Best Record Player Under $200

Want the best record player under $200? We’ve listed various options including best all-in-one, vintage, portable, with speakers, Bluetooth, and Recording.

I mentioned in my article, best record player under $100, that although there is a significant choice available, sound quality was an issue. A record player between $100 – $200 is significantly better but, sound quality is still not the best.

I always recommend people stay away from the all-in-one record players but if that’s what your heart is set on, I have a few recommendations in this article.

Rather than a record player, focus on purchasing a decent turntable. Even your basic PC speakers will usually be better than a record player’s built-in speakers.

Quick Pick – Our Awards!

Things to Consider When Buying a Record Player Under $200

Before purchasing your portable record player, you need to consider a few features. Modern-day portable record players come with loads of features, most of which are unnecessary. Let’s have a look at these features and what they do.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a popular feature for portable speakers these days. While great for MP3s and other digital audio formats, when it comes to analog signals like a record player, Bluetooth is not recommended.

Frequency loss, poor sound, and tone quality are common when it comes to Bluetooth connections for record players. Connecting your phone to a Bluetooth record player’s speakers is not an issue. It’s when you transmit a signal from a record player that you notice the difference.

While Bluetooth can be useful and convenient, it’s not recommended for vinyl records. Having said that, every feature serves a purpose to the user so, I have included a recommendation for the best Bluetooth record player under $200.

Turntable vs All-in-One Record Player

If your maximum budget is $200 for a record player, I recommend buying a decent turntable. Record players with a CD player, tape cassette player or radio are not focused on making the best record player for this price range.

While it’s nice to have all these features in one unit, you are not getting the best vinyl record player with all these additions. I do have a recommendation for an all-in-one record player but if you’re serious about your vinyl, go for a turntable with quality parts.

Speakers

Built-in speakers are convenient but with a $200 budget, they are going to sound thin and tinny. Rather than purchasing a record player with built-in speakers, go for a decent turntable with external speakers.

If you purchase a decent turntable and some inexpensive speakers, you’re able to upgrade your record player or speakers when you have a bigger budget. If you spend your money on an all-in-one system, you’ll have to purchase a whole new system when you upgrade.

Tonearm and Cartridge System

With a budget of $200 the turntable you purchase will usually come with a better tonearm and cartridge system.

A good tonearm is extremely important when it comes to vinyl record playback. The tonearm on a record player needs to be perfectly balanced so the needle sits as deep as possible in the grooves without damaging the records.

Tonearm balance is important because if it’s too light the needle will skip across the record scratching the vinyl. Too heavy and it’ll dig into the vinyl and damage the record.

On a budget turntable, you’re limited to swapping out the needle only. As you move up in price bracket, you’re able to swap out the stylus and cartridge. This gives you more choice and the option to switch to a premium cartridge set up.

Conclusion

As you may have noticed, Audio-Technica dominates the turntable market for record players under $200. When it comes to electronics, always go with a reputable brand, especially when you are on a tight budget. This will ensure you’re getting the best quality for your money as well as after-sales service and support.

If you are serious about collecting and listening to vinyl records, don’t buy an all-in-one system. These units are more for aesthetics than sound.

Spend your money on the best turntable your money can buy. Connect your turntable to any speakers you have available and upgrade once you have the money available. I have an article on the best speakers for a vinyl record player which includes recommendations for all budgets.