Willie Greer
- October 4, 2021
There is no question about it. You need a turntable to enjoy vinyl records at their best, but what if you could while on the road? A portable record player can fold up and transport easily, but are the components just as high quality as stationary options? Our audio team is here to answer that with some of the top portable turntable options out there.
Record Player
- 4 colors
- Belt-driven
- Built-in Bluetooth speakers
- RCA output and AUX line-in
Record Player
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Built-in stereo speakers
- Three speeds
- Portable suitcase design
Vinyl Record Player
- Budget price
- Various colors
- 3 playback speeds
- Built-in speakers
Reviews of the Top Portable Turntables
Kedok Vinyl Record Player
Your tunes can now go wherever you go with the best portable record players. The sound quality can still be exceptional in portable units, and the Kedok unit has dual stereo speakers built in along with Bluetooth connection so you can enjoy your favorite digital music on the go.
It’s simple to set up and the 3 speeds allows users to play different sized vinyl records. The portable record player has a cute suitcase design that folds up and transports very easily. The Kedok Vinyl Record Player is stylish, lightweight, and an all-in-one design. There is no need to connect external speakers for amplified sound.
Pros
- Portable suitcase turntable
- Three speeds
- Bluetooth receiver built in
- Auxiliary input and RCA outputs
- Two stereo speakers built in
- Lightweight
- Improved sound quality
- AC motor
- Headphone jack
Cons
- Not the loudest
- Limited colors
Retrolife Vinyl Record Player
Most portable record players are suitcase record players. The Retrolife vinyl turntable has an elevated and luxurious design that somehow gives it a higher-end look. There is no extra equipment required to operate this portable record player. It sets up easily to play music in just a couple of minutes.
The best portable record players will have 3 speeds to play vinyl of all sizes. The Retrolife record player is such a device and it is also outfitted with anti-resonance technology and a belt-drive system.
There are built-in Bluetooth speakers, but you can choose to connect to external ones via the RCA output or AUX line-in.
Pros
- Auto-stop switch
- Quick-mode switch
- Phono
- 3 speeds
- 4 available connections
- Integrated full-range stereo speakers
- High-end exterior
- Portable suitcase turntable
- 4 foot pads for vibration absorption
- Metal tone arm and stable base
- Bluetooth
- Many colors
Cons
- Price varies between colors
- Not too much bass
Byron Statics Vinyl Record Player
The vintage and retro look can be cute as well. Our audio team was impressed by the affordable price of the Byron Statics record player and the sound it creates. Your vinyl music will get a boost with its modern features such as the vibration minimizing technology.
The metal tone arm and the replaceable diamond stylus are ideal for improved tracking and reduced resonance. There is also wireless connectivity that allows the suitcase-style portable record player to connect to a mobile device.
It comes with three speeds, 33-⅓, 45, and 78 RPM that can play all the records from your vinyl set.
Pros
- Portable suitcase record player
- Belt drive system
- Integrated speakers
- High-quality turntable for a budget price
- Semi-automatic
- RCA and AUX
- 3 speeds
- Minimized resonance and vibrations
Cons
- No protective dust cover
- Price varies depending on color
WOCKODER Turntable Record Player
The best portable turntables will invoke a sense of nostalgia, as most portable turntables are expected to do. The suitcase-style appearance only adds to the throwback feeling and this Wockoder model did just that.
The Wockoder record player offers with high-end sound and looks which impressed our audio team. For a small record player, it has three speeds and a highly sensitive cartridge. The turntable has an SD card slot and USB port and the belt drive system will absorb all the resonance and shock – if any.
There are two stereo speakers built in, Bluetooth input, RCA line-out, a headphone jack, and more to do vinyl music justice.
Pros
- Bluetooth input
- Speakers built in
- SD and USB compatible
- Belt-drive system
- Portable suitcase record player
- Easy to use
- Minimal distortion
Cons
- No protective dust cover
- Price varies depending on color
BULUMO Luker Vinyl Record Player
Belt-drive portable record players are the ones that absorb the most shock, which means you get nothing but clean sound. The Bulumo Luker record player runs on such a system for upgraded premium sound.
The vibration-isolating rubber feet elevate the entire unit to make sure it is shielded from resonance and distortion.
There are three speeds available combined with other features such as Bluetooth input [1], USB connection, and RCA connections, and speakers built in. They work together to not only play records but also to play digital music that other portable record players can’t.
