Best Turntable With Built-In Speakers

In my opinion, there’s nothing better than settling down with a glass of wine and your favorite LP on the turntable.

Listening to some classic Fleetwood Mac just sounds so much better with those pops and crackles, omitted by today’s Bluetooth technology.

From classic rock to hardcore metal, cheesy pop to movie soundtracks and instrumentals, the act of dusting off your vinyl, setting that little needle down, even having to get up and flip over to the B-side once A finishes, is unrivaled.

If you’ve never experienced music on a turntable, or it’s been a couple of decades since you pulled out your record collection, knowing where to start looking for a truly high-quality unit, and what features you need, can prove intimidating.

Best Turntable With Built-In Speakers

That’s why I’ve done all of the necessary research already, and proudly present five of my favorite turntables on the market right now, each with their own set of built-in speakers so you can plug and play right out of the box.

You’ll also find my trusty Buyer’s Guide to be fit to bursting with all of the information you need to make an informed purchase, and even a set of FAQs right at the end, just in case you have any lingering queries before you hit buy. 

Stuck In A Spin? Here’s My Top Pick:

Top 5 Best Turntable With Built In Speakers

MY TOP PICK

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EDITORS CHOICE

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BEST VALUE

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OUR TOP PICK

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In nearly forty different colors and designs, this three speed suitcase from Victrola is belt-driven and boasts upgraded premium sound quality for a portable turntable.

It’s absolutely my number one choice for a setup with built-in speakers.

Victrola’s unrivaled sound quality and clearly superior craftsmanship are evident in the sound isolating feet, preventing excess vibration and ensuring a crystal clear sound whether you’re listening at 33 ⅓, 45 or 78 RPM.

Hooking this baby up to more powerful external speakers is easy thanks to the stereo RCA output, there is also a line input to connect up to other devices like a CD player or tape deck, for additional retro appeal.

Housed by an attractive vintage suitcase with a handy carrying handle, this design blends classic and contemporary styles to give you the best of both worlds: a flexible, modern spin on a retro favorite. 

You can also connect to your smart devices and stream from Spotify, Apple Music and other compatible services thanks to the built in Bluetooth capabilities, or just pop your headphones in the AUX jack for solo listening sessions.

Pros

  • Portable, heavy-duty protection on the go
  • Wireless Bluetooth connection
  • All-in-one listening with external ports for adding devices
  • A reputable manufacturer with over 100 years of experience 

Cons

  • Reviewers suggest a slip mat is a necessary add on for maximum enjoyment

EDITORS CHOICE

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Featuring a belt-driven mechanism and a diamond-tipped stylus, LP&No.1 are offering uncompromised sound at a budget-friendly price with their take on the portable suitcase turntable, proffering internal stereo speakers.

Your choice of inputs and outputs are versatile, allowing for connection to external speakers via RCA cables as well as a headphone jack for private listening and an AUX in port that allows you to play music from other compatible audio players.

An MDFwooden case design, wrapped with superior PU leather and chrome components, is a beautiful addition to any home, and thanks to its carrying handle and latch you can take it with you anywhere without breaking a sweat.

With full-range, built in stereo speakers, you can listen to your record collection right out of the box, providing a warm, analog sound you’ll fondly remember if you spent your childhood sitting beside a turntable.

Sensitively, delicately reading the grooves, the stylus can handle 33 ⅓, 45 and 78 RPM records without changing needles, whilst the belt system absorbs any vibrations from the motor to prevent unnecessary background noise.

Pros

  • Aesthetically appealing, conveniently portable design
  • RCA, AUX and headphone jacks
  • Durable diamond stylus and belt rotation
  • Lifetime tech support and 30 day money-back guarantee

Cons

  • You get what you pay for in sound quality

BEST VALUE

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Easily the most beautiful turntable on my list is this one, the second offering from our friends at Victrola and for good reason.

This 6-in-1 mid century record player has it all: Bluetooth, FM radio, a CD player, even a classic tape deck!

A pair of built in speakers allow you to listen to your records without the need for external speakers, though if you’d like to, an RCA output allows you to just that, and there’s a headphone jack for private listening if that’s more your bag.

