From the Sony Walkman and MiniDisc Player through to the iPod and the latest phones with enough memory to cram your whole music collection on, the music world has been obsessed with the advancement of playback technology for a long time. The main job of these enhancements has been to boost convenience, but where does that leave your vinyl collection? Vinyl is certainly an outlier in the battle with digital music, but today’s best Bluetooth turntables are here to change that.
Bluetooth was first introduced in 1998 but it took until 2004 for it to become more widely used and these days it's everywhere. And with the tech in turntables, it simply means you can connect your record player remotely to Bluetooth enabled speakers or headphones.
Below, you'll find my top Bluetooth turntable picks which cover a range of budgets and I've also included buying advice towards the bottom of the article to help you make an informed choice.
Huw Baines is a freelance music writer with a particular interest in all things punk, hardcore and vinyl. Alongside Louder, he has written for Long Live Vinyl magazine, the Guardian, Kerrang!, Huck, Guitar Magazine, Vice, Clash, and elsewhere.
Best Bluetooth turntables: Quick list
This Sony wants to be all things to all people, and in this case that’s a really good thing – it’s nicely balanced. It also comes with a built in phono preamp alongside its Bluetooth connectivity.
This model from the audio experts at Pro-Ject has long been regarded as one of the finest competitors in the budget to mid-range bracket, and here the Bluetooth capability has been drafted in as a tasty new feature.
There’s a lot to be said for being the jack of all trades, and in the Audio-Technica ATLP120XBT-USB we have the record-playing, all-connecting equivalent of a vinyl everyman.
Arguably the best value entry-level wireless record player, sound quality is perfectly passable and the Bluetooth range means you can position separate speakers in different rooms to enjoy music wherever you are.
The AT-LP60XBT underlines that fact by strips everything back. Aimed at beginners and budget buyers, this deck boasts solid sound alongside maximum plug and play user-friendliness.
The House of Marley Stir it Up is, like other products from the brand, designed with a sweet sustainable bamboo finish which gives it a great contemporary look and makes it eco-friendly, too.
The Louder choice
✅ Buy if you want balanced audio and good looks: This Sony turntable looks the business but it also performs well, giving balanced audio.
❌ Avoid if you want detailed audio: The audio balance is indeed fine, but the PS-LX310BT does lack a bit of punch. For earth-shaking delivery, you'll need to look elsewhere.
The Sony PS-LX310BT Bluetooth record player wants to be all things to all people, and in this case that’s a really good thing as it doesn’t sacrifice one element in order to cram another feature on top. It’s nicely balanced.
It comes with a built in phono preamp alongside its Bluetooth connectivity, prioritising ease of use above anything else, and it'll take you longer to decide what to listen to than to get your headphones paired with the deck.
It's a sleek, belt-driven turntable and its design is probably best described as minimalist. It's also a very light unit, coming in at 3.5kg but, that said, it feels sturdy and robust and I didn't find it skipping or jumping tracks during testing. Perhaps the one downside to the Sony PS-LX310BT is that the stylus cover is a little fragile.
It's also possible synch eight devices, while the sound quality on this two-speed record player is excellent given the entry-level price point. All in all, the Sony PS-LX310BT is a fantastic choice when buying a wireless record player. Plus, it’ll look good when sat on top of one of the best vinyl record storage consoles.
Read the full Sony PS-LX310BT review
Best mid-range
✅ Buy if you want a top-performing turntable: Pro-Ject know what they're doing and this is an excellent turntable that offers something for everyone.
❌ Avoid if you're a beginner: The Essential III can be a little tricky to set-up, so if you're new, there are easier options elsewhere.
The two-speed Pro-Ject Essential III Bluetooth record player enters the ring with a huge pedigree on its side. The base model has long been regarded as one of the finest competitors in the budget to mid-range turntable bracket, and here the Bluetooth capability has been drafted in as a new, extra feature.
Both the plinth and the platter have been created using resonance-insensitive MDF and this help to create a record player that delivers an energetic audio performance. The Pro-Ject Essential III also has an in-built phono preamp alongside its Bluetooth functionality.
The Pro-Ject Essential III looks as standard as turntables come, but don't be fooled, as it is undoubtedly the best wireless record player for the money. Sure, it is a little bit on the fiddly side to set up, but once up and running, I didn't experience any issues at all.
This model has so much to offer and years of tweaking to the Pro-Ject format behind it and it’s an ideal blend of cutting edge and tried and tested. Buy it, I don't think you'll regret it.
