Getting into turntables and DJing can be an expensive hobby or pursuit. Turntables can set you back hundreds of dollars, especially with a good one outfitted with all the features you need. So, how can an average consumer buy one without knowing whether or not they like turntables? Luckily, there are belt-driven budget options out there for consumers who don’t want to spend much in getting their feet wet with the turntable/DJ industry. There are plenty of belt-driven (a cheaper and not so long-lasting way of turning the LP) budget options available, giving consumers the option to get a great turntable for under 100 dollars. Here are our top budget picks.
At A Glance: 5 Best Turntable Under 100 in 2022
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Our Top Pick
- Audio-Technica AT-LP60BK Fully Automatic Belt-Drive Stereo Turntable, Black
- Spectra Studebaker Wooden Turntable with AM/FM Radio & Cassette Player SB6052
Product | Brand | Name | Price |
---|---|---|---|
Victrola | Victrola Nostalgic Classic Wood 6-in-1 Bluetooth Turntable Entertainment Center | Check Price on Amazon | |
Audio-Technica | Audio-Technica AT-LP60BK Fully Automatic Belt-Drive Stereo Turntable, Black | Check Price on Amazon | |
Studebaker | Spectra Studebaker Wooden Turntable with AM/FM Radio & Cassette Player SB6052 | Check Price on Amazon |
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Best Turntable Under 100
1. Jensen JTA-230
It’s worth taking a look at the Jensen JTA-230 as well. One of the notable features of this turntable is the built-in speaker. Many turntables, even more expensive options, won’t come with built-in speakers, depending on you to have a set of studio monitors. Unlike the Audio Technica turntable we just spoke about, this turntable is able to play 33 1/3, 45, and 78 RPM records — the Audio Technica’s wasn’t able to play 78 RPM. This one also has a USB port, which will allow you to rip your LPs into a format playable on Windows or Mac.
2. Victrola Classic Turntable
Next, we have the Victrola Classic Turntable. If you want to go back in time to a simpler era, the Victrola Classic Turntable will do just that for you. It’s without a doubt Victorian looking — that’s one thing the manufacturer hits the nail on the head with; however, there’s a ton more to it. It plays great sound, has built-in speakers, can play cassettes, and let you tune into the radio. As far as playing actually LPs go, it has a manual tonearm, no automatic return (so you’ll have to keep an eye on your LPs as they play), and can play all of the usual record formats — 33 1/3, 45, and 78 RPMs. It’s victorian style is probably the biggest selling feature here.
3. Audio Technica AT-LP60
Audio Technica is a brand available all over the audio industry — they make headphones, microphones, earbuds, turntables, studio monitors, and so much more. They’re a prolific brand within the industry, and now they’re offering budget-level turntables with the AT-LP60. This is a belt-driven turntable that has a super sleek and modern design. It’s be a nice addition to any flat surface, even a desk. It has RCA and phono outputs, but more expensive models have USB as well. A neat thing about this turntable is that the tonearm is fully automatic, meaning you don’t have to place it perfectly every time you swap out an LP.
A neat thing about this turntable is that, even though it’s cheap and budget-level, it has an audio quality that will rival even some of the most expensive options out there. There aren’t built-in speakers, so a lot of that quality will depend on the type of studio monitors you can get as well — still, the AT-LP60 does a phenomenal job with audio processing.
4. Spectra Studebaker Wooden Turntable
If you want a different take on today’s turntables, Spectra offers more of a classic looking turntable with its Studebaker Wooden Turntable. It has this old, 19th century-looking design that is actually quite attractive and meticulous. Really, it’s only downside is that it has a manual tonearm, which means you’ll have to place it in the correct spot when playing your LPs. There are a pair of front-facing speakers built into this turntable, with them sitting — obviously — in the front, instead of the sides like the Jensen did. You might be shocked, but in typical antique fashion, this turntable actually has a cassette player built-in, too.
5. 1byone Belt-Drive 3 Speed Stereo Turntable
Last up,1byone offers a neat turntable as well — it’s a belt-driven three-speed stereo turntable. It’s most definitely budget level, with those stereo speakers sounding quite canny. However, for those on a budget, it’s better than having to buy a pair of studio monitors. A unique feature to this turntable not seen in many others, if any at all, is that you can rip your records directly to a USB drive — of course, that will cause some confusion when trying to figure out what the songs are on your computer, as you won’t be able to rename them as they hit the USB drive.
This turntable has an old-fashioned look as well, revisiting the 70s or 80s instead of some of the more classic eras in design.
Best Turntable Under 100 Verdict
If you want to get into turntables or start seeing what DJing is about, most of these turntables will do you just fine. For DJing, you might want to start out with the offering from Audio Technica, but for anything else, such as casual listening, any of the other turntables will do just fine.
Product | Brand | Name | Price |
---|---|---|---|
Victrola | Victrola Nostalgic Classic Wood 6-in-1 Bluetooth Turntable Entertainment Center | Check Price on Amazon | |
Audio-Technica | Audio-Technica AT-LP60BK Fully Automatic Belt-Drive Stereo Turntable, Black | Check Price on Amazon | |
Studebaker | Spectra Studebaker Wooden Turntable with AM/FM Radio & Cassette Player SB6052 | Check Price on Amazon |
* If you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. For more details, please visit our Privacy policy page.