New audiences are discovering the joy of record players
When I think of my grandparents’ house back in the 1980s, I picture a warm kitchen, Grandad’s green armchair and an enormous radiogram dominating the sitting room. This coffin-sized wooden unit packed in a radio, cassette deck, record player and speakers. I don’t actually remember it ever being played, to be honest, but it mattered as furniture as much as technology.
Fast forward a few decades, and for many the home hi-fi has shrunk to near invisibility, replaced by streaming’s instant access to almost every piece of music ever recorded. But convenience has come at a cost, and physical media – be that records, CDs or tapes – is finding a new audience, driven by listeners who want something more tangible.
All-in-one record players... compact, easy to use and affordable
At the centre of that shift is a new wave of all-in-one audio systems that combine analogue playback with modern streaming and wireless tech, packed into compact, easy-to-use and, importantly, affordable designs that reconnect people, music and place.
The appeal of an all-in-one turntable system is obvious, especially if you’re curious about vinyl but reluctant to build a full hi-fi system. There are no speakers to buy, no cables to connect and no need to get bogged down in hi-fi jargon.
Budget all-in-one record players
Crosley kickstarted things with their affordable, retro-inspired turntables. The Crosley Cruiser (£79; crosleyonline.co.uk) is a portable briefcase-style, three-speed turntable aimed at beginners, with built-in speakers, Bluetooth connectivity and dozens of pretty colour options. It’s cute and convenient, and fun for kids’ bedrooms, but sound quality leaves something to be desired. The brand has evolved, however, and there’s now a wider range of products – all of which are still very affordable – but, like the E200 (below), should appeal to a more discerning listener.
Other brands include 1byone Audio (1byoneaudio.com), Steepletone (steepletone.co.uk) and Lenco (lenco.uk) who offer a range of standalone turntables, including Lenco’s four-speaker, all-in-one LS-440 (£250), which bucks the trend by including a replaceable and upgradable Audio Technica cartridge. Philips has also recently joined in the fun, with a range of well-specified and stylish all-in-one turntables (see below) with prices from just £150.
Luxury all-in-one record players
At the other end of the spectrum, French brand LaBoite concept build hi-fi turntables combining furniture-grade cabinetry and the latest in both record-playing and streaming technology. The compact side table-style LX Turntable (£3,750; laboiteconcept.com) features 315W of power across five speakers, all within a 30kg walnut case. Their latest model, the PR Alta (£3,115) boasts a gorgeous wood and glass design, 240W of power and vinyl storage. And if you have a spare $18,000 (£13,400), Wrensilva (wrensilva.com) will custom-build you the most exquisite 200W class-D radiogram with belt-driven split-plinth turntable, quality Ortofon cartridge, streaming and stereo speakers.
Buyers guide: what to look out for
Luxury options aside, it is extremely difficult to build a hi-fi-quality all-in-one turntable system. There are just so many moving – and vibrating – parts to consider. Vibrations from speakers easily travel through the chassis and interfere with the stylus tracking, while built-in speakers lack stereo separation and power. Budget designs also rely on lightweight tonearms and inexpensive cartridges, which sadly limits performance and durability.
That does not mean all-in-one turntables are a bad idea, but you just need to have realistic expectations of the performance you can expect. They are not designed to replace a dedicated hi-fi, and if you identify as an audiophile and know your way around a ES9039PRO DAC chip, I would assume you have stopped reading already. But if you are looking for a convenient, foolproof way to listen to records at home, there’s certainly a lot to enjoy.
When choosing an all-in-one, I would recommend that you look for models with a replaceable stylus – Audio Technica leads the way here, and for as little as £30 you can easily boost a player’s performance. Also look for line outputs, as this would enable you to connect stereo speakers when the time or budget allows.
If, however, you already own a Bluetooth speaker that you like, I think it’s worth looking at Bluetooth turntables instead of an all-in-one. Models such as the Audio Technica AT-LP70XBT (£219; audio-technica.com) and the Pro-Ject T1 Evo BT (£399; project-audio.com) stream wirelessly to any Bluetooth device – including headphones – offer impressive performance and, thinking ahead, can be plugged into a traditional hi-fi at a later date.
All-in-one record players... we recommend
Philips The Tina TAV9000D £399
Designed to mark Philips’s centenary, the TAV9000D is an all-in-one system with a belt-driven turntable, DAB+/FM radio, USB and Bluetooth streaming. A welcome step up from value-based all-in-one designs, I’ve been surprised by how much I’ve enjoyed its sound and simplicity.
The belt-drive deck uses a die-cast aluminium platter, counterweighted tonearm with anti-skate and an Audio-Technica moving magnet cartridge. At around 10.8 kg, it has reassuring heft, helping reduce vibration and improve playback stability. There’s AUX-out, USB input and 3.5mm jack; plus Bluetooth streaming supports Auracast, which means you can stream to multiple compatible devices simultaneously.
Two 1" tweeters are paired with two 2.5" mid-drivers and a 4.5" woofer in a bass-reflex enclosure. 120W is ample for a small room, with good separation between frequencies. It can’t offer much stereo separation, but neither does the sound feel too boxed in.
Buy Philips The Tina on Amazon
Audio Technica AT-SB727 Sound Burger £199
This quirky belt-drive clamshell turntable (right) became a cult classic in 1983 and has now been reissued. It’s not strictly an all-in-one turntable, but given its tiny footprint and ability to connect to any speaker via Bluetooth or line-out, it’s a compact, convenient alternative.
Weighing less than 1kg with a battery that lasts up to 12 hours, it’s compact enough to keep in a drawer. It’s basic, with a small 9cm platter and simple push-button 33/45rpm control, brilliantly nostalgic, fun to use and sounds great – no, not audiophile ‘great’, but the replaceable ATN3600LC stylus does a fine job, with a surprising level of detail.
Crosley E200 £349
an admirable sound - The Crosley E200 boasts an admirable sound
Yes, Crosley has long been associated with bargain-price, dubious-sounding suitcase-style turntables, but the E200 is a step up. The belt-drive turntable sits on Crosley’s dual-platform VibrationBlock suspension, which helps to isolate the plinth from the speaker cabinet to reduce interference, and they’ve also seen fit to include a full-size aluminium platter, adjustable counterweight with anti-skate, and respectable pre-mounted Audio-Technica AT91R cartridge.
The 60W four-driver array, with twin 2.75" woofers and 1" tweeters, is far more controlled than I imagined and the fuller presentation was a real surprise. You can also stream via Bluetooth, upgrade by connecting external speakers and the turntable has auto-stop, which is a nice extra.
