The Audio-Technica AT-LP60X is the best turntable for most beginners in the UK: it starts and returns the arm automatically, has a built-in switchable phono stage and needs no tonearm calibration. Add powered speakers with a line input, or an amplifier and passive speakers. If you already own Bluetooth speakers, the AT-LP60XBT offers the same simple approach with wireless output.
The key decision is the whole listening setup. A turntable needs speakers, and its signal needs one phono stage before reaching a normal line input. Think about whether you want one-button play, Bluetooth output or an adjustable arm before choosing a deck.
Our top 4 picks
Audio-Technica AT-LP60X, black
Best overall
One-button automatic play and a switchable phono stage make a simple wired first setup.
Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT, black
Best for Bluetooth
The LP60X layout adds wireless output for compatible speakers or headphones.
Denon DP-300F, black
Best automatic upgrade
Automatic play comes with adjustable tracking force and cartridge flexibility.
Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB, silver
Best for hands-on upgrades
A manual direct-drive deck with adjustable arm, replaceable cartridge and USB output.
In this guide
- Comparison at a glance
- The best beginner turntables
- How to choose your first turntable
- Connect and set up your turntable
- Records, styluses and useful upgrades
- The bottom line
- Frequently asked questions
Comparison at a glance
| Turntable | Best for | Operation and speeds | Phono stage / output | Main compromise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audio-Technica AT-LP60X, black | Best overall | Fully automatic belt; 33⅓/45rpm | Switchable phono; wired RCA | Fixed cartridge and tracking force |
| Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT, black | Best for Bluetooth | Fully automatic belt; 33⅓/45rpm | Switchable phono; RCA and Bluetooth output | Wireless convenience, same basic upgrade ceiling |
| Denon DP-300F, black | Best automatic upgrade | Fully automatic belt; 33⅓/45rpm | Switchable phono; wired RCA | Larger body and arm setup need more care |
| Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB, silver | Best for hands-on upgrades | Manual direct drive; 33⅓/45/78rpm | Switchable phono; RCA and USB | Manual cueing and cartridge setup |
All four decks include a phono stage and cartridge. None contains speakers. Choose the output and level of hands-on setup that suit your room; a 78rpm setting on the LP120XUSB also needs a suitable 78rpm stylus.
The best beginner turntables
Audio-Technica AT-LP60X: best overall
This is the sensible first deck when you want to play records without adjusting a counterweight. Press start and the arm moves to the record; it returns at the end. Its switchable built-in phono stage lets you use a line input on powered speakers or an amplifier. The supplied ATN3600L stylus can be replaced when worn.
Audio-Technica’s manual specifies 33⅓ and 45rpm playback, the RCA cable, 45rpm adaptor, dust cover and AC adaptor. The cartridge is integrated and tracking force is factory-set, so this is a simple listening deck rather than a platform for trying different cartridges. Check the supplied mains adaptor is suitable for a UK socket before use.
- Buy it if: you want one-button wired playback with minimal setup.
- Choose another if: you want an adjustable arm or wireless output.
Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT: best for Bluetooth
The LP60XBT keeps the automatic operation of the wired LP60X and adds a Bluetooth transmitter. Pair it with compatible Bluetooth speakers or headphones; an RCA cable remains available when you prefer a wired connection. The built-in phono stage can be switched for the wired path.
The LP60XBT manual makes clear that Bluetooth sends sound to a playback device; it does not receive music from your phone. Wireless playback depends on pairing and the receiving device’s volume controls. The cartridge and fixed tracking setup follow the LP60X approach. Choose this model for where you will listen, rather than as a sound-quality upgrade over the wired deck.
- Buy it if: you want automatic vinyl playback through existing Bluetooth speakers.
- Choose another if: you have a convenient wired speaker input and no need for wireless output.
Denon DP-300F: best automatic upgrade
The DP-300F combines automatic start and return with a tonearm whose balance and anti-skate can be adjusted. Its built-in phono stage is switchable, and the included moving-magnet cartridge can be changed later. It suits someone who wants automatic operation but expects to learn more about cartridge setup over time.
Denon’s UK model page confirms 33⅓/45rpm, a belt drive and the phono stage. The UK product sheet lists a 434mm-wide body and an adjustable arm. Measure your shelf and leave room to raise the dust cover. Balance and tracking force need to be set to the cartridge instructions when changing cartridges; automatic play does not remove that job.
- Buy it if: you want automatic handling with a more flexible cartridge path.
- Choose another if: your shelf is narrow or you want USB recording.
Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB, silver: best for hands-on upgrades
The LP120XUSB is the choice if you want to learn manual cueing and arm setup from the start. Its direct-drive motor, adjustable counterweight and anti-skate, removable headshell and supplied AT-VM95E cartridge give more room to change the playback setup. The built-in phono stage is switchable, and USB output is available for recording.
The exact-model manual lists 33⅓, 45 and 78rpm, but the supplied AT-VMN95E stylus on its AT-VM95E cartridge is for modern microgroove records. Shellac 78s need a suitable 78rpm stylus or cartridge. Set the tracking force and anti-skate to the cartridge’s instructions before playing records. This is a listening and digitising deck with manual handling, so it demands more attention than the LP60X.
