If you love to listen to music, you would have probably given vinyl a go, especially now that it’s making a bit of a comeback. Lots of chart-topping artists are happy to sell their records in a vinyl form as well. Nowadays, a lot of audiophiles are investing in turntables to enhance their music listening experience.
Vinyl comes with a lossless format which means you can always listen to high-quality music where no single detail is missed. But there is one drawback that vinyl records have; it has the least portable music format, which is you can listen to music only in analog form. So to digitize your vinyl records, you will need the help of a USB feature. Luckily, USB turntables are here to plug that market gap.
With USB turntables, you can play your vinyl and listen to tunes, but these turntables also have an analog-to-digital turn table converter so that you can transfer the music to your computer, laptop, or any other device via USB feature.
So you can not only play vinyl as much as you like, you’ll always have a digital backup. If you’re skeptical about choosing the best USB turntables, I can help you out.
LIST OF BEST USB TURNTABLES
BEST USB TURNTABLES REVIEW
1) AUDIO-TECHNICA AT-LP120XUSB – BEST AUDIO TECHNICA USB TURNTABLES
PRODUCT FEATURES:
- Manual operation with DC servo motor
- Direct drive usb turntable
- 3 RPM speeds – 33, 45, and 78 RPM
- Hydraulically-damped lift control has a lockable rest
- S-shaped tonearm is well-balanced
- Anti-skate control is adjustable
- USB and RCA cables included
Starting with an expensive option, this USB turntable is from Audio-Technica. It is worth to invest in high-end turntables under $1000. If you’re a music-lover with discerning tastes, this can be your ideal choice. This is a top-quality piece of technology, built-in with anti-resonance to reduce vibration and a die-cast aluminum platter that comes with a felt mat.
You won’t be complaining about the build quality, and this is a turntable that’s likely to last you a long time. So it’s a good option for an all-purpose vinyl player that you can use for your entertainment and a plugin when you have visitors or a small party.
Since this is a digital conversion turntable, you can connect it to your PC or Mac via USB, and with the Audacity software, you can easily convert your vinyl records to a digital format. If you’re into music production, you’ll also benefit from the stroboscopic platter, which the turntable provides so you can adjust the pitch. This direct drive turntable comes with RPM speed selection like 33/45/78, and so you can adjust the speed accordingly.
Audio Technica LP has a balanced S-shaped tonearm that comes with a hydraulically damped lift control and lockable rest. It features an adjustable dynamic anti-skate control that helps to maintain equal force on both sides of the stylus to balance within a typical groove. Also, this feature eliminates the unpleasant sound quality when you play the record.
A quartz speed lock feature helps to keep a speed in stable condition. This is undoubtedly one of the best USB turntables with digital output and it also comes in two colors (black and silver), both equally polished and sleek and well-worth the extra dollars.
A hinged dust cover is included to protect your records, but you can always remove it when you’re playing music. Also, you get a USB cable, RCA output cable, AC adapter, 45 RPM adapter, and felt mat or turntable mat with this package. So if you are looking for a high-end USB turn table, I solidly recommend it.
Pros:
- Packs a lot of features.
- Target light for the stylus is great for playing music in low light.
- Modern, minimal look.
- Built-in pre amp.
- Silent motor
Cons:
- The tonearm has no height adjustment.
2) SONY PS-LX310BT – BEST RATED USB TURNTABLES
PRODUCT FEATURES:
- Automatic wireless turntable with AC motor
- 2 RPM speeds with 45 RPM adaptor included
- 3 gain settings available
- One-step auto playback, tonearm makes adjustments accordingly
- Aluminum tonearm for clearer playback
- Bluetooth-enabled
- Removable dust cover included
At roughly $250, this turntable with USB output is a good mid-range option if you want a neat little functional device that does what it says on the tin and does it well. It is a perfect choice if you’re not too interested in the mechanics of turntables and you’re just looking for something simple to operate.
This is an automatic vinyl digital turntable from Sony, so don’t let the simple, practical look deceive you because you’re guaranteed a music powerhouse when you’re buying from such a high-profile brand. The turntable does all the work for you at just the press of a button. It has a stable aluminum die-cast platter to add an intense (yet light) feel to the build.
