So you might be looking for the best white turntable? More people nowadays take design into consideration when buying a turntable. And rightfully so, because when spending a good amount of money why not also look for something that can fit into your anterior and be a centerpiece in any room. Turntable manufactures are noticing this trend and putting more effort into the designs, which pushes the overall design standards to new heights.
When it comes to white turntables there are luckily enough models on the market to get something decent in the colour you want. This means that you can take other factors into account when choosing your turntable. things such as sound quality, upgradability, price and features such as a built in preamp, bluetooth or a USB port.
In this guide we have compiled our favorite turntables based on in-depth review. Al the turntable models are available in white and in most cases also in other colors. Besides our overall favorite pick the Denon DP400 and our favorite budget pick the Rega Planar 1 we have also found some other turntables that include unique features like bluetooth or USB to digitize records. Look below for what we think are the 6 best white turntables on the market right now.
Why You Should Trust Us
Having reviewed dozens of Turntables and other audio gear, from what started as a fun hobby now has become much more than that. I try to be as objective as possible and think of every possible user when writing my reviews. Ranging from beginners with a small budget to the Hifi expert that seeks new gear. I hope to guide you through the wonderful world of audio hardware and let you have the best music experience there is!
The Short Answer: These are the Best White Turntables
What To Consider Before You Buy
The most importent thing to consider when buying a turnable is your usecase. How often are you going to use your turntable? Is audio quality for you the most important factor? How important is the design of the turntable? Do you want to able to upgrade your setup later on? Do you want to DJ with it? Do you want to digitize your records?
Once you slowly begin to answer these questions it becomes easier to narrow down your list. Of course the price can also be an important factor when picking your turntable. Once you have these factors in your mind you need to look into these aspects when buying turntable.
Design and Build Quality
In this case the design is very obvious, you want a white turntable. But in terms of build quality you should look for solid turntable that uses quality materials. avoid ones that have a lot plastic components. Good turntables often feature a one piece plinth made out of alluminum, MDF or solid wood.
Audio Components
There are a few components that influence the audio quality. The most important one is the cartridge as the stylus picks up the sound directly from the record. The best type cartridges are branded cartridges with an elyptical shape from renowned brands such as Ortofon or Audio Technica.
The motor should be low noise to avoid any resonance while the drive type doesn’t really matter anymore in in the modern turntable, it can be direct drive or belt drive. Do pay attention to the built-in preamp if it has one as that can have a big influence on the sound.
Upgradability
This is important for vinyl beginners that might want to get more serious about vinyl later on. Talking again about the built in preamp, it often comes with a button to bypass it which gives you the ability to update it later on simply by connecting an external preamp. Another option is that most turntables allow you to upgrade the cartridge. This is not always the case as some only allow you to connect the exact same model becuase of the mounting to the tonearm or the fixed height which can’t be adjusted.
Sound Quality
To many the most important factor. This is a tough one as it comes down to personal taste. But in general you want to look for a turntable that offers a dynamic sound which has wide soundscape, this means that you are able to hear each sound layer separately and in detail.
The second aspect you should look into is how tight the sound is in for example the lower end. The tightness of the bass is often what separates a good turntable from a great one.
The last factor is a balanced sound. you don’t want to have sound that has too much bass or treble heavy. A balance sound helps accurately displaying your music and makes it suitable to play every genre.
Denon DP-400
Best overall turntable
Dimensions: 414mm W x 342mm L x 132mm H| Operation: Semi-Automatic Motor: Belt Drive | Phono preamp: Yes | Speeds: 33 ⅓, 45, 78 rpm | Cartridge: Moving Magnet
The Denon DP-400 is our top turntable picks in the current since we reviewed it in-depth, and luckaly it also comes in white!
Design: The turntable has a minimalistic, modern and premium design that features a plinth with glossy coating. The speed button and tonearm have nice steel coating and the platter matt in black gives a nice contrast. The dust-cover can be set upright to acts as a cover holder, its curved design is not for everyone but you can choose to not attach it.
Build Quality: You feel that the overall build quality is premium. Not only from the fact that it is suprisingly heavy eventhough it is made out of aluminum, but also the fact you wont see seams or bolts because it is a one piece plinth. The same goes for the weighted platter that sits on top. These specifications not only help with endurance but also have a big impact in reducing resonance, as fewer, stronger and heavier components cause less resonance.
