Interested in vinyl but also want the option to stream your vinyl records to your wireless headphones or wireless speakers? Then a Bluetooth turntable is what you need.
The way we listen to music today is dominated by wireless streaming, but the vinyl format's newfound popularity means that Bluetooth record players – where you can wirelessly stream your records to Bluetooth-enabled speakers or headphones – have become a popular niche for modern systems. They're a good option if you value convenience, have limited space but want a versatile turntable system that can be connected to wireless headphones or active speaker systems (which already have amplification built-in) instead of a traditional hi-fi system with multiple boxes. It also frees you up to listen to music anywhere in the house and is ideal when you want to listen to your vinyl records privately or late at night with headphones.
There are plenty of options available on the market today from Pro-Ject, Audio-Technica, Lenco, Victrola, Cambridge Audio and more, and below is a selection of the best models across different price ranges that we have tested and can recommend.
Each Bluetooth record player below has been tested by our experienced, in-house reviewers in our dedicated listening rooms with a variety of records and partnering kit, so you can trust our advice. You can read more about how we test turntables and how to choose the right Bluetooth turntable for you, or scroll down to see our top picks.
Want even more choice? Check out our extensive guide to the best turntables available for all budgets and all types.
The quick list
This fully automatic deck features a fuss-free set up, pairing with eight Bluetooth devices, and sounds outrageously listenable for a perfectly affordable price.
The smart rosewood finish and build aren’t the only appealing factors; the smooth, detailed sound makes this a highly likeable deck.
This sleek deck's aptX HD support means you can listen to your records in up to 24-bit hi-res quality over Bluetooth and boasts a richly detailed, full-bodied performance.
Best budget turntable
Not only does this budget Sony Bluetooth turntable leave you with little to do during set-up – just attach the belt to the platter – it does pretty much everything but shaking the vinyl from its sleeve.
This Sony is a fully automatic deck – this means you don't have to manually move the tonearm at the start or end of a record playing. Its plug-and-play use and built-in phono stage make it ideal for vinyl novices, and you can pair the PS-LX310BT with up to eight Bluetooth devices. In our tests using headphones, the connection was strong enough to walk into another room, close the door and even go outside.
With all those features, it's astonishing that this long-running Sony deck continues to be priced at the more affordable end of the turntable market. It could only score more highly for usability if it somehow took the LPs from their covers.
What's more, it sounds ridiculously fun. "There’s a healthy dose of drive and attack, with rhythmic flourishes handled competently," we said in our original review. There's detail and decent dynamics, although we would love to hear a bit more dynamic punch and precision to the notes.
More traditional purist decks at this price, such as the Award-winning Rega Planar 1, can be more mature and subtle in their performance, but when you consider this fully automatic Bluetooth record player's list of features, it's hard to believe it can sound this good with such a price tag.
Read the full Sony PS-LX310BT review
Best mid-price turntable
In the AT-LPW50BTRW, Audio Technica has delivered a good-looking, enjoyable-sounding Bluetooth record player that’s great to use. It's a step above the budget Sony deck in price, design and performance. Combining a belt drive design with a gorgeous rosewood finish and build quality that exudes quality and style, this turntable goes a step further with a built-in switchable phono stage that makes using it with active speakers or as part of your hi-fi system a doddle.
Connecting with wireless speakers or Bluetooth headphones can be a bit tricky if there are other Bluetooth devices turned on in the same room (the turntable tries to connect to those too), but once the connection is made it's steady, stable and sounds decent, too. If all you have is a Sonos speaker (such as the Era 100) to connect the AT-LPW50BTRW to, it forms a neat, compact system for your vinyl collection – we can see the appeal.
But play it through a proper hi-fi set-up, and the deck's talents are more obvious. It is smooth-sounding, has ample detail to deliver the texture of instruments and nuance to voices, and has a great sense of punch and rhythm. We said in our original review: "Move to a classical piece such as Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 and the deck opens up, offering a great impression of the orchestra’s larger scale and impact. It also shows the Audio Technica deck will shine with better-quality recordings and vinyl pressings."
Alternatives like the Rega Planar 1 Plus at a similar price (which has a phono stage built in, but no Bluetooth) have the edge with a greater level of subtle expression, precision and dynamics, better precision and attack, but there's no denying Audio Technica's easy-going approach is appealing. If your heart is set on a Bluetooth turntable that looks and sounds good, this is the best compromise of them all.
Read the full Audio Technica AT-LPW50BTRW review
Best premium turntable
Cambridge Audio’s Alva TT V2 is the second generation to the original (and appealing) premium Alva TT wireless turntable, and is a relatively safe but well-thought-out evolution.
