What are the best DJ turntables below $500?
There are many reasons DJs want to add a turntable to their setup. For one, many people much prefer the sound of vinyl rather than digital. The main reason vinyl sounds better is due to zero compression and zero data loss. When music is compressed down to a digital file, the overall quality is significantly reduced.
Instruments get lost with specific frequencies, and everything feels squashed. Vinyl has a way of bringing all the instruments, harmonies, and frequencies to life with a clear balance. After many Djs heard vinyl with their turntable for the first time, many couldn’t stand the sound of digital music anymore.
The veteran DJs believe true DJ skill comes with the more hands-on experience of using a turntable rather than their eyes glued to a laptop. They also believe you will be much more respected as a DJ using a turntable. While many people in the audience don’t care what the DJ is using to blast the music, there is still a large amount who do respect the old-school style of a turntable.
There are pros and cons to turntable DJs with vinyl in comparison to laptop DJs with digital music. DJs with turntables have better-sounding music with vinyl, are more respected by other DJs and to some in the audience, and have a lot more fun throughout the gig.
The cons of a turntable DJ are the extra money to purchase vinyl adds up, and much more vinyl to carry around. DJs who primarily use laptops to hold their music have much more versatility, along with a much wider selection of music. DJs who want to use their music must use a laptop as well. Without further ado, for the DJs who want a budget-friendly turntable, here is our list of the top 9 best DJ turntables below $500.
In Short, Here Are The Best Affordable DJ Turntables Under $500
- Jensen JTA-230
- Numark NTX1000
- Audio-Technica AT-LP60
- Pioneer Pro PLX-500-K
- Reloop RP-2000-M
- Audio-Technica AT-LP1240-USB
- Audio-Technica ATLP120USB
- Reloop RP-7000 MK2
- Stanton T52B
1. Numark NTX1000
First up, the Numark NTX1000 is a professional DJ turntable that provides excellent performance. Highly rated across the board, this unit is an excellent bang for the buck running below $500. It has a high-quality setup and fantastic build quality. With this turntable, you will not have any issues with longevity. The pitch control works exceptionally well and efficiently without any problems. Coming with the purchase is an attachable glass cover to protect it from spills, dust, or accidents.
The height-adjustable tonearm is very convenient and certainly comes in handy. While that feature might be overlooked at first, you will find it very useful in the long run. A very beneficial factor the Numark NTX1000 offers is its high-torque motor aluminum platter. It enables decent scratching abilities and smooth spins back to playback speed. The setup is pretty easy and straightforward. Overall, the Numark NTX1000 is a great bang for the buck DJ turntable that is great for both gigging DJs and vinyl lovers. We definitely recommend it.
Details & Tech Specs
- 2-speed design
- High-torque motor
- Great for scratching
- Great feedback rejection
- Glass cover
- Pitch control
- 4 adjustable feet on the bottom
- Adjustable Light for vinyl
- Ports: USB, RCA, Power supply, and Rhono switch
2. Audio-Technica AT-LP60
Next up, the automatic belt-drive Audio-Technica AT-LP60 is another excellent turntable below $500 for DJs. It has an Integral dual magnet phono cartridge in which the diamond stylus can be replaceable if you choose.
On the back of the unit, you will find two built-in RCA cables and one USB jack. The dust cover is sturdy, and the table itself is well designed for the low price. This turntable proves two speeds, 33 RPM, and 45 RPM. The speeds can be switched with the button on the bottom left. Since the AT-LP60 is entirely automatic, it provides a 7″ or 12″ inch switch depending on what type of record your playing.
Something I find very beneficial about the Audio-Technica AT-LP60 is the full-sized platter with its overall compact design. This fact alone an added convenience of portability while maintaining its full-size platter. Another thing I find highly beneficial is its Bluetooth capabilities. Although DJs may not need Bluetooth for there turntable, it is a nice feature to have for home use.
Overall, the Audio-Technica AT-LP60 is an excellent turntable at an affordable price. It has good sound quality and reliability. The only downside I noticed is the audio may skip a beat if the turntable is shaken a bit.
