Best Turntables with Speakers UK (Complete Setup Guide)

Not sure which setup is right for you?

You've decided to get into vinyl. Now you're looking at all-in-one turntables with built-in speakers. They're compact, simple, and often styled to look vintage. They're also mostly terrible. Here's why, and what to do instead.

**Why Built-In Speakers Fail**

Speakers produce vibrations. That's how they work. When those speakers are attached to your turntable, those vibrations travel through the chassis to the stylus. The stylus picks up the vibrations and plays them back through the speakers. Which creates more vibrations. Which the stylus picks up. You get feedback, muddiness, and bass that sounds like cardboard.

The speakers themselves are also too small to produce decent sound. No physics workaround exists for tiny drivers in a cramped enclosure. The result is thin, tinny audio that does your records no justice.

But I Want Something Simple

Fair enough. Not everyone wants separate components and cables everywhere. Here are options that don't sacrifice your records or your ears.

The Ruark R1 Mk4 (around £450) is a proper hi-fi system disguised as a tabletop radio. It accepts turntable input and produces room-filling sound from a compact unit. Not cheap, but elegant and well-engineered. Keep your turntable separate but enjoy single-unit convenience for amplification and speakers.

Roberts Revival Petite (around £150) offers similar simplicity at a lower price, though sound quality reflects the cost. Suitable for background listening in small spaces.

The Better Approach: Separate Components

The ideal setup separates the turntable from the speakers entirely. This eliminates feedback and lets each component do its job properly.

Budget complete setup (around £220): - Audio-Technica AT-LP60X turntable (around £120) - Edifier R1280T powered speakers (around £100)

Mid-range setup (around £450): - Audio-Technica AT-LP120X turntable (around £270) - Edifier R1700BT speakers (around £150)

The turntable has a built-in preamp, so it connects directly to powered speakers. No amplifier needed. Two cables, plug in, play records.

Positioning Matters

Keep your speakers on separate furniture from the turntable if possible. Same shelf is fine if the turntable has good isolation feet. Just don't place speakers directly on the turntable platform.

Distance from the turntable to speakers should be at least 30cm. More is better. Floor-standing speakers eliminate the issue entirely.

Wireless Options

The Sony PS-LX310BT turntable (around £180) has Bluetooth output. Pair it with any Bluetooth speaker you own. Not audiophile-grade, but convenient and flexible.

For better wireless quality, some turntables accept aptX-compatible Bluetooth transmitters. These reduce latency and improve audio quality compared to standard Bluetooth.

Budget Complete System Recommendation

For most beginners, this setup hits the sweet spot:

Audio-Technica AT-LP60X (around £120) plus Edifier R1280T speakers (around £100). Total around £220. Built-in preamps on both sides mean simple cable connections. Sound quality exceeds any all-in-one at this price. Records stay safe. Room fills with music.

Add a proper turntable stand or shelf, and you have a vinyl setup that will serve you for years. When you want to upgrade, each component can be replaced independently.

Prices approximate at time of writing. Not sure which setup suits your space and budget? Our quiz can help.

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