Best Turntable (Table + Arm + Cartridge): EMT 928 II

EMT’s elegant new turntable is the embodiment of simplicity and refinement. The German company Elektromesstechnik (EMT) was founded in 1940 and built a reputation with professional broadcast turntables that command a small fortune today. EMT is now Swiss owned and made, and best known for its range of superb phono cartridges. The 928 II turntable is a recent offering. Weighing 50 pounds, it is machined from a cast aluminum block that belies its thin form, with a heavy belt-driven platter that spins at three speeds via a DC motor, itself powered by the ‘table’s built-in, rechargeable battery power supply. The benefit of battery power is the elimination of noise introduced by the power grid affecting the delicate low-level audio signal. The system comes with EMT’s nine-inch 909-HI tonearm and EMT JSD Pure Black moving-coil phono cartridge. EMT’s 12-inch tonearm can be added to the rear of the 928 II with an adapter, making this a perfect solution for vinyl lovers using multiple cartridges. —