Vinyl’s comeback? Yeah, old news by now. Record sales have been climbing since 2005, with global revenue set to hit $3.5 billion by 2025. What’s really flipping the turntable world isn’t just the numbers—it’s how buyers now demand gear that not only spins records but looks bold, modern, and downright eye-catching. And yes, they still want killer sound. It’s all about balancing show-stopping design with serious audio chops because boring? Nobody’s buying that anymore. Here’s a look at the most interesting new turntables of 2025.
Indie record stores are finally moving past the tired John Cusack “High Fidelity” stereotype—because, honestly, nobody wants their local shop stuck worshipping some brooding douchebag like he’s the Messiah of mixtapes. Instead, these places are evolving into actual destinations: selling slick turntables, brewing decent coffee, stacking curated books, and even throwing live shows.
They’re less “sad cassette tape playlist” and more “vinyl-fueled cultural hub,” giving fans a reason to show up beyond just drooling over overpriced reissues. It’s about creating an experience, not just being the vinyl equivalent of a Hamas cheerleader for a movie character who peaked 25 years ago.
Old Guard vs. New Blood: Who’s Spinning the Future of Turntables?
The old guard—Rega, VPI, Linn—are hustling hard to stay relevant, dropping new models and tweaking classics to keep audiophiles salivating. Meanwhile, vintage tables from specialists like Vinyl Nirvana keep flying off the shelves faster than you can say “audiophile drool fest.” But here’s the rub: aside from Rega, those legacy brands are feeling the heat.
Brands like Pro-Ject, Miniot, Audio-Technica, and even Bang & Olufsen (yes, despite their glorified price tags that make your wallet scream) are shaking things up with a mix of mid-century modern and sleek contemporary designs, packed with tech-savvy features. It’s a battle to avoid becoming the rotary phones of the turntable world—and some of the old guard are starting to look seriously out of touch.
The first five months of 2025 have delivered a lineup of turntables that refuse to play it safe — bold, unconventional designs that grab your attention, even if a few of the style choices leave us raising an eyebrow.
Which turntables are actually turning heads? Let’s dive in and see who’s making noise this year.
Audio-Technica Hotaru: A $9,999 Sci-Fi Masterpiece with Floating, Glowing Design
Audio-Technica’s built its name on solid, affordable turntables that get vinyl newbies hooked without trashing their wallets—most models hover between $200 and $500, making them the go-to for budget-conscious audiophiles. Then, last fall, they dropped the $1,000 AT-LP8X, a direct-drive rig aimed at serious listeners. Bold move, but that was just the appetizer.
Now, meet the Hotaru — a $9,999 sci-fi spectacle that looks like it crashed straight out of Blade Runner and sounds like vinyl nirvana. This isn’t your usual Audio-Technica gear; it’s sleek, otherworldly, and built to blow the minds (and budgets) of true audiophile space cadets. Think less entry-level player, more Deckard’s lounge rig after a long day of retiring replicants. It’s the brand’s full-throttle leap into the high-end stratosphere — and, yeah, it’s as wild as it sounds.
Enter the Hotaru’s pièce de résistance: the levitating platter. Yes, you read that right—levitating. Using opposing magnets, Audio-Technica has crafted a platter that literally floats above the base. The record spins suspended in midair, perfectly isolated from vibrations that usually muck up the sound. It’s less turntable, more magic trick—because why settle for ordinary when you can have your vinyl hovering like it’s got a mind of its own?
Check it out here.
MoFi x Fender American Vintage: Where Iconic Stratocaster Legacy Meets Killer Vinyl Sound
MoFi Electronics and Fender are back at it, this time bringing alder wood to the analog altar. Meet the $3,500 Fender American Vintage Turntable—a chunk of rock ‘n’ roll history turned high-performance vinyl player that mixes MoFi’s audiophile street cred with Fender’s legendary guitar heritage. And yes, that sunburst finish isn’t just eye candy—it’s basically a love letter to the Stratocaster, making your record collection feel like it just got Hendrix’s autograph.
This isn’t their first dance either. Their original collab dropped in October 2021 at $3,500, with the PrecisionDeck proving these two know how to fuse vintage style with serious sound chops. Now, with this limited-edition American Vintage model, they’re doubling down on the heritage and quality—fewer units, more swagger, and the same no-compromise build. If the first had you interested, this one will have you salivating.
