For the past few years, the amount of young people getting into vinyl collecting has absolutely exploded. Many members of the vinyl community feel the need to gatekeep and protect our hobby from newcomers. But I’ll tell you now, more vinyl collectors is better for local shops which is better for all of us.
Many newcomers to vinyl are very wary of spending a couple thousand dollars on a HIFI setup. It’s intimidating to spend a lot on something you just got into. However, veteran vinyl collectors will often say that you can’t get a quality setup for cheap. That’s simply not true.
In this list, we are going to outline ten choices for great record players for under 200 dollars in 2023. This is our latest entry in our Record Players Buying Guide Series. We’ll tell you the pros and cons of each choice, and hopefully you’ll be able to make an informed buying decision. Best of luck, and welcome to Darkside Vinyl!
Our Choice for the Overall Best Record Player for Under 200 Dollars in 2023
The Good
- Gorgeous Gloss Wood Base
- Good Tone Arm
- Dedication to Analog Experience
The Bad
- Rigid Base Bumps and Skips
- Inconsistent Speed
- Adjustments from Underneath
The Bottom Line:
The Fluance RT80 is a gorgeous record player for anyone looking to show off their new hobby. This turntable has a great s-shaped tone arm, and a dedication to vintage playback. With a few tweaks to the playback speed, this Fluance RT80 turntable will turn you into an audiophile overnight, and that’s why it’s our choice for the overall best record player for under 200 dollars in 2023.
Want To Skip Our List? Here's all the record players that made our list of the best record players for under 200 dollars in 2023
top 10 best record players for under 200 dollars in 2023 | Some Quick Background
Can You Really Get a Good Turntable for Under 200 Dollars in 2023?
Yes! Unlike our list of the best record players for under 100 dollars in 2023, it’s actually possible to get a great turntable for under 200 dollars in 2023. Once you get past the 100 dollar mark, you start to get turntables built out of sturdier materials, with higher quality components. These aren’t HIFI units, but they are acceptable for beginners on a budget.
Who is this Best Record Players Under 200 Dollars in 2023 List Written For?
This list is written for newcomers to vinyl collecting, who need some idea of where to start. It’s also a list for anyone on a budget who is in need of a good turntable that they can upgrade down the line.
What You Need to Look For
When looking at the best record players for under 200 dollars in 2023, you should have some expectations. Solid construction materials, stable platters, and good quality cartridges are necessities. Other special features like Bluetooth connectivity, USB audio recording, and pitch adjustment are good ways to decide between different options.
Top 10 Best Record Players of 2023 | Here's Our List
Now that all the background info is out of the way, you’re ready to jump into our list of the best record players for under 200 dollars in 2023. There’s bound to be something here that is right for you; let’s find it!
Overall Best Record Player for Under 200 Dollars in 2023
The Good
- Beautiful Design
- Built-In Dust Cover
- Sturdy Tone-Arm
- Good Intro Cartridge
- Retro Listening Experience
The Bad
- Inconsistent Speed
- Adjustments Underneath
The Bottom Line:
As we stated above, the Fluance RT80 is a gorgeous turntable that sounds great as well. As long as you are up to fine tuning the speed settings, you’ll agree with us that this is the best record player for under 200 dollars in 2023.
Best Record Player for Under 200 Dollars in 2023 with Built-In Speakers
The Good
- Beautiful Retro Wood Cabinet Design
- Audio Recording to USB
- AM/FM, Cassette, and CD Playback
The Bad
- Large
- Weird Reboot
- No Remote Control
The Bottom Line:
The 1byone Nostalgic Wooden Turntable is most likely designed to appeal to older customers. However, given how trendy retro style is, this record player will continue to have mass appeal. It’s by no means a HI FI setup, but it offers a lot of features in one package.
