The majority of turntables do not have wireless functionality (Bluetooth or wi-fi), so you will need to buy speakers that have wired connections (RCA 'phono' outputs for a pair of stereo speakers, or aux-in). Most of the best turntables you can buy do not come with speakers, so you will need to buy separate speakers to connect to your turntable to hear the sound. turntables will also need an amplifier (if you're not plugging in via a hi-fi system that has one, or using self-powered speakers record players in contrast have amplifiers built-in, although do take care as sometimes the terms turntable and record player are used interchangeably).a preamp (if it is not built in to your turntable).
Best Buy models start from around £175 and sound excellent.Īlso remember that to get the benefit of an expensive turntable you'll need a top hi-fi system or set of speakers to match, potentially adding significantly to your costs. There is no doubt that with the higher price comes superior styling and sound quality, but if you’re a beginner in the world of record players it may be wiser to buy a cheaper model first. Turntable manufacturers such as ProJect, Rega, Technics and Thorens all sell models that are £1,000+, so if you’re considering one of these, make sure you know exactly what you want to get out of them. Top-of-the-range record players can cost thousands of pounds, so it’s really important to do your research first if you’re looking for something with premium sound and a price to match. Should you buy a top-of-the-range record player?
These could be worth a look if you're after one with high build quality made from more premium materials that potentially could last for years. We've also reviewed more premium turntables in the £300-£750 price range of our record player and turntable reviews.
How much should you spend on a new record player?Īlthough record players can cost a substantial amount of money, we’ve found Great Value ones that will give you top sound quality and are easy to use for less than £150.Īnd there are plenty of excellent record players ranging from £150-£300 if you’ve got a budget that’s a little bigger.