Reloop TURN 3 MK2 black

Reloop has built its reputation on DJ turntables, in clubs and booths for more than 25 years. The TURN 3 MK2 is something else entirely. It is the second generation of their hi-fi turntable, launched in 2022 with targeted improvements to the motor bearings, tonearm, and platter. It comes supplied with a pre-mounted Ortofon 2M Red cartridge, a built-in phono preamp, and a USB output for digitizing your records. Ready to play right out of the box.

What changes compared with the first-generation TURN 3

The original TURN 3, released in 2016, laid the groundwork: belt drive, lacquered MDF plinth, Ortofon 2M Red cartridge. The MK2 takes that formula and refines it. Reloop worked on bearing quality, both on the motor side and the tonearm side. The straight tonearm has been redesigned to improve groove tracking. The platter is now made of die-cast aluminum with increased mass, which helps filter out unwanted resonances. These are not spectacular changes on paper, but they affect mechanical points that directly influence playback stability and sound reproduction.

A lacquered MDF plinth and decoupled feet

The chassis is made of MDF with a piano-style black lacquer finish, understated and fairly elegant. It weighs 6.5 kg including the dust cover, a decent weight that contributes to the stability of the whole. Four damped feet decouple the turntable from its support to limit the transmission of external vibrations (footsteps, parquet floor, or shelf). A dust cover with hinges is included.

The power supply is external, 12 V DC. This choice keeps the transformer away from the chassis and avoids electromagnetic interference near the cartridge and preamp. Power consumption remains modest: 6 W.

Belt drive and electronic speed selection

The DC motor drives the platter via a synchronous belt. Reloop describes it as a low-vibration motor, and that is an important point: on a belt-drive turntable, motor vibrations can be transmitted to the platter and degrade the signal. The 300 mm diameter cast aluminum platter adds inertia, which smooths out micro-variations in speed.

Selection between 33⅓, 45, and 78 rpm is done via a large rotary knob on the chassis, without having to move the belt manually. That is welcome convenience in everyday use. The 78 rpm speed allows playback of shellac records, provided that a suitable cartridge is used: the 2M Red is not designed for this purpose, and Reloop makes that clear. Ortofon offers the 2M 78 in the same range.

Wow and flutter is rated at 0.2% WRMS, a respectable value in this category.

The tonearm and the Ortofon 2M Red cartridge

The straight tonearm, redesigned for this MK2 version, measures 223.6 mm in effective length with an overhang of 18.6 mm. Its effective mass is 21.4 g, placing it in the medium-mass tonearm category. It works well with cartridges of متوسط compliance, such as the supplied 2M Red (lateral dynamic compliance of 20 µm/mN).

The headshell is removable and uses a standard SME/GM-type mount. This is a good point: the cartridge or headshell can be changed easily, and the range of compatible cartridges is very wide. Anti-skating adjustment is done via a dedicated dial. The counterweight is supplied and allows adjustment of tracking force.

The supplied Ortofon 2M Red cartridge is a moving magnet (MM) cartridge with an elliptical stylus (r/R radii of 8/18 µm). It delivers 5.5 mV output voltage, which is comfortable for any MM phono preamp. Its bandwidth extends from 20 Hz to 22 kHz (at -3 dB) with a frequency response of 20 to 20,000 Hz (+3/-1 dB). Channel separation reaches 22 dB at 1 kHz. It is a cartridge known for its dynamic and lively sound, with a good level of detail. It loads at 47 kΩ with a recommended capacitance of 150 to 300 pF.

One practical advantage: the 2M Red stylus is user-replaceable, and the 2M Blue stylus (nude elliptical stylus, more precise) can be fitted to the same cartridge body to upgrade sound quality without changing everything.

Built-in phono preamp and connectivity

A phono preamp is built into the turntable, switchable via a switch on the rear panel. In the “Line” position, the signal is output amplified and RIAA-equalized: the turntable can be connected directly to a line input, powered speakers, or an amplifier without a phono input. In the “Phono” position, the preamp is disabled and the signal is output at standard phono level (4.0 mV with the 2M Red), ready for an external phono preamp.

This built-in preamp does its job for everyday listening without complications. If greater finesse and openness in the sound are desired, a quality external preamp will make the difference heard, as the tonearm and cartridge have the potential to benefit from it.

Connectivity includes gold-plated RCA outputs and a USB Type-B port. All cables are detachable, which makes installation and possible replacement easier. Line output level is 224 mV with the 2M Red.

