly mastered, you’re going to hear it. But for properly mastered records, the TT-15S1 is hypnotic.

Marantz TT-15S1 Turntable: Final verdict

The Marantz TT-15S1 costs a lot of money but considering its design and audio fidelity, it’s a steal. To put it in perspective, the included Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood cartridge costs $1,000 when purchased separately. 

The turntable is not perfect, however. Setup requires a few additional tools to really dial in and it’s annoying that no dust cover is included. The included slipmat and record clamp are merely OK but the turntable deserves better. We also want to caution treble-sensitive listeners and bass lovers to look elsewhere as the TT-15S1 is uncompromisingly neutral.

But all of these cons are simply minor annoyances. Taken as a whole, the Marantz offers budding audiophiles the chance to chase higher fidelity without having to buy a turntable that costs as much as a car. 

For audiophiles who are ready to graduate from entry-level hi-fi turntables, the Marantz TT-15S1 should be on your short list. 

First reviewed: October 2017 

Editor's Note

• Original review date: October 2017
• Launch price: $400 / £349 / AU$550
• Target price: $499 / £399 / AUS600

Update: February 2024. OK, Pro-Ject's naming strategy can be a little confusing, so do note that there's now an also-five-star 2020 Debut Carbon Evo model and a 2021 Debut Pro to consider. In addition, certain Debut Carbon models (such as the Esprit) now support Sonos streaming too, to rival the 2023 Victrola Stream Carbon (we did warn you it's confusing). For us though, the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon edges it across the board, hence its continued inclusion as one of the best turntables on the market right now. And owing to both inflation and its continued relevance, that 'target price' is actually a little higher than its asking fee at launch – progress, eh? That said, it's still a stone cold bargain in the sound-per-pound stakes. The rest of this review remains as previously published.

Pro-Ject Debut Carbon: Two-minute review

If you’re wondering what’s the difference between a cheap, inexpensive turntable and ones exalted by audiophiles, it comes down to design, damping, materials and the phono cartridge. A $99 turntable will play records just fine (probably), but you’ll want to spend more if sound quality is your goal. 

$400 (£349, AU$550) may sound like a lot to spend on a turntable, but entry-level hi-fi turntables like the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon are actually a bargain when seeking out the best turntables.

In the case of the Debut Carbon, the turntable comes with the excellent Ortofon 2M Red phono cartridge as well as a lightweight and rigid carbon fiber tonearm – parts that separate the Pro-Ject from its competitors and the benefits pay off in sonic performance. 

Said simply, if you’re serious about record collecting, the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon is one of the best entry-level hi-fi turntables you can buy. For the money, you’re getting a beautiful, well-built turntable that sounds excellent. It’s easy to setup and use, even for absolute beginners. 

Pro-Ject Debut Carbon: Design

Our Pro-ject Debut Carbon came in piano black but Pro-ject offers a few variants of the Debut Carbon in white, gray, yellow, red, green, blue and purple. It’s nice to see a legit turntable manufacturer offer colors that aren’t black or silver to show off your personality. 

The turntable platter is made out of medium density fiberboard (MDF), which offers good damping for noise isolation from footsteps and vibrations from speakers. The turntable rests on non-adjustable rubberized feet that also aid in damping the turntable from vibration.

Take a look at the motor and you’ll find that it’s decoupled from the turntable via a rubber suspension system. This design ensures that the vibration of the motor doesn’t transfer through the platter, your record and to the needle. 

Speaking of the platter, it’s heavy made of metal, topped with a thin, felt mat. The platter is shockingly heavy but that’s a good thing as it is one more way Pro-Ject fights noise and vibration. The only downside is that you’ll have to pick up the heavy platter every time you need to switch from 33 ⅓ and 45 rpm. Switching speeds requires moving the belt between the upper and lower pulley, which is an annoyance but not a deal breaker. 