The same features that made the initial model so appealing are back for the sequel, including the direct drive design, 24-bit/48kHz aptX HD Bluetooth streaming to compatible headphones/speakers, electric speed change and a built-in phono stage, but there are a few tweaks added to the mix. The TT V2 sports a new tonearm with a detachable headshell, and you can now toggle the built-in phono stage and the Bluetooth module on and off. These helpful options make it easier to change the cartridge when required for an upgrade, as well as give you the option to use an outboard phono stage (or the one in your amp), should you prefer.
While Bluetooth streaming is convenient to have, we do encounter some erratic connection issues during our testing, when paired with wireless headphones such as the Apple AirPods Max and Mark Levinson No. 5909. The sound quality through the superb Mark Levinson premium can isn't the clearest, however, and sounds rather compressed, so beware if you'll be using Bluetooth as the main method of listening.
Those Bluetooth issues aside, it’s a likeable deck to use and listen to. The TT V2 isn’t a thrill machine when it comes to sound, opting instead for a smooth, full-bodied audio delivery. It digs out ample detail and delivers a stable stereo image. "It has a considered way about presenting music that makes it easy to relax and get lost in the tunes," we said in our review. It's a touch too rich in the bass, but it remains composed and delivers a stable stereo image.
Similar-priced rivals will give you a better sense of rhythmic drive and dynamics, especially from more purist options like the Rega Planar 6/Ania turntable. But the rich tone, detailed sound and convincing musical cohesiveness give us plenty to like about this Cambridge Audio Bluetooth record player.
Read the full Cambridge Audio Alva TT V2 review
Also consider
JBL Spinner BT: Despite not being the last word in outright musicality, the JBL Spinner will appeal to anyone who just needs a simple, easy to use deck to get their records playing with the minimum of fuss. With an open, expansive sound and support for Bluetooth 5.2 and aptX HD, it's certainly worth considering.
Pro-Ject Juke Box E1: We really liked the previous Juke Box E model, which was a five-star, Award-winning system that packed in vinyl replay, Bluetooth streaming, built-in phono preamp and amplifier – meaning you just had to add speakers. Versatile, cost-effective, beginner-friendly and with capable, entertaining performance, this is a viable turntable system worth exploring. The new E1 version has a new tonearm, more power (50W class D amp) and better speed switching.
How to choose a Bluetooth turntable
As with any new purchase, you need to decide on your budget. When it comes to buying a source like a Bluetooth turntable, we'd suggest limiting your budget to around a quarter of your system's cost if it's being added to an existing hi-fi set-up with speakers and an amplifier. With that in mind, make sure you read up on the sonic characteristics of all your components – not all five-star products sound best with put together; they all benefit from the right partnering.
If you're only planning on using the Bluetooth turntable with a wireless Bluetooth speaker or wireless active speakers or pair of wireless headphones, then you don't need to spend a fortune. The better the quality of the wireless speaker/headphone, the better the quality you'll hear of your vinyl streamed over Bluetooth.
Luckily, in this case, you won't need any extra cables, either, and can be flexible with placing them anywhere in the room. Just make sure you have a stable, level surface to place your Bluetooth turntable on with minimal vibrations affecting it and overall sound quality.
Once you've decided on your budget, decide on the features you require besides Bluetooth. Belt drive or direct drive motor? Does it have a phono stage built in? If your heart is set on a Bluetooth turntable, they should all come with an integrated phono stage, and it will make connecting to a wireless speaker or active speakers even easier, as it negates the need for a separate amplifier.
Do you prefer manual or automatic operation? Take note of the Bluetooth codecs it supports as well – does that codec match with your partnering speakers and headphones? As a rule, all Bluetooth turntables should support SBC as standard, but AAC is compatible with Apple kit, while aptX/aptX HD and LDAC codecs will offer higher-quality streams over Bluetooth. Make sure you have a checklist based on your needs to help you narrow the search to your ideal turntable.
How we test Bluetooth turntables
The What Hi-Fi? team has more than 100 years of collective experience in reviewing, testing and writing about consumer electronics – and that includes Bluetooth record players. We have dedicated and acoustically treated testing facilities in London and Reading, and we have a team of experienced reviewers who conduct all our in-house product testing.
