The best record players of 2025 are here, and they are going to knock your socks off!
Every year we do a roundup of all our favorite turntables, and we break them down to let you know which ones are the best.
If you want the absolute best, the cream of the crop, the upper echelon, then fear not. Darkside Vinyl is here to deliver. Let’s jump in.
Our Choice for the Best Record Player of 2025
Rega RP6
Our Rating: 5
5/5
The Good
- Awesome Tonearm
- Available Cartridge Upgrade
- Elite Sound
The Bad
- Expensive
- Limited Availability
- No Bonus Features
The Bottom Line
It’s no secret that our staff at Darkside Vinyl love everything Rega produces. They simply put out a superior product.
This record player is simple, sleek, and sexy. With its finely tuned components, perfectly balanced RB303 tonearm, and included Exact 2 cartridge, the Rega RP6 is an audiophile’s dream. That’s why it’s our choice for the best record player of 2025
Want to skip our list? Here are all the record players that made our list of the best record players of 2025.
Overall Best Record Player of 2025 | Rega RP6
Best Record Player for Under 100 Dollars in 2025 | Audio-Technica ATLP60
Best Record Player for Under 200 Dollars in 2025 | Fluance RT80
Best Record Player for Under 500 Dollars in 2025 | U-Turn Audio – Orbit Special Turntable
Best Record Player for Under 1000 Dollars in 2025 | Rega Planar 1 Plus
Best Record Player for DJ’s in 2025 | Denon DJ VL12 PRIME
Pro-Ject The Classic SB Superpack
Rega RP8
Music Hall MMF-7.1 Turntable with Ortofon Mojo Cartridge
Pro-Ject 1Xpression Carbon
Best Record Players of 2025 | Some Quick Background
What Makes a Record Player the Best Record Player of 2025?
The best record player of 2025 has a few mandated requirements
Elite Sound Quality
Duh! The best record player has to have elite sound quality. Every entry on this list has good enough sound quality to satisfy even the pickiest audiophile. Get your non prescription glasses and antique tobacco pipes ready, because it’s about to get real hipster in here.
Versatility
The best record player of 2025 has to be able to easily fit into any HIFI setup. Most players are plug and play now, but you want to be sure it will mesh with your receiver, speakers, etc.
Simplicity
Dials look cool, and record players covered in levers and dials are tempting. But, most of the time, that stuff just overcomplicates everything and ruins the experience. For the price of these turntables, we want the closest thing to plug and go as possible.
Easy Calibration
Even the best turntables need a bit of calibration to get the best sound quality possible. Access to different components allows for easier tweaks, and lets you kick back and listen sooner.
Why Do I Need the Best Record Player of 2025?
Do you absolutely need to have the best record player of 2025? Of course not. You need food and water. Get those first.
When your basic needs are met, the best turntables are going to offer sound quality that is magnitudes better than the cheaper alternatives. If you want to see the best turntable under 100 dollars, then go for it. But here, sound is king, and these turntables offer the best there is.
What You Need to Look For
When you’re looking for the best record player of 2025, there’s a few things you should be looking for.
Build Quality
You want something with precision built components, a good cartridge and stylus, and a well-balanced tonearm. Also, a platter that doesn’t wobble and solid feet under the table make a world of difference. Basically, you want things that are supposed to move to move smoothly, and things that aren’t supposed to move to be rock-solid.
Price
Price isn’t going to be a huge ranking factor in our list, because we didn’t want to take price into account for this list. This is the best record player of 2025, not the best record player for “X” amount of dollars.
However, you live in the real world, and you probably don’t want your spouse to leave. So set a budget and act accordingly.
Also, don’t feel bad about spending money on something you love. Life is short.
Brand
In the vinyl world, brand is everything. How do you know by looking at a product description if something is well built? Well, brand has a lot to do with it.
Don’t get me wrong here, I don’t believe in brand loyalty at all. This is about brand trust. We know that Rega, Marantz, and Pro-Ject build amazing turntables, and that’s worth a lot.
Top 10 Best Record Players of 2025 | Here’s Our List
You’ve persevered through all the background and schlocky wit, and now you’ve reached the promised land. Here’s our list of the best record players of 2025.
Overall Best Record Player of 2025
Rega RP6
Our Rating: 5
5/5
The Good
- Top Brand
- High-Quality Components
- Included Cartridge and Dust Cover
The Bad
- Sensitive to Setup
- Limited Features
The Bottom Line
As I said above, the Rega RP6 is our choice for the best record player of 2025 due to it’s amazing sound and build quality.
Yes, this record player doesn’t have all the bells and whistles, and you need to fine tune the system for the best results. But it is built so well none of that matters.
This record player comes with a great cartridge and the amazing RB303 tonearm. Consistent playback and superior build quality help guarantee you’ll notice a huge improvement over your current system.
Everything we’ve mentioned is why the Rega RP6 is our choice for the best record player of 2025.
Best Record Player for Under 100 Dollars in 2025
Audio-Technica AT-LP60
Our Rating: 4.2
4.2/5
The Good
- Compact Design
- Simple Operation
- Value for Budget
The Bad
- Cheap Components
- Mediocre Sound Quality
- Weak Bluetooth Connections
The Bottom Line
So you’re on a budget. Like, a tight budget. Does that mean listening to vinyl isn’t for you? No! But you’re going to get something lackluster.