- Buy it if: you want adjustable playback, cartridge changes and USB output.
- Choose another if: you prefer automatic start and return.
How to choose your first turntable
Start with speakers and inputs
A phono stage brings the cartridge signal to line level; an amplifier or powered speakers then drive the sound. For a simple two-box setup, choose a deck with its built-in phono stage switched on (LINE on the Audio-Technica decks; ON on the Denon) and connect it to powered speakers with an analogue line input. Passive speakers need a separate amplifier. Our phono-preamp explainer shows the signal path, and the bookshelf-speaker guide helps with speaker choice.
Choose convenience or adjustment
The LP60X and LP60XBT are fully automatic and factory-set. The Denon adds an adjustable arm while keeping automatic operation. The LP120XUSB is manual, so you cue and return its arm and set its counterweight. A fixed, manufacturer-calibrated arm can be a sensible starting point; an adjustable arm matters when you plan to change cartridges. Our belt-drive versus direct-drive guide explains why motor type alone does not decide sound quality.
Check the complete footprint
Measure the shelf as well as the space above it for the dust cover. Keep the deck level and away from speaker vibration. If the turntable or a replacement adaptor is imported, check the supplied power unit and UK plug before connecting it. Compare the seller’s exact package and return terms when you order.
Connect and set up your turntable
Match the output to the input
- Powered speakers or amplifier LINE/AUX: turn on the built-in phono stage (LINE on the Audio-Technica decks; ON on the Denon), then connect RCA to a suitable analogue input.
- Amplifier PHONO input: turn off the deck’s built-in phono stage (PHONO on the Audio-Technica decks; OFF on the Denon) so the signal passes through one phono stage.
- Bluetooth speakers: pair the LP60XBT with a compatible receiving device and control listening volume at the speaker or headphones.
Using LINE output into a PHONO input applies phono equalisation twice and can sound distorted. A Bluetooth speaker needs to accept an audio signal from the turntable; a phone’s Bluetooth connection to that speaker is a different route. Follow the deck and speaker manuals for the correct input and volume setting.
Set the deck on a stable surface
Fit the platter and belt where supplied, remove transport restraints and set the record speed before playing. The automatic Audio-Technica decks need their supplied setup steps even though the arm is preset. For the Denon and LP120XUSB, follow the cartridge instructions for balance, tracking force and anti-skate. Our turntable setup guide covers the sequence in more detail.
Records, styluses and useful upgrades
Replace the stylus by its condition and maker guidance
Keep the stylus clean and use the replacement part specified for the fitted cartridge. A worn or damaged tip can mistrack and harm a record, so stop playing if you hear new distortion on clean records or see damage. The LP60X models take an ATN3600L replacement stylus; the LP120XUSB’s supplied AT-VM95E cartridge takes an AT-VMN95E replacement stylus, while the Denon cartridge has its own compatible replacement. See our stylus replacement guide before handling the small parts.
Protect the records you collect
Lift records by the edge and label, return them to clean sleeves and store them upright away from heat. Brush visible dust with a suitable record brush. A clean record and properly set stylus matter more than chasing a new component at the first sign of noise. Our vinyl storage guide and second-hand record advice cover the practical details.
The bottom line
Choose the AT-LP60X for the simplest sensible first wired setup. Buy the AT-LP60XBT if Bluetooth output is a real requirement, the Denon DP-300F if you want automatic play with a more adjustable arm, or the AT-LP120XUSB if you want manual control, USB output and a cartridge upgrade path. Allow for speakers, an appropriate input and a stable shelf as part of the purchase.
Frequently asked questions
Which turntable is best for a complete beginner?
The Audio-Technica AT-LP60X is the simplest wired starting point here. It starts and returns the arm automatically and has a switchable built-in phono stage. Add suitable speakers.
Do I need speakers with a turntable?
Yes. These four decks have no built-in speakers. Use powered speakers with a compatible line input, or an amplifier and passive speakers. The LP60XBT can also send audio to compatible Bluetooth speakers.
Do I need a separate phono preamp?
Each shortlisted deck includes a switchable phono stage. For a line input, turn the built-in stage on (LINE on Audio-Technica; ON on Denon). For an amplifier’s phono input, turn it off (PHONO on Audio-Technica; OFF on Denon). Use one phono stage.
Can the AT-LP60X cartridge be upgraded?
Its cartridge and tracking setup are fixed. You can replace its ATN3600L stylus when needed. Choose the Denon DP-300F or AT-LP120XUSB if changing cartridges is a priority.
Can the AT-LP120XUSB play 78rpm records?
The motor has a 78rpm setting, but shellac 78s need an appropriate 78rpm stylus or cartridge rather than the supplied microgroove stylus.
Does a Bluetooth turntable connect to a phone?
The AT-LP60XBT transmits record audio to compatible Bluetooth speakers or headphones. It is not a Bluetooth receiver for playing phone audio.