We test Bluetooth turntables just as we would any standard turntable – taking the time to set them up correctly on a level surface. We ensure we spend plenty of time using and listening to each turntable, noting how easy or difficult it is to use as well as testing any extra features they have, including automatic operation, aptX codec Bluetooth quality or USB recording. As part of our testing process, we use both our reference and price-appropriate amplifiers, phono stages and speakers to hear how the turntables sound with different kit, so we can give better buying advice. We also listen to a variety of music genres on records, too. These are some of the best sounding vinyl records to test your system.
With Bluetooth turntables, we also test the Bluetooth connection and quality with some of our favourite compatible wireless speakers and Bluetooth headphones at relevant price points, to gauge how they sound when streaming vinyl. If there are any difficulties with pairing or connection dropouts, we'll note this in the review as well.
All new Bluetooth turntables are tested in comparison with our favourite five-star, best-in-class turntables at the same price range, where possible. All of our review verdicts are agreed upon by the team as a whole instead of a single reviewer. This ensures that we achieve consistency across all our reviews and that we avoid individual bias, thus continuing our reputation for delivering trusted, independent reviews for nearly five decades. We have no input from PRs or commercial departments, which is why our reviews and star ratings are trusted by customers and manufacturers alike.
From all of our reviews, we choose the top Bluetooth record players to feature in this Best Buy. That's why if you take the plunge and buy one of the products recommended here, or on any other Best Buy page, you can rest assured you're getting a What Hi-Fi?-approved product.
You can read more about how we test and review products on What Hi-Fi? here.
FAQ
Is it worth getting a Bluetooth turntable?
If you love the physical tactility of vinyl but also need the convenience of Bluetooth streaming with no wires, then buying a Bluetooth turntable is worth considering.
There might be many reasons why you may not be able to play your vinyl records on your turntable at full blast – you may want to listen to music at night, or you don't want to disturb your housemates or neighbours with your constant death metal/Taylor Swift/Pink Floyd records. Connecting to Bluetooth headphones so you can listen to your vinyl in peace, without wires, and without disturbing others is an appealing choice for many. You may also simply enjoy the freedom that a wireless connection gives you to move around in your room or house.
Similarly, suppose you don't have the space or funds to invest in a full hi-fi system with traditional passive speakers, or don't particularly care about having a separates system. In that case, all you need is a good pair of active speakers with Bluetooth (the KEF LSX II LT or Ruark MR1 Mk2, for instance) or Bluetooth speakers (e.g. Sonos Era 100) which have amplification built into them already. Then you can connect your Bluetooth turntable to this wireless speaker (which can come in many different designs and don't need to be put on stands) for a flexible, wire-free set-up that can be placed anywhere in your home.
How does a Bluetooth turntable work?
You put on a record and play it just like any other standard turntable. Unlike purist turntable designs, a Bluetooth record player will always have a phono stage built in, so you can plug it into any amplifier or active speaker directly.
For the Bluetooth connection, you'll have to press on the Bluetooth pairing button on the turntable, ensure that the wireless headphone or wireless speaker you want to use is also in pairing mode, and wait for them to connect. The instructions on each turntable might vary, but most recommend placing the headphones/speaker close to the turntable to ensure it pairs to the right product.
Do Bluetooth turntable sound good?
That depends on the quality of construction of the turntable itself, the tonearm and cartridge used, and the Bluetooth headphones/speakers you're connecting it to. Purist turntable designs, such as the Rega Planar 3 or Pro-Ject Debut Pro, prioritise audio fidelity and don't have additional features such as phono stage and Bluetooth built in. These turntables tend to deliver a purer, more accurate and more "hi-fi" sound quality. Bluetooth turntables can sound detailed, entertaining and musical – as the five-star Sony PS-LX310BT in this list shows – but the added electronics and features introduce noise and interference that can impact the audio signal.
When streaming over Bluetooth, the quality of sound entirely depends on the headphones or speaker you're using. A great-sounding pair of wireless headphones such as the Sony WH-1000XM5 or B&W Px7 S2e are ideal. If the turntable features a higher-quality codec like aptX, then make sure the headphones or speaker are compatible with this codec too to get the benefit of better-quality streams.
Recent updates
- August 2024: Removed Pro-Ject Juke Box E entry as it has been discontinued, updated references to newer models.
- June 2024: Added references to newer Pro-Ject models and the Audio-Technica Sound Burger we are currently testing.
- February 2024: Updated our testing process and added FAQ section to help buyers with the most asked questions.
- October 2023: Scores in-depth sections added to each entry to give more insight into how we rate the sound, build quality and features of each Bluetooth turntable.
- April 2023: Added Audio Technica AT-LPW50BTRW entry following four-star review.
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