Bestselling author Stephen King once wrote, “Sooner or later, everything old is new again.” While he probably wasn’t thinking about record players when he wrote this, as you’re about to discover, the saying definitely applies.
While many people now enjoy streaming their favorite music via Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, or Amazon Music, for example, the urge for people to step back in time and play vinyl records has become a popular trend. In fact, Variety recently reported that vinyl sales “skyrocketed 94 percent to $467 million” during the first half of 2021. Of course, to enjoy listening to vinyl records, you’ll need a record player.
Many people use the term record player and turntable interchangeably. Technically, a record player has a built-in amplifier and speakers, so it’s an all-in-one unit. A turntable, however, includes a platter (upon which the records are placed to spin them), as well as a tonearm/cartridge that picks up the audio that’s carved into the record. A separate pre-amp, amplifier, and speakers are required and need to be connected to the turntable using cables.
Some modern-day record players and turntables now offer Bluetooth connectivity that allows them to wirelessly pair with speakers (or another device, such as a headphones, ear buds or a computer). Thus, turntables with Bluetooth connectivity could be considered record players as well.
So, if you’ve recently ventured down to your basement or up to your attic to rediscover your decades old vinyl record collection, purchasing a new record player will allow you to experience that music in a nostalgic, yet simultaneously cutting-edge way.
Priced from less than $100 to more than $25,000, let’s focus on 10 of the best record player options currently on the market. You’re sure to find one that nicely fits your budget.
- Best Priced Record Player – 1ByOne Audio H004 Hi-Fi Turntable Stereo Set
- Most Affordable “Starter” Record Player – Victrola Vintage 3-Speed Bluetooth Suitcase Turntable with Speakers
- Best Record Player for Audiophiles – Audio-Technica AT-LP7
- Best Fully Automatic and Affordable Turntable – Sony Belt-Drive Turntable
- Record Turntable Offering the Highest Quality Audio – Linn Klimax LP12
- Best “Starter” Record Player – Audio-Technica LP60X-BT Bluetooth Record Player
- Most Portable Record Player – Victrola Revolution GO
- Best Looking High-End Record Player – VPI Prime Signature 21
- Best High-End Bluetooth Record Player – Cambridge Audio Alva TT Direct Drive Turntable with Bluetooth
- Most Unique Design Bluetooth Record Player - Fuse Vert AT Vertical Record Player
Best Priced Record Player
1ByOne Audio H004 Hi-Fi Turntable Stereo Set
For around $300, you can’t go wrong with this turntable that comes with matching speakers. Among this record player’s features are a hefty iron platter for stable and accurate rotation (it weighs 3.7 pounds); a vibration-damping belt-drive system; a low noise motor; static-balanced tonearm; a pre-mounted Audio-Technica AT3600L MM cartridge; two 36W Bluetooth speakers; a 33 1/3 and 45RPM speed option; and the ability to rip MP3 digital files as you’re playing your favorite vinyl records. The entire record player (with speakers) weighs in at 20.9 pounds, and the wood finishing is designed to match any room’s décor.
At an affordable price, the 1ByOne Audio H004 Hi-Fi Turntable Stereo Set offers good craftsmanship and aesthetics, combined with innovation—and it includes everything you need to start playing for favorite records right out the of box and with just a few minutes of setup. Expect to hear quality sounds with minimal distortion and really good tonal quality.
Most Affordable “Starter” Record Player
Victrola Vintage 3-Speed Bluetooth Suitcase Turntable with Speakers
This suitcase-style and easy-to-transport record player is available from Amazon.com for less than $50, yet it offers a three-speed (33 1/3, 45, and 78RPM) turntable with Bluetooth connectivity and its own built-in speakers. The casing for record player is equipped with sound-isolating feet that help to prevent vibration. In fact, everything you need to enjoy your records comes with the Victrola Vintage 3-Speed Bluetooth Suitcase Turntable with Speakers.
Instead of utilizing the unit’s internal speakers, use the built-in 3.5mm headphone jack to plug in optional stereo headphones, or wirelessly pair Bluetooth ear buds (or headphones) to the turntable and enjoy your music from up to 33 feet away. The entire unit weighs 2.69 pounds and is powered by any electrical outlet. An extra stylus is included. This is the perfect “starter” record player for Gen Z, millennials, Gen X and baby boomers alike.
Best Record Player for Audiophiles
Audio-Technica AT-LP7
While on the higher-end from a price standpoint (MSRP: $799), the Audio-Technica AT-LP7 is a premium-quality turntable that offers a sleek, modern black design. As a company, Audio-Technica has been around since 1962, so it’s been manufacturing high-end phonograph cartridges and turntables for decades.
