Looking for your first high-end audiophile turntable but don’t want to spend more than $2,000 for something that will be your deck for many years to come?

Are you considering a turntable upgrade in 2024? Before you empty your wallet on a deck that might seem like the right path for you — we have a few suggestions that might make more sense long-term if your budget is between $600 and $2,000.

There are so many turntable options available right that it has become rather confusing for both experienced audiophiles and music listeners who have only recently jumped aboard the vinyl train.

Choice is great. But that doesn’t mean that dropping $5,000 on your first turntable makes any sense.

Most of your investment needs to be in the music. Don’t be one of those people with a super expensive deck and 30 audiophile pressings.

Should you spend more on the turntable or cartridge?

Investing more in a better table will pay off long-term and you can always upgrade your cartridge at a later date. We have some excellent suggestions below $500 that are proven performers.

Should you always go with a new deck or can a restored vintage turntable also deliver excellent sonic results?

I have used three restored Thorens turntables from Vinyl Nirvana over the past decade and whilst the return on investment has been excellent — none of these options were inexpensive when you factored in the custom hardwood plinths, tonearms, and associated cartridges.

The minimum investment in one of these turntables is around $1,800 USD.

The build quality on all of these turntables that were originally made in the 1970s is excellent and there have been zero issues with reliability or parts — Dave Archambault has enough to last many years of service.

But for most people — a new turntable probably makes the most sense.

Read the full list on eCoustics: https://www.ecoustics.com/articles/best-audiophile-turntables/

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This article originally appeared at ecoustics.com and has been published here with permission.