Gift Guide: Record Player Setups Simplified For Any Budget

Updated April 2022

I consider myself an amateur vinyl enthusiast, who doesn’t necessarily understand the nuance of what makes a better listening experience but with an audio engineer as a partner for over ten years…I’ve picked up a few things and have become the go-to resource for where the hell to start. So I made you some pictures and charts, because that’s what I needed when I got started.

Use case: you just want to play a damn record. The internet tells you unless you spend $1K it’s not worth your time, but will you notice the difference? Should your turntable have a belt drive or a direct drive? What about the elusive hipster suitcase record players? Why do some people have a bunch of parts connected by mysterious cables and others have just a turntable and speakers?

You have to start somewhere and I think the barrier to entry needs to be simplified with all the options and opinions floating around. Opinions about record players are deep, murky waters and I don’t claim to be an authority. Here are a few options based on either personal experience or insights from my audio engineer husband, Alex. He’s much nerdier about this than I am and contributed below.

Mid-century Millennial Holiday Gift Guide: Record Player Setups

Note: prices and links have been updated in blog copy as of April 2022, this image reflects pricing from the original publish date, December 2020.

1. Byron Statics Portable Suitcase (with Bluetooth) - $40-50
   These things are seemingly all the same, so when one stands out as more well-built and better sounding, like this Byron Statics, it makes the list. The bluetooth is handy, if a little outdated.

2. Victrola All-in-one Bluetooth Turntable Stand - $130-150
   A trendy but all encompassing option that doesn’t meet the highest audio nerd expectations but will do the job in the style as a stand-alone.

3. Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT Fully Automatic Belt Drive Stereo Turntable - $150

   Audio-Technica is a rock-solid manufacturer, especially when it comes to audio quality, and this no-frills little unit does the job. Plus you can build around it, upgrading speakers and receiver before you have to worry about this piece.

4. JBL Professional 1 Series 104 Compact Powered Desktop Reference Monitors - $80
   (Updated available) JBL Professional 1 Series 104-BT Compact Desktop Reference Monitors with Bluetooth, Black, Sold as Pair $200

   You might want to pair a sub with these for maximum impact, but these full-sized compact speakers are clear and full and paired with this turntable, you’ve got a pro-level setup at an entry level price.

5. Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB-BK Direct Drive Turntable - $350

   All dork stuff aside, direct drive turntables are easier to calibrate so your record sounds more in tune. Also a huge bonus, the adjustable tone arm weight and replaceable stylus mean you can dial in this table for consistent playback and throw some money at marginal improvements by buying a Grado or Ortofon like the rest of us superstitious idiots. But really it is important to be able to replace the stylus when it wears out, without tossing the whole player. Plus the adjustable tempo is handy and well incorporated at this price range.

6. Edifier R1850DB Active Bookshelf Speakers with Bluetooth and Optical Input - 2.0 Studio Monitor Speaker - $200

   These are becoming ubiquitous on the budget audiophile forums. They’re powerful and clear and full featured and really affordable. Plus they look nice and are easy to set up.

7. Rega Planar 2 Turntable with RB220 tonearm, Glass-platter and Carbon Cartridge - $700-750

   At this tier of components, you’re buying the product of a lot of experience and R&D. Years of minor tweaks, revisions, and refinements, to make something that aims to please a community of uniquely critical nerds who think hating stuff is a personality. Rega turntables are a blend of style and substance with premium tone and cool aesthetics.

8. Denon PMA-600NE Stereo Integrated Amplifier - $400

   Denon has been making excellent sounding amps for a long time, and they’re usually not the sexiest or most cutting-edge stuff out there, but they’re tried and true and excellently functional. This one actually is pretty sexy and it has a bunch of really cool features that most people will never need, and they’ve made some really musical amplifiers. I love mine and it lends a lot of depth to our records because of nerdy stuff about the circuitry and components. They’re highly regarded and much more affordable than anything that would be an appreciable upgrade.

9. Klipsch RP-280F Reference Premiere Floorstanding Speaker with Dual 8 inch Cerametallic Cone Woofers - $900

   People are saying these are the best speakers Klipsch has made since their heyday. Take that as you will, but I’ve been impressed by Klipsch’s mid-sized speakers and these floor standing speakers have high-quality components executing conventional, tried-and-true design concepts. These speakers won’t impress the orthodontists on the audiophile forums, but they’ll allow you and all your irl friends to hear every bit of detail of your music at any volume.

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a primer on stereo setups

As part of the Amazon affiliate program I have potential to earn revenue from purchases made through the links, however all these recommendations are solely based on my husband’s opinions and that is likely one of the only scenarios you will see me be this deferent. I clearly value style over substance at times so he can be much more trusted in this arena.