By With so many respectable turntables on the market right now in the less-than-$600 market, it can make it hard for any of the different options to really stand out. The Orbit Special by U-Turn Audio finds itself directly in that space. It is priced at $549, which puts it near the higher end. The Special is near the top of U-turn’s lineup (only their Theory product at $999 is above it), and it features electronic speed control for 33 and 45 RPMs, and the Ortofon Red 2M cartridge, which mounts onto a magnesium tonearm. It doesn’t feature any of the bells and whistles that you sometimes see in this segment, such as the semi-automated playback (which means the tonearm lifts and returns itself at the end of the side) or a Bluetooth connection.
If you’re not familiar with U-Turn, they are based out of Woburn, Massachusetts, which is northwest of Boston. The company was launched in 2012 by Benjamin Carter, Bob Hertig, and Pete Maltzan through a Kickstarter campaign because while they were in college, the founders couldn’t afford the turntables they wanted and didn’t like the turntables they could afford, so naturally they decided to build their own. 13 years later, they are at it with a line of turntables and a set of bookshelf speakers as well. Let’s dig into the Orbit Special to see if it sets itself apart in this very competitive segment.
What Makes the U-Turn Orbit Turntable So Special?
- There are so many color options … The Special comes in five colors (white, black, green, blue, and red), and two wood options (oak and walnut). Having all these options allows you to have fun bright colors if you choose, or wood finishes if that is more your vibe.
- The setup of this turntable was just plain easy. Some turntables, when you get them, require serious time to get them up and running. U-Turn made it easy. You just add the platter and install the belt and you’re done.
- There was very little audible sound when the turntable was on. When you-Turn the turntable on, you can hear a bit of sound as it comes up to speed, but you don’t hear anything that affects the music.
- The dust cover was easy to use. The dust cover seems like such a simple audiophile concept, but I am at times amazed at how difficult to open they can be on some turntables, typically because they have two separate arms, so they don’t always open smoothly if you’re pulling up from the center. U-Turn’s dust cover on the Orbit Special was always easy to move up and put back down.
- U-Turn turntables are designed and assembled in the United States. This should leave the Orbit safe from those nasty tariffs, as much of the work is being done in the Woburn, Massachusetts shop.
- You can get this turntable either with or without a built-in phonostage I think this is an ideal feature that all turntables in this price range should have. If this is your first turntable, or you have a preamp or integrated amplifier that doesn’t have one built in, it is great to have the option, especially if you can toggle it off. However, if you already have an external phonostage or you have one built into other equipment, you shouldn’t have to pay more for something you will never use.
Why Should You Care About the U-Turn Orbit Special Turntable?
If you’re in search of a budget-oriented turntable that comes with a very well-known cartridge, then the U-Turn Orbit should be on your list of considerations. The best-known entities, such as Audio-Technica and Pro-Ject, are going to be the most well-known players in this segment, but they don’t offer you the same options in this price range and often have lesser cartridges than the Ortofon 2M Red.
Some Things You Might Not Like About the U-Turn Orbit Special Turntable
• The motor could use a bit more power. While the motor in the turntable had no problems spinning the actual vinyl, it did struggle when I tried to apply a brush to the vinyl to get dust off it before I put the needle down. This is something you can get accustomed to, but use the brush without the vinyl spinning.
The tonearm seemed to pick up a little static from the vinyl at times. On more than one occasion, I got a static shock from taking the tonearm off the record. This creates various minor risks to the sound quality by making the record more susceptible to pops and clicks.
Listening to the U-Turn Orbit Special Turntable …
I tested the U-Turn Orbit Special turntable with the Schiit Skoll F phonostage (read the review), the SPL Elektor preamplifier, and the Anthem MCA 225 Gen 2 amplifier. The Orbit Special was connected to the Skoll using Wireworld Oasis 10 interconnect cable, and Wireworld Oasis 10 balanced XLR cables to connect the phonostage to the preamp and the preamplifier to the amplifier. All of the tracks were done with side-by-side comparisons to the Pro-Ject X1 B that I use as a reference.
