Our favourite turntable set up options

Here are three popular routes to consider:

• Traditional HiFi - the classic analogue audio experience.
• Vinyl + Streaming - the best of both worlds where analogue charm meets digital connectivity
• Active Speakers - Less equipment = less clutter

Traditional HiFi

Before standalone speakers and music streaming became commonplace, people played records through a traditional HiFi system. This configuration still proves popular today for those wanting a dedicated listening system, making for a pure analogue listening experience.

Devices needed for this configuration:

1. Turntable
2. Phono preamp*
3. Stereo amplifier
4. Passive speakers and speaker cable

The turntable connects to the amplifier using RCA cables, and from the amplifier, the speakers are connected via speaker cable. Most amplifiers tend to feature further inputs so that you can join other audio players, too, such as music streamers and CD players.

We Recommend: Rega System One

Vinyl + Streaming

If you like music streaming but want to enjoy the classic of vinyl, such wireless music systems like Sonos and Bluesound allow you to connect a turntable. You’ll then be able to share the output of your turntable to any wireless speakers made by the same brand around your home.

Devices needed for this configuration:

1. Turntable
2. A smart speaker or smart device equipped with line-in connections
3. A separate phono preamp if your turntable doesn’t feature its own

In this setup, the turntable wires to your smart speaker through a phono preamp (where required). The smart speaker can then play back the audio with any matching brand devices in the same ecosystem.

We Recommend: Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB & Sonos Five

Sonos offers an intuitive user experience with its vast range of wireless speakers, gifting music lovers an exceptional multiroom audio system. The Sonos Five delivers plenty of power and clarity and features a line-in connection for use with turntables and CD players.

The Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB not only looks the part, but its sound quality makes it a great match with the Sonos Five.

Active Speakers

Active speakers are a great solution if you want to enjoy immersive sound quality but don’t have space for a separate amplifier or too many unsightly cables. Instead of relying on a separate amplifier to drive the speakers, active speakers feature their own internal amplifier.

Devices needed for this configuration:

1. Turntable
2. A single active speaker or a pair of active speakers.
3. A separate phono preamp if your turntable doesn’t feature its own.

We Recommend: Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT & AudioEngine A1

A pair of active speakers provide true stereo performance without the need for a separate stereo amplifier, and the AudioEngine A1s offer excellent performance despite their compact size. The A1s also feature Bluetooth, making for a wireless connection to the Bluetooth-equipped AT-LP60XBT.

Audio-Technica’s AT-LP60XBT not only makes for a great aesthetic match to the Audio Engine A1 speakers, but its fully-automatic operation makes enjoying playing records a breeze.