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Inevitably, we found that it does sound its best through some great wired components than even the best top-tier Bluetooth headphones. However, we did still get that rich, vinyl sound wirelessly, and with greater clarity and precision than from cheaper Bluetooth turntables. In our review, we wrote: "The Alva TT V2 is a deft, smooth and insightful listen, a little short of dynamic headroom but very long indeed on detail retrieval, tonal balance and generously engaging sound." The Lenco LS-410 is an all-in-one turntable: it has four built-in speakers, so you can listen to your vinyl without a single other thing needed. And it has Bluetooth built-in so that you can also use it as a wireless speaker, and actually the sound is pretty chunky and nice for that. Sonically, you can do better though. As we said in our review: "This isn’t the most dynamic sound you ever heard, for sure, but neither is it the most inhibited. And when it’s put into proper context, the LS-410 is a perfectly likeable and periodically quite impressive Bluetooth speaker. ' Because the Tonies are so beautifully crafted and attractive to kids, we experienced little testers taking them for outings around the playroom. We can see this being a problem: It’s hard to keep your hands off of them, so we recommend storing them on a high shelf. This is, also, partly down to price. If you have an older turntable but it's much more expensive and higher quality than a newer, cheaper model, you might prefer the older sound. You should also consider whether it's in need of some TLC. Older turntables might need repairing to sound as good as they once did.
You want some 21st-century touches: Lately we’ve seen a few turntables with Bluetooth, or USB outputs. This ain’t one of them. Our absolute favorite kids’ audio player, the Yoto Player is a multi-tasking kid’s music player, podcast player, mini-radio, and storybook reader that is bursting with kid-friendly features. It—and the Yoto Player Mini—also stood out as being the two best grow-with-them options for audio players that kids would truly use from ages 3 to 12. The Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT is our top budget choice, and an excellent option for beginners. Setting it up is fairly straightforward, but does require some assembly. You can use it with a wired connection to speakers or headphones, or wirelessly via Bluetooth. With a built-in phono equalizer function, Audio-Technica says that you can use the AT-LP60XBT without a “phono amplifier or connectable equipment with a built-in phono amplifier”. You can also use it with your own external phono amplifier if you prefer. Also worth considering is this: do you want to rip your vinyl to your digital library? If so, look for a turntable with a USB output and reliable software to get the job done. Ultimately, new turntables are more advanced than older turntables, but it all comes down to your preferences. Are high-end turntables worth it?
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Finding the best record player for you can seem confusing, but there are some key details you need to consider when choosing your next turntable. If the Clearaudio Concept and Marantz TT-15S1 seem similar, that’s because the Marantz was built by Clearaudio to Marantz’s specifications. That means everything about the excellent build quality of the Marantz carries over to the Clearaudio Concept, so this this is a turntable that is as gorgeous as it sounds. So what does the Marantz TT-15S1 get you over the competition? Attention to detail. During our testing, we were pleasantly surprised to find that just about every part of the record player has been pored over to be the best it can be for the price. The fit and finish are excellent and it's very pleasant to handle these high-quality components. For us, reliable means a turntable that's a fantastic all-rounder and good value for money. With that in mind, you can't go wrong with the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo that sits at the top of our list of the best turntables, with an expansive, detailed sound and impressive specs.
