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Best turntable speakers
You’ve bought the candy apple red turntable with the matching Ortofon 2M Red cartridge, and now you’ve realized there’s nowhere for the sound to come out. You need speakers! Vinyl record sales have surged in recent years; once the mainstay of audiophiles and Luddites, now they’re everywhere. Whether you want a special edition pressing or are searching for the coveted 7-inch single that never made it to the digital era, it’s a bug, and you’ve bit. In a sea of speakers, which ones are the right ones? We’re here to find you the best speakers for your turntable.
Editor’s note: This article was updated on May 23, 2024, to ensure the timeliness of the information within, and again on November 26th, 2024, for formatting.
Why is the DALI Oberon 1 the best pair of turntable speakers for most people?
Hear me out. Most people don’t buy the latest product, whether the newest pair of headphones or last year’s car; the older model is generally cheaper and holds up just as well. That is okay, and it’s frequently the smart decision. The DALI Oberon 1 makes you feel like you bought the best version and didn’t compromise. As far as speakers go, it’s not cheap, but it’s not audiophile expensive either.
DALI is a Danish company often mentioned in the same breath as ELAC (more on ELAC later). Still, the Oberon 1 offers a surprising amount of value, and it looks great as a medium-sized bookshelf speaker. The frequency response is somewhere between “neutral” and consumer-friendly, and that’s pleasing. The large (for their case’s size) woofers extend the bass range, and while these aren’t bass-heavy per se, they are for their dimensions.
Keep in mind the Oberon 1 is passive, so it requires an amplifier, and because it is rear-ported, it ought to sit 300mm away from the wall. DALI also suggests users not position the Oberon 1 “toed in”; instead, you should point the speakers straight ahead. Try the Oberon 1 and congratulate yourself on a good deal. You won’t be kicking yourself about buying this high-value speaker set.
The Kanto YU6 has all the features you want
Imagine a world where you only get one set of speakers with everything. Maybe you don’t have the room for separate speakers for each audio source, or you like the idea of a self-contained and minimal home. Most speakers need some rigging to get that kind of versatility, but not the Kanto YU6. With RCA, Bluetooth, optical, and ground wires, you can count on the YU6 to connect with everything you own.
You won’t get a super neutral frequency response, but with 6-inch woofers, the YU6 is surprisingly thumpy. Do you still want more bass? The YU6 has a sub-connection too. The Kanto YU6 has a ground connection, allowing you to use a turntable without a preamp. Since the speakers are active-powered, they eliminate the need for an amplifier. This streamlines your entire setup to the record player into Kanto YU6 and is done. Kanto even threw in a remote and some basic EQ controls. Unlike the Sonos Five, you don’t need any apps or Wi-Fi. What’s not to love?
The Sonos Five is a great speaker for vinyl in small living spaces
If you live in a small space and enjoy music on multiple platforms, combining your vinyl setup with your streaming setup could make more sense. Sonos makes many smart speakers; today, we’re talking about the Sonos Five. It’s big for a streaming speaker but pretty small compared to other entries on this list, and there’s only one, which further saves room. The price balloons into expensive if you buy a second one, so it’s a good choice if you don’t mind having one. Weighing 6.36kg (14lb)and measuring 203 x 364 x 154mm, the Five can still provide good volume.
One thing to remember is that you’ll need to pair the Five with a preamp or have a turntable with a preamp built-in. Unlike our list of Kanto and Edifier entries, you don’t get Bluetooth connectivity. But use the aux input for your analog audio sources or play audio over Wi-Fi. The Five is a wise choice for the person dabbling in vinyl but who realistically listens to digital music formats more frequently.
Hear music as it was recorded with the ELAC Debut Reference DBR62
The passive ELAC DBR-62 frequently sells out, which is not surprising. It has a somewhat studio-inspired sound, allowing you to hear most of the nuances of your music without undue exaggeration. It helps that the ELAC DBR62 looks good and undercuts the higher-tiered competition in cost, too.
