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These Turntable and Speaker Combos Make Vinyl Easy

Forget all the moving parts. With these no-hassle hi-fi setups, all you need is a turntable and a set of speakers.

turntable setups gear patrol lead fullPhoto by Chase Pellerin for Gear Patrol

By Tucker Bowe

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While it’s true that traditional turntable setups have many moving parts, that’s the nature of the beast — if not vinyl’s main allure. There’s also an easy workaround. These days, many turntables and speaker systems come with integrated components (like a phono preamplifier or amplifier) that make listening to vinyl hassle-free.

How We Reviewed

turntableChase Pellerin

For nearly a decade, we’ve been writing about and reviewing audio products — including speakers, headphones, earbuds, and other audio components that run the gamut from consumer to hi-fi. We also work with major brands and talk to experts within the audio industry. The below selections of turntables and speakers are a combination of products we’ve had hands-on experience with, products recommended by audio professionals, and products made by brands trusted within the audio space.

To learn more about our testing methodology and how we evaluate products, head here.

The Entry-Level Setup

turntable
We paired Audio-Technica’s affordable and DJ-friendly turntable with some or our favorite compact powered speakers.
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The Turntable

turntableAudio-Technica

Audio-Technica AT-LP120XBT-USB

Specs

Turntable Direct Drive
Built-in Phono Preamp Yes
Speeds 33-1/3, 45 and 78 RPM

The AT-LP120XBT-USB is an excellent entry-level turntable. It has a built-in phono preamp for connecting a pair of powered speakers. It has built-in Bluetooth for streaming to wireless speakers. It has a USB output, you can hook it up to your computer and digitalize your records to listen to the files elsewhere. And it’s decked out with DJ-friendly features, similar to SL-1200, so you can try your hand at spinning.

The Speakers

audioengine a2 wireless gear patrolAudioengine

Audioengine A2+ Wireless

Specs

Speakers Powered
Power 60-watts (peak)
Wireless Connectivity Yes (Bluetooth)

The latest powered desktop speakers by Audioengine, the A2+ Wireless, make a great partner for AT-LP120-USB. You can connect the two via stereo RCA cables — one cable goes from the turntable to the master speaker (left), and then another tether the two speakers together. What’s great about the A2+ Wireless is that they’re also versatile. They support Bluetooth aptX, so when the turntable is off, you can stream audio to them right from your smartphone or computer.

The Upgraded Setup

turntable
Cambridge Audio’s high-end turntable with some of our favorite active loudspeakers from KEF.
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The Turntable

turntableAmazon

Cambridge Alva TT V2

Specs

Turntable Direct Drive
Built-in Phone Preamp Yes
Speeds 33.3, 45 RPM

The Alva TT V2 is the latest and greatest turntable by Cambridge Audio; it’s also its most expensive turntable ever. It’s a direct-drive turntable with a heavy platter and an integrated phono stage, and it has a generally bespoke design. What makes it different is that it’s the first turntable with hi-res 24bit/48kHz aptX HD streaming. You can wirelessly pair it to any Bluetooth receiver or speakers, so your system and turntable don’t have to be in the same room. You can also hook the Alva TT V2 to your speakers via RCA connections.

The Speakers

speakersAmazon

KEF LSX II Wireless

Specs

Speakers Active
Power 200 watts
Wireless Connectivity Yes (Wi-Fi and Bluetooth)

The LSX II is just a brilliant little hi-fi system by KEF. It’s a smaller version of the company’s acclaimed LS50 Wireless II, which sounds terrific. Plus, you can connect to just about anything: your TV (via optical), turntable (via RCA), smartphone (via aux) or computer (via USB). It has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth that lets users stream audio from apps like Tidal and Spotify. You can connect the speaker system to the Alva TT V2 via an RCA connection (you’ll need an RCA splitter) — or you could connect the two over Bluetooth.

The Premium Setup

turntable
We pair McIntosh’s gorgeous integrated turntable and B&W loudspeakers.
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The Turntable

A $7,000 turntable isn’t in most people’s wheelhouse, but this guide was a great excuse to fawn over the MTI100. It’s the first all-in-one turntable by McIntosh and it has the brand’s signature look — black lacquer finish, large tactile knobs and lime-green glow. It’s just as beautiful on the inside, too. It comes decked out with a 50-watt Class D amplifier, vacuum tube preamp, phono preamplifier, digital and analog outputs, and a Bluetooth receiver. If you’re looking for a “just add speakers” turntable with a high budget, this is as good as they come.

Note: This turntable can be difficult to order online, so your best bet may be to head to the McIntosh site to find a reputable nearby dealer.

The Speakers

speakerBowers & Wilkins

Bowers & Wilkins 705 S3

Specs

Speakers Passive
Power 120 watts (peak, recommended)
Wireless Connectivity None

This is the only setup with passive speakers, so we went big. The 705 S3 are arguably one of the best bookshelf speakers out there. They’re beautiful and unique, with the tweeter sitting on top of the speaker, and separated from the main cabinet, which isolates treble and gives the B&W’s Continuum midrange drivers even more room to breathe. The bass performance of the 705 S3 speakers is impressively big, too.

Bonus: The Sonos Setup

turntable setups gear patrol sonos
Sonos has sold Pro-Ject turntables for several years. It pairs Sonos’s Five speakers with Pro-Ject’s T1 turntable.
Photo by Henry Phillips for Gear Patrol

The Turntable and Speakers

vinylSonos

Sonos x Pro-Ject Vinyl Set

Specs

Turntable Belt drive
Built-In Phono Preamp Yes
Speakers Active

Truly want vinyl without the hassle? Few setups embody that idea better than the setup sold by Sonos, who partnered with respected manufacturer Pro-Ject to take all the guesswork out of building a respectable audio rig from scratch. Sonos’ vinyl set comes with the Pro-Ject T1 Phono SB turntable and Five speakers, which can work in both mono and stereo. You can also chain it with other Sonos speakers around the house or use it to stream audio from your phone.

Also, with the introduction of Sonos’s newest speakers, the Era 100 and Era 300, there are more ways to connect your turntable and Sonos speakers. Both Era speakers have a line-in USB-C connection, meaning you can connect them directly to your turntable (with a phono preamp) via a special USB-C adapter (here). Sonos has also partnered with Victrola and introduced the Victrola Stream Carbon, the first turntable that natively works with Sonos.

Drop the Needle

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