Details & Tech Specs
- Integral dual magnet phono cartridge
- Stereo
- Dust cover
- Size settings bar: 12″ or 7″
- Automatic belt-drive
- Front button: Start, stop, up and down for stylus
- 2 speed
- Built-in RCA cables and USB jack
- Build: Aluminimum platter, ABS plastic body
- Compact
3. Pioneer Pro PLX-500-K
The company Pioneer has been one of the leaders in innovating DJ equipment since June 2004 when they released the very first DVD player for DJs. Later in 2014, a part of their company branched off to specifically focus on DJ equipment. Since then, you have seen some of the most popular DJ controllers, monitor speakers, decks, DJ software, DJ headphones, and of course, DJ turntables. Hence, the Pioneer Pro PLX-500-K is an excellent turntable specifically designed for DJ use.
There are various reasons why we like this turntable for DJs. First and foremost, the sound quality is abnormally great for the low price. Many say the sound quality produced by this unit can stand toe-to-toe with turntables double its price. It comes with a pitch fader and three speeds, 33 RPM, 45 RPM, and 78 RPM. With the Pioneer Pro PLX-500-K, you can scratch. However, we recommend not scratching too vigorously with this unit considering the slow acceleration time.
One of the main downsides this unit has is its plastic build. Plastic build tends to attract vibration, which could lead to negative consequences if used next to a loudspeaker. However, many people claim it is not an issue. Overall, the Pioneer Pro PLX-500-K is a great DJ turntable for the low price. We highly recommend it for entry-level DJs.
Details & Tech Specs
- Pitch fader
- USB jack
- Phono/line switch
- 3-speed selector: 33 RPM, 45 RPM, and 78 RPM.
4. Reloop RP-2000-M
Next up, the 2-speed Reloop RP-2000-M is a direct drive turntable customized for DJs. Here is yet another highly-rated great bang for the buck unit well below $500. It is very durable and has a nice metallic design. The high powered motor helps accurately beat match your music without skips.
Keep in mind that many of the higher-end turntables produce much more torque. However, the RP-2000 certainly provides a powerful motor for the price. The controls work exceptionally well with a great pitch fader response.
The Reloop RP-2000-M DJ turntable is overall a great entry-level choice. It is well priced, provides good sound, has a great pitch control, and decently built. If you’re a gigging DJ on a budget, you will most likely be pleased with this turntable.
Details & Tech Specs
- Phono/line
- Direct drive
- 2-speeds
- Pitch fader
- Quartz-driven
- All metal construction
- High powered motor
5. Audio-Technica AT-LP1240-USB
One of the highest-rated turntables on the market, the Audio-Technica AT-LP1240-USB is an excellent choice. While this system was previously running at $449, they knocked it down to $359. We are not entirely sure whether the massive $90 markdown is temporary or permanent. Either way, we believe this system is an incredible bang for the buck. This turntable is specifically optimized for DJ use. Don’t let the low price fool you; it is more than capable of gigging and touring for most applications. It is entirely manual with separate speeds; 35-RPM, 45-RPM, and 78-RPM.
The high-powered direct-drive motor is very powerful. It is highly capable of scratching without any issues. Not only do DJs rave about this turntable, but audiophiles who want to enjoy great-sounding vinyl quality love it as well. The sound quality is fantastic. This system produces much better sound quality than many turntables twice its price. Designed for longevity, it has a terrific build quality and excellent durability. Overall, the Audio-Technica AT-LP1240-USB is an absolutely incredible DJ turntable below $500. We highly recommend it.
Details & Tech Specs
- Balanced tone arm (S-shaped)
- Detachable cables
- All metal tone-arm
- Great for DJs and audiophiles
- Comes with a slip-on dust cover
- Analog
- 3-speed: 33/45/78 RPM
- Aluminum stroboscopic platter
- USB output able to directly connect to a computer
- Anti-resonance capabilities
- High-powered direct-drive motor
6. Audio-Technica ATLP120USB
Here is yet another popular and high-rated DJ turntable at a low-price point. The Audio-Technica ATLP120USB is another excellent bang for the buck running well below $500. It provides three speeds: 33, 45, or 78 RPM. With a built-in USB, you can plug it directly into a computer. Something I like is the responsive pitch control that’s reasonably accurate. With its built-in pre-amp, the sound quality is extremely good for the affordable price.
One of the most surprising perks with the Audio-Technica ATLP120USB is the incredible build quality at the low price. The overwhelming majority of turntables in their price range of $250 don’t provide robust durability as this turntable does. It’s overall very sturdy and doesn’t have any weak parts that we can find.