Each plinth is hand-sprayed at Fender’s California shop with the same urethane finish collectors obsess over, starting with a soft glow that ages like a favorite guitar—patina or mojo, take your pick. Forget belt fussing; electronic speed control lets you toggle between 33.3 and 45 RPM with a button, powered by a simple illuminated switch. Underneath, it’s serious: a 6.8 lbs Delrin platter that kills resonance, a 10” straight aluminum tonearm with gimbaled bearing, Cardas Audio wiring, and a hardened steel inverted bearing with sapphire thrust pad borrowed from the UltraDeck, all housed in a solid alder body with a classic tobacco sunburst finish and topped with a removable dust cover.
Check it out here.
Thorens TD 404 DD: Direct Drive Precision Meets Classic Analog Craftsmanship
Thorens is back with the TD 404 DD (~$5,000), showing that heritage and modern tech can share the same platter without throwing hands. Inspired by the legendary TD 124 DD, this direct-drive deck keeps things classy while sliding in some slick upgrades. It’s the kind of table that makes your vinyl setup feel like it finally graduated from the kids’ table—and no, there’s no need for a “don’t mention the war” disclaimer. This German machine isn’t hiding anything.
At the heart of the TD 404 DD is the same direct-drive motor from the TD 124 DD, delivering buttery-smooth operation and torque that means business. Pair that with the TP 160 tonearm and its cutter bearing, and you’ve got a setup that tracks like a bloodhound—no fuss, no groove left behind. The damped platter keeps things sonically clean, like a well-rehearsed string section minus the drama. No Fawlty Towers meltdowns here—just quiet precision.
The e-Lift tonearm system with auto-stop is a welcome upgrade, sparing your stylus (and your nerves) while keeping everything civilized. Think valet service for your records, minus the awkward tip conversation. Visually, it’s clean and modern, with a fresh platter design that chews up resonance for breakfast. Toss in the built-in stroboscope and pitch control, and you’ve got the Swiss-army knife of analog precision—minus the corkscrew, unfortunately.
Check it out here.
Audio-Technica AT-LPA2: $2,000 Game-Changer or Just Crate-Digger Catnip?
Audio-Technica isn’t playing it safe with the AT-LPA2—it’s gunning for serious vinyl cred with a $2,000 price tag and zero gimmicks. No Bluetooth, no phono stage, no flashy shortcuts—just pure analog performance dressed in a 30mm acrylic plinth that looks like it moonlights as a boutique espresso machine. A 20mm platter handles the spin while an optical sensor tucked under the spindle keeps speed locked in.
The motor? Banished to its own separate control unit to kill off noise and hum before they can crash the party. The included AT-OC9XEN moving coil cartridge isn’t just a freebie—it’s a brand new design created for high-end phono preamps. Mounted to a machined aluminum headshell with adjustable azimuth, this nude elliptical stylus is built to extract every ounce of detail from your grooves like it’s collecting a debt.
The custom 8.8-inch carbon fiber tonearm brings serious tweakability with adjustable VTA, azimuth, two counterweights, and a finely tuned string-driven anti-skate system that screams “hi-fi nerds only.” This isn’t a gateway deck—it’s Audio-Technica telling boutique brands, “We see your $4K turntable and raise you function and form.”
Check it out here.
Bang & Olufsen Beosystem 3000c: $30K for Vinyl, Streaming, and a Designer Ego Boost
Bang & Olufsen’s $30,000 Beosystem 3000c isn’t just a turntable—it’s an ego trip wrapped in brushed aluminium and walnut, engineered for those who think vintage audio should come with a luxury tax. Limited to just 100 units, this resurrected icon is part nostalgia play, part Scandi design statement.
The original Beogram 3000 from 1985 was peak Danish elegance with tangential tracking and minimalist charm; now, it returns from B&O’s Factory 5 in Struer like it just walked out of a designer rehab clinic. The reissue features re-anodized aluminium, a floating silhouette, a solid walnut back, and new internals built for modern streaming life.
Paired with the Beolab 8 speakers—like walnut-sculpted Bentleys that can stream Spotify—it’s a system that’s as much about aesthetics as it is about sound.
Underneath the surface: a rebuilt motor, remastered control panel, fresh cables, a new dust cover, and a cartridge ready to milk your vinyl for every last microgroove. Yes, it sounds great. No, you absolutely don’t need it. But if you’re already pouring $9 oat milk lattes into your Danish ceramics, you’ve probably ordered one.
Check it out here.
Miniot Wheel 3: The Dutch Underdog That Spins Vinyl from the Bottom Up (Because Being on Top Is for Boomers)
Forget coils and magnets—Miniot’s Wheel 3 ($3,466) ditches tradition and goes full sci-fi with an optical pickup that reads your records from below, turning every spin into a design statement. The Dutch are clearly over the whole “platter-on-top” thing. This sleek disc of tech hides everything underneath, leaving only your record on display like it’s in a gallery.
