Vinyl sends me back to the days when everything was easier. Playing the turntable releases a boost of serotonin that lets you enjoy music in one of the purest forms.
But this is only possible when paired with the perfect speakers. You might think you need to spend a lot of money to get the deep, warm audio experience you expect but that is not true.
We will look at the best budget speakers for turntables that allow you to enjoy clear and crisp sound. These are the best speakers that will amplify your vinyl sound and provide high sound quality that will improve your listening experience.
It is important to note that most speakers for turntables have an older design with RCA or AUX cables. That allows them to connect to your turntable easily.
This design also provides accurate depth without audio interference messing with the playback. Let’s get started!
The Edifier R1280T are our best budget speakers for turntables as they have all you could possibly need.
One of the things that make them stand out is their excellent sound quality. Their 13mm silk dome tweeter gives you natural-sounding audio.
The speakers also have a convenient RCA or AUX connection. The dual connectivity allows you to connect more than one device at a time.
The R12080T also has built-in tone control that you can adjust to your preference. You can fiddle with the bass and treble controls until you find the setting that suits your needs.
The adjustments run from -6 dB to +6 dB. The speakers also have a digital volume control that is set to a comfortable level; you might not even need to adjust this cause it’s automatically set.
To match the classic turntable look, the Edifier speaker comes in a retro look with a wood case. The only difference between this and old turntable speakers is that these speakers give you better sound and can connect to phones, TVs, computers, and more.
These are the speakers I imagine James Bond uses when listening to his turntable at home. They combine state-of-the-art technology and the engineering mastery associated with Klipsch to give one of the best speakers with surround sound available.
The speakers have immaculate audio immersion that will make you feel one with your music. The monitors provide a theater-like sound that you would not expect from their size, and the bold sound makes them boom no matter where you place them.
They have a 1″ travel suspension titanium tweeter that produces high audio frequency that, together with the cerametallic cone woofer, produces the loudest volume possible.
The speakers’ compact size makes storage easy, as you can place them anywhere. The bold design also makes them easier to blend in with any surroundings, suiting different layouts.
The magnetic and removable grille allows it to attach to any surface without hassle. They also have high-frequency diffraction reduction to better sound quality.
As if they could not get any better, the speakers have a 90×90 hybrid Tractrix horn that pushes the sound out even further.
They’re designed with molded rubber that helps improve audio detail and resolution. The Tractrix port filters air efficiently, giving a clean and powerful low-frequency audio response.
The perfect blending of the old school and new school makes them one of the best budget speakers for turntables. They are one of the few turntable speakers that have Bluetooth connectivity, saving you the hassle of using wires.
You can use these speakers to connect to your phone, Mac, Pc, or tablet. They still have optical cables and a port that you can connect to cables for use with non-Bluetooth devices.
The R1280DB speakers let you listen to your audio in the highest definition possible, with balanced high and mid audio controls. Sound controls are made easier; you can access them on the side of the active speaker or use the remote.
The new and improved wireless remote also works with both Bluetooth connectivity and a wired connection. You also have the traditional AUX or RCA connection method.
Desktop and turntable speakers don’t get much better than the Audioengine A5+ speakers. They have Bluetooth connectivity but also have the AUX and RCA options that you can use to connect to your turntable.
The speakers are quite powerful, handling up to 150W of power, which shows in the audio quality.
The Audioengine A5+ provides surround sound audio that will fill your room and immerse you in the audio. They have 0.75″ silk dome tweeters and 5″ aramid fiber woofers that allow them to produce an authentic stereo sound that will appease even the best audiophiles.
The speakers’ audio range has earned a lot of praise. Perfectly blending the old and the new, the speakers have built-in controls located on the front panel that works like the older version speakers.
The accompanying remote control gives you a wide range of use. Since the speakers can connect to all kinds of devices, both analog and digital ones, you have the freedom to listen to them in any way you want.
Pros
Incredible audio
Handy front panel controls
Great audio balance
Bluetooth and wired
Cons
Bluetooth can be choppy, especially in big distances
One of the best budget speakers for turntables are the Micca MB42 speakers. They are the most affordable out of the rest but still deliver great audio performance, more than you can expect from regular bookshelf speakers.
They are good for use in large rooms. The powerful drivers are what give these speakers their sound quality. The silk dome tweeter and woven carbon fiber woofer work together to give you an impactful bass with enhanced transient.
They also have a smooth treble that lets you listen to your audio without interference and accurate imaging. The speakers are easy to operate, with easy-to-access controls and a design that blends in with any surroundings.
You can get even better performance by placing the speakers closer to a wall or the edge of a room, using the walls and other surfaces as amplifiers. The speakers need amplifiers, which are not included in the package.