If you want to get more from your vinyl record, you can use the three settings like low, mid, and high, and adjust the gain to match the audio level of your record and also helps you hear distortion-free songs. Also, this electronic turntable does not consume much power.
Additionally, this is a Bluetooth-compatible turntable, so you can connect to wireless speakers or headphones to enhance or alter your listening experience. This makes it a pretty versatile device that gives you a lot more ground and allows you to choose how you want to consume your music.
Being one of the best USB turntables available, this device also allows you to convert vinyl to MP3 files so you can keep them on whichever other devices you prefer using its USB output. This is the ideal modern device for a contemporary music consumer, and it comes at a very reasonable price point that’s accessible to most. So if you are on a budget, I highly recommend this wireless turntable!
Pros:
- Value for money
- Great for newcomers to the vinyl format
- Several connectivity options available
- Gain adjustment available
- Fuss-free
Cons:
- Not many adjustability options
3) ION AUDIO PREMIER LP – BEST INEXPENSIVE USB TURNTABLES
PRODUCT FEATURES:
- Vinyl player with DC motor
- 3 RPM speeds – 33⅓, 45, and 78 RPM
- Built-in phono preamp
- Bluetooth-streaming option available
- Several connectivity options
- 45 RPM adaptor included
- Comes with a dust cover
This one is my personal favorite and I was quite excited while writing this ion turntable review. Let’s take a look at what it has to offer. If the first two options were slightly out of your budget, and you’d rather spend less but still get a good product out of it, Ion’s $100 model is a bargain for vinyl-lovers.
The Premier LP is a great device and the best turntable with USB out there, with a price tag that makes it ideal for a birthday gift or as an addition to your home.
Ion also provides you with an AUX input, so you can connect the turntable to other media players (CD or cassette players) and an RCA output so you can connect to speakers. Also, you can digitize the turntables records via USB, and Ion includes software (Audio EZ) for this purpose.
With the Premier LP, you can experience a clear, full sound that will fill up the room – thanks to Ion’s built-in speakers. Also, you can connect to headphones via the 3.5mm output. This device acts more like a vinyl record player stereo system, all you need to do is, just play the record and listen to whatever you want.
The major feature of this vinyl recording turntable is that it’s also Bluetooth-compatible, which is a solid throw-in considering the price. Connecting your turntable to the external speaker wirelessly is not a hard thing anymore. You can stream audio effortlessly to your Bluetooth speakers with the wireless options of this turntable.
So you can use the record player’s USB connection to connect to any Mac or PC to convert your treasured records into digital files and play turntable through computer speakers.
An automatic return feature brings the tonearm back to rest at the end of each record. You also get a 45 RPM adapter, protective dust cover, and felt slipmat included in the package.
This premier LP has a black finish which means it’ll liven up the aesthetic quality of your space, and your friends won’t believe that you picked one of the best USB turntables up for a mere $100. Grab this home turntable now!
Pros:
- Very affordable
- Setting up is quite simple
- High-quality, punchy sound
- Looks minimal and sleek
- Solid built-in speakers
Cons:
- The stylus could be better
4) VICTROLA VPRO-2000 USB TURNTABLE- BEST SEMI AUTOMATIC TURNTABLE
PRODUCT FEATURES:
- Semi-automatic turntable
- AC motor
- Built-in preamp
- 3 RPM speeds
- Bluetooth-compatible
- RCA output and cable included
- An acrylic dust cover also included
VPRO-2000 is another affordable turntable from Victrola; this model comes in 2 colors – silver and black. The design for both colors has a premium quality, so this won’t look out of place in your guest room or in any room you’re trying to decorate tastefully.
The aluminum platter is a plus at this price range, and the diamond stylus ensures that you’re getting decent quality here, and it improves the overall finish of the product.
The turntable has an auto-lift and auto-operation mechanism for the stylus, so it’s quite easy to use, and you don’t have to do any fiddling around when you slip your vinyl record in. So this is a good alternative if you’re new to the world of turntables, but you’d still like a budget device to play your vinyl on.