With a 6.5-inch woofer, you will surely hear enough low-end to satisfy your needs. Its front port allows you to place the speakers closer to the wall than usual rear-ported speakers, adding flexibility. As a passive speaker, the ELAC DBR62 needs an amplifier and lacks the wireless connectivity of other Bluetooth and wireless speakers, but it also won’t become obsolete.
The best cheap turntable speaker is the Edifier R1280DB
So maybe you love vinyl, but you’ve really just got a small collection, and you’re dipping your toes in. It’s hard to justify buying DALI Oberon 1 or ELAC Debut Reference speakers when you only own five records. Enter the active-powered Edifier R1280DB with an attractive price tag that means you have more money (to buy more records).
Edifier has a particular aesthetic: you either love it or hate it. It’s reminiscent of late ’70s synthesizers with the generous use of wood bookends. While some companies concentrate on minimalism and getting a few things exactly right, Edifier is a form of maximalism. Edifier ensures that even at this price point, you still get many connection options, should you want to connect your speakers to your TV and other speakers, Bluetooth for streaming, and—oh yeah—your turntable.
There’s a certain lack of refinement with the R1280DB, such as a flimsy remote (but it is a remote) and imperfect audio reproduction, but it’s cheap and cheerful. You won’t have to make room in your bank account or home to fit the speakers, which is a good reason to buy them.
For the classic vinyl experience, get the ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2
Have you already got the turntable, the preamp, and the amplifier? Perfect, the ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 rates as a no-frills passive speaker that focuses on sound and good engineering. Hi-Fi industry legend Andrew Jones is responsible for the Debut 2.0 B6.2, which gets our attention, and the sub-$300 price is enough to hold it.
The Debut is thoughtfully front-ported, which means you don’t need to place the speaker at least a foot away from the wall. Therefore, these bookshelf speakers can go on a bookshelf without sounding bad. Bass will never be the highlight of speakers this size; however, ELAC made a convincing effort, and most people will feel happy with the bass reproduction on the Debut.
The KEF LSX II is shaping up to be a winner
If you’re an audiophile looking for the ultimate compact, all-in-one turntable speaker system, the KEF LSX II is a top contender that demands your attention. This stylish streaming system packs a punch in a sleek, compact package, offering convenience and musicality that few rivals can match.
Why do we recommend the KEF LSX II? These speakers aren’t just a pretty face; they deliver an exceptional audio experience that will make your vinyl collection sing. KEF’s innovative UniQ driver technology produces a refined, expressive sound with a spacious soundstage and natural warmth that’s simply inviting.
The LSX II’s design is also a feast for the eyes. Available in eye-catching colors like Olive Green, Cobalt Blue, and Lava Red (in addition to classic shades), these speakers will undoubtedly add a touch of personality to your listening space.
But it’s the LSX II’s versatility that truly sets it apart. With an integrated amplifier, network streamer, and Bluetooth receiver, you can enjoy your vinyl records, stream music from popular services, or connect to your TV via HDMI ARC — all without the need for additional components. And with support for high-resolution audio formats, you can rest assured that your music will sound its best.
While our full review of the KEF LSX II is forthcoming, it’s clear that these speakers are a worthy contender for the top spot in the turntable speaker category, offering a rare blend of performance, design, and convenience that’s hard to beat.
The best turntable speakers: Notable mentions
- DALI Spektor 2 ($599 at Amazon): If you like the idea of passive speakers similar to the ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 but want an alternative that’s also well-priced.
- Edifier R1280T ($119 at Amazon): This is a minimal set of active powered speakers. And for the extra few bucks, the R1280DB has more features.
- Edifier S1000W: ($449 at Amazon): These powered speakers have a lot of low-end emphasis and plenty of connectivity. You will still need a preamp solution for your record player, but you can plug in plenty besides a turntable. Plus, there’s Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and it can also do some smart home stuff. It’s not for audiophiles, but it is convenient for most people.
- ELAC Debut 2.0 5.2 ($109.99 at Amazon): The smaller sibling of the ELAC Debut 6.2 is for people a little short of space. You’ll get less bass with the smaller woofer, but they still sound good with a competitive price tag.
- Kanto YU4: ($99 at Amazon): This is the smaller version of the Kanto YU6. You can anticipate similar connectivity with reduced bass response and an even more apartment-friendly size.
