Best Fully Automatic TT

Current lower and mid end Thorens and Dual turntables should fit your needs. You start it and they finish it.

The Dual CS 5000 is my favorite vintage semi-automatic TT.When the arm is moved over the record,the platter begins to spin.Once proper speed has been reached(33,45,or 78)the arm lowers automatically onto the disc.At the end of the record,the arm lifts and the table turns off.I own three of these tables.I know that Dual does currently offer both semi and fully automatic tables.

Thanks for your responses. Should I go new or find a used model?

FWIW, because someone mentioned it above... The Exclusive P3 (made by Pioneer) is NOT fully automatic.... You just get runout groove noise played at a very high degree of fidelity and speed accuracy... :^)

The best vintage fully automatic tables I know of are the Yamaha PX-1 and the Sony PS-X9.

However, there are lots more tables which will give you perfectly decent performance for less.

Personally, I think Rwwear's idea is right on. The Audio Technica arm-lifter works well and might be just the ticket.

I use a Thorens armlifter on myLinn Axis and it has worked like a charm for over 20 years.

technically, fully automatic turntables automatically cue the tonearm to start and stop playback and turn the motor on/off. An armlift is a step towards what used to be referred to as semi -automatic, meaning the tonearm is lifted but not returned to the stand and the motor is left running.