Despite digital streaming being at its peak, vinyl is making a major comeback. Music enthusiasts are back to looking for turntables and record players with speakers after nearly five decades. It is understandable that you want to invest in a record player to celebrate the resurgence of analog music and its old-school charm.
But how can you pick the best record player with speakers? You obviously want to get something that doesn’t just look good, but it should also be durable enough to last you a long time.
With so many variables in the market, you may find it overwhelming to pick the best record player that works for you. This buyer’s guide will help you better understand record players with speakers, so you can make an informed decision.
Understand How a Record Player Works
Before heading out to buy a record player for your music system, you should understand how a record player works.
Gramophone records and vinyl contain recorded audio in the form of a groove. Due to the analog setting, it has irregularities in the track. These irregularities cause the needle on the turntable’s arm to vibrate.
The vibrations convert into electrical signals, which produce sounds. The entire process causes the music to amplify, transmitting it to the loudspeakers.
Record Player vs. Turntable
Many people incorrectly use the terms interchangeably, but record players and turntables are very different. It is worth understanding what makes the two different, so you can be more confident when you go out shopping for a record player with speakers.
The presence or absence of speakers is the primary difference between a turntable and a record player. A turntable is the part of a record player responsible for spinning your record. It has a flat platter and a drive to hold and turn the record. On the other hand, a record player is the complete music unit. It includes the amp, pre-amp, and turntable.
Since turntables have no built-in speakers, they require additional components to generate the electrical signals. These extra components help trigger the speakers or headphones.
Buying a Record Player with Speakers- Factors to Consider
Below are a few things you should considering before buying a record player with speakers.
Budget
Figuring out your budget is one of the first things you should do when looking for a record player with speakers. You will find many incredible pieces, all for different prices.
If you’re after a basic record player for your system, then one with the lowest price is ideal. However, cheaper record players usually have much heavier cartridges that can rip your vinyl records.
These record players may not sound as good. If you want a traditional setup, you need to pick up an amplifier, interconnects, and speaker cables. However, most record players have this system (the phono stage) built-in with the amplifier or turntable.
A good rule of thumb when budgeting your turntable is that it shouldn’t cost more than a quarter of your total budget.
Features
Setting an early budget will help you find turntables and record players that aren’t too expensive but still function fairly well. In addition to the budget, compiling a list of features you want can be helpful.
One of the first features you should look for are the number of speeds you need for your record player to spin. 33 1/3 and 45 rpm are the most common turntable speeds available on the market. A speed of 78 rpm is available but is especially rare because of its cost. Usually, only willful labels and artists release discs with a 78 rpm speed.
Manually changing the speed can be annoying if you have a diverse collection of tracks. But “automatic” can mean a lot of things for your turntable. So, doing you research to learn the differences between belt-driven and direct drive turntables is critical.
Before picking a turntable for your record player with speakers, check whether it has a manual or automatic speed change. You should also look at additional features like wireless capabilities and a phono stage.
Cartridge
You don’t need to worry about the cartridge immediately, as most mid-range turntables have one already fitted. You only need to search for the package that impresses you with its sound. Of course, your record player with speakers should also have a future upgrade and be budget-friendly.
Along with the stylus, the cartridge is responsible for tracking the groove. You will find two types of cartridges, moving coil and moving magnet. Both types of turntable cartridges use movement to induce a current.
In a moving magnet cartridge, a tiny magnet attached to the cantilever moves along with the tip of the stylus. Moving magnetic cartridges more consistently fulfill the electrical requirements of a record player.
On the other hand, the resistance, inductance, and capacitance impact the overall impedance of the cartridge.
Pairing
You need to be very careful when building a music system using a record player with speakers. It is especially significant when you need to match your components with your turntable.
For example, more emphasis on lower-mid frequencies can create a muddier sound. In this case, you will need to up the transparency elsewhere in the system if you want better sound. In simpler words, you will need to adjust opposing characteristics to complement your sound.
Therefore, test your turntables for all the other components you can pair them with. While you may feel hesitant to take your system to the dealer, its important when picking up the best record player with speakers.
Bottom Line
Record players are making a huge comeback. Music fans are turning to music dealerships, as they try to get their hands on record players with speakers. But before you head out to purchase one, you should understand the difference between a turntable and a record player. Besides, consider essential factors like budget, features, cartridge, and