Fulfil your retro fantasies with this classic analog tuner, and an around the dial LED lighting that guides you to your favorite FM stations whenever you like - the aesthetic of this classic, old-school style player is just exquisite.

Enjoy all potential listening possibilities all in one place, saving you a whole lot of space and cash on separate devices.

This one is an absolute must for the music lover in your life, letting them enjoy CDS, records and tapes and the radio all at once.

It even comes with its own tabletop shelf stand, which perfectly matches the player whilst providing a handy storage slot for a good chunk of your record collection (approx. 25).

No more hunting through the dusty pile to find what you’re looking for!

Pros

  • Beautiful retro design with included storage stand
  • Turntable, FM radio, CD AND tape player
  • Connect external speakers or headphones
  • Bluetooth compatible 

Cons

  • Does not support LP recording for digitizing your collection

RUNNER UP

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An elegant wooden design in two attractive colors makes for a delightful looking record player from UDreamer, with additional features to provide a high-end experience well within the average budget.

Thanks to the inclusion of foot pads and a belt-driven rotation system, vibrations are minimized and absorbed to ensure the best possible sound quality, from a 2*3W speaker set that UDreamer promises is better than most other turntables out there.

Supporting the three classic speeds, you can listen to records at 33 ⅓, 45 or 78 RPM, and the player is capable of playing 7, 10 and 12 inch records.

There’s even an auto stop switch to stop your records spinning once they finish.

Easily connect up to some external speakers via the RCA cables or AUX cord, and there’s even a USB port, allowing you to record and then digitize your record collection for listening on the go, all over the world.

Bluetooth capabilities allow you to connect to any smart device and stream music from your favorite services via the internal speaker, though it isn’t possible to connect to speakers for record playback this way.

Pros

  • Three speed playback with all record sizes
  • Belt driven with foot pads for vibration absorption 
  • Bluetooth, AUX and audio jack compatible
  • Attractive wooden casing matches any home aesthetic 

Cons

  • Some reviews imply the tonearm isn’t heavy enough to avoid skipping

RUNNER UP

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Another combination of different devices in one unit that I liked is this one, the Kingston 7-in-1 from Electrohome, which has a delightfully classic appearance in three delicious colors of wood - black, walnut and cherry.

A sapphire needle, four high performance speakers and other premium audio components ensure you’ll get the listening experience you deserve, easily achieving that warm, room-filling sound that vinyl lovers crave.

The beautiful wood cabinet is hand-crafted and acoustically tuned, creating a truly stunning sound from an equally as attractive player.

Electrohome have over a century of manufacturing experience, and that is clearly evidenced here.

Play your entire music collection from just one device, whether that’s vinyl records, CDs or AM/FM radio - you can even digitize your old albums and transfer them to MP3 for life-long preservation, just by connecting a USB drive - no other software!

If you also like to stream music via your smart devices, you’ll be pleased by the inclusion of Bluetooth compatibility.

Play whatever songs you like via all of the major streaming services, as this bad boy works alongside them all.

Pros

  • Listen to all of your CDS, vinyls AND the radio, in high quality
  • Stunning hand-crafted wooden casing in three lovely colors
  • Digitize your collection at the touch of a button, transforming LPS into MP3s
  • Bluetooth compatible for wireless streaming

Cons

  • More expensive than some of the standalone turntables

Best Turntable With Built In Speakers Buying Guide

There are many differences between the turntables of the ‘70s and the modern iterations being produced today, but the fundamentals of a quality record player remain exactly the same, even after fifty plus years of technological development. 

First, let’s do a quick definition of all of the important components that make one:

A turntable itself is literally the part of the player where the record sits - not the entire thing!

Sometimes just referred to as a needle, the stylus is the tiniest and more important component, running in between those grooves to make sweet music.

The tone arm works alongside the cartridge, serving to hold the stylus and affix it to the player, whilst the cartridge itself translates the vibrations produced into audible sound.

Some players feature a preamp or amplifier, responsible for transmitting signals between the record player and any external speakers.

You may also receive a small, circular adaptor, which enables you to play older records without altering any of the other components.