Things to Consider When Buying Speakers For Turntable
Some of the things you need to consider when looking for speakers for your turntable include the following:
Cost
Most people think that you need to spend a lot of money to get the best budget speakers that work with their turntables. The 5 speakers above show that this is not always the case.
There are many affordable speakers that will give you a high-quality experience without you having to spend a ton of money.
You need to pay attention to the speakers available and filter them according to their performance instead of the price. Some, such as the Micca MB42 speakers are on a lower budget but still pack a mean punch when it comes to performance.
Audio Quality
Vinyl records have an audio sound that you cannot easily find these days. Therefore, they need speakers that will enhance this sound, instead of filtering it.
You want to make sure that the speakers you get work together with your turntable, with powerful drivers and audio throw that allows you to listen to your vinyl clearly.
You might also want to consider speakers that have good bass capabilities. Some vinyl records still have the older audio version, which means they need speakers with good bass.
Check your speakers’ bass and mid-bass performance and compare it with the turntable; only pick the one that enhances the quality.
Mode of Connection
There are updated turntable decks that have Bluetooth connectivity. You should know that turntables work better with either RCA or AUX connections.
Bluetooth speakers have too many filtering features that can strip your records of their depth. Not all wireless speakers will do this, but you have to be careful with the one you choose.
Check your turntable to determine the kind of port it has. Some have both RCA and AUX ports or one or the other. Find out which one your turntable has before deciding on the speakers.
You can also buy an external pair of RCA/AUX cables if your speakers don’t come with one.
Do you already have a receiver or an amplifier in the house? If you do, going with a passive speaker is a great choice. Find one that works together with your available amplifier for much wider audio coverage.
If you don’t have a receiver/amplifier, going for an active speaker is your best bet. Active speakers already have amplification in their system, so you will not need to buy a separate amplifier.
You can get one if the speakers are not loud enough for your liking. Both active and passive speakers can work with the turntable; just make sure they have RCA/ AUX connection.
Room and Acoustics
The acoustics of the room your speaker is in will also help with the performance. You will also need to consider the size of the room and the speaker’s capabilities.
Most speakers are loud enough on their own to power small rooms. However, if you will be placing yours in a larger room, you will need to consider using an amplifier to improve the sound.
Research the speakers’ range of cover and compare it to your room’s size to make an informed decision before purchasing.
FAQs
Do any speakers work with turntables?
Not all speakers will automatically work with your turntable. Turntables are of a much older design, and you might have problems, especially with wireless speakers.
Traditional speakers have an audio jack or receiver that you can use to connect to your turntable for it to work.
For most normal speakers, you will need to pair them with an amplifier with an inbuilt phono preamp/phono stage for it to work with your turntable.
If yours does not have the built-in preamp, you can connect your turntable using an external preamp. This will require extra costs, but it will be worth it.
Are active speakers good for a turntable?
Most active speakers have RCA inputs; some have RCA and AUX inputs. These are the best ones for turntables, as all you will need is a standard RCA cable, also known as a phono cable, to connect your turntable to the speaker.
Active speakers also take up less space, so they will not crowd your audio display. Using active speakers also saves you the hassle of having to buy a separate amplifier to work with your passive speakers.
They are the best option if you want to save money and space and still need good audio performance.
Although there are Bluetooth speakers that can work with a turntable, it is better to use regular RCA cables.
That is because Bluetooth speakers use a lot of filters, so much so that by the time the music reaches you, it has been stripped of most of the quality.
It gives a much smoother experience, but that might not be a great thing, especially for music with more depth.
Using the older design is better if you want the best sound quality. You can also opt to use Bluetooth speakers with RCA inputs to connect to your turntable, such as the one we covered above.
Should I use a soundbar with a turntable?
You can use a soundbar with your turntable, as it still delivers excellent audio quality. You will not have any problem with using them together, provided the soundbar has the old-fashioned RCA connection.
Soundbars have some of the best audio performance and work well with a turntable. They increase the sound quality, making you experience the full range your turntable has to offer.
They can also be louder, covering more room and allowing you to enjoy your records without interference.
Conclusion
I hope this article has helped you identify the best budget speakers for turntables. You now know that you do not have to spend too much money to find speakers that work with your turntable.
Make sure you look into your turntable and confirm that it will work with the speaker before purchasing. Go through the list of things to consider above while looking at the speakers to make sure they meet your needs.
Do not compromise on the quality of the speakers, as this will determine whether your listening experience will be good or bad.
Look through the features in the speakers above to make sure they are the best fit for your turntable. Choose the best speaker and let your vinyl shine through.
Which one do you think is the best for your turntable? Let us know.
Is a musician and journalist with over 13 years of experience writing for some of the music world's biggest brands. Ray loves getting nerdy about everything from guitar gear and synths, to microphones and music production hardware.
