The Best Record Players
Vinyl is back. Sure, we love streaming music, but there’s something to be said about holding an actual record album in your hand. We enjoy the ritual of flipping an LP and hearing the soft hiss as the needle skates along the vinyl grooves. But a record is only as good as the player it’s played on, and these days, vinyl enthusiasts have a wealth of options.
What to Look For
When looking for the right record player, you want to think about adaptability and affordability. Records may be old-school, but that doesn’t mean your player has to be. The Retrolife Vinyl was our favorite pick because it’s portable, which makes it perfect for picnics and parties. You can even connect your phone via Bluetooth. And when you get home from your picnic, simply connect the player to your favorite bookshelf speakers with some RCA cables. For the audiophile on a budget, consider the Audio-Technica AT-LP60X-GM Turntable. This player produces a wonderfully warm sound and is sleek enough to fit most tight spaces. Read on for our reviews of the best options on the market.
Retrolife Vinyl Bluetooth Record Player
A winner of a spinner
If you’re looking for a compact, affordable unit that’s easy to use, this is your best bet. You can choose to wire it up or connect external devices via Bluetooth, so the range of speakers and input sources is quite wide. This player has a three-speed turntable, which plays records at 33, 45, and 78 RPM. And thanks to its retro suitcase-style configuration, this player can be taken on the go. If you want to show up at the next party with a record player in tow, this is the record player to choose.
Pros
- Given its compact size, the built-in speakers are surprisingly loud.
- We love that this portable record player can hook up to our own speakers, significantly improving sound quality.
- The retro design is eye-catching and looks quite authentic.
Cons
- The built-in speakers can sound tinny depending on the music and volume.
Byron Statics Vinyl Record Player
Great things come in small packages
With a form factor roughly the size of a laptop, this beauty offers you the convenience of modern tech with the old-school magic of vinyl record playback. What we like about this one is that you can choose between two playback modes. In one mode, the player serves as a speaker for your mobile device via an aux-in connection. And in the other mode, it’s as a traditional record player. Whichever you choose, the best feature is its compact build. Because this player folds up like a tiny suitcase, you can bring it with you to a friend’s house, a party, or the park, if you’d like.
Pros
- You can connect your own speakers to the player if you’re not satisfied with the built-in speakers.
- The hard plastic case can withstand quite a few bumps.
Cons
- The built-in speakers could use a little more bass.
Audio-Technica AT-LP60X-GM Turntable
Get with the times
We know that some folks will settle for nothing but the best of the best. This is especially the case for the finer things in life, a category to which we unflinchingly believe that music belongs. So for audiophile-grade playback, you’d be wise to look to one of the most trusted names in the game, Audio-Technica. With its AT-LP60X-GM turntable, the company has created a record player worthy of playing that magnificent record collection you’ll be dusting off as soon as this unit arrives.
Pros
- We fell in love with the deep warm sound this turntable produces.
- After the diamond stylus wears out, it’s replaceable. This is an important feature because it provides longevity for the turntable.
Cons
- While a bit costly when compared to the other players, it’s a worthy investment for music lovers.
Udreamer Bluetooth Record Player
Rustic style, modern design
Eyeing up this turntable from Udreamer? We don’t blame you. It’s not half bad. With this one, you get a marvelous imitation antique design with a wooden exterior, making it a fine fit for homes with a lot of wooden furniture. You can play records at any of three speeds, 33-1/3, 45, and 78 RPM. And you can play three sizes of records,7, 10, or 12 inches. Size and speed aside, this record player’s belt drive reduces vibrations so as not to disrupt the playback. Though it’s not the world’s fanciest record player, you can count on this one to play your record without skipping.
Pros
- For the price, the built-in speakers pack deep enough bass and quality mid-levels, ideal for pop and jazz records.
- Our phones had no problem connecting with this player.
Cons
- It doesn’t come with a felt mat for the record platter, so you will have to purchase one separately, depending on your preference.
Victrola Vintage Turntable
Take your tunes with you
This is a classic record player from the iconic Victrola brand. It comes in a suitcase for the ultimate portability, as well as the cool aesthetics of it all. Just close the lid, lock the clasp, grab the heavy-duty handle, and you can carry this record player anywhere. This is a three-speed turntable, so it can play records at 33-1/3, 45, and 78 RPM. You can play your audio through the built-in speakers or headphones by using the convenient headphone jack for private listening. Or you can crank out the jams through external speakers using the RCA input. To top it all off, the Bluetooth feature allows you to play music wirelessly through the built-in speakers from any device up to 33 feet away.
Pros
- We were pleasantly surprised to discover that the built-in speakers were loud enough to be heard throughout several rooms.
- Since the tonearm is manually operated, you don’t have to worry about it malfunctioning.
Cons
- The sound quality may disappoint those expecting high fidelity. However, it’s worth noting that this record player is specifically for uncompressed analog audio.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an automatic record player?
When you want to play a record on a manual record player, you have to move the tonearm, place the stylus on the record, and then take it off when you want it to stop playing. An automatic record player will do all of that automatically. So you just have to put the record on the turntable and press the start button, and the player will take care of the rest.
What is a tonearm?
The tonearm is the rod that holds the cartridge and the stylus on the record. It’s more important than it looks; the tone arm determines the tracking and the pressure of the stylus as it reads the record.
What is the difference between a belt-drive turntable and a direct drive turntable?
In belt drive turntables, a separate motor with a rubber belt makes the platter spin. In direct drive, the platter is part of the motor itself. For listening to records, belt drive turntables are better because they have less noise and vibration.
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With the constantly shifting landscape in the world of technology, GameRevolution seeks to provide gamers and tech-enthusiasts with the information they need to select the right products for their needs. Since 1996, our experts have used their knowledge on all the latest gadgets – everything from headphones to standing desks – to help millions of people navigate specs and answer common questions.