If we were to rate the Audio-Technica ATLP60 on the same standard as the rest of the turntables on this list, it would be around a two. It’s rated higher because it is what it is.
This record player won’t make you feel like you’re in the studio. It’s going to sound okay and it will work. It provides a lot of value for under 100 dollars. That’s hard to find these days.
Best Record Player for Under 200 Dollars in 2025
Fluance RT80
Our Rating: 4.4
4.4/5
The Good
- Sexy Design
- Solid Construction
- Analog Experience
The Bad
- Sensitive Playback
- Sound is Ok
- Difficult to Adjust
The Bottom Line
The Fluance RT80 is a gorgeous turntable for beginner vinyl enthusiasts. It sounds fine, looks great, and offers the analog experience that brings many to vinyl in the first place.
It’s not a turntable you’ll want to build your HIFI system around, but it is a great option for the price point.
Best Record Player for Under 500 Dollars in 2025
U-Turn Audio – Orbit Special Turntable
Our Rating: 5
5/5
The Good
- Optional Built in Preamp
- Elite Sound Quality
- Multiple Sleek Finishes
The Bad
- 3 Foot Power Cord
- Flimsy Lid
- Awkward Tonearm
The Bottom Line
At the 500 dollar mark, you should start to see some top tier quality. And that’s exactly what you’ll get with the U-Turn Audio – Orbit Special Turntable.
This turntable looks great and sounds even better. It is sleek and stylish, the platter is consistent, and the belt drive makes sure your records sound perfect every time. It’s a fantastic printer, and the best printer for under 500 dollars in 2025.
Best Record Player for Under 1000 Dollars in 2025
Rega Planar 1 Plus
Our Rating: 4.8
4.8/5
The Good
- Entry Level HIFI
- Ready Out of the Box
- Built-In Dust Cover
The Bad
- Weak Preamp
- Prone to Interference
- Motor Hum
The Bottom Line
The Rega Planar 1 Plus is a fantastic budget-friendly way to get into high end vinyl listening. This record player has amazing sound, and sturdy construction from a trusted brand. There’s a few quirks, and it’s not exactly plug and go. However, it is a great option and the best record player for under 1000 dollars in 2025.
Best Record Player for DJ’s in 2025
Denon DJ VL12 PRIME
Our Rating: 4.4
4.4/5
The Good
- Built for Professional and Personal Use
- Fun Design
- Ultimate Playback Control
The Bad
- Slight Platter Wobble
- LED Can Cause Interference
- No Lid
The Bottom Line
The Denon DJ VL12 PRIME is a gangster turntable. It looks super dope, and it sounds great.
This turntable has rgb lighting, a quartz-locked direct drive, and tactile controls. It is designed to turn the party up and keep it going. In our opinion, it’s by far the best turntable for djs in 2025 that you’ll find online.
Top 10 Best Record Players of 2025 | Other Great Options
Pro-Ject The Classic
Our Rating: 4.8
4.8/5
The Good
- Simple Design
- Crazy Good Quality
- Top Tier Brand
The Bad
- Sensitive
- Expensive
- Hard to Find
The Bottom Line
Pro-Ject makes some insane turntables. This is one of their simpler designs, and it pays off. Just look at this thing. It’s way sexier than a record player has any right to be.
This record player has top-quality sound and great fine tuning options. Best of all, it’s from one of the most trusted brands in the HI FI industry. If it’s within your budget we’d strongly suggest you give this one a shot.
Rega RP8
Our Rating: 5
5/5
The Good
- Unbeatable Sound Quality
- Highly Customizable
- Extremely Stylish
The Bad
- Very Expensive
- Few Options Included
The Bottom Line
The Rega RP8 is an audiophile’s dream record player. Unfortunately, due to the price, it will remain a dream for most of us.
However, if you can shell out the cash, you won’t regret getting the RP8. It’s an amazing record player, and truly one of the best on the market.
Music Hall MMF-7.1 Turntable with Ortofon Mojo Cartridge
Our Rating: 4.5
4.5/5
The Good
- Unique Design
- Stable Belt Drive
- No Background Noise
The Bad
- Low Output
- Difficult to Assemble
The Bottom Line
Music Hall is a brand we are less familiar with, but if this record player is any indication, they are going to do great things.
This is a simple record player that is built to sound great. That’s it. No frills and bells and whistles on this one. It’s just one of the best record players of 2025.
Pro-Ject 1Xpression Carbon
Our Rating: 4.5
4.5/5
The Good
- Sturdy Construction
- Great Sound
- Budget Friendly
The Bad
- Hard To Find
- No Wow Factor
The Bottom Line
The Pro-Ject 1Xpression Carbon is a bit lackluster compared to the other entries on this list. It’s a straightforward HI FI record player. It sounds great, and looks fine. Ultimately, this record player is a great way for people to get into a great brand at a lower price.
Top 10 Best Record Players of 2025 | Final Word
Well, that was our list. No matter which record player is right for you, we believe you’ll be really happy with any of these record players.
Hopefully you aren’t reading this section, because you’re busy checking out one of the record players. If you are down here, then we recommend you check out one of those record players. They are the best.
