
Thankfully, while we’ll freely admit there are some pretty garish models on offer, there are also some which retain an element of class and understated style. You’ll know which look will suit you best so it’s worth shopping around. There are plenty of variations on the theme, from players designed to look like they’ve been removed from a 1930’s time capsule, to more retro 70s-styled models. So, in addition to portability, you’re looking at the record player’s aesthetics. While this does enhance their portability credentials, in reality, most will find a specific location and leave the player in place.
#Portable turntable portable
At the end of the day, however, much of the snobbery surrounding specific turntables is incredibly subjective, so buy whatever looks and sounds good to you – as long as you’re able to experience the timeless magic of listening to your favourite records again and again, you’ll be just fine.When you’re looking for a portable record player, you’ll notice how most models opt for a traditional ‘suitcase’ design, meaning they can be packed up and moved around simply by closing the lid. If you’re listening on various mediums, make sure your turntable can be integrated with other setups, and it’s always worth looking for models with interchangeable parts in case you upgrade. When buying a turntable, there’s a few things which you need to consider before making the plunge as some of the jargon surrounding record players can be quite confusing. All of these brands mentioned can play vinyl at both 33 and 45 rpm, so unless you’ve got some old shellacs from the 1930’s, you’ll be safe to play your whole record collection just fine. There’s a lot of brands that come to mind here, but few top the minimal brilliance of Pro-Ject’s turntables, offering beautiful designs and pristine sound quality to fulfil the complete vinyl experience. If you’re looking to get into the world of pro-audio, you’ll want to invest in a high-quality setup with a set of external turntable speakers and a premium standalone record player.

Mbeat, a Melbourne based company, excels at making these kinds of record players, with some models even including cassette players for you dinosaurs out there.

If you’re looking to sample your records for music production or just to have a digital copy of your favourite record without buying it twice, it’s worth purchasing a USB turntable. A popular option for many is to buy a console-style turntable, which feature built-in speakers and radio capability to act as a viable all-in-one entertainment system, with brands like Crosley being a go-to for many first-time buyers. With so many turntables available on the consumer market, it can be a bit tricky knowing where to start with your first record player and accessories. While sales dropped off with the development of CD’s in the ‘80s, record players have experienced a significant sales resurgence as of late, and even amidst the convenience of online streaming, it looks like they’re here to stay. For a format so old, it’s amazing how record players continue to provoke the curiosity of so many, and with the recent resurgence in the vinyl market, it doesn’t look like they’ll be fading away any time too soon.Įxpanding upon a machine conceptualised by prolific 19th century inventor Thomas Edison, which played sound from a rotating wax cylinder, the turntable as we know it was first introduced to the consumer market as the gramophone in 1895, becoming a primary source of entertainment for families in the 20th century. The dull thud of the needle drop, the crackle of static before the first track bursts to life in all its warm gooey analogue glory, the hypnotic image of the record as it spins on its turntable – it really is quite captivating. There’s few things in the world that can top the simple pleasure of using a turntable for the first time.
