U-Turn Audio Orbit Special turntable
Hi-fi turntables · 2023–present In production
$549 US reference price
U-Turn Audio Orbit Special is a current belt-drive, manual operation, 33/45 rpm playback hi-fi turntable. The US reference price is $549.
Decision snapshot
The five things to check first
- Plays
- 33/45 rpm
- System hookup
- Phono input or preamp needed
- Cueing
- Manual cueing
- Stylus path
- Mapped: Stylus 2M Red
- Buying status
- Current model
Setup bottom line: Budget for a phono input or separate phono preamp as well as amplification and speakers. Check model-specific stylus evidence →
Top standard model of U-Turn's gen-2 Orbit range, built in Massachusetts. Grooved acrylic platter, one-piece magnesium OA3 tonearm with internal anti-skate, electronic speed control and Ortofon 2M Red; an optional built-in Pluto 2 phono preamp is available at order.
Flagship of America's best-known direct-to-consumer turntable maker below the Theory.
Model history: This is the second-generation Orbit Special, which gained the OA3 magnesium tonearm shared with U-Turn's flagship Theory, a precision-machined acrylic platter, and electronic speed control for 33/45 RPM switching not offered on the original Orbit Special.
Who it suits
Best suited to: a first serious turntable for an existing or planned amp-and-speakers setup. Less ideal for: plugging straight into passive speakers with no amp — check the built-in phono stage row above, and note most hi-fi decks still need external amplification.
Compatibility and setup
- Manual operation: you cue and lift the tonearm by hand at the start and end of each side — there’s no auto-return or auto-lift.
Good to know
- No built-in phono stage — use an amplifier with a phono input or add a separate phono preamplifier.
Specifications
| Drive | belt drive |
|---|---|
| Speeds | 33/45 rpm |
| Operation | manual |
| Cartridge included | Ortofon 2M Red |
| Built-in phono stage | No |
| USB output | No |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Platter | acrylic (grooved) |
| Tonearm | OA3 magnesium gimbal |
| Wow & flutter | 0.125% |
| Dimensions | 16.75 x 4.25 x 12.5 in |
| Finishes | black, white, red, blue, green, walnut, oak |
| Warranty | 3 years |
| Years | 2023–present |
How it sits in the catalogue
Its belt-drive mechanism is the majority choice in the database (151 of 183). On price it sits toward the affordable end of its category — 16% of priced hi-fi decks cost less.
Cartridge and replacement stylus
Factory cartridge: Ortofon 2M Red · replacement stylus: Stylus 2M Red · around $97.
Keep the evidence layers separate
Buying evidence for this model
- US reference price
- $549. A dated guide value for comparison, not an offer or availability claim.
- Live retailer offers
- No live offer feed is enabled for this model.
- Retailer links
- Brand or product routes to relevant US retailers; a search link is not a stock claim.
An internally verified exact identifier may improve offer matching, but it is not published as a catalogue fact unless independently corroborated. Always confirm the exact model, final price, delivery and returns with the retailer.
Where to buy the U-Turn Audio Orbit Special
3 US retailers stock U-Turn Audio — each outbound link searches the deck on that retailer’s site.
| Retailer | Type | Shipping | Product search |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | marketplace | Free shipping on $35+ orders (free on most items with Prime, often same/next day). | Search at Amazon ↗ |
| eBay | marketplace | Shipping set per seller; many listings ship free within the US. | Search at eBay ↗ |
| World Wide Stereo | hifi independent | Free shipping on all orders. | Search at World Wide Stereo ↗ |