Overall, this turntable is great for entry-level DJs or anyone who enjoys listening to vinyl with excellent sound. Its USB capabilities mixed with the low price are great reasons to give the ATLP120USB a look. Be sure to check the reviews below.
Details & Tech Specs
- Built-in USB
- Robust tone-arm
- Direct drive
- 3-speed 33/45/78 RPM
- Built-in preamp
- Responsive pitch control
7. Reloop RP-7000 MK2
Barely below $500, the Reloop RP-7000 MK2 is the most expensive DJ turntable on this list, and for a good reason. This turntable is merely incredible. Reloop, the audio and DJ gear company, hit a home run with this turntable. The RP-7000 is a high-grade turntable that is capable of professional DJ use of any application such as nightclubs, festivals, weddings, or corporate events. Built like a solid tank, it has an impeccable build quality. This unit is definitely designed for maximum longevity.
One of the best uses for DJs with this turntable is its incredible scratching performance. You will not need to hold back on scratching with this unit. The motor is robust and has no issues with accelerating back to average speed after scratches. Better yet, it provides a torque boost if needed. In terms of sound quality, you will be more than pleased with the high-quality audio.
Overall, the Reloop RP-7000 MK2 is an excellent DJ turntable below $500. We recommend it for gigging to touring professional DJs.
Details & Tech Specs
- Direct-drive
- Excellent at scratching
- S-shaped tone knob
8. Stanton T52B
The Stanton T52B is a decent DJ turntable at an abnormally low price. Currently running below $120, this unit is one of the most affordable on the list. Keep in mind; it didn’t make our list of top 9 for nothing. It still has a lot to offer for the low price. Coming with the purchase is a cloth dust cover, RCA cables, slip-mat, and a Stanton 300 cartridge.
The tonearm is straight, and the build is decent for the price. The belt-driven turntable is an excellent entry-level choice for DJs. It offers two speeds; 33 RPM or 45 RPM.
One of the most remarkable features of this budget-friendly turntable is the excellent cartridge. It provides a much better sound quality than anyone would expect at this price. As a matter of fact, one of the main reasons why the Stanton T52B made our list is due to the high-quality sound.
Overall, if you’re looking for a non-USB turntable with a decent pitch control and suitable cartridge at the lowest price possible, the Stanton T52B is the choice for you.
Details & Tech Specs
- Arm belt-drive
- Straight tone-arm
- Pitch control
- 2-speed: 33 RPM or 45 RPM
9. Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC Turntable
Last but not least, the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC Turntable is an incredible turntable for DJs or even audiophiles. Since it provides excellent sound, durability, longevity, and reliability for the low price, it’s one of the more popular and highest-rated turntables on the market.
The sound quality is absolutely stunning for the low price. Something I find unique about this turntable is its carbon-fiber tonearm. Keep in mind, most turntables with a carbon tonearm come at a much higher price. While you can get this unit in 8 different colors, black, silver, and glossy white are at the cheapest price. However, they all come under $500.
It is a manual turntable in which you, the DJ, have full control of the tonearm. This unit is very sturdy and has excellent build quality. You will not encounter any longevity issues along the way. With its simple design and ease of use, the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC Turntable is an excellent pick for anyone new with turntables. However, it still provides excellent sound for DJ performance.
A few people claim minor upgrades significantly enhance this turntable. Overall, the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC Turntable is an excellent value turntable for DJs, audiophiles, or regular people looking for a vinyl player.
Details & Tech Specs
- 8.6″ carbon tonearm
- Manual turntable
- Synchronous motor
- Raved by audiophiles
Our Winner
The Audio-Technica AT-LP1240-USB is our top pick for the absolute best DJ turntable below $500. It is the best bang for the buck and provides the highest performance and quality for its competitive price. It has great sound quality, durability, and reliability. We highly recommend it.
A Quick Recap
Here Are The Best DJ Turntables Under $500
- Jensen JTA-230
- Numark NTX1000
- Audio-Technica AT-LP60
- Pioneer Pro PLX-500-K
- Reloop RP-2000-M
- Audio-Technica AT-LP1240-USB
- Audio-Technica ATLP120USB
- Reloop RP-7000 MK2
- Stanton T52B
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