Read the full Pro-Ject Essential III review
Best all-rounder
✅ Buy if you want a great turntable with a digital file option: Thanks to its USB connection and Audacity software, you can rip your vinyl to digital on a PC or Mac.
❌ Avoid if you're an audio purist: This is a no-fuss unit that sounds great, but audiophiles should cast their eyes elsewhere.
There’s a lot to be said for being the jack of all trades, and in the Audio-Technica ATLP120XBT-USB we have the record-playing, all-connecting equivalent.
If your system is well-established and you’re simply looking for an affordable deck to slot in place, the Audio-Technica ATLP120XBT-USB has you covered. If you’re looking to stream over Bluetooth, you’re set. And, if you have a large vinyl collection that you would like to back up digitally, then the ATLP120XBT-USB will see you right thanks to its USB connectivity an Audacity software.
As a direct-drive turntable with integrated phono preamp, I can also see this particular record player being extremely popular with vinyl samplers and producers looking for an easy way to get into crate digging.
Simply hook the deck up to your audio interface and you’re good to go. For everyone else, all you really need to know is that Audio-Technica has once again produced the goods with a superb balance of price, performance and functionality.
Read the full Audio-Technica ATLP120XBT-USB review
Best budget
✅ Buy if you want a great value turntable: There are loads of features here making this brilliant value for money.
❌ Avoid if you want a premium record player: The ION Audio Air LP is a budget-friendly unit but won't be for everyone.
I'm a big fan of the ION Audio Air LP, which is arguably the best value entry-level wireless record player. Sound quality is perfectly passable, offering well-balanced audio and I also found the Bluetooth range meant I could position separate speakers in different rooms to enjoy my music wherever I was.
There's enough features included to keep everyone happy - especially for the price: You can hook the ION Audio Air LP to your PC or Mac with the included USB cable and rip your favourite vinyl albums to digital. You'll need to use ION Audio's EZ Vinyl/Tape Converter software - a no-frills option which is light on features.
There's an in-built phono stage and the whole record player is straightforward to get up and running straight out of the box, no matter if you're rocking wireless or wired speakers as there's RCA outputs for the latter option.
Unlike some other options in this list, the ION Audio Air LP has three speed settings, but to play 78rpm vinyl, you'll have to shell out a bit extra on a separate stylus.
Finally, the Audio Air comes in a couple of classy finish options and is small enough so as to not dominate the space. A great value option for those looking for a great turntable on a budget.
Read the full ION Audio Air LP turntable review
Best for beginners
✅ Buy if you want a beginner-friendly turntable: Fully automatic with a built in phono preamp, this is great for first-timers - and it delivers balanced audio.
❌ Avoid if you're an experienced turntable connoisseur: This won't wow you if you've been in the vinyl game for years.
Audio-Technica have been manufacturing quality turntables for a long time, and the AT-LP60XBT underlines that fact by stripping everything back for an easy to use, no fuss record player. It's squarely aimed at beginners and budget buyers, and I think this is the best Bluetooth turntable for those just setting out on their vinyl journey.
This two-speed turntable has a matte black plinth with a shiny aluminium platter and comes in three colour variations: black, white and red - and when it comes to performance, it's fully automatic so it's ideal for plug and play user-friendliness.
Packed into this wallet-friendly turntable you’ll find a built-in phono stage, a revamped tonearm base and headshell, a Dual Moving Magnet phono cartridge with replaceable diamond stylus, and an anti-resonance platter - all of which helps to deliver balanced audio.
Bluetooth on the Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT is rock-solid and during testing, there were no breaks in the music even when I placed my Bluetooth speakers 30ft away. Sure, it’s not the prettiest record player on the market, but it makes up for that by ensuring the ride is smooth elsewhere.
Read the full Audio-Technica AT-LP60xBT review
Best green option
✅ Buy if you want a a greener turntable: It sounds great and looks great - and the Stir It Up is made from sustainable materials and recycled plastics.
❌ Avoid if you want top of the range audio: While the Stir It Up sounds lovely, at higher volume levels, I noticed some audio distortion.
As much as vinyl is revered for its unique tonal character, you shouldn’t overlook how the record player itself will fit into your setup. While it shouldn’t matter if the sound is good, record players are not tiny devices and, as such, you should give consideration to how it’ll look perched on your shelf or sideboard.
The House Of Marley Stir it Up is, like all other audio products from the well-respected brand, is designed with a sweet sustainable bamboo finish and created using recycled materials making this a greener option in the record player market. It has a contemporary look - although you can also pick one up with a black finish should you prefer something a little more neutral.
