Best Speakers for Record Player Reviews

Vinyl is becoming more and more popular nowadays, and for a good reason – it delivers much more beautiful, authentic sound than compressed digital audio. A good vinyl player gives an honest feel to the musical nuances; however, you’ll hardly enjoy the satisfactory sound if you use poor-quality speakers.

But how to choose the best speakers for vinyl? I’m sharing some insight here! We’ll also review top-rated models available on the market. I handpicked them carefully based on their overall quality and customer feedback. So, make yourself comfortable and just keep reading to select speakers that will meet all your needs!

Speakers for vinyl comparison table

What do I need to choose: powered or passive speakers for a turntable?

There are tens of factors to consider when looking for record player speakers. First off, you should understand the difference between active vs. passive models and their pros & cons. So, let’s discuss both types to determine which one is right for you.

Powered speakers for turntable

Powered or active speakers have an integrated amplifier, so you can hook it up directly to the music sources like a computer, CD player, and record player.

Passive speakers for vinyl

Passive speakers require a separate amplifier or receiver to produce audible sound. If you connect them directly to your turntable, you won’t hear anything because the signal is too weak to drive passive speakers.

Bookshelf or floorstanding speakers for vinyl?

When you are in the market for turntable speakers, you definitely have to think about their size. So, which are more suitable for you: bookshelf or floorstanding models?

Bookshelf speakers are usually compact and should be placed on any platform but the floor. They are designed to play in small or mid-sized rooms and perform as separate equipment or part of a home stereo system.

Floor standing or tower speakers produce a big surround sound. So, if you’re an audiophile who wants to build a full-fledged home stereo system, such speakers may be the right option for you.

How I tested speakers for a record player

To test speakers for turntable, I used the following equipment:

• Record player: Pro-Ject Debut PRO
• Stereo receiver: Yamaha R-N803
• Phono preamplifier: Pro-Ject Phono Box DS2
• Speaker wire – AudioQuest Type-9

To evaluate the sound quality of the speakers, I listened to the following recordings in different genres of music:

• John Williams – Jurassic Park [1993]
• Stravinsky – The Rite of Spring [2017]
• Leonard Cohen – Popular Problems [2014]
• Radiohead – In Rainbows [2007]
• Four Tet – Sixteen Oceans [2020]

Best bookshelf speakers for vinyl reviews

Active bookshelf speakers

Klipsch The Fives – best active bookshelf

Klipsch The Five is a high-quality, versatile product – its technical characteristics and solid construction make it outperform even such a strong competitor as Audioengine A5+ with its unparalleled power and superb sound!

The Five can be utilized either as desktop speakers or as a complete stereo alternative to a soundbar due to the cleverly included HDMI ARC connection, analog RCA, 3.5mm aux, digital optical, USB, and Bluetooth 5.0.

The speakers can play hi-res audio, plus Klipsch’s Dynamic Bass EQ boosts low frequencies at reduced levels. However, you can turn this feature off for a more traditional bass response or cut the bass if it’s becoming too boomy near a rear wall.

This setup uses a high-quality acoustic package to deliver beautifully transparent sound: a 25mm titanium dome tweeter surrounded by Klipsch’s Tractrix horn shape and an 11.5cm long-throw woofer, which sits just below the horn, allowing to fill a medium-sized space without overstretching.

Whether it’s a chamber choir or solo voices, the speakers offer a high level of detail, which will bring out texture and timbre. The treble is excellent – it doesn’t sound rolled off, plus, there’s a decent amount of bass, given the speaker’s size.

Edifier R1280T – best budget bookshelf

Edifier R1280T offers excellent value for money! The overall power output is 21W, and there are two ports on the back of the active speaker for RCA to AUX and RCA to RCA connections. The manufacturer thought of everything and included many connections so you could connect the speakers to a variety of devices, including a turntable.

I used to have Edifier R1700BT – amazing Bluetooth-enabled speakers with greater power. And to be honest, I didn’t expect much from its sibling – R1280T. However, the full-impact sound it delivers has pleasantly surprised me – you hardly find such clarity in a similar price range!

The signal-to-noise ratio is 85dBA, which is not too high but still effective. In my opinion, this model has an outstanding bass response and a warmer, more natural tweeter than the R1700BT. Besides, the highs are very pleasant – they sound crispy clear, and mellow.

