Best Direct-Drive Turntables: Top 11 Reviewed

Experience the feel of classic DJ gear with Crosley’s affordable turntable. This manual, direct-drive unit includes a full set of features for aspiring DJs.

The platter is made of aluminum to reduce noise and vibrations for pure listening enjoyment, and the felt slipmat helps with techniques. A further bonus is a built-in preamp, making it slightly more compatible with other audio setups – you won’t need an external preamp.

It features a start/stop control with a variable pitch fader, which offers a +/- 10% pitch range. This is a bit limited in comparison to most turntables on this list but is good enough for a casual vinyl mix.

The direct-drive engine offers both 33⅓ and 45 rpm speeds with a good level of speed accuracy. The torque felt responsive enough to work for scratch DJs, but it wasn’t as strong as the best DJ turntables on this list.

The S-shaped tonearm has a hydraulic lift, calibration, and a removable generic headshell. This is a useful feature as it means you can easily upgrade the cartridge for a better sound later on and aren’t restricted to a single type.

Although the included Audio Technica cartridge is ok and is worth around $20 on its own.

This is a DJ-style direct-drive turntable with the addition of USB functionality. The main selling point of this is the USB port, which lets you record digital files and use mixing software with ease. You don’t find this feature in many turntables!

With all the standard components, these affordable turntables are made by the reliable brand Gemini. These have a better reputation than Crossley and offer well-designed products at a range of prices.

It features adjustable isolation feet, which help you get the right balance, and prevent interference from speakers. The motor response was great too and gets back up to full speed nearly instantly. It offers 3 speeds, and a +/- 10% pitch slider – it has everything you need to start mixing.

Gemini TT-4000 offers advanced features for the serious vinyl collector. The Direct-Drive Turntable has a tonearm with all the calibration you need and a removable headshell. The power supply and RCA cables can also be unplugged, so they are easy to replace if broken.

The Reloop 4000 MK2 is a direct drive turntable that offers the perfect solution for DJing and is a close emulation of the Technics SL-1200. It has all the features you need to mix from scratch or improve your skills. It has a pretty superb sound for the cost, and it comes at a good price too.

The quartz-driven motor ensures seamless playback with no skips or jumps. It’s easy to calibrate and easy to use. You can switch the pitch range between +/- 8% and +/- 16%, letting you alter tempo speeds with even more depth.

Having this extra level of control over the rotation speed is helpful if you like to mix a wider variety of music.

The arm can be calibrated to provide better tracking and more accurate scratching, while the slip mat and platter are included. The high torque motor had a great feeling too and was quick to respond to techniques.

If you’re looking for a relatively affordable turntable with amazing features and top-quality sound, the Pioneer PLX-500 is a perfect choice. The deck is tough and great for DJs who want to spin right out of the box.

Pioneer’s new turntable is great for new or experienced viny mixers. It has everything you need and nothing you don’t. The built-in preamps let you plug straight into your mixer and the USB port lets you record your set directly to your PC.

This high-quality turntable has a powerful direct-drive mechanism that’s ideal for scratching or mixing. It features an S-shaped tonearm with calibration and a removable headshell. This model comes with a cartridge, so you won’t need to buy one.

The sound quality is excellent for the price and the performance is smooth, accurate, and reliable. It features a quartz speed lock, ensuring the pitch is as accurate as possible.  It even comes with a dust cover, with a built-in sleeve stand so you can store jackets and other records when not in use.

The Audio-Technica AT-LP120 is the ultimate weapon for vinyl DJs. Whether you’re a pro or a hobbyist, this turntable will give you the power to perform at any event with accuracy and professionalism. This is a solid direct-drive vinyl player and has a strong set of features.

It’s tough enough to handle years of abuse, so you won’t have to worry about your turntables giving up on you. With +/- 8 or 16% pitch range and 3 speeds, this deck lets you mix almost any record and runs consistently at any speed.

The Audio-Technica AT-LP120 is a manual turntable with a fully-featured tonearm. It has all the core calibration with VTF, anti-skate, and lockable rest.

It also doubles up as a digital interface, as the USB output lets you connect the turntable to your PC or Mac computer, enabling you to record music files in common digital formats. This means you can listen to your records on the go.