Features: As all high end turntables the Dp-400 is belt driven with the main reason being that it reduces the chance of resonance greatly. It is a 3 speed turntable so even playing your old 78rpm records should not be a problem.
Another great feature that is not very common in high-end turntables is that it has a semi-automatic system stops record spinning as soon as it ends and automatically lifts the tonearm to return to its resting position.
It features a Moving Magnet (MM) cartridge but it is also compatible with Moving Coil (MC) cartridges. It also features a built in preamp that is of really amazing quality, it is perfectly adjusted to the cartridge but if you really want you can bypass it connect an external preamp. All in all both are upgradable but in the case of the preamp it will likely not be worth it.
Sound Quality: Definitely the best part of this turntable is the sound. It is transparent and really really detailed. You can easily play any genre on it. Although we feel bass heavy music is suited better on other turntables. The components such as the weighted platter, motor and cartridge do a great job of cutting out any resonance.
Our Verdict
Pros
» A modern design and high build quality.
» A total package including a really good preamp.
» A belt drive semi automatic system that makes it easier to use.
Cons
» There are turntables within this pricerange that offer better cartridges than the MM one featured.
Rega Planar 1
Best budget option with a proven trackrecord
Dimensions: 17.5 x 15 x 4.5 inches | Operation: Manual Motor: Belt Drive | Phono preamp: No | Speeds: 33 ⅓, 45 rpm | Cartridge: Rega Carbon
The Rega Planar 1 has been a top pick if you are looking for an entry-level turntable for a long time. The new updated version still offer great value in terms of audio and build quality.
Design: The Planar 1 offer a. modern and minimalistic design. The plinth has a beatifull glossy coating, inlcuding the color white. On top you will find no buttons as these are placed on the bottom of the plinth, the black platter and tonearm offers a contrasting and clean look.
Build Quality: The turntable feels sturdy and premium, for a large part this is thanks to the plinth which is a onepiece MDF. The same goes for the platter and tonearm that feel solid and have simple designs. This all helps with reducing resonance.
Features: The Planar 1 does not have extra features such as USB or Bluetooth, instead it focuses just like high-end models on the basics.
It features a Rega Carbon cartridge which is a moving magnet (MM), this means that you can easily upgrade to another MM cartridge if you like to. The cartridge is connected to a sturdy tonearm that includes a counter-weight which is easily adjustable.
The Rega Planar 1 is belt-drive turntable that is manual in its use. In practice this means that resonance is less likely to occur because the motor is not placed directly under the platter. At the same time the manual system means that you have to move the tonearm with cartridge yourself to start or stop playing.
Keep in mind that the Rega Planar does not come with build in preamp. This means you will either have to connect it to an external preamp or to an amplifier/receiver with phono input.
Sound Quality: With The sound of the Planar 1 is pretty detailed for its price. Rega does a great job of providing such transparent audio quality at this pricepoint. At the same time the simplicity of its design helps in reducing any resonance.
Our Verdict
Pros
» Best budget option. Amazing quality sound quality for the price.
» Minimalistic design.
» Decent Rega Carbon cartridge.
Cons
» The Cartridge is not on the same level as others on this list.
Audio-Technica AT-LP3WH
Best low-budget option
Dimensions: 21 x 9 x 19 inches | Operation: Automatic Motor: Belt Drive | Phono preamp: Yes | USB: No | Speeds: 33 ⅓, 45 rpm | Stylus: AT91R
One of our favorite budget models since we reviewed it in our best cheap turntables list, the AT-LP3WH earns a spot for the best low budget option.
Design: The look of the AT-LP3WH is different from other models in the list. It has more of a classic DJ look that can be best described as modern and functional. Like most of Audio Technica budget models the plinth is made out of premium plastic with a matt coating. It comes with functional buttons on its plinth and a nice contrasting red headshell and cartridge.
Build Quality: The plastic material used in plinth is decent as the device still feels quite heavy, however this of course not on the same level as a one piece MDF or solid wood plinth. The alluminum platter felt nice and heave. We felt the tonearm to be a bit fragile and not sturdy enough, luckily you don’t need to operate it manually. Overal we feel the build quality is decent but not the same standard as the other models in this list.