Sound quality is about on par with what I'd expect in this price range, however the Stir it Up does take a bit of tweaking to find the sweet spot. This is a simple fix however and shouldn’t put you off what is a very attractive deck.
House Of Marley are also committed to global reforestation and ocean preservation through their Project Marley initiative in conjunction with One Tree Planted and the Surfrider Foundation.
Read the full House Of Marley Stir It Up review
FAQ
What is a Bluetooth turntable?
A Bluetooth turntable is like a traditional record player, with the added bonus that it can connect wirelessly to your Bluetooth-equipped stereo system, powered speaker or wireless headphones.
What should I look for in a Bluetooth turntable?
A lot of major audio brands have jumped aboard the wireless record player train, with slick spinners from Sony, Pro-Ject and Audio-Technica available all coming in at various price points to suit most budgets and proving that it’s not just a passing fad. For me, one of the greatest things about Bluetooth decks is how simple they are to operate.
On one hand they have the potential to remove the need for trailing wires completely, while on the other, many of the best Bluetooth record players also come complete with built-in phono stage (so skipping a separate preamp to boost the signal from your turntable). That means they’re about as plug and play as you can get, if you choose to go old-school.
You will need powered, Bluetooth ready speakers and perhaps a pair of wireless headphones to make the most of the tech, but otherwise you should be up and running with the push of a couple of buttons.
Do Bluetooth turntables sound good?
Of course, Bluetooth turntables are designed for listening to music, so how much does the extra tech impact the sound? It’s worth remembering that here Bluetooth is introducing a digital element to an analogue system, so as a result you'll likely experience some deterioration in audio quality due to the compression involved. For the casual listener this will be a negligible difference, but it could potentially be outweighed by the increased freedom you'll get from your Bluetooth turntable.
That said, up your budget a little and you’ll find plenty of high quality wireless record players out there - it’s all about getting what you want from your records and how best to enjoy them.
If you need some extra advice, have a read through our guide on how to buy your first vinyl record player.
How do you pair a turntable with Bluetooth headphones/speaker??
As mentioned, in order for your Bluetooth deck to work, you will need powered Bluetooth (not Wi-Fi) ready speakers or a pair of wireless headphones.
The first step is to get your Bluetooth turntable and speaker or headphones to ‘talk’ to each other. To do this you need to put both into pairing mode. On your Bluetooth record player this is usually accessed by long-pressing the Bluetooth button, with a different coloured light engaging to indicate you’re in pairing mode.
With both your deck and device in pairing mode, position them close together, and they should connect. A short sound or change of light colour will indicate a successful connection. You’re now ready to beam your wonderful vinyl sounds to your chosen Bluetooth device. What’s more, the next time you switch your Bluetooth record player on, it should automatically connect to your paired device.
The process of pairing can differ slightly from device to device, so check manufacturer instructions for the full picture.
How much should I spend on a Bluetooth turntable?
You really don’t have to spend much to get your hands on a deck that’s packing Bluetooth. The Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT is a fantastic budget turntable as it is, but the added Bluetooth functionality makes it an even better proposition. Up your budget and that additional cash will mostly bag you better components, like a quality tonearm and cartridge, a tasty phono preamp and, critically, better sound. As with most things turntable-related, when it comes to your budget, the sky really is the limit.
Which brands make the best Bluetooth turntables?
As I've already mentioned, Bluetooth tech has been adopted by most of the major turntable manufacturers. Therefore, to find the best wireless record player for you, you simply need to look to the big guns in the traditional turntable world - and I'm looking at you Sony, Audio Technica, Pro-Ject, Cambridge Audio and Lenco.
How we test Bluetooth turntables
When it comes to testing the latest Bluetooth decks, I naturally check all the usual elements such as sound quality, build quality, set up and features, and judge those against other products in the field and in that price bracket. But, being Bluetooth record players, it’s important that the connectivity is up to scratch, too. For this, I check for ease of connectivity using multiple devices including headphones and speakers, the stability of the connection (whether I experienced any drop outs) and the range.
For some, Bluetooth is a nice-to-have rather than essential feature, so I ensure that Bluetooth is there for a reason, does the job well and doesn’t indicate that corners have been cut in other important areas such as the tonearm or cartridge.
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You can trust Louder Our experienced team has worked for some of the biggest brands in music. From testing headphones to reviewing albums, our experts aim to create reviews you can trust. Find out more about how we review.
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