U-Turn Audio Orbit Basic Turntable
Last price we saw
Prices change often: ask the agent below to check today's price at every store.
Prices are checked against each store and labelled with when.
Ask our shopping agent
Our take on the U-Turn Audio Orbit Basic Turntable
The Orbit Basic is U-Turn Audio's entry-level belt-drive turntable, hand assembled in Woburn, Massachusetts. It pairs an OA3 gimbal tonearm with a one-piece magnesium armtube and a pre-installed Audio-Technica AT91B cartridge, so it plays out of the box. The grooved MDF platter and inverted bearing keep resonance low for the price. It is a manual deck: you move the silicone belt to switch between 33 and 45 RPM, and there is no auto-return.
- Cartridge comes pre-installed and aligned
- Magnesium-armtube gimbal tonearm tracks well for the price
- Low-resonance MDF platter with inverted bearing
- Optional built-in Pluto 2 phono preamp
- Hand assembled and tested in Massachusetts
- Light at 11.5 lb and easy to place
U-Turn Audio Orbit Basic Turntable prices at every store
- U-Turn AudioCheck price at U-Turn Audio
U-Turn Audio Orbit Basic Turntable price history
Lowest price we've seen: $249.00 on Oct 31 at U-Turn Audio. Tracked across 1 store since Oct 31.
What reviewers say
Owners and reviewers treat the Orbit Basic as one of the better-sounding budget turntables, with praise for its tonearm and clean, uncolored sound. Complaints center on the manual speed change and the basic stock stylus.
- Sound quality above its price
- Solid tonearm and bearing design
- Simple setup out of the box
- US assembly and support
- Moving the belt to switch to 45 RPM is fiddly
- Stock AT91B stylus is entry level
- No auto-return
From U-Turn Audio
- OA3 precision gimbal tonearm with one-piece magnesium armtube for accurate tracking and low distortion
- Audio-Technica AT91B cartridge with conical diamond stylus, pre-installed and ready to play out of the box
- Grooved low-resonance MDF platter machined in Minnesota with inverted main bearing and self-lubricating polymer bushings
- Manual speed change between 33 and 45 RPM by moving the seamless silicone belt
- Optional built-in Pluto 2 phono preamp lets you connect directly to an amplifier or powered speakers
- Hand assembled and tested in Woburn, MA
- Sizes
- black, white, red, blue, green, oak, walnut
- Materials
- Plinth in powder-coated MDF (five colors) or solid black walnut or white oak with satin finish; one-piece magnesium armtube; MDF platter with powder coat finish
- Fit
- Dimensions 16.75 x 12.5 x 4.25 in
- Care
- Inverted main bearing with self-lubricating polymer bushings for maintenance-free performance
- Guarantee
- 3-year limited warranty
- Returns
- 30 day return policy
- In the box
- Orbit Basic turntable, Dust cover, Felt mat, AC adapter, RCA cables
Questions and answers
- Do I need a phono preamp with the Orbit Basic?
- Only if your amplifier or powered speakers lack a phono input. U-Turn offers an optional built-in Pluto 2 preamp; without it, you need an external phono stage.
- How do I play 45 RPM records?
- You move the silicone belt to the other pulley groove by hand. There is no speed switch.
- Does it come with a cartridge?
- Yes. The Audio-Technica AT91B is pre-installed and aligned, and the box includes a dust cover, felt mat, AC adapter and RCA cables.
- Can I upgrade the stylus or cartridge?
- Yes. The tonearm has an adjustable counterweight, so you can fit a better cartridge; many owners start by swapping the AT91B stylus.
- Is the Orbit Basic good for beginners?
- Yes, if you accept a fully manual deck. Setup is simple, but you cue the arm by hand and change speed manually.