Features: This is a fully automatic turntable that is belt driven and able to play 33 and 45 RPM records. In practise this means that after placing your record you simply have to click start and stop. The tonearm will automatically put the stylus onto the record and return to its original place when finished playing.
A nice feature making it a perfect turntable for beginners is the built in preamp which means you will need one less component playing your records. At the same time it also comes with an option to bypass it so you are able to upgrade it later on by connecting an external preamp. Again a great option for beginners that want to dive further into the hobby of vinyl.
Sound Quality: For the price the AT-LP3WH offers good sound quality. The sound picked up by the AT91R cartridge is transparent and balanced so it is suited for almost all genres. Of course the sound could be more detailed but you will only get this by spending multiple. Overall it is decent for the price and will blow away any suitcase turntable the regular beginner will buy for it’s looks.
Our Verdict
Pros
» Decent audio quality at this pricepoint.
» The automatic system is great for beginners.
» The cartridge and preamp can easily be upgraded.
Cons
» Not the most detailed sound compared to other turntables on this list.
» The tonearm can be fragile.
Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC
Runner up best overall turntable
Dimensions: 415 x 118 x 320mm (WxHxD) | Motor: Belt drive | Platter: Aluminum | Phono preamp: No | USB: No | Speeds: 33 ⅓, 45 rpm | Stylus: Ortofon 2M Red
The Pro-Ject Debut Carbon has been a fan favorite for a long time. Mostly thanks to its simple design and quality components such as the Ortofon 2M Red Cartridge.
Design: Just look at the photo above, the Debut Carbon is all about minimalism. The plinth features zero (!) buttons on the plinth. The black tonearm and platter give a nice contrast to the high gloss white plinth and the 2M Red cartridge is the cherry on top.
Build Quality: The build quality feels solid as it is a one piece MDF plinth and sturdy aluminum tonearm. The lack of buttons and features actually contributes in reducing possible resonance.
Features: As with most higher quality turntables the Pro-Ject Carbon DC lacks extra features such as USB digitizing and an automatic tonearm, instead it focuses purely on having great audio and build quality.
The turntable has to be operated manually where you need to move the tonearm onto the record yourself, luckily the tonearm is made of carbon fiber giving it a really solid yet light feel. The same goes for switching speeds as you need to move the belt that is underneath the platter. Both can be more difficult for the vinyl beginner but are the true vinyl experience.
It does not come with a built-in preamp so you will need to connect it with an external one or connect it to an amplifier with phone input.
The centerpiece and biggest reason to buy this turntable is its cartridge, the Ortofon 2M Red. We highly value this cartridge as one of the best within its pricerange.
Sound Quality:
Talking about the sound the Ortofon 2M Red cartridge does a great job of bringing forward a really detailed sound. It oozes that warm analog vinyl sound that a lot of people are going for.
Our Verdict
Pros
» The cartridge Ortofan 2m Red is something special. It just gives a warm and detailed sound.
» Premium materials and build, reducing resonance.
» Minimalistic design that comes in 7 bright colors.
Cons
» Fully manual so it might be getting used to for beginners.
» No built in preamp so you need to connect it to an external preamp or amplifier.
Pro-Ject T1
Optional bluetooth integration
Dimensions: 20.87 x 17.17 x 9.92 inches | Operation: Manual Motor: Belt Drive | Phono preamp: No | Speeds: 33 ⅓, 45 rpm | Cartridge: Ortofon OM5E
The Pro-Ject T1 comes in 3 versions where the regular T1 has no built in preamp, the T1 SE version does have a built in preamp and BT version also has one and offers bluetooth.
Design: The T1 is another minimalistic turntable with a minimalistic design that has a MDF plinth made out of MDF. It has a white glossy coating that is a nice contrast with the matte tonearm and platter. The regular T1 has just an on and off button while the SB model also features two speed buttons
Build Quality: What the T1 does is well is reducing the risk of resonance with its solid design. The one piece plinth is supported by three rubber feet that offer a stable foundation. The quality also can be found in the material used, for example the platter is made of glass and feels heavy which helps with speed consistency and resonance reduction.
