Setup Guide: Turntable, Phono Preamp, Amp or Receiver, Speakers

Audio Guides, Speaker Placement, Accessories and Vinyl Care

TURNTABLES:

With a built in phono stage preamp:

Starter turntables:

• Automatic: AT-LP60X $139 is easy setup plug and play and has some improvements over the older discontinued AT-LP60.
• Manual: Victrola VPRO-2000 $149 adds adjustable tracking force, a removable cartridge, pitch control, Quartz lock and a stroboscopic platter over the AT-LP60X.
• Manual lower budget turntables: Insignia NS-BTST21 $129 adds a speed sensor. Or there is also the Crosley C6 $129.

Better manual turntable:

• Fluance RT82 $299 adds auto stop and then an optical sensor speed controlled servo motor for much lower wow and flutter and speed variation. Pass on the older RT80 and RT81 that lack the new speed sensor. Pass on the RT83 since the cartridge is not any better.

More turntables $199 to $349 with a speed sensor, a basic built in phono stage preamp, but no auto stop that the Fluance has:

• Monolith by Monoprice Turntable with AT3600 $199.
• Monolith by Monoprice Turntable with ATVM95E $249.

Or look for a better vintage turntable from a seller who fixes them up and has them ready to demo for you before buying it.

What is a Craigslist or nearby zip code to search for used options?

SPEAKERS:

Low budget compact 4" powered Speakers: Decent for a small room or desktop setup.

• 4" Edifier 1010BT $55 starter speakers with Bluetooth then upgrade later.
• 4" Edifier R1280T $99. Optionally connect a $19 Bluetooth Receiver or a $39 Echo Dot that is a Bluetooth receiver that adds WiFi streaming audio with convenient hands free voice control or mute the mic for only app control.
• 4" Jamo S801PM $299 $149 with Bluetooth, USB, digital optical, and analog input plus a subwoofer output.

Low budget larger 6.5" passive speakers and a mini amp: For any size room. Then each part can later be upgraded one at a time.

• $112: Dayton Audio B652 AIR $65 with included speaker wire powered by a Pyle BDA20BT $47 mini amp with Bluetooth.
• $94" Dayton Audio B652 AIR $65 with included speaker wire powered by a Moukey MAMP2 $29 mini amp with Bluetooth.
• $78" Dayton Audio B652 $49 with included speaker wire powered by a Moukey MAMP2 $29 mini amp with Bluetooth.
• $67: Dayton Speaker Pair and Lepai Mini Amplifier Bundle.

Better speakers and amplification:

Amplification:

• SMSL SA100 $62.
• Fosi BT20A $79.
• SMSL A12 $81.
• SMSL A100 $92.
• Yamaha R-S202 $199 $129 with a remote.

Passive speakers on sale:

• 5" Wharfedale Crystal CR 4.2 $249 $125.
• 5.25" Jamo S803 $229 $149.
• 5.25" Polk S15 $299 $189.
• 5.25" JBL Studio 530 $599 $239. Great deal!

Plus speaker wire, Pure Copper 16 AWG. Then How to Install Speaker Wire and How To Strip Speaker Wire.

This is very comparable to the Victrola VPRO 2000slv currently selling for $89 on Amazon and Pop Market. Same features (preamp, replaceable cart, adjustable counterweight, anti-skate, ect.)and level of quality. Decent introductory tables meeting bare minimum standards. Earlier this year BB had a $59 sale on the Insignia. I would choose either over the AT LP60X because of the adjustability and lower cost.

https://www.amazon.com/Victrola-Record-Player-2-Speed-Turntable/dp/B07JVK44M9

If you have a AT-LP60X, keep it and save for a quality table like a AT-LPW30 or LPW40, U-Turn, Fluance, Pro-Ject. Switching from a LP60X to the Insignia or Victrola would not be worthwhile.

Not sure if these are available but worth checking out:

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/insignia-bluetooth-stereo-turntable-black/6432620.p?skuId=6432620

https://www.amazon.com/Victrola-Record-Player-2-Speed-Turntable/dp/B07JVK44M9

https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=600045

Pair any of these with powered speakers like the Micca PB42X ($110 usd) or Edifier R1280t($120 usd).

I highly recommend the $500 setup if you can spend that much, the RT82 plus the great deal for the good Klipsch speakers and subwoofer.

If you can't go over $400 then:

Good turntable, small basic speakers: Fluance RT82 $299 + Pyle PP444 $13 + 4" Microlab Pro1BT $59 speakers = $371 total. Then upgrade the speakers later to $300+ plus new speakers or used speakers for less similar to the Klipsch package.

However a basic starter turntable and better speakers will sound better to start with:

Starter turntables:

• The automatic AT-LP60X $139 is easy setup beginner plug and play and has some improvements over the older discontinued AT-LP60.
• The manual Victrola VPRO-2000 $153 adds adjustable tracking force, a removable cartridge, pitch control, Quartz lock and USB and Bluetooth output. Balance the tonearm then set the tracking force.

Plus the great deal on the 5.25" Klipsch speakers and subwoofer $200.

Total is $339 or $353:

Then later optionally upgrade the turntable to the Fluance RT82.

This is a great deal on what I consider the bare minimum requirements for a decent turntable.

https://www.amazon.com/Victrola-Record-Player-2-Speed-Turntable/dp/B07JVK44M9/ref=asc_df_B07JVK44M9

If you are interested in a serious quality table I’d begin with the U-Turn Orbits, Audio Technica LP40WN or LP120 and Fluance. Especially recommend the RT82 ($300)for value/performance ratio.

The $250 Sony PSLX310BT really isn't any better than the $150 AT-LP60X.

If you must have fully automatic then the $199 AT-LP2X and AT-LP3 both add adjustable tracking force.

For a better and manual turntable the older Fluance RT81 is not worth buying anymore since the newer improved Fluance RT82 for $50 more adds a $150 increase in performance and component value. The RT82 adds the new optical sensor speed controlled motor for much lower wow and flutter and the speed won't drift since the sensor is monitoring the speed 400 times a second.

If you want a low cost manual turntable to start with then the Victrola VPRO-2000 $139 adds adjustable tracking force, a removable cartridge and pitch control over the AT-LP60X.