This Japanese Hi-Fi Brand Just Unveiled a Premium Turntable for Modern Audiophiles

The company has been making turntables since the early ’70s, but this is a first for the brand.

Close-up of a silver tonearm and cartridge with colored wires on a black turntable.

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By Tucker Bowe

Published March 17, 2026

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Updated March 17, 2026

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Denon is probably best known today for its AV receivers, but the famed Japanese hi-fi company is also well regarded in the turntable space. It’s been making them since the early 1970s.

Most of its current turntables are fairly affordable, ranging from $200 to $800, and come with modern features that make them easy to use, like a built-in phono preamplifier. But Denon dabbles in the more premium space, too. Its current flagship turntable, the DP-3000NE, costs $2,799.

Now, with its newest turntable release, the DP-500BT, the company is once again targeting the more premium end. But it’s also catering toward modern audiophiles as it’s the company’s first-ever turntable to support Bluetooth streaming.

Denon DP-500BT

Black Denon turntable with silver tonearm playing a vinyl record on a wooden shelf with a black electronic device beside it. — The Denon DP-500BT is the company’s first Bluetooth turntable.

The Denon DP-500BT is positioned as one of the company’s most high-end turntables — in fact, at $899, it sits just below (albeit well below) the company’s flagship $2,799 DP-3000NE.

But unlike that flagship model, which is Denon’s only current direct-drive turntable, the DP-500BT is a belt-drive turntable. And it’s designed to be easy to use.

Close-up of a silver tonearm and cartridge on a black Denon turntable. — The design of the Denon DP-500BT was inspired by the brand’s flagship DP-3000NE model.

Close-up of a black electronic device with a textured circular button and Bluetooth symbol below it. — The Denon DP-500BT can be integrated into traditional analog or modern wireless hi-fi systems.

The DP-500BT comes with a built-in phono preamplifier that’s compatible with moving-magnet (MM) cartridges, so you can hook it up directly to a set of powered or active speakers. The phono preamp is switchable, so you can turn it off and use an external preamplifier instead.

It’s a semi-automatic turntable, which is also a nice modern feature, as the tonearm automatically lifts and returns to its resting position when the record ends. It makes listening easier and acts as a kind of failsafe to prevent scratching your vinyl.

Woman sitting on a patterned rug holding a vinyl record near a wooden cabinet with a Denon turntable and speaker. — The DP-500BT is a premium semi-automatic turntable.

Close-up of a silver control knob with a red indicator on a matte black turntable base. — Its electronic speed selection supports 33, 45 and 78 RPM records.

A premium Bluetooth turntable

Of course, the headline feature of the DP-500BT is that it’s the company’s first turntable to support Bluetooth streaming. This gives it the flexibility to be used in a traditional analog hi-fi system or a modern one that streams audio to compatible wireless speakers and headphones.

The turntable can stream high-fidelity audio to their headphones and speakers as it supports aptX, aptX HD and aptX Adaptive codecs. It lacks Auracast support, however, which seems like a miss.

Close-up of a black turntable with silver adjustable feet on a reflective surface. — It has metal feet and a premium build that’s designed to resist vibrations.

Rear view of a black and silver DP-500BT turntable showing RCA phono out ports, signal ground, equalizer switch, auto stop, and power input. — The built-in phono preamplifier can be switched off if you want to use an external one or connect to an integrated amplifier with its own.

These days, there are a lot of Bluetooth turntables, but most of them are fairly entry-level and affordable. The DP-500BT is being positioned as a more premium option.

It features a precision belt-drive system, a balanced S-shaped tonearm, an aluminum die-cast platter, cast-metal feet, and vibration-resistant construction. And its minimal design is inspired by the company’s flagship DP3000NE.

Wooden cabinet with three compartments holding books and vinyl records, topped with a black Denon turntable and speaker. — Denon’s DP-500BT turntable is available now.

Availability and pricing

The Denon DP-500BT is available now from the company’s website and other authorized retailers. It costs $899 and comes in one color finish: black.

Black and silver Denon turntable with clear dust cover open on a white background.

Denon DP500-BT

The Denon DP-500BT is a premium belt-drive turntable that holds the distinction of being the brand’s first turntable to support Bluetooth streaming. It supports the aptX, aptX HD, and aptX Adaptive codecs, enabling high-fidelity audio streaming to wireless headphones and speakers. Of course, it comes with a switchable phono preamplifier and analog connections so you can integrate it into a more traditional hi-fi setup, too.

$899 at Sweetwater

About the Author: Tucker Bowe has been on Gear Patrol’s editorial team since 2014. With a passion for consumer tech and hi-fi, he tracks everything from headphones and turntables to smartphones and wearables. If it lights up or makes noise, he probably covers it.

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