The eight best record players to buy online now

Almost certainly the best new turntable you can get in its pretty-expensive-but-not-that-expensive price bracket, the Audio-Technica AT-LP60 is difficult to fault as an entry-level model. The fully automatic arm mechanism is great for newbies, meaning you don’t have to worry about dropping your needle and scratching your vinyl, and this XUSB version even comes with a USB port (and accompanying software) so that you can digitise your discs. This is as good as cheaper, classic-style turntables (i.e. ones without in-built speakers) really get. (Amazon)

Navigating record players with in-built speakers is tricky business, not least because most collectors see these kind of things as straight-up blasphemous. And they’ve got a point – an all-in-one system will likely never produce the best audio results. But some people just want an easy life, and if that’s you, MPK’s three-speed suitcase design might be the best way to go. Kitted-out with speakers, AUX input and a headphone jack, it’s a dynamic, transportable, decent-sounding alternative to a full system set-up. (Amazon)

Still for those in their early days of record collecting, but a slight step up in style and quality from the AT-LP60, here's another stylish, reliable player. The Debut Carbon DC from Pro-Ject fits into that middle price bracket well. For under 300 quid you can get a turntable with stylus, tonearm and dust cover included, in an impressive range of colours. Our fave is the plain, matted black edition, which looks like the kind of sleek, minimal piece we imagine you’d find in James Bond’s penthouse. (Amazon)

There’s something exceptionally satisfying about seeing the mechanisms of a turntable in action. The Orbit Plus by U-Turn, with its external belt, does just that – and thanks to its clear acrylic vinyl platter, it’s gorgeous all-round. And the sound? Well, U-Turn is famous for its solid audio quality, with a decently measured bass and clear, lifelike tonality. Considering just how stellar it is in both design and output, the Orbit Plus is also rather reasonably affordable, with its preamp-included version priced at just under £300. (U-Turn Audio)

Turntables don’t get much better than this. The Rega Planar 10 is the British brand’s finest model in its mainstream range, and while it has all the usual stuff you’d expect of Rega’s turntables – supremely high build quality with a measured, detailed sound – it’s also insanely stylish. Coming with an Apheta 3 stylus (a feat of engineering in itself), the Planar 10 is just a phenomenal piece. It is a hell of a lot of money to splash out on just a turntable (just under £4,500, in fact), but that’s what you get for such a striking, exquisitely engineered design. (Rega)

Another player that comes as pretty much a complete package, the Max LP by ION also features both a USB port and access to ION’s Audio EZ conversion software. Which means that not only can you listen to your choons, but you can rip them onto a laptop and stick ‘em on your phone/MP3 player for mobile listening. Like the MPK, don’t expect anything in terms of uber-high audio quality from the Max LP, but it’s still got a really impressive customer satisfaction rates – proof that what doesn’t necessarily work for the audio super-nerds can still be perfectly fine for the rest of us. (Amazon)

Japanese brand Technics makes record players that are uncomplicated, hard-wearing and well-built, with top-quality sound. And while Technics has long been the turntable of choice for globetrotting DJs, its home-use offerings are pretty sweet, too. The SL-1500C is a robust, precise build that knows exactly where to throw the weight of its sound. The bass is mighty and the melodies are punched out with a beaming clarity, but unlike a lot of high-end ‘tables, it’s all quite simple to use. The SL-1500C’s lower-premium price tag (just under £1,000 or so) is one of the best in its range. (John Lewis)

The Linn Klimax LP12 is a legendary turntable, and not just because it has such solid build quality and produces a tremendously high-quality sound. Since Linn first introduced its turntables in 1972 (that’s right, half a century ago), the British brand has reliably tweaked its designs to keep up with the times. Current models are easily upgradeable, allowing for buyers to customise according to their own aesthetic and audio tastes. For a premium turntable, the Klimax LP12 really is as expensive as they come – some of these cost upwards of £20,000. (Linn)