The Best All-in-One Turntables for an Easier Vinyl Experience (2024)

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Listening to vinyl isn’t as simple as asking Alexa to play a song or opening Spotify on your smartphone, and that’s part of the reason why people love it. The act of choosing a record, placing it and then dropping the stylus requires more attention. And as a result, you’re more likely to appreciate the music more. For those just starting out, building your own hi-fi system can be intimidating — we’re here to help.

Most entry-level hi-fi systems require more than just a turntable and a pair of speakers. In the past, most turntables needed a separate component, a phono preamp (or phono stage), to amplify the turntable’s normally weak signal. “Integrated turntables” or “all-in-one turntables” come with this equipment inside, so all you need are speakers to go with it.

There are trade-offs. Having multiple components in tight spaces risks adding extra noise and vibrations to the system, keeping all-in-ones from reaching the true pinnacle of quality that hardcore audiophiles tend to crave. Integrated preamps can also limit your ability to upgrade your system with aftermarket parts down the road unless your turntables explicitly support external preamps.

That said, the trade-offs are more than worth it for folks who are just getting into vinyl, so here are the best all-in-ones to help you start your journey.

Integrated or ‘All-in-One’ Turntables — Is There a Difference?

Photo by Tucker Bowe for Gear Patrol

For the sake of this article, we’re using the terms “integrated turntables” and “all-in-one turntables” interchangeably — both refer to turntables with a built-in preamp. This eliminates the need to buy an external phono preamp and thus simplifies your system. However, it’s important to note that you’ll still need to two additional components to get your turntable system up and working: speakers and an amplifier.

If you have a turntable with a built-in preamp and are looking to complete the system, you basically have two options. You can get a pair of passive bookshelf speakers and an integrated amplifier. Or, if you’re looking for a simpler solution, you could also get a powered speaker (like the Sonos Five) or a pair of powered speakers (like the Audioengine A2+), which combine the speaker and amplifier in one component.

We are not referring to true all-in-one turntables that have all the components (including the speakers, amplifier, and preamp) because those tend to be cheap and not very good. When all the components are squeezed into one turntable, they vibrate each other, leading to distortion.

Today, with the popularity of vinyl skyrocketing, a turntable with a built-in preamp is seen as a starter kit for those getting into hi-fi and vinyl. They make listening to vinyl easier, but they also are pretty high-quality turntables.

How We Tested

Photo by Tucker Bowe for Gear Patrol

TheGear Patrolstaff includes a bounty of audiophiles with their own turntables who are more than happy to discuss what they like and dislike about them. We’ve interacted, played with and experimented on vinyl record players of all shapes and sizes over the years, and now we’re sharing our hard-earned expertise with you.

To learn more about our testing methodology and how we evaluate products, head here.

A Great All-Around Integrated Turntable

Amazon

Pro-Ject T1 Phono SB

Specs

Turntable	Belt-drive
Automatic or Manual	Manual
Switchable Preamp	Yes

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Pros

• Striking and minimalist design
• Switchable preamp
• Comes with a high-quality OM 5E MM cartridge

Cons

• A touch on the expensive side
• No button for switching speeds

• $449.00 at Amazon

  $499.00(10% off)

The Pro-Ject T1 Phono SB is one of the company’s newest mid-range turntables. It’s not quite as “audiophile-grade” as the Essential III (which Pro-Ject is phasing out), as the T1 has a lighter overall design (by about three pounds), a slightly lesser cartridge and fewer anti-vibration features.

But the T1 separates itself by having a more striking design — thanks to a tempered glass platter — and a more affordable price tag. It’s a great option for people with a Sonos speaker with a line-in connection (like a Five or Play:5) who want to start playing vinyl.

(Note: The T1 can be purchased with or without a phono preamp, or with a Bluetooth transmitter.)

Our Favorite Integrated Turntable Under $300

Amazon

Fluance RT81

Specs

Turntable	Belt-drive
Automatic or Manual	Manual
Switchable Preamp	Yes

Pros

• Distinct old-school vibe
• Quite affordable
• Comes with a good Audio Tecnica AT95E cartridge

Cons

• Lacks the sleek design of modern turntables

• $249.99 at Amazon

Fluance has always specialized in home theater systems and hi-fi speakers, but it wasn’t until 2016 that the Canadian-based audio company got into turntables when they introduced the Fluance RT81 and RT80.

The RT81 is an upgraded version of the RT80. It has the same built-in preamp (which can be switched on or off) but includes a rubber mat, a solid-body plinth, and an Audio Technica AT95 cartridge.

Best Upgrade Integrated Turntable

Rega

Rega Planar 1 Plus

Specs

Turntable	Belt-drive
Automatic or Manual	Manual
Switchable Preamp	Yes

Pros

• Superb sound quality
• Striking design and build quality
• Comes with an excellent Carbon MM cartridge

Cons

• It's going to cost you

• $725.00 at Amazon

Rega is a well-loved British audio company that has been making audiophile-approved turntables for over 40 years, and the Planar series of turntables are considered a benchmark for affordable high-end design.

The Planar 1 Plus includes a Rega Carbon cartridge, an internal phono pre-amplifier based on their excellent FONO stage and RB-110 tonearm. It’s one of the best-integrated turntables you can buy for under $1,000.

