2026 Turntables Have LANDED! Are You KIDDING ME？ My Top 5 Picks
United States of Analog | January 15, 2026
🎙️ Early Video Analysis
What is this video about?
The host Bob is presenting his top 5 turntable picks for 2026, featuring recently released models from late 2025 and early 2026. He’s taking a new approach of sharing information about products he may not have personally reviewed, similar to watch influencers who discuss luxury items they can’t always get hands-on access to.
What gear, products, or brands are discussed?
- Pro-Ject Debut Reference Ten [00:02:21]
- Price: $1,500 retail
- Features: Black Picket Pro B moving magnet cartridge (valued at ~$300), resonance-defeating acrylic platter, diamond cut aluminum sub-platter, DC AC power generator for noise reduction and speed control, carbon fiber tonearm
- The cartridge comes pre-balanced
- Manual turntable described as “reference level” by Pro-Ject
What are the host’s main opinions or takes so far?
- Bob has a personal connection to Pro-Ject as one of the first turntable companies he discovered in the 90s during the vinyl revival [00:02:27]
- He owned one of the first Project Debut models and believes the company “has come a long way” [00:02:55]
- He’s impressed by the aesthetic: loves the matte black plinth with translucent acrylic platter and machined metal components [00:03:46]
- Considers it “sleek,” “elegant,” and “priced right” [00:04:12]
- Views it as “a little bit of a departure for Project” in terms of design [00:04:07]
- Expresses uncertainty about the Picket cartridge, noting it seems proprietary and likely made by a third party [00:04:18]
Funny moments, strong opinions, or memorable quotes
- “Now, some are priced way out of my comfort zone and maybe yours, too. But that doesn’t mean we can’t lust after them.” [00:00:15]
- Mentions his newfound passion for watches as his “other passion” that only developed in recent years [00:01:39]
- Uses the analogy that “Rolex is not sending out twenty thousand dollar Daytonas to influencers” to explain his new approach [00:01:57]
Summary
Host Bob introduces his top 5 turntable picks for 2026, explaining that he’s adopting a new format inspired by watch influencers who share information about products they can’t always review hands-on. He provides insight into the challenges of being a hi-fi YouTuber, noting the difficulty of securing review products and the complex process of building industry relationships. Bob also shares his recent interest in luxury watches as his “other passion” and draws parallels between the watch and audio industries regarding access to high-end products.
The first turntable featured is the Pro-Ject Debut Reference Ten, priced at $1,500. Bob has a personal connection to Pro-Ject, having owned one of their first Debut models back in the 90s when he was getting back into vinyl during the CD decline. He’s impressed with how far the company has evolved from the early days of the vinyl revival when turntables weren’t quite up to the standards of vintage models from brands like Marantz and Pioneer.
Bob is particularly drawn to the Debut Reference Ten’s aesthetic design, praising the combination of matte black plinth, translucent acrylic platter, and machined metal components as sleek and elegant. He views it as somewhat of a design departure for Pro-Ject and believes it’s competitively priced, especially considering it includes a $300 Picket Pro B moving magnet cartridge that comes pre-balanced. However, he expresses some uncertainty about the proprietary nature of the cartridge, suspecting it’s manufactured by a third party.
⏱️ Mid-Video Analysis
What gear, products, or brands are discussed in this portion?
- Ortofon 2M bronze cartridge [00:04:22]
- Audio Technica ATL-P7X turntable [00:04:44]
- VM 95 series cartridge (elliptical) [00:05:05]
- Fender x Mophie Electronics turntable collaboration [00:06:20]
- Mophie studio deck [00:06:31]
- Mophie ultra gold moving coil cartridge [00:07:03]
What are the host’s key findings, verdicts, or opinions?
- The balanced cartridge requires a balanced preamp to get full benefits [00:04:29]
- Audio Technica ATL-P7X is described as “the Darth Vader of turntables” and looks “heavy and stable as hell” [00:05:25]
- The Fender/Mophie collaboration may be “worth every penny” but you’ll “pay a premium for that finish and the licensing” [00:04:43]
- The new sunburst finish is “a lot calmer” and more vintage compared to the original [00:07:33]
- Mophie decks provide excellent low noise performance and have a unique look [00:07:57]
Any price/value assessments?
- Audio Technica ATL-P7X priced at $1,000 retail [00:04:56]
- VM 95 cartridge is “about right” for the $1,000 price point but “could be a better cartridge” [00:06:00]
- Fender/Mophie turntable costs about $4,000 US [00:08:38]
- Host notes the Fender model is “out of my price comfort zone” [00:06:12]
Any comparisons to other gear mentioned?
- Balanced cartridge compared to Ortofon 2M bronze [00:04:22]
- Host mentions upgrading from his current Mophie studio deck to the Fender model [00:07:49]
- New sunburst finish compared to the original Mophie Fender collaboration as being “calmer” [00:07:33]
Any memorable quotes or strong takes?
