The best record players
A first player for a new collection, or a way to hear the old records in the loft again: from a fully automatic deck to suitcase players that just plug in.
The first choice is speakers or no speakers. Four of these five play through their own speakers, which suits a bedroom or a kitchen shelf. The Audio-Technica has none: it sends the record over Bluetooth to a speaker or headphones, or plugs into powered speakers or a hi-fi.
Then check the speeds and the Bluetooth. Albums play at 33, singles at 45 and very old shellac discs at 78, which only the three-speed players here handle. Most of these receive music from a phone; the Audio-Technica and the Crosley can send a record out to a wireless speaker.
What matters
- Built-in speakers, or a separate speaker or hi-fi.
- Speeds: 33 and 45 for most records, 78 for very old ones.
- Bluetooth in (phone to player) or out (player to speaker).
- An RCA output, so it can grow into a bigger system later.
#1 of 5
Best overall
Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT Fully Automatic Bluetooth Turntable
£179.99 RRP
Press start and it lowers the arm, plays the side and lifts the arm back by itself, so nobody has to handle the stylus. Bluetooth sends the record to a wireless speaker or headphones, and the cartridge is Audio-Technica's own: the company started out making phono cartridges in Tokyo in 1962.
What owners say: Owners find it easy to set up and ready to play straight from the box, with good sound for the money and Bluetooth that pairs quickly with speakers and soundbars.
Heads up: It has no speakers of its own, so pair it with a Bluetooth speaker or plug it into powered speakers or a hi-fi.
A closer look: Set the preamp switch to LINE for powered speakers or a hi-fi's aux input, and to PHONO only if the amplifier has its own phono input. When the stylus wears, the replacement is the ATN3600LC.
- Fully automatic
- Bluetooth out to speakers and headphones
- Switchable built-in preamp
- Dual Magnet cartridge, replaceable stylus
- 33⅓ and 45 rpm
Best for: Hands-off play, wireless speakers
- Speeds (rpm)
- 33⅓, 45
- Built-in speakers
- No
- Bluetooth
- Out, to speakers and headphones
- Connects to a hi-fi
- RCA, switchable preamp
- Style
- Classic deck with lid
#2 of 5
Best all-in-one
1 BY ONE Bluetooth Belt-Drive Turntable with Built-in Speakers
£150–£200 Price range
A proper magnetic cartridge with an Audio-Technica stylus and an adjustable counterweight, but with speakers built into the wood-and-metal cabinet, so it plays records the moment it's set up.
What owners say: Owners like the clear sound from the built-in speakers and the retro look, which they say seems pricier than it is, and find it easy to set up.
A closer look: Take a few minutes over the counterweight when it arrives, as it sets how firmly the stylus sits in the groove. Its Bluetooth works one way: it plays a phone through its speakers, but won't send records to wireless headphones.
- Built-in speakers
- Magnetic cartridge, Audio-Technica stylus
- Adjustable counterweight
- Bluetooth and aux-in for phone music
- Connects to powered speakers
Best for: Built-in speakers, better cartridge
- Speeds (rpm)
- 33⅓, 45
- Built-in speakers
- Yes
- Bluetooth
- In, from a phone
- Connects to a hi-fi
- To powered speakers
- Style
- Wood and metal cabinet
#3 of 5
Best portable
Crosley Voyager Portable Bluetooth Turntable (3-Speed)
£75–£100 Price range
It shuts like a small case, so it can come out for a party and go back on the shelf, and its three speeds include 78 rpm. Bluetooth works both ways: stream a phone through its speakers, or send the record to a bigger Bluetooth speaker.
What owners say: Owners like how it looks and how compact it is, and find it simple to use and good value.
A closer look: The pitch knob fine-tunes the speed if an old record sounds slightly off-key, and the cueing lever lowers the needle gently. The replacement needle is Crosley's NP6.
- 33, 45 and 78 rpm
- Built-in stereo speakers
- Two-way Bluetooth
- RCA out, aux in, headphone jack
- Pitch control
Best for: Portable, plays 78s
- Speeds (rpm)
- 33⅓, 45, 78
- Built-in speakers
- Yes
- Bluetooth
- In and out
- Connects to a hi-fi
- RCA out
- Style
- Suitcase
#4 of 5
Best budget
cotsoco 3-Speed Bluetooth Record Player with Built-in Speakers
£30–£50 Price range
Everything in one small wooden box: two stereo speakers, three speeds for 7, 10 and 12-inch records, and a lift-off lid to keep the dust off. A cheerful first record player for a bedroom.
What owners say: Owners like the sound for the size, the retro look and the price, and find it a handy compact size.
Heads up: When putting a 12-inch record on, tilt it gently towards the tonearm as it goes down, as the maker suggests.
A closer look: Plug powered speakers into the RCA sockets for a bigger sound, or headphones into the jack for late-night listening. Its Bluetooth plays a phone through the built-in speakers.
- 33, 45 and 78 rpm
- Two built-in stereo speakers
- Bluetooth receiver for phone music
- RCA out, aux in, headphone jack
- Removable dust cover
Best for: A first player on a budget
- Speeds (rpm)
- 33⅓, 45, 78
- Built-in speakers
- Yes
- Bluetooth
- In, from a phone
- Connects to a hi-fi
- RCA out
- Style
- Wooden box with lid
#5 of 5
DIGITNOW 3-Speed Bluetooth Suitcase Record Player
£30–£50 Price range
A leather-look suitcase with chrome clasps that carries easily between rooms, with a spare stylus in the box for when the first one wears.
What owners say: Owners like how neat and portable it is, think it's great value, and find it a good first record player.
A closer look: It needs nothing else to get going: open the lid, drop a record on and it plays through its own speakers. The 45 rpm adapter in the box is for 7-inch singles with the big centre hole.
- 33, 45 and 78 rpm
- Two built-in speakers
- Spare stylus included
- Bluetooth receiver for phone music
- RCA out, aux in, headphone jack
Best for: Beginners, spare stylus included
- Speeds (rpm)
- 33⅓, 45, 78
- Built-in speakers
- Yes
- Bluetooth
- In, from a phone
- Connects to a hi-fi
- RCA out
- Style
- Suitcase
How they compare
| Feature | #1Audio-Technica LP60XBT | #21 BY ONE belt-drive | #3Crosley Voyager | #4cotsoco retro | #5DIGITNOW suitcase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best all-in-one | Best portable | Best budget | ||
| Picked Rating | 9.4 | 8.7 | 8.6 | 8.5 | 8.4 |
| Price | £179.99 RRP | £150–£200 Price range | £75–£100 Price range | £30–£50 Price range | £30–£50 Price range |
| Speeds (rpm) | 33⅓, 45 | 33⅓, 45 | 33⅓, 45, 78 | 33⅓, 45, 78 | 33⅓, 45, 78 |
| Built-in speakers | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Out, to speakers and headphones | In, from a phone | In and out | In, from a phone | In, from a phone |
| Connects to a hi-fi | RCA, switchable preamp | To powered speakers | RCA out | RCA out | RCA out |
| Style | Classic deck with lid | Wood and metal cabinet | Suitcase | Wooden box with lid | Suitcase |
| Best for | Hands-off play, wireless speakers | Built-in speakers, better cartridge | Portable, plays 78s | A first player on a budget | Beginners, spare stylus included |
| Check price | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
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