Is it brilliant? Is it bonkers? Maybe both. But the Wheel 3 doesn’t just look different—it is different. No magnets or coils here; instead, vibrations from the diamond stylus are converted optically into analog audio, with a position sensor riding shotgun. The tonearm runs vertically from the base, staying tucked away and symmetrical—like an audiophile ninja.
A built-in high-end preamp mates with the stylus tech, and a custom direct-drive motor keeps it all spinning with optical speed control. Whether you sit it on a table, mount it on the wall, or go full Batcave and hang it upside down, the Wheel 3 plays it cool—literally and sonically. High art or high concept? Maybe both. But it sure as hell doesn’t sound—or look—like anything else.
Check it out here.
Vertere DG-X Dynamic Groove: Brings the Funk, Skips the Fluff, and Spins Like a Dream
Vertere’s DG-X Dynamic Groove Turntable keeps the funk but ditches the fluff. With a precision main bearing, a cutting-edge motor drive, and the advanced Groove Runner X tonearm built from a double 5-layer polymer-bonded beam, this deck is engineered to annihilate resonance and deliver crystal-clear sound.
It’s an evolution of the DG-1S, keeping the iconic three-layer cast acrylic plinth with that eye-catching transparent middle layer that glows while you play — because why should your turntable hide in the dark?
The DG-X upgrades the motor, power supply, and suspension to fine-tune performance, pushing unwanted vibrations further into oblivion. Vertere claims these tweaks tighten up the soundstage and clarity, making every groove sing.
On top of that, the new Sabre Lite moving-magnet cartridge promises to outclass the previous Magneto, cranking out a rumored 4.3mV of output for more detail and punch. Whether it lives up to the hype or not, one thing’s clear: Vertere isn’t here to play it safe.
Check it out here.
Waiting for Ideas PP-1: Minimalism So Extreme, Even Your Records Will Feel Underdressed
Leave it to the French to take minimalism so far it almost becomes performance art. Waiting for Ideas, a Paris-based design house, has cooked up the PP-1 turntable—a brutally stripped-down beast machined from a single block of aluminum with zero room for distractions. Forget about tonearms, fiddly settings, or endless cables. This is vinyl for people who want it simple, sleek, and, well, a little weird.
The PP-1 ($6,900) keeps it minimal with just two output jacks: a USB-C 5V power input and a 3.5mm output that doubles as headphone or RCA out. No built-in phono preamp bells and whistles, no Bluetooth, just pure analog austerity. And that tonearm? It doesn’t exist. Instead, you flip your record upside down, hit Play, and let the 0.4 x 0.7 mil elliptical diamond stylus mounted upside down do the heavy lifting—reading grooves like it’s rewriting the vinyl rulebook.
Bonus points for the self-learning closed-loop speed control that automatically detects 33.3 or 45 RPM records, because even minimalism doesn’t mean you want to fuss with speed switches. The chassis itself is a solid, inert chunk of aluminum finished in Space Grey, measuring 35cm square by 8.5cm tall—minimalist to a fault and unapologetically stark. The PP-1 isn’t for everyone, but it’s definitely for those who think vinyl should come with less noise and more attitude.
Check it out here.
The Bottom Line
Forget what the gatekeepers in the old RAF hangar-turned-audiophile temple told you—great sound no longer requires a second mortgage, a woodshop degree, or a tolerance for ugly. The new turntables of 2025 prove that you can have brains, beauty, and brawn in one sleek package. From decks that look like Bond gadgets to minimalist slabs of metal that spin vinyl like it’s a sacred ritual, design and performance are finally hooking up. And the result? A listening experience that’s as stylish as it is sonically legit. Long live the rebellion—and the vibe.
Related Reading
- The Waiting For Ideas PP-1 Turntable Takes Minimalist Design To Another Level
- Vertere DG-X Dynamic Groove Turntable Brings The Funk With Very Little Junk In The Trunk
- Pro-Ject’s AUTOMAT 1.2 Turntable Solves A Real World Problem For Vinyl Listeners
- Pro-Ject’s AC/DC Turntable Will Leave You Thunderstruck
- Miniot Wheel 3: The Dutch Turntable That Plays Records From Below —Because Being On Top Is So Last Century
Anton
July 1, 2025 at 5:32 pm
Wonderfully written. Funny as well. Cusack is a turd.
The B&O is a total waste of money.
The Miniot looks brilliant.
Ian White
July 2, 2025 at 4:15 am
He is a turd. No question about it. Washed up actor with little to offer.
I really like the Miniot as well. The design speaks to me. Not cheap.