You can create an amazing turntable setup for under $350 — here are the 3 things you need
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Unlikely as it may seem, the vinyl revival is a real thing; after falling out of favor in the late 80s, vinyl has become the physical format of choice for younger listeners.
Putting together a turntable setup that will give you a great listening experience without breaking the bank is challenging. The three components that I've recommended below will sound great, especially at an entry-level price.
My first advice is always to ask friends or relatives if they have speakers, an amplifier, or turntable that they never got rid of. Not only will you save money, but you'll save them some space.
If you are starting from scratch, though, these components will ensure that you have a great listening experience.
A turntable
AmazonI've been playing records for 12 years, and in that time I've used a lot of turntables.
Vintage, budget, audiophile — you name it. The U-Turn is the first budget turntable I've ever tried that really impressed me. It's well constructed and upgradeable, and it sounds great. Unless you're taking things to an audiophile extreme, the quality of your turntable setup will not be bottlenecked by one of these.
You can read my full thoughts on this turntable here, but there are only a couple of downsides to it in my opinion. The first is the lack of a cue lever, so you'll have to manually pick up and place the needle onto a certain song, which is only annoying if you want to listen to a particular song instead of an entire album.
The other is the lack of a built-in preamp; but that's kind of a non-issue because they took the money they would've spent on one and put it into the table. This is the only budget turntable I'd recommend to anyone starting their record collection, or wants to enjoy theirs more.
U-Turn Orbit (Basic), $179
A preamp
AmazonMost turntables require a preamp to work; it amplifies the signal put out by the turntable to an acceptable volume.
There are a ton out there — vintage, modern, solid state and tube — and they can get very, very expensive. Trust me. Pro-Ject is a reputable audio-component maker, and this preamp has everything you'll need to get great sound, including a built-in spot for your ground cable.
Pro-Ject Phono Box E Phonograph Preamp, $59.95
Powered speakers
AmazonIn this setup, the turntable gets connected to the preamp's inputs, and the preamp's outputs are connected to a pair of powered speakers. The alternative is to buy a pair of passive speakers and a stereo receiver.
I've had both types of setups over the years, and my ears have always preferred this style. The only weird thing to get over is the fact that you control this audio setup's volume through a knob on the speakers. Once you get over that, it's smooth sailing.
People generally like this pair of Edifer speakers, some have even used them in their turntable setups. They have two audio inputs, so you can use them with your turntable, but also attach your computer or phone to them to play your digital music. You could even get fancy and buy this adapter, turning them into a pair of Bluetooth speakers.
Edifier Powered Bookshelf Speakers, $99.99