- “It’s the Darth Vader of turntables” [00:05:28]
- “I’m a fan boy of Audio Technica” [00:04:41]
- “For some, that finish is going to harken back to the days of the rock gods. You know, Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton. For others, it’s going to seem more like a novelty, maybe a little too much” [00:07:16]
- “I just want one so bad” [00:08:14]
Summary
This portion of the video covers three turntables from the host’s 2026 picks. He begins by discussing a balanced cartridge that’s compared to the Ortofon 2M bronze, emphasizing the need for a balanced preamp. The host then moves to the Audio Technica ATL-P7X, a $1,000 turntable he describes with obvious enthusiasm, calling it the “Darth Vader of turntables” due to its bold black appearance and solid construction.
The Audio Technica features a VM 95 series elliptical cartridge, built-in preamps for both moving magnet and moving coil cartridges, and a damped acrylic platter. While the host appreciates the overall package for the price point, he notes the cartridge could be better but acknowledges it’s appropriate for a $1,000 turntable with upgrade potential to micro line or Shibata styluses.
The final turntable discussed is the Fender/Mophie collaboration, a $4,000 vintage sunburst model that the host openly admits to lusting after since its first generation. Despite being outside his “price comfort zone,” he believes it may be worth every penny, though buyers will pay a premium for the finish and licensing. The turntable features high-end components including a Delrin platter, ultra gold moving coil cartridge, and Cardis wiring, with the host particularly praising Mophie’s low noise performance and unique aesthetic details.
🏁 Final Thoughts & Verdict
What gear, products, or brands are discussed in this final portion:
- [00:08:16] Fender Mophie (brief mention from previous discussion)
- [00:08:24] Technics SL 1200 ME Master Edition – limited production turntable releasing January 2026
- [00:08:43] Host’s current Technics SL 1200 MK7 anniversary model
- [00:10:03] Michelle Audio Revolve turntable – $6,000 UK-made turntable
- [00:09:57] Michelle Audio Techno Deck (mentioned as previously reviewed)
What is the host’s final verdict or conclusion:
- [00:11:16] The host presents these as turntables “to look for in twenty twenty six, early twenty twenty six” for those in the market or interested in where turntable technology is heading
Were there any final recommendations — buy, skip, or consider:
- [00:08:41] Technics 1200 ME: Expects it will be “rich” in price and states he’ll stick with his current MK7 model
- [00:10:35] Michelle Audio Revolve: Calls it “a super nice table” and “a game changer for the people that have the money to afford it”
Any final tips, caveats, or advice for viewers:
- [00:08:41] Warning that the Technics 1200 ME will likely be expensive
- [00:10:41] Advice that the Michelle Audio Revolve is only worthwhile “for the people that have the money to afford it”
- [00:11:01] Recommendation to watch his previous videos about Michelle Audio’s Techno Deck and the company’s connection to “2001 A Space Odyssey”
How did the video wrap up:
- [00:11:27] Standard YouTube engagement requests (like, subscribe, watch another video)
- [00:11:54] Closes with “thank you for being here in the United States of analog”
- [00:11:57] Final sign-off: “Spin some vinyl tonight. Cheers.”
Any memorable closing quotes or strong final opinions:
- [00:10:35] “This is a super nice table and it’s going to be a game changer for the people that have the money to afford it”
- [00:10:46] “I just love the architecture and the design language of the Michelle turntables”
- [00:11:57] “Spin some vinyl tonight. Cheers.”
Summary:
In this final portion, the host covers his top two turntable picks for 2026. The Technics SL 1200 ME Master Edition takes the #4 spot, featuring advanced technology like a twin rotor coreless direct drive motor, magnesium tonearm, and X-gel isolation. Limited to just 1,200 silver and 1,210 black units with commemorative numbering, the host anticipates it will be expensive and opts to keep his current MK7 model instead.
The #5 pick is the Michelle Audio Revolve, a $6,000 turntable from the UK featuring a Delrin platter with brass mass, precision aluminum chassis, and sorbethane feet. The host praises Michelle Audio’s design philosophy as balancing vintage aesthetics with forward-thinking technology, noting how a previous Michelle turntable changed his perspective on what turntables could be. He particularly appreciates their distinctive design language and hopes to review the Revolve in the future.
The host concludes by positioning these as the key turntables to watch in early 2026 for those shopping or curious about technological developments. He wraps up with typical YouTube engagement requests and his signature sign-off encouraging viewers to “spin some vinyl tonight,” maintaining the enthusiastic tone that characterizes audiophile content while being realistic about the premium pricing of these high-end options.
Analysis generated from archived transcripts. Channel: United States of Analog — hi-fi gear reviews, vinyl, and audiophile culture.