Best Direct-Drive Record Player for Under 200 Dollars in 2023
The Good
- Bluetooth Speakers Available
- S Shaped Tone Arm with Hydraulic Lift
- Aluminum Platter with Slip Mat Included
The Bad
- No Auto Return on Tone Arm
- Less Reliable
- Cheap Materials
The Bottom Line:
Crosley is a brand known for making fun, cheap record players using less than fantastic materials. However, the Crosley C200 is a simple, fair quality record player that offers a lot of room for upgrades down the road.
Best Bluetooth Record Player for Under 200 Dollars in 2023
The Good
- Matching Storage Stand Available
- Mid Century Design
- CD and Cassette Playback
The Bad
- Quality Control Issues
- Weak Lid Support
- Bad Needle Cartridge
The Bottom Line:
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The Victrola 6-in-1 Wood Bluetooth Mid Century Record Player is a unique record player with a mid-century vibe. It may not have the best sound quality, and you may need to return the first one to Amazon and get a second, but it looks cool and offers a lot of features.
Best Simple Record Player for under 200 dollars in 2023
The Good
- Simple Design and Operation
- USB Recording
- Bluetooth Connectivity
The Bad
- Bad Needle Cartridge
- Weak Audio Range
- Neoprene Platter Mat Collects Dust
The Bottom Line:
The Sony PS-LX310BT is a sleek and simple turntable from one of the largest and most well-known electronics brands in the world. For a beginner who wants to build out a decent system, this is one of the best record players for under 200 dollars in 2023.
Best Record Players for under 200 dollars in 2023 | Other Great Options
The Good
- S-Shaped Tone Arm with Adjustable Counterweight
- Hydraulic Lift Control with Anti-Skate
- Good Audio with Pitch Adjustment
The Bad
- Cheap Brand
- Full Manual Operation
- Weak Belt Drive
The Bottom Line:
Again, Crosley is known more for making record players that look nice and are fun than high quality. However, this record player will hold up fine for the price, has a good tone arm and cartridge, and won’t break your heart when the belt breaks.
The Good
- DJ Style Turntable
- Solid Base and Platter
- Great for Recording Vinyl
The Bad
- Inconsistent Playback Speed
- No Auto-Stop
- Intermittent Sound Distortion
The Bottom Line:
This turntable is meant more for someone who is curious about becoming a dj than a hobby collector. It has a bunch of different options for customizing your sound, and works great with Mac or PC connection.
The Good
- Adjustable Pitch Control
- Die Cast Aluminum Platter
- Quiet Belt Drive
The Bad
- No Dampening Material
- Lackluster Sound Quality
- Weak Drive Belt
The Bottom Line:
The Music Hall USB-1 is a fine little turntable for a vinyl newcomer. The belt drive is quiet, and the platter is very nice. I would advise anyone who buys this to get a better platter mat and some dampeners for the table feet.
The Good
- Bluetooth Speaker Included
- Popular Brand
- Switchable Preamp
The Bad
- Cheap Plastic Build
- Mediocre Sound Quality
- Speed Drops
The Bottom Line:
Audio-Technica is a brand that vinyl newbies will probably be very familiar with. Most of their tables are recreations of retro tables, and they are known to hold up very well. The great part about the Audio-Technica AT-LP60BT-BK is you know if there’s a problem you will be able to find a replacement very easily.
The Good
- Digital USB Output
- Multiple Stylish Designs
- Great Sound Quality
The Bad
- No 78 Playback
- Takes Some Adjustment
- May Need to Replace Stylus
The Bottom Line:
TEAC is a brand which has been putting out gorgeous tables for a while now. The TEAC TN-300 is a great record player for anyone wanting something that looks great on the media console, but won’t break the bank.
Top 10 Best X For Y of 2023 | Final Word
As we’ve shown above, it’s very possible to get a turntable for under 200 dollars in 2023. While these record players aren’t anything special, each of them are great options for someone who is just getting started listening to vinyl records as a hobby.
If you liked our list, check out our other record player buying guides