Audioengine A5+

Audioengine brand sees its mission in creating speakers that sound great and are easy to set up & use. Their A5+ model will make you want to listen to music every day, even if you are not an audioholic!

These speakers produce a gorgeous, rich sound given their size – it’s a kind of sonic maturity you never get from a budget soundbar or wireless speakers. The acoustics make you feel as if you’re right in front of them!

A5+ has a combined peak output of 150 watts, making it extremely powerful – this model outperforms even our winner Klipsch The Five in this category. Further, there are premium-class 5″ aramid fiber woofers, ¾ inch silk tweeters, and built-in power amplifiers.

Bluetooth helps connect to any device swiftly and flawlessly to improve your listening experience instantly. And if that wasn’t enough, this gem is housed in finely tuned cabinetry! Impressive specs for a bookshelf model in this price region, huh?

Passive bookshelf speakers

KEF LS50 Meta – best passive bookshelf

KEF LS 50 Meta is an upgraded version of the LS50, which has won many hearts due to its killing combination of overall quality and design. LS50 Meta boasts innovative Metamaterial Absorption Technology. This revolutionary tool absorbs unwanted noise from the driver, providing a more transparent, natural sound. I really love the level of delicacy and precision these small speakers deliver!

This model features the company’s 12th Generation Uni-Q Driver, which provides a 40% increase in smoothness over the previous version. In addition, it has an extremely low THD of 0.07% and a frequency range of (-6dB) from 47 Hz to 45 kHz. As a result, it makes it an ideal choice for audiophiles looking for premium sound quality.

The speakers’ housing is a solid, well-controlled foundation for its Uni-Q drive array. The curved front baffle and radiused rear panel help to reduce diffraction and distortion, while the recessed port exit and speaker terminals create a sleek, minimalist look.

Klipsch RP-600M

Audiophiles hold the RP-600M speakers in high regard, and rightly so. Their superior sound quality and sturdy build set them apart from similarly priced or even more expensive options.

Just take a look at its impressive technical specifications! Firstly, you can easily customize this model to improve the performance thanks to the dual input ports for bi-wire/bi-amp. Secondly, the acoustic package is built to produce an incredible sound!

The titanium tweeters, back Tractrix port, matched to the woofers, and housing effectively reduces distortion and deliver beautiful realistic sound. The speakers maintain clarity through the entire range of sounds in all of the musical genres that I pushed through them in the 20′ deep x 30′ wide room.

The highs are very clear yet non-fatiguing to the ears; male & female vocals sound liquid and forward but not unbalanced. In all honesty, I didn’t expect such sound quality in this price region!

ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2

The ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 passive bookshelf speakers are an improved version of the award-winning B6 model. Not only do these speakers feature an improved wide-dispersion waveguide and soft-dome tweeter for response up to 35000 Hz, but their optimized sensitivity and impedance also minimize the power requirement from any AV receiver. Furthermore, thick MDF cabinets effectively reduce cabinet vibrations, while the luxurious black ash vinyl finish adds a touch of style.

In terms of sound quality, the B6.2 delivers impressively detailed audio with a smooth frequency response in both the high and low ranges. The use of a wide-roll surround on the tweeter helps to create an expansive soundstage that can fill any room. With a sensitivity of 87db at 2.83v/1m, these speakers are capable of producing plenty of power for both music playback and home theater applications alike. The crossover frequency is set at 2200Hz so you get consistent performance throughout all frequencies without needing to adjust settings manually.

Floor speakers for vinyl reviews

Here, I’ve consolidated the highest quality floorstanding vinyl speakers to prevent you from looking through dozens of models. All speakers I listed here are passive, so make sure you have an amplifier or receiver.

Klipsch RP-8000F – best floor

Every single model from the Klipsch brand meets the highest standards of quality. And the RP-8000F is no exception! It’s a top-of-the-line, award-winning speaker system that won’t disappoint when it comes to sound or aesthetics.

Bi-wiring capacity lets you set up passive crossovers; hence, your amp sections have easy access to voice coils at either end of these 12-foot beauties without compromising sound fidelity or power handling. In addition, the motor structure suspends both woofers and tweeters in a precisely shaped, magnetically shielded cabinet that minimizes resonance and eliminates the “sweet spot” dead zone that most speakers create.