The defining feature that separates the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon from the competition is its single-piece carbon fiber tonearm. Beyond simply looking good, carbon fiber helps fight resonance with its stiff construction and natural damping abilities. It’s also lightweight and helps with tracking records smoothly. 

Lastly, the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon comes with a clear acrylic dust cover. It’s attached to the turntable via two metal rods and doesn’t affect the sound quality of the turntable, though you will hear the thud of the cover when you close it when a record is playing, but that’s normal. 

Pro-Ject Debut Carbon: Setup

There's nothing worse than buying a new record player and having no clue where to start. Thankfully, setting up the Debut Carbon is simple, even for beginners just getting into the hobby. This is due in no small part to the included manual which simply and clearly explains where everything goes. 

The most difficult part of the setup was balancing the tonearm, which simply requires you to make sure the tonearm is level before setting the tracking force. 

Setting anti-skate is a bit different with the Pro-Ject, as it uses a small weight on fishing line to fight the needle’s natural movement to go toward the center of the record while it plays. It’s not as easy to use as a dial but you won’t be fiddling with your anti-skate much unless you’re constantly switching phono cartridges. 

Around the back of the turntable, you’ll find RCA outputs and a ground peg, which means it’s super simple to replace worn cables in the future. Pro-Ject includes a beautiful cable in the box for you to connect to your phono preamp. Note that the Debut Carbon doesn’t include a phono preamp so you’ll have to pick one up on your own. 

There’s no need to align the cartridge as the included Ortofon 2M Red comes mounted to the tonearm out of the box. This is great for beginners as aligning a phono cartridge can be the most difficult part of setting up a turntable. 

If you do decide to switch cartridges sometime down the road, however, Pro-Ject includes a simple protractor in the box. 

Pro-Ject Debut Carbon: Performance

If you’re spending $400/£349 on a turntable, it had better sound good and we’re happy to report that the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon sounds spectacular. 

Every little attention to detail for damping has paid off as the Pro-Ject doesn’t pick up any noise from the motor and does an amicable job of neutralizing footsteps. However, you’ll want to make sure you place the turntable on a solid surface or buy an isolation rack to completely eliminate the sound of footsteps.

The included Ortofon 2M Red does a good job of pulling detail out of records. It tracks nicely and has good dynamic range. Whereas cheaper turntables like the Denon DP-300F make cymbals sound splashy and harsh, the 2M Red makes them sound smoother and more life-like. While you won’t get the micro-details and expansive air that more expensive phono cartridges are capable of, the 2M Red is a perfectly good starting point on your audio journey. 

In terms of tonal balance, the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon and Ortofon 2M Red combination sounds neutral with crystalline highs and velvety mid-range. Bass is adequate but may disappoint audiophiles who prefer a slightly warm tilt. 

We talked a lot about Pro-Ject’s attention to detail when to comes to damping and it pays off in sonic performance. The turntable is extremely quiet, which lets you hear more of the record itself instead of the hum of a motor or the subtle vibration of an a poorly damped turntable. 

The carbon tonearm definitely helps cut down resonance, allowing you to hear more of the record and less of the equipment that it’s playing on. 

Pro-Ject Debut Carbon: Verdict

The Pro-Ject Debut Carbon is well built, beautifully designed and just sounds awesome. It’s not the most resolving turntable but you wouldn’t expect it to be at this price range. When looking at the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon as a package, it’s hard to think of another turntable in this price range that can top it. 

While it's still incredibly easy to use (especially for anyone used to setting up more complicated players), you are giving up conveniences like auto start/stop, an anti-skate dial and a built-in phono preamp but for audiophiles, none of these downsides matter as the turntable’s sonic performance vastly outweighs its minor trade offs. 

For those who want a set-it-and-forget-it experience, check out the Denon DP-300F. It doesn’t sound nearly as good, but it’s the simplest way to start listening to records with its automatic tonearm and built-in preamp. 

While it's not the cheapest record player on the shelf, the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon is still an incredible value. We can’t recommend this turntable enough. 

First reviewed: October 2017