Best Speakers for Turntables UK (2025 Buying Guide)

Not sure which setup is right for you?

Your turntable is only half the equation. Speakers determine how your records sound. Get this right and everything improves. Get it wrong and even expensive turntables sound mediocre.

Active vs Passive: The Key Decision

Active (powered) speakers have built-in amplifiers. Plug in your turntable, add power, done. No separate amp to buy or configure. Most beginners should choose active speakers.

Passive speakers need a separate amplifier. More flexibility, more upgrade potential, more complexity. If you already own an amp or receiver, passive speakers make sense. Otherwise, start with active.

Budget Active Speakers: £80-150

Edifier R1280T (around £90) delivers remarkable value. Warm sound, adequate bass for small rooms, simple controls. The go-to recommendation for budget vinyl setups. Wood veneer cabinets look decent on a shelf.

Edifier R1280DB (around £110) adds Bluetooth and optical input. Same drivers, more connectivity options. Useful if you want speakers that also work with your TV or phone.

PreSonus Eris E3.5 (around £90) comes from the studio monitor world. Flatter, more analytical sound than the Edifiers. Some prefer the accuracy; others find it less musical. Good for smaller desks or near-field listening.

Mid-Range Active Speakers: £150-350

Edifier R1700BT (around £150) adds more power and deeper bass. Fills medium rooms comfortably. The extra £60 over the R1280T buys noticeable improvement.

Audioengine A2+ (around £250) punches above its size. Compact desktop speakers with surprisingly full sound. USB input is useful for computer audio alongside vinyl.

Kanto YU4 (around £300) offers excellent sound quality with Bluetooth, phono input, and subwoofer output. Premium feel and performance. The built-in phono stage means even turntables without preamps connect directly.

Placement Matters More Than Price

A £100 speaker placed correctly outperforms a £300 speaker in a bad position. Basic rules:

Position speakers at ear level when seated. Angle them toward your listening position (toe-in). Keep them away from walls if possible, or at least equally distant from side walls. Form an equilateral triangle between speakers and your ears.

Avoid placing speakers directly on your turntable furniture. Vibrations transfer and muddy the sound. Use separate stands or shelves.

The Matching Rule

Conventional wisdom says spend roughly equal amounts on turntable and speakers. A £200 turntable paired with £200 speakers typically sounds better than a £350 turntable with £50 speakers.

This isn't rigid. If you already own decent speakers, spend more on the turntable. If your room is small, modest speakers may be appropriate regardless of turntable quality.

Do You Need a Subwoofer?

Probably not for vinyl. Records have limited bass extension compared to digital sources. Good bookshelf speakers reproduce vinyl bass adequately. A subwoofer can add rumble but rarely reveals hidden bass in your records.

Exception: if you listen to bass-heavy electronic music on vinyl and have a large room, a subwoofer might add impact. Most vinyl listeners skip it.

Recommended Pairings

Budget setup (AT-LP60X): Edifier R1280T. Simple, effective, affordable.

Mid-range setup (AT-LP120X): Edifier R1700BT or Kanto YU4. Better dynamics, more presence.

Audiophile setup (Rega Planar 1+): Consider passive speakers with a proper integrated amp. The Rega deserves components that can reveal its quality.

Prices approximate at time of writing. Our quiz can recommend specific speaker pairings based on your turntable and room size.

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