Most Customizable Integrated Turntable

Orbit

U-Turn Audio Orbit Plus

Specs

Turntable	Belt-drive
Automatic or Manual	Manual
Switchable Preamp	Yes

Pros

• Gorgeous and striking design
• Lots of color options
• Easily upgradable
• Comes with a Ortofon OM5E Cartridge

Cons

• Design might not be for everybody
• No button for switching speeds

• $329.00 at audioadvice.com

U-Turn is one of our favorite American hi-fi companies that makes beautiful handmade turntables in Massachusetts. The Orbit Plus is the company’s mid-tier turntable that comes with a striking transparent platter, precision OA2 gimbal tonearm and an Ortofon OM5E cartridge.

One of the best things about the Orbit Plus is that it’s available in quite a few fun colors — seven, in fact, including violet and bright green — so you have more input in the look of your turntable. It also can be configured with or without a preamp.

A Budget-Friendly Integrated Turntable

Audio-Technica

Audio-Technica AT-LP60X

Specs

Turntable	Belt-drive
Automatic or Manual	Automatic
Switchable preamp	Yes

Pros

• One of the more affordable integrated turntables out there
• Easy to use and upgrade

Cons

• Automatic turntables might not be for you
• Lightweight design isn't the best for sound quality

• $149.00 at audio-technica.com

The Audio-Technica AT-LP60X is the company’s most affordable entry-level turntable. It’s an automatic turntable, so you don’t have to worry about placing the stylus (which you may or may not like). And it comes with a switchable preamp and a replaceable stylus, so you can upgrade it down the road.

The AT-LP60X lacks USB and Bluetooth connections, so it’s a fairly dimensional option. It also has a lightweight and aluminum design and isn’t going to soak up vibrations like more expensive options. That said, this is a solid option if you’re getting into vinyl and want a cool-looking turntable that doesn’t cost a lot.

A High-End Turntable for Streaming

Amazon

Cambridge Audio Alva TT V2

Specs

Turntable	Direct-drive
Automatic or Manual	Manual
Switchable Preamp	Yes

Pros

• A true hi-fi turntable fit for the modern age
• Supports high-resolution streaming over Bluetooth
• Simply gorgeous

Cons

• One of the most expensive turntables on this list

• $1,999.00 at Amazon

The second-generation version — aka “V2” — of Cambridge Audio’s Alva TT is even more of a high-end turntable than its predecessor. It’s still a direct-drive turntable that combines a mostly aluminum build and premium components, but it’s been upgraded in a few key ways. It has an improved tonearm that comes with a detachable headshell, which allows you to upgrade to a nicer phono cartridge later on if you choose to. It also now comes with a switchable phono stage which, again, gives you the option to upgrade later down the road.

The key thing with the Alva TT V2 is that, like the original Alva TT, it supports both analog and wireless streaming. It’s one of the few high-end turntables that supports high-resolution streaming (up to 24-bit/48kHz) over Bluetooth, meaning you can stream your vinyl to a compatible amp, wireless speaker or wireless headphones.

An Integrated Turntable with an Iconic Design

Technics

Technics SL-1500C

Specs

Turntable	Direct-drive
Automatic or Manual	Semi-automatic
Switchable preamp	Yes

Pros

• Iconic design with retro flair
• Excellent sound quality
• Electronic speed control

Cons

• It's one of the most expensive options

• $1,299.95 at crutchfield.com

The Technics SL-1500c is an audiophile-grade turntable that feels like a bargain. It shares a style similar to the company’s much-loved SL-1200 line, headlined by its direct-drive design, die-cast aluminum platter, and signature S-shaped tonearm. It comes with a built-in phono preamp and comes decked out with an Ortofon 2M Red cartridge.

The SL-1500c is a semi-automatic turntable, meaning it’ll automatically turn off when the stylus gets to the end of the record, but you’ll have to manually place the tonearm back when you’re done.

An Integrated Turntable for Sonos Speaker Owners

Amazon

Victrola Stream Carbon

Specs

Turntable	Belt-drive
Automatic or Manual	Semi-automatic
Switchable Preamp	No

Pros

• Makes it really easy to listen to vinyl on any Sonos speakers you already have
• Striking and modern design.
• Volume knob adjusts volume of entire group of Sonos speakers

Cons

• Turntable isn't discoverable in the Sonos app
• Components aren't really upgradable
• Not cheap

• $799.99 at Amazon

The Victrola Stream Carbon is a unique turntable because it’s meant to be integrated into an existing Sonos speaker system. It’s the first turntable that can wirelessly stream vinyl to Sonos speakers without any extra components like an amp. You have to group it with your existing Sonos speakers in the Victrola app, and then every time you play a record, it will automatically stream on your Sonos speakers.

The only downside is that the Stream Carbon requires you to use Victrola’s app rather than being natively discoverable in the Sonos app — so setting it up isn’t quite as straightforward as setting up a new Sonos speaker. As for the turntable itself, it’s a semi-automatic belt-driven turntable that has a striking mostly-metal design and a large illuminated knob for adjusting volume.

A USB Integrated Turntable

Audio-Technica

Audio-Technica AT-LP120XBT-USB

Specs

Turntable	Direct-drive
Automatic or Manual	Manual
Switchable Preamp	Yes

Pros

• Very distinct design
• Feature packed and comes with built-in Bluetooth

Cons

• Design won't be for everybody
• Direct-drive isn't the best for sound quality

• $399.00 at audio-technica.com

First things first: this is a USB turntable, meaning you can play and record records at the same time, which is a great way to turn your vinyl into digital music files, so you can listen to them without a turntable or record nearby.

More importantly, the Audio-Technica AT-LP120XBT-USB has a built-in phono preamp, so all you need is some passive or powered bookshelf speakers to hook up to it. The kicker is that, well, it’s just a really cool-looking turntable.

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