The 4 turntables they really want on Graduation Day — or for their new apartment — as picked by an audio editor
I test audio kit for a living, and any of these four is the right choice
by https://www.techradar.com/uk/author/becky-scarrott · TechRadarFeatures By Becky Scarrott published 21 June 2026
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It's a huge day. That second you become fully aware that your studying days and nights are finally behind you is one of life's pivotal moments. You only really know it happened because someone tied a ribbon around your results, handed you a robe, and took your photo holding the scroll. But you did it; you got there!
And if the newly liberated student in your life is looking to move into their own place, or simply wanting to chill out with a bit of downtime before 'real work' begins, a turntable is the kind of important gift they might love to receive from you.
As luck would have it, Amazon Prime Day is upon us, and that means some savvy shopping deals may coincide beautifully with your gifting. However, I'm not focusing on that here, despite my obligation to place a link below this piece…
See all early Prime Day deals at Amazon
4 excellent turntables that will last long after they graduate
Pro-Ject Debut Carbon EVO Turntable
Fluance RT87
Sony PS-LX3BT
Victrola Stream Onyx
This mini roundup is simply the four best turntables I recommend as graduation gifts, irrespective of deals. At the time of writing, the cheapest of the lot, the Bluetooth-friendly Sony PS-LX3BT (which is the cheaper sibling of the splendid Sony PS-LX5BT and a direct replacement for the 2019-issue Sony PS-LX310BT), is already discounted by 18% too, meaning you'll now only pay $328 (was $398) on Amazon.
One up from this in terms of pricing is the excellent Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo, which is the top turntable we recommend for most people in our guide to the best turntables. Why do I love it? It just sounds so good for the relatively affordable price. Unlike the Sony above, this one won't ping vinyl audio to your Bluetooth headphones and is more of a traditional-style deck, requiring amplification and hard-wired connections to sing, but that's part of its beauty — they can tailor it to their future!
Want to give them something brand new, hot off the factory floor and for my money, even better-looking than the Pro-Ject? Meet the baby of the bunch, the days-old Fluance RT87. Its winsome looks come largely from what Fluance calls a 'dual plinth', but there's really only one plinth with a novel two-layer design, to eliminate vibrational nasties. It's so new, we've yet to review it, but this is Fluance, a trusted name in audio and a little birdie tells me early signs are resoundingly positive.
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