This is one of the top record players with USB available at this price, and you can connect to your Mac or PC via USB and convert the files into MP3 using the software provided by Victrola. You can also adjust pitch and volume on the surface of the turntable, and an anti-skating adjustment is included as well. Also, this electronic turntable does not consume much power.
So, you’re getting branded all-in-one record players for just $100, so this digital vinyl record player is worth the buy.
Pros:
- Pretty cheap
- Easy setup
- Full and clear sound
- More durable than the price would suggest
Cons:
- Bluetooth function could be better-developed
5) PIONEER PLX-500-K, BLACK USB TURNTABLE
PRODUCT FEATURES:
- Professional high-torque turntable
- AC motor
- The tonearm is height adjustable
- 3 RPM speeds – 33⅓, 45, and 78 RPM
- Starts within a second at 33⅓ RPM
- Built-in preamp
- Useful for DJs as it’s suitable for scratching and mixing
The PLX-500 is a more expensive model from Pioneer if you’re looking for high-end options but again it hold a place in the best USB turntables list. It gives you two color options to choose from, so you can choose either black or white according to your taste. It is built with vibration-damping technology, so your vinyl records should play very smoothly, with a warm sound.
There’s minimal distortion, thanks to the short routing of the stylus to the outputs, so you don’t have to worry about any additional noise when you’re listening to music.
And you can connect to your speakers or any other sound system via the line-out switch in case you want to amplify the tunes further. The die-cast aluminum platter is a good quality enhancer. You can easily connect the PLX-500 to your Mac or PC using USB and record your vinyl to digital files, which should be high-quality.
If you’ve got an eye for details and you particularly enjoy displaying album art in your house, this turntable for vinyl records also comes with a dust cover that you can use as a sleeve to display the vinyl art while the vinyl is playing.
The turntable also comes with a slipmat, and the target light for the stylus is a nice bonus when you’re playing music in low light. So if you are a professional, then this product is worth looking at.
Pros:
- Anti-skate adjustment
- Removable cartridge and headshell
- Ideal for DJs
- Easy to use
- High-fidelity sound
- Premium look and feel
Cons:
- The tonearm is not automatic
6) NUMARK PT01USB PORTABLE VINYL-ARCHIVING TURNTABLE
PRODUCT FEATURES:
- Portable turntable
- 3 RPM speeds – 33⅓, 45, and 78 RPM
- Convert vinyl to .wav via USB on PC and Mac
- Aluminum tonearm for clearer playback
- Free EZ Vinyl Converter turntable software
- 45 RPM adapter
Nobody will miss Numark turntables in the list of best USB turntables because this one is a gem. The PT01 USB from Numark is perfect for digitizing your vinyl and is one of the best portable turntables for audiophiles that’s available at a budget price. It has a built-in loudspeaker, so it’s ideal for house parties or even for carrying to a friend’s place when you’re meeting up with people.
You can also connect to speakers via RCA outputs if you’d prefer to hear the music a lot louder. The ⅛” headphone jack also allows you to connect to headphones if you want to listen to vinyl privately.
So there are some good connectivity options available with the PT01 USB, and this vinyl to digital turntable also has a carrying handle for portability. If you have a Mac, you can also directly add the digital music files to your iTunes library via Numark’s software. Buy this cheap USB turntable today!
Pros:
- A good light build
- Ideal for students and DJs due to portability
- Closed case, so the player can be boxed up
- Battery-powered
- Dust cover included
Cons:
- Largely plastic body
- Not very loud
7) CROSLEY DJ100 DIRECT DRIVE DJ TURNTABLE
PRODUCT FEATURES:
- DJ turntable with AC motor
- Turntable with USB ports
- 2 RPM speeds available – 33⅓ and 45 RPM
- Adjustable anti-skate
- Removable tracking light
- S-shaped tonearm
- Easily accessible controls
This silver turntable from Crosley is built to catch the eye, and it has a shiny and modern look and definitely one of the best USB turntables out there. It’s marketed towards DJs, but it’ll work just as well if you’re looking for a digital record player for your room. With start/stop buttons for easy playback, you can also adjust speed and pitch on this turntable.
