The best vintage turntables have a charm that is often missing from modern turntables. While modern turntables are aesthetically minimalist, which suits some, vintage turntables have a warm aesthetic that pleases the eye.
Also, vintage record players are talking points in a room or match the décor in a home. A new Rega would stand out like a sore thumb in a 1950s house with wooden floors and antique furniture.
Therefore, vintage turntables offer a great alternative to newer turntables. The best vintage turntables are at least as good as modern turntables at the same price. It must be said that true top-tier audiophile turntables are much better than anything made 20 years ago, but vintage turntables are competitive up to around ten thousand dollars.
This article will only discuss the best vintage turntables, so if you’re looking for something more affordable, perhaps check out the Dual section as they provide the best value for money from a vintage turntable perspective. Here’s the good news, though: Whether you’re a handy restorer or want to gradually upgrade a turntable, the best vintage turntables offer excellent and varied upgrade paths that will keep you busy (and wanting more) for years to come.
So without saying goodbye, here you have the Top 8 vintage turntables.
Linn LP 12
The Linn LP 12 is without a doubt the most reputable turntable among audiophiles. The LP 12 is an absolutely gorgeous looking beast, with its wooden exterior providing a warmth characteristic of vintage turntables. Reading reviews of the Linn LP 12 can be a confusing affair, as almost every review has a different setup: a different power supply, arm, or other component that makes little difference. Therein lies the attraction of many to the LP12: the upgrade paths.
The Linn LP12 has numerous mods and parts available, which means you can buy a ‘budget’ LP12 (think about $800 USD) and gradually destroy your bank account over the next few years by upgrading anything and everything. The thing about an LP12, of which there are countless variations since it’s been in production for 30 years, is that it’s a true cult classic and priced accordingly. A base model LP12 won’t cost you an arm and a leg by any means, but you sure do get hit hard for ‘optional extras’ like… a dust cover.
Linn’s sound is characterized by being rhythmic, with excellent adherence to time. She has a laid-back warmth that goes well with her appearance. For sheer musicality, the Linn LP12 is hard to pass up, even when compared to more expensive, state-of-the-art turntables.
Thorens TD-124
The TD-124 and TD-124 Mk II are competitors to the Garrard 301 and 401 in the field of crazy-drive turntables. The TD-124 is perhaps a little more detailed in the treble than the Garrard, and the Garrard has more weight in the bass. The original TD-124, when it was made in 1957, must surely have been a gorgeous turntable for the time, and it’s still highly sought after today among fans of crazy-drive. Like the Garrards, they need to be seated well, as their motors are very powerful to drive their rock-heavy platters and thus create some vibration.
Garrard 301/401
Two similar turntables that deserve to be held under the same banner, the Garrard systems are some of the best vintage turntables when properly supported on a plinth.
Rega P3
Even though Rega turntables are still being made, vintage Rega turntables are some of the best vintage turntables around. Of course, there are better turntables in the Rega line than the P3, but in terms of value for money, the P3 remains the best value for money turntable to this day. At the time of writing, Rega turntables are the best value for money turntables available today.
XA/XB Acoustic Investigation
Early Acoustic Research turntable models were magnificent achievements when they were released in the early 1960s. Sonically, they were ahead of their time thanks to excellent engineering. They look great in an understated way and can still produce a pretty solid performance. Compared to something a little later chronologically, an XA or XB won’t hold up quite as well to a Thorens belt drive (TD-125 and up), but it’ll still give the user a fair amount of listening pleasure. This turntable makes our best vintage turntable list because it’s such a distinctive turntable, but it won’t provide a listening experience anywhere close to the LP12. Also, the tonearm on these turntables is horrible and needs to be replaced.
Techniques SP-10
The suffix after SP doesn’t matter as much – the SP-15 could easily have made the list as well. What the SP-10 represents is pure direct-drive brilliance. When the war between direct drive and belt drive was raging, direct drive fans pointed to the Technics SP and SL series as examples. No one has done as well as Technics with direct drives and the SP-10 is the best of the bunch. In contrast to many turntables on this list, in this author’s opinion the SP-10 is downright ugly. Looks matter, but not as much as sound, which is lucky because the Technics SP-10 is the ugly nerd with the brilliant mind.
Techniques 1200
The Technics 1200 ranks slightly below the SP-10, but it’s still a brilliant turntable that’s consistently underestimated by audiophiles. Perhaps this is because it is so popular as a DJ turntable. The Technics 1200 doesn’t require a lot of setup to be a great hi-fi turntable, and its durability is fantastic. Those of us who aren’t DJs will find the price a bit high these days, especially compared to other contenders on this list. An entry level LP12 costs about the same as a second hand Technics 1200 these days.
sansui sr-838
Japan sure can make direct drive turntables, and the Sansui SR-838 is a good example. Originally made in 1979, the SR-838 has a much more modern look than most of the turntables on this list, and its unique appearance is probably what makes you love or hate this turntable. Unfortunately, this turntable and its cousin the SR-929 are very rarely found on the used market, so getting your hands on one is a difficult task. By the way, some listeners prefer the SR-929, but if you poll enough people, the SR-838 would be the overall winner.
Old turntables sound great, but they have a unique flavor.
If you ask me, the turntables on the best vintage turntables list above have a lot more character than modern turntables. Rega and Pro-ject’s stylish designs look great, but in a different way. I listen to vinyl for its warmth and character, and listening to it on one of the best vintage turntables amplifies that feeling.