On the surface, this shouldn’t be a fair comparison. the X1 B retails for nearly twice as much as the U-Turn Orbit Special. However, there are still some pieces similar to those on my Pro-Ject X1 B, which makes them closer than you might initially think.
When testing turntables, one of the tracks I enjoy playing is “Roundabout” from Yes’ 1971 prog rock album Fragile. This track is one of my favorite classic listens, especially on vinyl. Chris Squire’s bassline on this track is so catchy, and Yes’s sound because of it is unique. The U-Turn Orbit Special was able to deliver on this track. The groove was there, and the instruments sounded clear and had what felt like an appropriate amount of separation. When compared to the Pro-Ject X1 B, the sound from the U-Turn wasn’t quite as smooth, but it seemed to have a touch more detail.
Another track that is great for testing out turntables is John Coltrane’s “Love Supreme, Pt. 1: Acknowledgement” from his iconic 1965 album Love Supreme. This is one of Coltrane’s classics. It is a jazz genius at his most spiritual and is a staple for both fans of Coltrane and modern jazz alike. In the mix, you could hear Coltrane’s sax out in front, but you could also clearly make out the piano and the bass, which sounded much further back. The bass in particular sounded vibrant and deep – mind you, not as deep as it did when I played the same track through the Pro-Ject X1 B.
Finally, the last track I used was “ATWA” from System of a Down’s 2001 album Toxicity. I understand that many audiophiles don’t love heavy metal from this era, but the dynamics on this album are spectacular, and this track really shows off those dynamics, as nearly the entire song bounces back and forth between soft and slow melodies, then into hard and fast. The Orbit Special also handled this track well. When the pace of the track picked up, the sound didn’t get muddy and the guitar track, while full of crunchy textures, let me easily make out the different notes being played.
Will the U-Turn Orbit Special Turntable Hold Its Value?
Turntables can be a little tough to gauge with how well they will hold their value. They can be tricky to pack up and ship. From what I can see from checking various resale sites, there looks to be a pretty good chance that the U-Turn Orbit Special will hold its value. I found one that sold in the last six months that went for two-thirds of retail price. There is always the risk that the price can drop quickly, as U-Turn doesn’t hold the same brand name value as some of its competitors, but they have built a solid reputation so far with these turntables.
What is the Competition for U-Turn Orbit Turntable?
The Pro-Ject T1 Evo ($550 – buy at Crutchfield) has built a solid reputation for its entry-level audiophile turntables. This one comes in three colors and is equipped with the Ortofon OM10 cartridge. It is a little bit less expensive than the U-Turn Orbit, but you may wish to consider it if you’re concerned about the brand name, as it is more of a known quantity.
You can also consider the NAD C558 ($600 – buy at Crutchfield), another worthwhile turntable. I reviewed this turntable a few years back and I was impressed with its build quality, as well as the overall quality of the sound. It certainly lacks the sex appeal of the U-Turn Orbit Special with all the color options (the NAD only comes in black), but it is worth looking at if you’re not concerned with the visual aspect of the turntable.
If you’re looking for another alternative, the Music Hall Classic ($699 – read the review) is worth evaluating. Brian Kahn had reviewed this turntable back in 2023, found that it was a solid value and praised its sound. To Music Hall’s credit, the price hasn’t changed in the last couple of years, which only makes it a better value today than when Kahn originally did his review. It only comes in wood grain, so you will need to want a more retro vibe if the Classic is going to be the right turntable for you.
Final Thoughts on the U-Turn Orbit Special Turntable …
The U-Turn Orbit Special turntable presents an interesting situation for vinyl enthusiasts. This is a great-sounding turntable, especially for $650, one that I found reasonably comparable to my reference Pro-Ject X1, despite the X1 costing nearly twice as much. Where I found the U-Turn lacking a bit was in its overall build quality. Don’t get me wrong: the turntable looks great, but I feel that if it had a little more powerful motor, and the tonearm didn’t hold static energy, then you would truly have an audiophile turntable that was punching even further above its weight class. In the end, I still believe that the Orbit Special is a fantastic value. It just might be one that functions more as a gateway to your next step up the rung in the world of turntables.
