Turntables
Buying guides for used turntables: direct-drive decks, tonearms and cartridges. What to check, which versions to look for, and what they sell for.
- Linn Sondek LP12 Since 1972 the LP12 has been upgraded piece by piece, so no two used ones are quite alike. Here's how to work out exactly which LP12 you're looking at, what each upgrade changed, and what to check before you pay. Updated 5 November 2026
- Technics SL-1200MK2 Quartz-locked, direct-drive and built to be played hard. Here's how to check a used SL-1200MK2 properly, what the specs mean in the booth, and how it differs from the later MK5. Updated 5 November 2026
- Technics SL-1200MK5 Same deck, two colours, a few smart upgrades over the MK2. Here's how to check a used SL-1200MK5 or SL-1210MK5, and which controls to put through their paces before you hand over the cash. Updated 5 November 2026
- Technics SP-10MK2 A quartz-locked direct-drive motor unit with a separate power supply and a quarter-second start. Here's what you actually get with a used SP-10MK2, what you still need to add, and what to check before you pay. Updated 5 November 2026
- Thorens TD 124 Four speeds, a heavy two-piece platter and a lit strobe, built from 1957 to 1965. Here's what to check on a used TD 124, and how to avoid buying the wrong one. Updated 5 November 2026