The Audio-Technica ATLP1240 turntable is a live performance, DJ, and recording tool that takes a classic turntable design and brings it into the era of modern technology.

One noticeable unique feature of this deck is the dual start/stop buttons, designed to support landscape or portrait layouts.

Inspired by old-school mechanics, the Audio Technica LP1240 is a user-friendly option for music lovers and DJs alike with an anti-resonance platter and adjustable pitch control. The ATLP1240 offers a very satisfying and detailed vinyl sound.

It includes a phono stage preamp too, which makes it easy to plug into other gear.

You can also enjoy the reverse playback mode, which spins the deck in the opposite direction for a fun and unique effect. The anti-resonant platter offers a good amount of isolation and has a clean sound and feel. This unit also contains a USB interface, so you can record directly to your PC.

It features motor torque adjustment controls, letting you tweak the start and break power to get your preferred feel. The overall sound of this unit is decent too, and it comes with a decent cartridge, although it can easily be upgraded or replaced.

Durable and powerful, the Reloop 7000 MK2 lets you enjoy a direct-drive performance with a high level of vibration resistance; a heavy body, precision pitch control with quartz lock, and more.

The Reloop 7000 MK2 is a well-designed turntable, and you can easily notice the extra level of attention to detail in the production process. It doesn’t feature a USB connection, although the cheap interfaces they usually use in turntables probably wouldn’t do the sound quality justice.

The heavy body of this turntable is made out of extra vibration-resistant materials, and the adjustable tonearm & counterweight allow for the best possible playback quality. It has a speed switch for choosing between 33 ⅓, 45, and 78 RPM.

This turntable also includes a reverse playback mode for versatile use. You’ll find other features like the quartz-locked accurate pitch slider and two start-stop buttons for horizontal or vertical setups.

The Pioneer PLX-1000 is a professional turntable that’s perfect for both DJs and enthusiasts. This turntable is one of the best in the industry and priced just under $700, it’s a strong challenger to industry classics like 1210.

With +/- 8, 16, or 50% pitch variance, this deck has the highest level of speed versatility available and can be used for extreme beatmatching techniques.

It offers an exceptionally clean sound, thanks in part to the high-mass body that minimizes resonance. With a removable power cable and audio cable, it’s easy to use and maintain.

The PLX-1000 is a professional DJ turntable that sets a new benchmark for performance and build quality. Featuring Pioneer’s all-new proprietary direct-drive motor with high torque and stability.

It has a highly rigid body, making it very resistant to feedback caused by impulsive sound and vibration. You can play it loud for hours on end without any worry of interference.

The PLX-1000 delivers a precise sound that is a leader in its price band. Another useful feature is the removable cables which are easy to replace if broken.

This groovy-looking futuristic turntable is an attractive choice for DJs. With a high torque motor, isolation feet, and isolated motor – it feels and sounds like a top-end turntable.

The VL12 features a beautiful ring of light that enhances any room, with color selection and brightness control.

With switchable low or high torque motor settings and adjustable pitch control, the VL12 performs well in any situation.

The price is high, but the features and manufacturing are worth every penny. The light is a cool addition that gives it a unique visual edge.

Welcome to the legend. Welcome to the Technics 1200. The industry standard since 1972, this DJ turntable is the most dependable and durable in its class. With a variety of features like 8 or 16 pitch control, 3-speed modes, and a removable power cord, it’s easy to see why so many DJs worldwide have made Technics their turntable of choice.

DJs and club-goers around the world have come to rely on Technics 1200. The best turntable for DJs and nightclubs in the industry is dependable, strong, and durable. It’s been through many generations throughout the years, with the MK7 being the most recent rendition of the 1200 series.

It includes a precision tonearm with a technical headshell (this model does not include a cartridge). The overall sound and build quality of this is one of the best out there in terms of DJ decks.

A high-grade audiophile turntable, perfect for listening to music. This is not suitable for DJs, as it does not include a pitch slider. But, this is an exceptionally high-quality direct-drive record player and is one of the best on the consumer market.

The Technics SL-1500 is a high-quality direct-drive record player designed for audiophiles. It has 3 different rotation speeds and an on/off control. It also has a stop lift function that lifts the needle when you switch off the power, decreasing wear and tear.

The Technics 1500 also has a built-in phono preamp with either a phono or line-level output, depending on what you need.