The RP-8000F also comes with groundbreaking Tractrix Horn technology and Linear Travel Suspension (LTS) tweeters for powerful highs and lifelike midrange. To drive its cone woofers, this model uses a powerful 16–inch Cerametallic woofer.

It’s housed in an equally monumental vented enclosure with specifically baffling tuned ports to minimize turbulence and ensure an incredibly smooth response. Such characteristics make these speakers stand against their competitors, e.g., Sony SS-CS3.

Sony SS-CS3 – best budget floor

Sony SS-CS3 is a floorstanding speaker with Hi-Res Audio technology that delivers high-end, realistic sound due to its intelligent engineering.

For deep, powerful, reliable bass and the finer detail essential for clear vocals in the mid-range, it uses a newly built 5.12” woofer. A 3-way, 4-speaker system delivers crisp mids and highs, while a Bass Reflex cabinet produces rich bass tones.

The speaker’s frequency response of 45Hz to 50kHz, ¾ in. super tweeter and 1” tweeter cover a wide range of notes – сlassical, jazz, blues, rock, and live acoustic recordings sound wonderful through this setup! I really love the well-balanced sound this model produces, especially considering its price.

Q Acoustics 3050i

Q Acoustics is a British audio equipment company established in 1994. Their 3050i model is a relatively affordable yet high-performance speaker system that won’t disappoint keen listeners!

This model boasts a number of valuable upgrades. First off, the manufacturers paired P2P with Helmholtz Pressure Equalizer (HPE) technology to eliminate sympathetic resonance within the enclosure and make the soundstage more accurate. This technology is ideal for floor standers that resonate at a single frequency. Next, the drivers push out a fantastic quality sound! At low to mid volumes, violin and classical are outstanding, almost intoxicating, highs sparkle, and the bass response is deep and accurate.

As for the cabinets, they are built to protect the speakers against vibration and sound distortion. They look smooth, even-handed, and wonderfully refined for the money.

Speakers for turntable buying guide

When you’re shopping around for the best speakers for a record player, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. Here they are:

Watts and impedance

You might have noticed that different models feature different wattage and impendence. So, what should you consider?

The higher the number of watts, the greater output. Remember this when it comes to pairing your speakers with a suitable amplifier.

Impedance is a measurement of current resistance that determines how much power the amplifier can provide to the speaker. Although the actual amount of current is usually in flux, speakers are normally given a single nominal rating to make comparisons easier. 4, 8, and 16 ohms are common impedance values. It’s critical to match the impedance of your speaker to that of your amplifier; mismatches might cause sound difficulties or equipment damage.

Frequency response of speakers

When it comes to the frequency response of your speakers, you’ll want to make sure that they can handle the range of frequencies that your turntable produces. Most turntables produce sounds in the range of 20-20,000 Hz, so you’ll want to make sure your speakers can accommodate that.

Vinyl speakers sensitivity

When looking for the best speakers for a turntable, it’s essential to consider their sensitivity. This will determine how loud they can get when playing music. For instance, speakers with a sensitivity of 96dB/W will play loud with about any type of amplifier, while 87dB/W sensitivity will require a pretty solid amplifier to play loud.

Are expensive turntable speakers better?

We recommend choosing speakers that sit in a similar price range as the rest of your audio system components (focus more on the price of the amplifier/receiver). There is no point in pairing expensive speakers and an entry-level turntable – it won’t improve the sound at all.

How to connect a record player to speakers?

Here’s the easiest way to connect a player to active speakers with a built-in phono stage:

• Hook up the turntable’s RCA and ground connections to the speakers.
• Make sure the speaker’s rare switch is set to “Phono.”.
• Plug the speakers and player into power outlets.
• Enjoy your records!

If you have passive speakers, follow this step-by-step guide:

• Ensure you have a receiver and phono-preamp.
• Connect the turntable to the preamp using the RCA cords; grounding is required for some players.
• Use the RCA cables to hook up a phono stage to the amplifier.
• Hook up the speakers to the amplifier.
• You are good to go!

FAQ