Features: A big reason to get this turntables is the Ortofon OM5E cartidge . The turntable is optimally adjusted for the OM5E which makes it easy to set up the turntable. The tonearm is set at a fixed height which means that you can’t replace it with other cartridge models However we feel that for the average vinyl lover the Ortofon cartridge is great and does not need to be replaced.
As most others on the list the T1 is a manual belt-drive turntable where you need to use the lever to raise the tonearm, move it over to above the record, and use the lever again to lower it onto the spinning record. The motor features an electric control system that measures and corrects the speed to increase its speed consistency.
Lastly let’s talk about the preamp. The regular version of the T1 doesn’t have one built into the turntable while the BT and SB versions do have a built-in preamp. So, if you don’t have an amplifier with a built-in phono stage we would recommend this version, it also has the possibility to bypass the preamp if you want to upgrade later on. The built-in preamp will be sufficient for most beginners and vinyl lovers, however if you are an audiophile and serious about the sound stage we would go with an external preamp.
Sound Quality: Sound is often hard to describe but we would say the T1 produces a rich and dynamic sound. It is dynamic in the sense that every audio layer and instrument can be heard well, even when there is a lot going on. The deep bass could be more detailed like you will find in the high-end turntables, however you will a multiple.
Our Verdict
Pros
» Minimal Design. A plinth made out of one piece with no buttons on top.
» Great Cartridge. The OM5E has great reputation.
» Quality Materials. An MDF plinth, matte tonearm and heavy platter.
Cons
» The bass could be more detailed.
» You can’t upgrade the cartridge to a different model. Since the tonearm can not be adjusted in height which means the stylus will need to be a OM5E or something very similar.
Pioneer PLX-500-W
Digitize your records via the USB output
Dimensions: 18.3 x 22.2 x 11 inches| Operation: Manual Motor: Direct Drive | Phono preamp: Yes | Speeds: 33 ⅓, 45, 78 rpm | Cartridge: VM type PC-HS01-S
The Pioneer PLX-500-W is more of classic DJ turntable with its direct drive motor and controls.
Design: The design has a classic DJ look that can still be find in modern internet controllers. The turntables feels solid and rugged thanks to its aluminum plinth which helps with reducing possible resonance, although for some it might be too bulky. On the plinth you can find multiple controls that really give it a modern tech look. Lastly, it comes with a foldable dustcover that can act as a record stand.
Build Quality: The solid and rugged feel also translates into its weight as it comes in at 10,7 kg. The plinth is made out of aluminum, and altough it has a different design by not being a one piece plinth it still feels like a solid turntable. The controls and slipmat are decent and give a DJ feel, much better than most plastic buttons you will find on budget turntables.
Features: The PLX-500-W offers a really incredible package of features in one turntable.
Let’s start with the drive type as it has a direct drive motor that makes a suitable for DJ’ing. The biggest concern of possible resonance was not found when testing although we don’t know the trackrecord after a few years. The included cartridge does however a good job of picking up the sound and because it is attached to the tonearm via a mounting collar it can be upgraded easily.
Another thing that makes the PLX-500-W a really complete package is the fact that it includes a preamp so you can directly connect it your amplifier or powered speakers. The same goes for the adapter that makes it suitable to play 45 rpm records and you have the option to play 78 rpm records if you connect a 78 rpm suited mono cartridge, a rare feature among turntables. The same goes for the included pitch slider where you can adjust the tempo.
What stand out is the USB output that allows you to digitize your records, a rare feature that is slowly becoming more common. Connect it with a USB cable to your computer and you can record your favorite vinyl in high quality. Included in the package is the Rekordbox DJ software although you can also choose your own.
Sound Quality: With the standard setup of the PLX-500-W you will get a rich and dynamic sound that exceeds our expectations as it does not feature a branded cartridge like the other models in this list. The sound is really accurate in the lower bass department which not always that common in this price range.
Our Verdict
Pros
» Great audio quality for the price.
» Solid and rugged build.
» Plug and play with a nice built-in preamp.
» USB output to digitize your records is a standout feature.
Cons
» The design might be too bulky for some.
» Other turntables in this list include better cartridges.