USB digitization in CD quality

The USB output allows the turntable to be connected to a PC or Mac to digitize records at 48 kHz / 16 bits. This is a slightly higher resolution than CD (44.1 kHz) and sufficient to archive a vinyl collection faithfully. Recording is done via third-party software such as Audacity (free). The turntable is compatible with Windows and macOS without any special driver.

For anyone who owns rare or fragile records, this function makes it possible to create digital backup copies while preserving the originals.

Semi-automatic operation

The TURN 3 MK2 features semi-automatic stop: the platter stops rotating when the tonearm reaches the end of the record. The tonearm, however, does not lift and does not return to its armrest. That must be done manually. It is a compromise: unnecessary stylus wear at the end of the side is avoided, but you do not get the convenience of a fully automatic turntable.

This function can be disabled via a switch on the rear, which is necessary for playing 78 rpm records (otherwise the stop mechanism may interrupt playback before the end of the record, because of the different behavior of the tonearm on these formats).

Frequently asked questions

Can the Ortofon 2M Red cartridge be replaced with another model?

Yes. The headshell uses a standard SME mount, compatible with the vast majority of cartridges on the market. You can also simply replace the 2M Red stylus with the 2M Blue stylus to gain more precise tracking without changing the cartridge body or the headshell.

Is the built-in preamp good quality?

It is functional and allows the turntable to be connected to any line input without additional purchase. For more demanding listening, a dedicated external phono preamp will provide a more open and detailed sound. The internal preamp is easily disabled via a switch on the rear.

Does the automatic stop function lift the tonearm at the end of the record?

No, only the platter stops rotating. The tonearm remains in place in the run-out groove and must be lifted manually. This avoids stylus wear that would otherwise continue indefinitely, but it does not remove the need to stay near the turntable at the end of the side.

Can 78 rpm records be played with the supplied cartridge?

The 2M Red is not suitable for 78 rpm shellac records: its elliptical stylus is too fine for the wide grooves of these records and would wear prematurely. A cartridge with a suitable stylus must be fitted, such as the Ortofon 2M 78. It is also recommended to disable semi-automatic stop for this type of record.

Technical Specifications

Turntable

• Belt drive
• Direct current motor
• Optimized tonearm for maximum tracking precision

Specifications

• Speeds: 33 1/3, 45, 78 RPM
• Wow and flutter: 0.2% weighted effective (WRMS)
• Phono output level: 4.0 mV (with Ortofon 2M Red cartridge)
• Line output level: 224 mV (with Ortofon 2M Red cartridge)
• Straight tonearm
  • Effective length: 223.6 mm
  • Effective mass: 21.4 g
  • Overhang: 18.6 mm
  • Tracking force: 18 mN
• Platter diameter: 300 mm
• Anti-skating adjustment
• Signal-to-noise ratio: > 60 dB

Connectivity

• USB output (48 kHz, 16-bit)
• USB recording function
• Switchable phono/line analog output
• Gold-plated RCA outputs, USB type B port
• Compatible with Windows and Mac

Ortofon 2M Red Cartridge

• Output voltage (1 kHz, 5 cm/s): 5.5 mV
• Channel balance at 1 kHz: 1.5 dB
• Channel separation at 1 kHz: 22 dB
• Channel separation at 15 kHz: 15 dB
• Frequency range at -3 dB: 20-22,000 Hz
• Frequency response: 20-20,000 Hz (+3/-1 dB)
• Tracking ability at 315 Hz: 70 μm
• Dynamic lateral compliance: 20 μm/mN
• Elliptical stylus
• Stylus radius: r/R 8/18 μm
• Tracking force: 1.6-2.0 g (16-20 mN)
• Recommended tracking force: 1.8 g (18 mN)
• Tracking angle: 20°
• Internal impedance: 1.3 kΩ
• Inductance: 700 mH
• Recommended load resistance: 47 kΩ
• Recommended load capacitance: 150-300 pF
• Color: black body, red stylus
• Weight: 7.2 g

General Features

• Damping feet for vibration isolation
• External DC power supply
• Power consumption: 6 W
• Dimensions (with cover): 450 × 352 × 138.7 mm
• Weight: 6.5 kg

Included Accessories

• Pre-mounted Ortofon 2M Red cartridge
• Counterweight
• Dust cover with hinges
• Felt mat
• Aluminum platter
• Aluminum 45 RPM adapter
• RCA and USB cables
• International power supply (UK, EU, US)