The company tapped this design experience when creating the AT-LP7, which offers a fully-manual, belt-drive turntable that utilizes the company’s superior VM520EB Dual Moving Magnet Cartridge with a 10 g AT-HS10 headshell and 0.3 by 0.7 mil elliptical bonded stylus. The headhsell attaches to a J-shaped tone arm (with a gimbal suspension system) that’s faithfully based on the classic A-T models from the 1960s and 1970s.
The AT-LP7’s anti-resonance platter is constructed from 22 mm-thick polyoxymethylene and is driven by a sensor-motor that provides accurate platter rotation speed at 33 1/3 or 45 RPM. The unit also has a built-in preamp and is ready to an easy connection to other home stereo components.
The AT-LP7’s design and construction quality make it an ideal turntable for any audiophile looking to truly immerse themselves in the sound from their favorite vinyl records. Of course, you’ll want to pair this high-end turntable with top-quality stereo speakers and other home stereo components—all connected using the turntable’s dual RCA (male) outputs.
Best Fully Automatic and Affordable Turntable
Sony Belt-Drive Turntable
Sony PS-LX310BT Belt Drive Turntable: Fully Automatic Wireless Vinyl Record Player with Bluetooth and USB Output Black
If you’re looking for a turntable featuring a traditional design that offers fully automatic functionality, but with modern-day Bluetooth and USB output, then this affordable, $228 turntable will provide the record listening experience you’re looking for. This turntable offers auto start, stop and return for effortless operation, and plays records at 33 1/3 or 45 RPM.
Use this turntable to listen to your favorite records or rip them into digital MP3 audio files to playback on your smartphone, tablet or computer, for example. The built-in Bluetooth allows you to listen to records via wireless speakers, headphones, ear buds or other compatible devices. If you prefer a traditional wired connection to your speakers or stereo system, take advantage of the turntable’s RCA jacks (and supplied cables).
The aluminum die-cast platter is designed to reduce vibration and increase the clarity of the hi-fi sound. To prevent distortion, the Gain Select switch on the back of the turntable allows you to manually switch between low, mid, and high gain to accommodate the audio level of the record being played. The turntable also has a built-in (but removable) dust cover that’s designed to muffle acoustic pressure from your speakers.
Record Turntable Offering the Highest Quality Audio
Linn Klimax LP12
Okay, if you happen to have an extra $25,000 lying around (maybe check under your couch and between its cushions), and you’re a true audiophile who appreciates the sound of vinyl records, the Linn Klimax LP12 is one of the very best turntables available today. However, if you can afford this device, you probably also have the disposable income to invite your favorite bands or recording artists to visit your home and perform private shows in your living room for the ultimate listening experience.
According to Linn Products, more than 45 years’ worth of research has gone into the design and development of this turntable, which is precision-engineered to “uncover more music from the depths of the record groove.” One benefit to this turntable is that it offers a modular design, so individual components can easily be replaced or upgraded as needed.
To ensure this turntable matches the décor and aesthetic of the room it’ll be in, choose from a wide range of cosmetic finishes (oak, cherry, black ash, rosenut, walnut, piano black or high-gloss white), or have the finish color-matched to your specifications, and include a monogram that can be laser etched into the turntable’s modern-looking housing.
In terms of this turntable’s functionality, Linn utilizes its own highest-end components, including: a Sondek LP12 turntable with Karousel bearing, Keel machined sub-chassis and armboard and a Radikal motor control unit and power supply. The Brushed DS motor (with moving coil rotor) is placed within an acoustically isolated housing, and the turntable utilizes an Ekos SE precision tonearm and Kandid moving coil (MC) cartridge.
What you can expect is a superior listening experience when you play your records at either 33 1/3 or 45RPM. The LP12 is as much a work of art as it is a functioning turntable, so it’ll look great sitting next to the signed Picasso painting that’s probably hanging on the wall of your mansion.
Best “Starter” Record Player
Audio-Technica LP60X-BT Bluetooth Turntable
Getting back to turntables that are affordable to just about anyone who appreciates listening to records, the Audio-Technica LP60X-BT Bluetooth Record Player has an MSRP of $179. This is a fully automatic drive-belt stereo turntable that has Bluetooth 5.0 wireless connectivity built-in, so it easily pairs with your speakers, headphones, ear buds or other compatible devices. Wired connectivity is also available via RCA jacks and the supplied RCA Output Cable.
Thanks to its CSR BT chipset, the turntable can connect to devices that support the aptX codec for enhanced sound quality, and you can easily replace the turntable’s stylus for just $24. The turntable’s platter is made from aluminum and comes with a felt mat. Experience listening to your records at 33 1/3 or 45RPM in true high-fidelity audio. The turntable comes with a removable dust cover.
For someone looking to experience listening to records for the first time, the Audio-Technica LP60X-BT Bluetooth Turntable is an ideal starter turntable. Because it can be connected wirelessly to speakers/headphones, in today’s modern world, this unit can be considered a record player/turntable hybrid.