- KEF Q150 ($699 at Amazon): This is your cheapest (though by no means, a cheap) entry into KEF’s universe of speakers. These stylish bookshelf speakers might not have anything in the way of extra connectivity, but they sound good.
- Klipsch The Fives ($499 at Amazon): When a company has the confidence to put “the” in front of a name, it denotes significance. They look good and have the Klipsch sound because of the high-frequency emphasis. They also hook up to basically anything.
- Paradigm Monitor SE Atom:($799 at Apple): The Canadian brand offers solid value on these passive speakers, which have a hint of treble emphasis and great sound quality for a low price.
- Revel Concerta2 M16 ($699 at Apple): At first glance, you might think this is a surprisingly budget-friendly pick until you notice perhaps that the price is for a single speaker and not a pair. If sticker shock isn’t a problem, you’ll get some excellent sound quality and finish with these passive speakers.
- Sonos Era 300 ($449 at Sonos): The Sonos Era 300 is a premium-quality home speaker designed to create immersive audio that sounds good from every angle. Its Dolby Atmos compatibility might raise the price tag a bit, but it makes this a great alternative to or addition to a surround sound system, such as listening to music with your record player.
What you should know before buying turntable speakers
Bookshelf or floor-standing speakers?
Essentially, two main categories of loudspeakers dictate the size of the cabinet. The size difference is fairly self-evident. In a world with increasingly small tech (except maybe phablets), considering tall, floor-standing speakers might seem odd or even indulgent. However, the other type, typically called bookshelf speakers, usually sit on dedicated stands. Bookshelf speakers don’t necessarily belong on shelves. Keeping your speakers on the same shelf as your turntable tends to create more vibration that feeds back from the speakers into the turntable and then back out the speakers in the form of resonant noise.
Floor-standing speakers generally offer the advantage of improved bass, and they’re self-contained, requiring no extra stands. They’re pretty large, which is the apparent disadvantage (or advantage, depending on your priorities), and more expensive. As a result, most people go with bookshelf speakers and live with reduced bass or overall output level. Check out the notable mentions section if you want floor-standing speakers for your turntable.
What’s the difference between active and passive speakers?
Another consideration is the difference between active-powered and passive (unpowered) speakers—the easiest way to tell which is which is to check if it plugs into the wall. Active speakers arrive self-powered with a power cord. These do not require an external amplifier to push the signal at a usable volume, which passive speakers will need. With passive speakers, you can match whatever amplifier you want, further customizing your experience. You may already own an amplifier, especially if you have a home theater, in which case it’s not uncommon to use that amplifier with turntable speakers for your record collection.
The downside to this all-in-one home theater scenario is that not every amplifier has the correct input for a turntable, or you may not want everything in the same room. Active-powered speakers are great for small spaces where you don’t want to deal with the extra cabling or an amplifier. There’s more to know about how speakers work. With that said, the price range is vast, and there’s a speaker out there for every vinyl lover’s budget.
Types of connections on turntable speakers
Make sure that your particular setup is compatible with the speakers you purchase. Passive speakers connect to your turntable via speaker wires from the amplifier’s output. If you have active-powered speakers, the cables will connect to the turntable (with built-in preamp) or standalone preamp.
While newer turntables like the Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB have Bluetooth capability, you can’t harness that without Bluetooth speakers, like the budget-friendly Edifier R1280DB or most Kanto speakers. Some active speakers like the Kanto SYD, YU, and TUK series provide grounding for your turntable, eliminating the need for a preamp (although they can also work with one). Meanwhile, the excellent-sounding ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 supplies a pretty minimal speaker connection only, leaving the frills to the other components of your system.
A lack of connections does not indicate that one model is of worse quality than another, but it can limit or direct how you set up your turntable system. Take stock of what you already own to see what else you need in a speaker.
Sounds like a lot of work. Does analog sound better than digital?