RCA and USB connections are available, so this is a USB record player that connects to computer easily. And the whole setup is portable, so it’s light enough for you to carry around. The turntable also has a removable headshell, in case you’d like to have the option of switching out the cartridge in the future.
At roughly $150, this is a good mid-range choice from a reliable brand, so you shouldn’t pass this up if you can afford to spend a little extra money.
Pros:
- Setup is simple
- Built-in preamp
- Software to convert vinyl to mp3 turntable included
- Well-balanced tonearm
Cons:
- No dust cover
- The cartridge could be of better quality
8) RELOOP RP-2000 MK2 PROFESSIONAL DIRECT DRIVE USB TURNTABLE
PRODUCT FEATURES:
- Professional turntable with a direct drive motor
- Connect via USB to digitize files
- Pitch control is adjustable
- S-shaped tonearm has a hydraulic lift
- Metallic buttons have a tactile feel
Lastly, this is a turn table with USB connection from Reloop that is slightly on the pricier side, but it’s got a bit of a vintage feel to it if you’re interested in aesthetics. The black body has attractive silver detailing, and the entire system has a compact but stylish look.
The die-cast aluminum platter has a stable rotation feature and a built-in preamp that will give you the necessary amplification if you’re playing music for a large room or a group of people.
This is a pro-grade turntable for DJs, so even if you’re just a casual listener of music, you’ll appreciate this product.
Pros:
- A shiny, premium-looking turntable
- Optimized damping features are built-in
- Target light for playing music in the dark
- Great for mixing
Cons:
- A bit expensive
- It might be less accessible to amateurs
BUYING GUIDE FOR THE BEST USB TURNTABLES
Some factors must be considered before buying the coolest record players /turntables are
Drive Method
You can find two main drive methods for turntables, direct drive, and belt drive.
Direct drive turntables are durable and will give you more consistent playback speeds as the motor is directly connected to the platter. Meanwhile, the belt drive turntables are a bit noiseless compared to the direct-drive ones as they disconnect between the drive motor and platter. But still, there are more chances that the belt starts to wear out and cause inconsistent playback speeds over time. So direct drive turntables are highly preferred.
Replaceable Headshell And Cartridge
This is an important factor to consider. All turntables must have a replaceable headshell and cartridge. Since each one varies in size and connection type, finding one who has this feature is a bit hard, which is why we have included some turntables in our article.
When you plan to grab a turntable with a detachable headshell, choose the one that fits into cartridges made by multiple brands. This is important as well as useful if you consider upgrading a cartridge and headshell for better results.
Bluetooth Connectivity
There is a basic fact that states that audio transmitted over a Bluetooth connection doesn’t sound great compared to the one sent over a wired connection. But still, you need a Bluetooth facility if you want to shift your speakers without a wiring mess.
Bluetooth speakers tend to improve infidelity, so audio transmission also tends to improve from an analog source like a turntable.
AUTOMATIC VS. MANUAL
This choice is subjective. But still, we recommend you choose an automatic turntable as it consists of physical buttons that will start the turntable and drop in the needle on the right spot automatically. But in manual turntables, you need to fix the needle physically.
CONCLUSION
Now that you have all the information you need about the best USB turntables out there, what’s left to do but pick your favorite and bring a whole new audio experience into your life? If you’ve never listened to records on vinyl before, you’re in for a treat.
If you have, and you’re looking for good turntables on the market that can also efficiently digitize your music files, we’ve done all the work for you. Whether you’re new to the art of vinyl or you’re a connoisseur of music, you’re sure to appreciate these turntables!
FAQ
1. Why Must You Invest In A USB Turntable?
A turntable can convert tracks on vinyl records into a digital format like MP3 or CD audio. And with an in-built phono preamp and analog to digital converter, the USB turntable can convert the cartridge’s analog signal to digital PCM. It can send it to the computer through USB.
2. Do USB Turntables Need A Preamp?
USB turntables have an in-built preamp. But if you have a normal one, you need an external preamp; then you need a set of RCA cables to connect your amp to your turntable.
3. Will Cheap Turntables Ruin Records?
It is a BIG yes. Cheaper turntables feature low-quality stylus and have only 40 playing hours, and it tends to damage your records after a few usages.