Turntables

Our turntables are for listeners who want to choose the deck, the tonearm and the cartridge, then build the rest of the system around them. The range runs from Pro-Ject, Rega, Audio Technica, Denon and Dual through to specialist decks from Gold Note, Clearaudio, Holbo, Zavfino and Musical Fidelity, in belt drive, direct drive and automatic designs. If you'd rather plug in and play, our record players page covers built-in phono stages, Bluetooth and all-in-one models.

Belt drive or direct drive

A belt-drive turntable sits the motor apart from the platter and turns it through a belt, with the aim of keeping motor vibration away from the record. It's the approach behind the Pro-Ject X1 B, the Audio Technica LPA2 and LP7X, the NAD C 558 and the Rega Planar 6 RS, and the Pro-Ject Signature 12.2 takes it further with a flywheel in the drive.

A direct drive turntable puts the platter on the motor itself, designed to hold speed steadily and start quickly. The Denon DP-3000NE, Audio Technica LP8X and the quartz-stabilised Dual CS-618Q all work this way. Drive is only part of the story: the Holbo Airbearing Turntable System is built around air bearings and a parallel tracking tonearm.

Manual or automatic

Many hi-fi decks are fully manual: you lift the arm, lower it and put it back yourself. Keeping extra mechanism away from the tonearm is the point, and you'll find them grouped in our manual turntables range.

Automatic and semi-automatic decks suit anyone who would rather the arm looked after itself. The Pro-Ject Automat A2 is fully mechanical, lets you set the drop-off point for 7 or 12 inch records at 45 rpm and also plays 78s, while the Denon DP-400 and Audio Technica LP8X are semi-automatic. See them all in automatic turntables.

Tonearms, cartridges and upgrade paths

On a hi-fi turntable the cartridge is part of the decision, not an afterthought. Many decks here are offered with a choice: the Rega Planar 3 with no cartridge, the Nd3 or the Nd5, the Rega Planar 8 with the Nd7, Nd9, Ania Pro MC or Apheta 3 MC, and the Pro-Ject X8 Evolution with no cartridge or one of several fitted. Others arrive set up as a pair, such as the Rega Planar 6 RS Edition MC with its Ania MC cartridge factory fitted. Browse turntable cartridges if you're planning a change.

Pro-Ject's True Balanced decks, including the X1 B, X2 B and Debut Pro B, are designed to keep the cartridge's signal balanced all the way to a matching True Balanced phono stage. For two cartridges on one deck, the Zavfino ZV8-X takes multiple tonearms, so you could run a moving magnet on one arm and a moving coil on another.

Both big brands offer clear ladders to climb. A Rega turntable can start at the Planar 1 and run through the Planar 3, 6 and 8 to the Planar 10. A Pro-Ject turntable can start with the E1, move through the Debut and X ranges, and reach the Xtension 10 Evolution and Signature 12.2. An Audio Technica turntable covers different jobs, from the direct drive LP120X USB to the fully manual, acrylic LPA2.

Questions we get asked

Is belt drive or direct drive better?

Neither wins outright. Belt drive is designed to isolate the platter from the motor, and direct drive is designed for speed stability and quick starts, and the range covers both. The choice usually comes down to how you use it, the features you want and which brand's approach you prefer.

What makes a high-end turntable different?

Mostly mass, bearings, tonearm adjustment and power supply. The Pro-Ject Xtension 10 Evolution uses an alloy platter damped with Sorbothane, the Signature 12.2 pairs a 12 inch tonearm with a magnetically decoupled bearing, the Rega Planar 6 RS comes with the Neo Mk2 power supply, and the Denon DP-3000NE gives you adjustable arm height and anti-skating. Each is aimed at reducing the things that can get between the stylus and the groove.

Can I upgrade the cartridge later?

On most manual decks, yes, and it's one of the most common upgrades we talk through. The thing to check is the phono stage: moving coil cartridges produce a much smaller signal than moving magnet ones, so a move to MC may mean a new phono stage too. Our phono preamplifiers cover both types, and the team can help you match one to your cartridge.

If you're choosing between two decks or planning an upgrade, call the team or visit our Murarrie showroom to talk it through, and call or message first if you'd like a demo arranged. We deliver turntables Australia-wide.