In a word, nope. Don’t run away yet! Vinyl sounds different than digital, not better. To many people, vinyl sounds better than overly compressed digital music. Around the time that producers switched to digital, they also began cranking their dynamic compressors to kill dynamic range. It turns out, however, that listeners tend to prefer their quiet sounds to be quieter than their loud sounds. In the early days of digital recording up until about 15 years ago, there were a lot of digital recordings that were either mixed and poorly mastered (read: too loudly) or recorded using relatively rudimentary analog-to-digital audio converters.
Remember those early digitally remastered CDs that somehow choked the life out of classic albums? Yeah, it’s not that digital is worse, but early digital was worse because it was often poorly employed.
Manufacturers record most new vinyl records digitally, so listening to your digitally recorded vinyl record won’t unlock some mysterious analog nirvana — at least not due to some superior objective sound quality. After all, it had to be converted to analog via a mastering process involving (most likely) digital-to-analog conversion. At best, you might enjoy the vinyl master a little more because the compression is turned down, or your turntable setup is more favorable to your taste.
If an album was originally recorded digitally, having it on vinyl doesn't make it sound inherently better.
With vinyl records, you get a physical relationship with music. Sometimes, that means slowing down and paying better attention, so maybe you notice things you wouldn’t otherwise because you have to get up to flip over the record, or you need to lift the tonearm to skip a song you don’t like. To many, these are inconveniences, and they sort of are. The occasional pop or hiss from bargain bin records is charming, but you can’t really argue it’s better sound quality when it’s clearly degraded. Some records haven’t ever made it to a digital format, and that’s often reason enough to invest in a turntable with dedicated speakers.
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Frequently asked questions about the best turntable speakers
No, although it can be more fun. Check out our analysis and explanation as to why.
Vinyl, being an analog media, requires cleaning and care. That’s especially true if you just found a bunch at a thrift shop where they’ve been ignored and probably not cared for. So, first, try getting a brush to remove debris and static. Next, check if your speaker placement follows the guidelines the manufacturer sets, such as adequate distance from the wall. Ensure your turntable’s cartridge isn’t dull and makes contact with the vinyl record without too much or too little weight. Check the speed (on turntables that have adjustable speeds) because the wrong speed isn’t going to sound right.
Sure, you can use studio monitors as your turntable speakers. Remember that you’ll still need a preamp either in the turntable itself or as a separate outboard piece of gear, and check whether your monitors are active or passive, too. The downside (or upside, depending on your perspective) of using studio monitors is that these are tuned for flatter frequency responses than your typical hi-fi speaker and are designed to show deficiencies in a track rather than highlight the best aspects. They also cost more money on average to get a good-sounding pair than some of our picks, and they might not sound as pleasing to your ears.
Well, it’s not just about the turntable. While a pricier turntable might offer better build quality and precision, the sound quality is a dance between the turntable, cartridge, speakers, and even the vinyl itself. The DALI Oberon 1, for instance, isn’t the most expensive out there, but it sure does sound great. So, while a high-end turntable can elevate your listening experience, it’s the whole ensemble that brings the magic.
Vinyls need a bit of extra pampering. First off, those records need a good brushing to shake off any debris and static. Found them at a thrift shop? They might’ve been neglected, so show them some love. Also, check your speaker placement. Are they too close to the wall? And remember to check the turntable’s cartridge. It shouldn’t wear out too much or press too hard on your precious vinyl. Lastly, double-check the speed to ensure they aren’t turning too fast or too slow.
Now, this article doesn’t dive deep into the mastering intricacies, but we will say vinyl has its quirks. Unlike digital formats, where loudness wars are all the rage, vinyl requires a more delicate touch. Too loud, and you risk distortion, especially in those bass-heavy tracks. Remember, vinyl is all about that warm, organic sound, so mastering should respect its unique character.
This is just one of those eternal debates. Vinyl has a certain charm, and some folks argue that vinyl captures the warmth and nuances of music that digital formats sometimes miss, especially with those early digital recordings that didn’t do justice to classic albums. But it’s not just about sound. Vinyl offers a tangible, physical relationship with music. Flipping records, the occasional pops and hisses, the ritual of it all — it’s an experience. So, while it’s not necessarily “better,” it’s definitely different, and for many, it’s a nostalgic and immersive journey.