Most Portable Record Player
Victrola Revolution GO
The Victrola Revolution GO is a full-featured record player that has everything you need built into one case, including a rechargeable battery (that provides up to 12 hours of continuous play), so it can be set up and used virtually anywhere. In fact, this is the world’s first portable, rechargeable, Bluetooth-compatible record player. It comes with an easy-carry, retractable handle and detachable guitar strap for easy transport.
The Revolution Go includes a 3-speed belt driven turntable with an Audio Technica moving magnetic cartridge. Thanks to its Bluetooth compatibility, you can either stream music from other devices through the Revolution Go’s speakers or listen to the audio from your records using any wireless Bluetooth speakers, headphones, or ear buds, for example.
For a more traditional listening experience, take advantage of the built-in 1/8-inch headphone jack or RCA out jacks for connecting the record player to your home stereo. Priced less than $200, this record player generates high-quality audio output from a device that can be carried, set-up, and enjoyed virtually anywhere.
Best Looking High-End Record Player
VPI Prime Signature 21
From a design standpoint, the VPI Prime Signature 21 looks like something straight out of a science fiction TV series or movie, but it functions in a way that will do your old and new vinyl records justice as you listen to them. Beyond the metallic stainless steel and black gloss finish and futuristic appearance, this turntable features a Fatboy Gimbal tonearm, a machined 12-inch aluminum platter (which weighs 20 pounds), a 30 RPM outbound motor, sound isolation feet, and a signature center weight. It utilizes automatic vertical tracking adjustment (VTA) to ensure a smooth listening experience.
You can choose from more than a dozen compatible cartridges to personalize your listening experience. Priced between $8,250 and $9,250 (depending on the cartridge you select), the total weight of this turntable is 66 pounds. It’s the perfect centerpiece to any high-end home stereo system.
Best High-End Bluetooth Record Player
Cambridge Audio Alva TT Direct Drive Turntable with Bluetooth
With an MSRP of $1,199, the Alva TT offers a direct drive turntable with Bluetooth aptX HD compatibility for wireless High-Res streaming. The built-in phonostage helps keep the setup simple, while the direct drive offers consistent drive speed with pitch-perfect audio reproduction. The turntable comes with a high output MC cartridge preinstalled and takes advantage of a British-made single-piece tonearm.
By utilizing the Bluetooth functionality built into this turntable, you can place it anywhere in your home, and then wirelessly stream your music to any compatible Bluetooth receiver (such as speakers or headphones) at up to 24bit/48kHz Hi-Res quality. A detachable dust cover is included.
The Cambridge Audio Alva TT Direct Drive Turntable with Bluetooth offers an ideal combination of a high-end turntable design with the latest Bluetooth technology to provide today’s record enthusiasts with an authentic listening experience.
Most Unique Design Bluetooth Record Player
Fuse Vert AT Vertical Record Player
Fuse Vert Vertical Vinyl Record Player with Bluetooth, FM Radio, Alarm - Handcrafted Ashtree Wood
The vertical design of this record player offers a both a mid-century vintage and ultra-modern appearance merged into one tabletop unit that positions vertically to showcase the records being played. In addition to serving as a full-featured record player, this unit has an FM radio, alarm clock, USB port and Line-in jack, as well as Bluetooth 4.1 compatibility built-in.
The Fuse Vert AT Vertical Record Player takes advantage of an upgraded Audio Technica AT3600L cartridge and a perfectly balanced and counter weighted tone arm. The record player (with its built-in speakers) is accented with a smooth grained, Ashtree hardwood veneer.
Play your favorite records at 33 1/3, 45, or 78RPM, or connect any other audio-generating device via Bluetooth, USB or a 3.5mm audio jack. Using the USB port, you can upload a playlist from your computer or mobile device to a flash drive, and then play the digital music from the flash drive using the record player’s internal speakers.
Not only will this $229 record player add an interesting visual aesthetic and conversation piece to your home or office, it’ll allow you to enjoy playing your vinyl records, digital music, or even listen to the radio—all at an affordable price.
Ways to Expand Your Vinyl Record Collection
In today’s digital world, vinyl records can be hard to find. To expand your vinyl record collection, your best bet is to visit websites, like: Discogs.com, Boomkat, Amoeba Music, Presto Music, or Dusty Groove.
Other options for finding vinyl records include visiting antique stores, attending yard sales, visiting your grandparents, or seeking out the few independently owned, brick-and-mortar record stores that still exist.
Popular retail chains, including Best Buy, Urban Outfitters and FYE, for example, also sell vinyl records from their respective stores and online, as a growing number of modern-day recording artists and bands are still releasing new music on vinyl.