General Features To Consider

Perhaps the most important factor when it comes to choosing your new toy is, quite obviously, sound quality.

Right off the bat, it’s important to note that you’ll achieve optimum sound production from external speakers. So… why bother with built-in?

Several of the models I’ve opted for take the form of a suitcase design, which essentially means you can close up your player and take it with you wherever you go, allowing you to listen to your favorite records wherever you go (outlet permitting).

It’s also a more affordable option, as the speakers used are more often than not quite lightweight and require less effort to manufacture. This does mean, however, that playback won’t be as clear and crisp at higher volumes.

Making sure your machine offers a phono preamp is important if you want to hook it up to a separate external sound system.

The inclusion of a 3.5mm audio jack is also advised if you’d like to use headphones for a private listening session.

Any audiophiles with existing record collections need to think about which type of LPs they have, and whether their new turntable will be compatible. There are three common speeds that are found on the majority of contemporary turntables.

33 1/3 RPM is the most frequently used setting, the standard for playing twelve inch LPs which typically encompass full albums and offer long playback. You will also find 45 RPM, often used for playing seven-inch LPs featuring shorter singles.

Also featured often is 78 RPM, and as this speed doesn’t correspond with a specific style of record, you don’t need to worry about its presence too much unless you have a bunch of pre-1950s records, but true turntable fanatics might like the option.

All-in-one players are incredibly easy to use, convenient and portable, so they suit a music fan on the go, and as you can very simply improve the sound quality with an external setup, you don’t have to spend thousands on a fancy turntable generally.

Many modern offerings will also have exciting features like Bluetooth compatibility for listening to music from your smart devices, and some even have USB ports so you can record and digitize your entire LP back catalogue.

Whilst for many, the aesthetics of a turntable mean very little, investing in a unit that is just as stylish as it is serious about music can be a great addition to your home. Retro fans can obtain a model that appears to have come directly from the ‘60s!

Some models are sleek, svelte and contemporary, where others have the bulky charm of a classic turntable your parents or grandparents could have owned. Pick the design you like the best, as it doesn’t impact playback quality.

To save space in your home, it’s possible to get a multimedia turntable like the Victrola Mid-Century model I’ve picked out, which also features a CD player, cassette slot and radio, for enjoying your entire music collection in one place.

Bear in mind that a dedicated turntable is your best bet for achieving the highest quality of playback, but as I’ve already explained, giving your setup an upgrade with some external speakers is always a possibility, provided the right ports are present.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do new turntables play old records?

Yes!

Whilst you might need to buy a new (but old in style) stylus or needle to compensate for those extra-wide grooves, pretty much any 12” LP from the last 70 years will play on a standard 33 ⅓ RPM turntable.

It’s only those pesky 78RPM records from the 1950s and before that you might need to worry about.

Otherwise, pretty much every record has the same stylus dimensions, groove sizes and playback speeds, so you should be good to go!

Do cheap turntables ruin records?

Whilst it’s a bold generalization to suggest that any cheap turntable would ruin your record collection, it’s more likely that they will be made with inferior components that impact your overall listening experience and could cause problems down the road.

An improperly weighted tonearm, for instance, is common on cheaper turntables, lacking the ability to protect your fragile records from the full weight of the tonearm and its cartridge. Your poor records will feel its full force!

Similarly, these cheaper, more portable models tend to have too small a platter, leaving your records to hang off the edge of the turntable, flexing and bending with every rotation and causing those infernal skips.

It could also be the case that the stylus is too large for contemporary 33 1/3 RPM records and far smaller than required for playing more classic 78RPM, which may also lead to surface damage and scratches.

Can I connect my turntable directly to external speakers?

This depends on the individual turntable! If you’re lucky enough to have a model with a built-in preamp, as this allows you to use a classic RCA signal cable to directly connect to a set of external amplified speakers. 

Higher end models might also offer input AND output Bluetooth connectivity, allowing you to wirelessly connect to your favorite compatible speakers, which is slightly less of a hassle than setting up the cables correctly as above.

All of the turntables I’ve selected are compatible with external speakers, but ensuring the one you choose has the relevant ports for cable connections is all you need to do to hook it up to bigger and better speakers.

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