When you’re looking for the best record players for under 500 dollars in 2020, you can start to expect a few things. At this price tier, you can start to expect a high level of quality, but still keep a fair budget. The record players in this list are going to be able to integrate into most HI-Fi systems, and sound great doing it. We’re going to keep it affordable, keep it simple, and keep it awesome. Let’s check out our top pick!
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The Best record player under 500 dollars in 2025
The REGA Planar 1 Plus is an entry-level high-end turntable designed for plug-and-play convenienc...
The Good
- Ultra-Stable Platter
- Sleek Plinth Design
- Perfectly Balanced Tonearm
The Bad
- No Anti-Skate Features
- Adjustments Under Table
- No Auto-Stop
The Bottom Line:
We love Rega, and we love the Rega Planar 1 Plus! This is a fantastic record player at any price, but for under 500 dollars, it’s an absolute steal.
This record player has one of the best tonearms on the market, and it’s perfectly balanced. The plinth and platter are both incredibly stable. The Rega Planar 1 is a precision designed masterpiece, and that’s why it’s our choice for the best record player for under 500 dollars in 2020.
Want to skip our list?
Here are the best record players under 500 dollars in 2025
- record player under 500 dollars | Rega Planar 1 Plus
- automatic record player under 500 dollars | Marantz TT42P
- usb record player under 500 dollars | Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB
- designed record player under 500 dollars | U-Turn Audio – Orbit Special
- beginner record player under 500 dollars | Audio-Technica AT-LP5
- DJ turntable for under 500 dollars | Pioneer PLX-500-K
- Fluance Elite
- Pro-Ject Debut Carbon
- Music Hall MMF 1.5
- Sony PSHX500
Some Quick Background
Why Are Turntables So Expensive
High-end turntables tend to strip out a lot of the extra features that draw people to low-end record players. Things like preamps, pitch control, and automatic returns tend to be taken away from more expensive turntables. This is because audiophiles like to customize their setups with higher quality options. E.g. a separate preamp is always better than a built-in preamp.
So then why are turntables so expensive? It’s because of scaling. A manufacturer who sells a record player for ninety dollars probably produces tens of thousands of units per year. For a more expensive record player, they might only make a couple hundred. That means that, while they are given more care, these record players cost a lot more to produce.
Do Expensive Turntables Sound Better?
In the short term, a cheap record player might sound the same as an expensive record player in the same setup. However, the increased attention to detail during manufacturing that we mentioned above means the more expensive record players will be more consistent.
Cheap record players will develop wobbles and speed deviations over time. They won’t last as long. That’s why expensive record players are worth it. Because they will always sound as good as they are supposed to.
Best Record Players Under 500 Dollars In 2025 | What You Need To Look For
When you are purchasing a record player at this price point, value is the name of the game. You want a record player from a trusted brand with the features you need.
If you want a record player that records vinyl to mp3 or comes with speakers included, then you should be able to find it here.
Features and value; that’s all you need to remember.
Top 10 Best record players under 500 dollars In 2025 | Here is our List
Ooh, we’re feeling excited now. Enough of the delay, let’s get into our list of the best record players for under 500 dollars in 2020. Enjoy.
The Best record player under 500 dollars In 2025
The REGA Planar 1 Plus is an entry-level high-end turntable designed for plug-and-play convenienc...
The Good
- Ultra-Stable Platter
- Sleek Plinth Design
- Perfectly Balanced Tonearm
The Bad
- No Anti-Skate Features
- Adjustments Under Table
- No Auto-Stop
The Bottom Line:
As we said above, the Rega Planar 1 Plus is an amazing record player for this price point. Sometimes the price fluctuates, but it’s usually under 500 dollars. And it’s always great.
This record player will offer some of the best sound quality you’ve gotten from a record player. It looks great and sounds even better. The best part of this record player is the tonearm. It’s so expertly balanced it’s just incredible.
If you are looking for the best record player for under 500 dollars in 2020, you’ve found it. We highly recommend you go check it out. It’s awesome.
The Best automatic record player under 500 dollars In 2025
The Good
- Fully-Automatic Operation
- Stable Belt Drive
- Trusted Audiophile Brand
The Bad
- Requires a Platter Weight
- Cheap Cabling
- Limited Cartridge Options
The Bottom Line:
Marantz has been a favorite brand of audiophiles for a long time. While they don’t make many record players anymore, the Marantz TT42P is an example of what they are capable of.
This record player is sleek, simple, and has a great belt drive. It will integrate into most HI-FI systems easily, and you can rely on it to sound great for as long as you have it. If you want a fully automatic record player for under 500 dollars in 2020, then check out the Marantz TT42P. You won’t regret it.
