How much do you want in a turntable? What do you need in a turntable? What can you afford?
We believe that these are the starting questions for anyone looking to buy a turntable. For DJ purposes its going to boil down to what you feel is worth your money.
In previous reviews I’ve expressed that Technics are my number 1 choice, but if you can’t afford Technics or are just starting out dropping $2,000 may be a big investment into something you are not sure you’re going to stick with.
I’ve done an extensive review of alternative DJ Turntables here. And a list of Best DJ turntables Under $500 is coming soon.
Before diving into the extensive reviews, some basics as to how we generated those rankings should be know.
Direct Drive vs Belt Drive
The first thing is type of motor. In a direct drive turntable, the platter is attached directly to the motor. The motor usually sits under the center of the platter. The placement and direct attachment lends itself to higher torque and consistency in speeds. This means lower wow and flutter (fluctuations) and less vulnerability to outside forces. This is essential for djing as consistency in speed is required for beatmatching, mixing and scratching.
In a belt drive turntable the platter sits on top of a bearing and is isolated from the motor. The motor is usually located off-center which spins the platter using an elastic belt. As a result, belt-drive decks have lower torque and fluctuations of platter speed are greater. The elastic belt absorbs shock and prevents vibrations that are generated by the motor. The isolated motor also results in less noise transmission to the tone-arm. This is essential for audiophiles trying to maintain the purity of their vinyl.
A consistent theme throughout this website will be: DO NOT BUY BELT-DRIVE TURNTABLES FOR DJING. Belt-drive turntables should be used exclusively by audiophiles.
Torque
Along with the idea of Direct-Drive motor comes the important feature of torque. A higher torque means the platter will reach its desired speed faster after manipulation or after initially pressing the start button.
Higher torque will also limit the amount the platter slows down when you’re holding a record still. This is vital for properly beatmatching and holding a mix. The minimal torque we recommend is 1.5 kgf-cm.
Pitch Slider:
The pitch slider allows you to adjust the rotation speed of the platter, these are usually increments of +/- 8%, +/- 16%, +/- 25%, +/- 50%. ‘For DJ turntables the pitch slider should be smooth and make quick or instant adjustments to speed for proper beat matching.
Certain turntables also feature greater ranges to allow for some interesting creative choices in mixes (playing songs at speeds they are normally not heard at).
Tone Arm:
The tonearm is the arm of the turntable that holds the cartridge and stylus. The tonearm creates the contact between the needle and record.
A quality tonearm should help prevent skipping and, for DJs, should be able to withstand scratching and vinyl manipulation. They come in straight and curved, with straight tonearms being known for tracking vinyl better but also creating more wear in vinyl.
Durability
This is usually where the technics win out, they have a large proven track record and in my experience have required the least amount of maintenance. We rank turntables that have a solid build, reputation and are somewhat bias towards time on the market.
Resale Value
This is often an overlooked point because we often think the start up cost of djing is a sunk cost. This couldn’t be more far from the truth. If I wanted to sell my Technics right now, they would go for just as much, if not more than they did 30 years ago. You want a turntable that if kept with care should retain its original value. If something were to happen or you decided to put your dj career in the past, you should be able to get good value for them down the road.
Extra Features:
Since the Technic 1200s many turntables have added extra features that do make an impact on ranking depending on what you are looking for in a turntable. Some of these include:
- Rotational Speed- Turntables come with options of 33 RPM, 45 RPM and sometimes 78 RPM
- Digital output (S/PDIF, USB)– Allows you to directly connect the turntable to a computer or device with digital imput
- Key Lock and Master tempo– Another digital feature that is helpful in combatting the “chipmunksound” we get when playing vinyl at high speeds. May not be necessary if combining the turntable with a DJ software such as Serato.
- Reverse–Makes the platter rotate in the reverse, again may not be necessary based on DJ software
- Midi Capabilities: Allows you to directly sync turntable with DJing Software to create cue points and effects directly on the turntable. This can be a very cool feature based on performance ideas, though you can always buy an external dicer that can do the same thing.
- Adjustable Start and Stop Speeds: Cool for certain start up and wind down effects for mixes
- Adjustable torque
- BPM counter
- Interchangeable tonearm