If you're willing to spend a little more, then the Cambridge Audio Alva TT V2 is our high-end option. This futuristic, fantastic-looking turntable brings you a balanced and insightful sound, as well as modern connectivity options. In contrast, the Fluance RT81 is a mid-range option with no-frills but a great sound for the price. OK, there are issues with its rotational consistency and the construction of its tonearm (and its controls), and it leads to sound that's too weedy to be deeply satisfying. Connecting to a separate amp (using the built-in phono stage, or to your own phono stage, usefully) doesn't really improve things enough either. One of the most vital things to look for when you’re shopping for a new vinyl player is how well damped it is.Damping is essentially the method by which manufacturers combat vibrations – whether internal or external. They do this through the use of different motor configurations, and through the use of various components. It was a hard choice. Almost all of the players we tried had their own strengths but, the robust book library and dynamic usability of the Yoto Player
You’re expecting wireless to match wired: It sounds better hard-wired, no two ways about it. But that's always going to be the case. The Denon DP-300F is a gorgeous turntable that sounds just as good as it looks. As we wrote in our review: "If all you want is to listen to your records and not have to worry about queueing, premature needle wear or digitizing your records, the Denon DP-300F should be at the top of your list. Its features get you listening to your vinyl records as soon as possible, instead of having to fiddle with complicated components and manual queueing." verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ Primarily a kids' music player, this device is a sturdy little beast and truly feels indestructible. Unlike all of the other kids' music players and kids' audio players tested, the Jooki does not have any pre-loaded content. Instead, it allows you to create and upload either Spotify or MP3 playlists to “tokens” or figurines. The figurines are geared towards little kids, while the tokens are great for older kids. We like that the tokens are compact and portable and resemble keychain tiles.
During our testing we found that one small but notable difference between the Marantz and the Clearaudio turntables is the ability to play 78 rpm records. While most people will never come across 78s, it’s nice to know that the Clearaudio Concept is capable of playing them if you decide to explore older records. The Concept also has a handy speed dial on the plinth, so you don’t have to swap the belt position manually. The Pro-Ject Debut Carbon is still one of the best entry-level hi-fi turntables you can buy, even though it has been usurped by the more recent model at the top of this list.While vinyl newcomers may cringe at the relatively high price here, we've tested it and can safely say it's actually an incredible bargain. You want high-end styling and build: We like how this turntable looks, but it doesn't feel particularly luxe or well-built. You're after bass: There's some good extension, but control and solidity aren't really up there with the best.There’s a lot of debate over whether the Rega Planar PL1 or the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon is the best entry-level hi-fi turntable. It’s a close match and although we've tested both, we don't think there's a clear winner. Each one provides an excellent starting place for an audiophile on a budget.
It sounds fantastic. It doesn’t matter the sort of music you like to listen to either, the Debut Carbon Evo laps it up. In our testing we noted that every circumstance delivers a detailed and revealing listen, able to focus on the minutiae even as it describes the complete picture completely convincingly. It has all the warmth and weight the vinyl format is famous for, but it doesn’t get bogged down – instead it simply motors along in the most natural way imaginable. Our one complaint with the Yoto Player and the Yoto Player Mini are confusing controls. They aren't marked in any way, so they take a dip into the online directions and a bit of trial and error. I found them to be annoying the first month of owning the Yoto, but six months in I'm feeling like a pro. The appeal of these portable speakers is simplicity. Were they easy to use? Could children figure them out without the aid of an adult? The easier one of these gadgets was for kids to use on their own, the higher they ranked in our testing. If you’re missing the days of the mixtape and want to expose your kid to that kind of magic, you’re going to like the Jooki. It was our favorite choice for listening to music and for budding audiophiles. Belt-driven turntables are going to be a lot quieter and offer higher fidelity than their direct drive brethren, as direct drive turntables have a motor that is directly connected to the platter. However, there are some great direct drive turntables out there, so don’t write them off just yet.You want the ultimate audio experience: Sound is great here, but not perfect. For a more detailed, immersive experience you'll need to look elsewhere. It is not a great option for vinyl newcomers; it requires more knowledge to set up properly than the entry-level turntables on this list (try the Audio-Technica model in number two instead). But if you’re ready to take your record collecting and listening to the next level, the Marantz TT-15S1 is the perfect companion. In our review, we surmised: "Taken as a whole, the Marantz offers budding audiophiles the chance to chase higher fidelity without having to buy a turntable that costs as much as a car." Sound-staging is really impressive here, with recordings given plenty of elbow room for individual instruments to make their presence felt at all times. There’s depth and height to the Technics’ stage as well as width, and the sound is consistently compelling.
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