The Best uSB record player under 500 dollars In 2025
The Good
- Speakers And Cleaning Kit Included
- Vinyl To MP3 Capability
- Ready Out Of The Box
The Bad
- Cheap Speakers
- Clunky Design
The Bottom Line:
Audio-Technica is kind of a weird brand. They make some of the cheapest record players you’ve seen, but they also make some higher quality turntables. All of their record players are a great value, and the Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB isn’t an exception.
This is a great record player for recording vinyl, but it’s also great for anyone who wants a simple setup. It comes with speakers included, and it’s ready to go out of the box. We highly recommend this record player for vinyl newbies who want something high quality.
The Best designed record player under 500 dollars In 2025
The Good
- Sleek Wood Finish
- Simple Belt Drive
- Great Sound Quality
The Bad
- Quality Control Problems
- Belt Is Easily Displaced
The Bottom Line:
The U-Turn Audio Orbit line of turntables include a bunch of great looking finishes and features. They all look amazing. We’ve even seen people give their Orbits custom paint jobs. With the clear platter, it looks great with any setup.
All the great looks mean nothing if it doesn’t sound good. Luckily, the U-Turn Audio – Orbit Special sounds great. This record player is a little tricky to set up correctly, but once you have it, its sound is unmatched. It’s one of the most popular record players on the market for a reason: because it’s awesome.
The Best beginner record player under 500 dollars In 2025
The Good
- Simple Setup And Operation
- Easily Fits Into Any System
- Built-In Preamplifier
The Bad
- Mid-Tier Sound
- Poor Cartridge
- Requires Upgrades
The Bottom Line:
When we began testing turntables for this list, the last thing we thought was that we’d have two Audio-Technica record players make the list. But, that’s where we are at.
The Audio-Technica AT-LP5 is a great record player for beginners. It is one of the easiest record players to set up, and the components are surprisingly good quality. This record player also allows you to upgrade components down the road, and learn as much as possible about HI-FI systems.
The Best DJ turntable for under 500 dollars in 2025
The Good
- Built For Scratching
- Works With Or Without Controller
- Digital Recording
The Bad
- No Automatic Tonearm
- Needs A Preamp
- Built-In Cables
The Bottom Line:
Do you want to scratch some records? The Pioneer PLX-500-K is a great entry-level turntable to get into DJing.
This turntable stands alone very well, but it also works with a controller. It also allows you to record your tracks to your computer, so you can save your custom mixes. It’s a great record player for weekday listening and weekend turn-ups.
Top 10 Best record players under 500 dollars In 2025 | Other Great Options
The Good
- Powered Speakers Included
- Stylish Walnut Finish
- BlueTooth Streaming From Music Apps
The Bad
- Short Cables
- Heavy
The Bottom Line:
The Fluance Elite is one of the best record players for under 500 dollars in 2020 because it’s been designed with the user in mind. It includes everything you need to listen to vinyl, and it looks great on any media center. You can even stream right to the record player from apps using BlueTooth. This is a great option for vinyl newbies.
The Good
- Variety Of Base Colors
- Great Manufacturer
- Good Cartridge
The Bad
- Difficult Assembly
- Manual Tonearm
- Difficult To Replace Cartridge
The Bottom Line:
Pro-Ject makes some turntables that are so good they are intimidating. The Debut Carbon is such a model.
This record player sounds great and includes one of the best stock cartridges on this list. It is one of the most HI-FI models on this list, designed for use in high-end systems. Pro-Ject is one of the best record player manufacturers, and the Debut Carbon is their flagship model. We recommend you give this one a look.
The Good
- Simple Design
- Built-In Preamplifier
- Includes Platter Mat
The Bad
- Tricky Setup
- Cheap Stylus
- Inconsistent Platter Speed
The Bottom Line:
The Music Hall MMF 1.5 is kind of odd. It’s a record player that many look past because it’s not a huge brand, but it’s still a good little player. It’s got a preamp built-in, and it comes with a platter mat. It’s not the best record player on this list, but it’s a good option. Check out if it’s the best record player for you.
The Good
- Durable
- Easy PC Or Mac Connection
- Editing Software Included
The Bad
- Ugly
- Mid-Tier Sound
- Overly Simplistic
The Bottom Line:
If simplicity is something is your thing, then this is the turntable for you. It doesn’t get any simpler than the Sony PSHX500.
This turntable is best for anyone looking to record and edit audio from their vinyl collection. All the software to do this is included with this record player. That’s why it got the final spot on our list of the best record players for under 500 dollars in 2020.
Top 10 Best record players under 500 dollars of 2025 | Final Thoughts
That was our list of the top 10 best record players for under 500 dollars in 2020. During our testing, we found that the Rega Planar 1 Plus checks the most boxes and is the best quality. We strongly recommend you check it out.
How did you like our list? Is there a record player we should have included? Leave us a comment, we’d love to hear how you feel. Or, just go buy a record player and start enjoying your life. Best of luck!