Pros
- Bluetooth input
- 3 speeds
- Can play music in digital format
- USB and RCA connection
- Speakers built in
- Luxurious suitcase-style player
- Diamond stylus
- Lightweight and easy to use
Cons
- Not super loud
- Bluetooth works better at short distances
Portable Turntables Buyer’s Guide
Design and Size
Since we are looking at the best portable record players, you can bet that they are all smaller in size, lightweight, and suitcase styles. Our audio team chose the portable record players included on our list solely for their transportability. Suitcase models can assemble and disassemble easily wherever you are and the top handle makes it easy to carry.
When looking for the best portable record players, they should also be around 10 pounds or less if possible, because no one wants to lug around a device that’s too heavy. If you can find a unit with a rechargeable battery, then it will make it much more portable. However, you must make sure the device is fully charged before taking it with you.
Sound Quality
Not all turntables have speakers built in, but the best portable record players do. There is a caveat to this amazing feature, and that is the size. Since portable record players are small, there is only so much space they have to work with for the speakers. Our audio experts say that in-built speakers are usually small, which means the sound quality will not match up to external speakers.
Don’t go into your purchase thinking you will get a dynamic stereo system, because you won’t. You will only be left disappointed. The speakers are there to bring convenience to the device. You can ensure better sound quality if you connect to external speakers via RCA cables to solve this issue.
There are other features that factor into the sound quality such as an adjustable pitch control, soft damping control, and vibration-reducing technology to make sure you get pure and clean sound.
Something that can really help dampen the shock is rubber feet that elevate the unit. You may not find these small but highly-useful add ons on all models, but they can make quite a difference in the audio quality produced.
Speed
The best portable record player will have 3 speeds. This allows users to play record players of any size, so the function of the best portable turntables will not be limited.
The speed is measured in RPM (revolutions per minute). The 3 speeds refer to 33-⅓, 45, and 78 RPM. The first two are more common with less records playing at 78.
Depending on your collection, you may not need a 3-speed player depending on your vinyl collection, but it’s a good option to have in case you do end up with records of various sizes.
Cartridge and Stylus
For accuracy and precision, the cartridge and the stylus part of the turntable are very important. Because we’re looking at the best portable turntable options, they also happen to be quite affordable. Unfortunately, in this case, affordable may equate to lower quality components.
If you have the option to replace the cartridge and stylus, please do. Our audio team suggests replacing the cartridge with one that is highly sensitive, such as ones from Goldring or Audio Technica.
As for the stylus, make sure you can swap it out as this tends to be the part that may need replacement in the future for optimal performance.
The stylus is what can potentially damage your records no matter the type of record player. You either need to find one that is made with high-quality materials from the get-go or turntables that offer replaceable options.
Inputs and Outputs
RCA outputs are very important for a record player. This is the connection that will allow you to hook up to a separate stereo speaker to improve the sound.
You have the in-built speakers that help with portability, and hooking up external ones may make the unit less portable. Our team says users should assess if portability or audio quality is more important.
This doesn’t mean you can’t have both, because there are wired speakers that are also compact and have a small footprint that transport easily.
You may also find a headphone output, which allows you to connect your headphones so you can listen to the glorious vinyl sound in private – a must-have for a music lover. The aux input is for connection to other devices such as your smartphone.
This way, you can play digital formats even without a wireless connection. If you have a unit with an SD card slot, you can also enjoy your music without a connection. A USB port is not just present to play digital files, but it can also help you convert vinyl to MP3 format.
Wireless Connectivity Options
The inputs and outputs are considered wired connections, so our audio engineers will now go into the wireless connectivity options. The most common one within a portable record player is Bluetooth.
You may be able to find a record player that can connect to other speakers via Bluetooth but that is unlikely in a budget price range and for a portable model. The Bluetooth in a record player is usually for connecting to mobile devices to stream music directly. To be a decent portable record player, our audio engineers say looking for one that has Bluetooth compatibility is a must.
FAQ
Are all portable turntables battery-operated?
You can find portable record players that have a rechargeable battery or ones that need to be plugged in. In general, higher-quality turntables require plugging in. Ones with rechargeable batteries are convenient for portability but are usually found on lower quality models. This is not always the case, so make sure you look for a good quality one.
Do portable turntables ruin records?
It’s not so much the portable design that could potentially ruin your records but the poor quality build. Keep in mind that there are high-end portable models, so not all portable turntables are poorly built, but ones of low-quality components can damage records over time. Look for ones with a good stylus and sturdy build.
Our Top Pick For a Portable Turntable:
Kedok Vinyl Record Player
Our team members have all agreed that the Kedok Vinyl Record Player is the best portable turntable on the market. It has all the modern capabilities in a vintage design including Bluetooth, speakers built-in, 3 speeds, and a sturdy and textured exterior. Get the most out of your music wherever you go thanks to the lightweight and portable design.
The post What is the Best Portable Turntable/Record Player? (2021) appeared first on The Product Analyst.
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