Just imagine how the pretty-looking vintage turntable can boost the interior design of your apartment with its ability to create a cozy and welcoming atmosphere. The best vintage turntable can not only fit your interior, but they can also let relax when listening to authentic sound coming from vinyl records. If you are afraid of buying an outdated device that barely rotates the vinyl record, you can be very pleased to find out that modern brands sometimes manufacture vintage models with a similar set of functions that other contemporary turntables usually have in their arsenal.

If you desperately want to buy the best vintage record player, then this article will be very helpful to you! After testing a wide range of different devices with an old-fashioned look, I prepared 7 professional vintage turntable reviews to help you focus on the most functional and attractive options you can order from Amazon right now. Furthermore, this article will also teach you on how to choose a decent device and how to properly maintain your vinyl record player in order to make it sound cool and last long.

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Vintage Turntables Reviews

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Victrola Navigator 8-in-1 Classic Bluetooth Record Player

Victrola Navigator 8-in-1 Classic Bluetooth Record Player
Amused with the performance of this pretty-looking model, I can fairly say that the Navigator 8-in-1 Classic is expected to be the best vintage turntable under 200. The users can be very pleased with a clear and near-identical sound this turntable is producing. Built-in speakers provide the quality and loudness of sound to let you enjoy your favorite music.

I also like the fact that the product is customized to the needs of the customers, as it goes in 5 different colors ranging from classic black and white styles to different shades of brown, such as mahogany, espresso, and oak. Being a vintage option with classic real wood construction, this turntable still has all features intrinsic to the most up-to-date models. I find it very cool that this 3-speed turntable has Bluetooth connectivity and boasts remote control included. You can easily play the songs stored on your smartphone or laptop using this awesome device.

Most customers will be also satisfied with the model’s multifunctional properties, as it allows not only to play phonograph records, CDs and cassettes, and MP3 files but also to record from vinyl to MP3, and listen to FM radio. I should also mention that this turntable has RCA output and headphone jacks (RCA and USB cables are included), so you can connect the device in different ways. I do not like the fact that the Navigator 8-in-1 Classic is rather unwieldy (20.4 x 12.1 x 12 inches) weighing 16.5 pounds. However, this is a typical downside of most vintage turntables.

Pros

  • The device goes with three extra needles.
  • The model comes with a tonearm lift.
  • The turntable provides multiple options for Auxiliary inputs.

Cons

  • The quality of needles seems to be less than average.

Victrola Vintage 3-Speed Bluetooth Suitcase Turntable

Victrola Vintage 3-Speed Bluetooth Suitcase Turntable
When describing this 3-speed turntable, I would like to say that its price makes this option worth buying. Being associated with classic record players, this product is very customized to tailor the needs of different customers, as it is sold in sensational 27 design variations even featuring the American flag design for patriots or the Galaxy edition for the fans of Star Wars.

The model not only boasts customized design, but it also has no problems with connectivity, as this particular turntable has built-in Bluetooth, 3.5 mm output, and RCA Aux-in. When speaking about sound quality, I must say that built-in stereo speakers are capable of delivering rather decent sound for such a cheap device.

Moreover, the model has a portable suitcase design with easy carry handle. The turntable looks pretty compact (16.6 x 7.3 x 12.8 inches) and weighs just 5.07 pounds, so you can easily carry it in your hands but still not so lightweight to be easily removed occasionally by your hand during its work. However, I find it rather strange that the manufacturers did not put RCA or USB cables into the box.

Pros

  • The item manual or auto-stop selection switch.
  • The product boasts an easy-going set-up.

Cons

  • The turntable seems to be constructed from low-quality materials.
  • The headphone jack does not work properly.

D&L Vintage Record Player

D&L Vintage Record Player
After testing this amazing 7-in-1 Bluetooth phonograph, I can say with any shadow of a doubt that it ideally copes with every task it has, from playing vinyl records, CDs, and cassettes to USB/SD play and encoding and FM radio. I am really surprised by the Bluetooth capability of this device as it can stream music wirelessly up to 33 feet.

Similar to most other classic turntables, the D&L is a 3-speed turntable, which works at 33, 45, and 78 RPM. The product also allows users to record from vinyl to MP3, which is a crucial function for a vintage turntable. The item goes with headphone jack and RCA Aux-in jack, which allows for excellent compatibility besides already mentioned Bluetooth capability. You can also find a USB cable inside the box.

The only thing I do not like in this model is its bulky design (17.9 x 13.1 x 9.2 inches) and heavyweight construction (18.35 pounds). However, vintage turntables are known to have huge dimensions and this is rarely a problem for users willing to immerse into the cozy atmosphere of the mid-20th century. At the same time, I like the fact that the model has one replacement stylus needle of very decent quality.

Pros

  • The model allows for easy-going set-up.
  • The item is staffed with high-end built-in speakers ensuring a very clear sound.
  • The turntable is built using high-quality materials.

Cons

  • The item may have some problems with playing CDs (skipping or randomly changing songs).

WOCKODER LP Belt-Drive 3-Speed Vintage Turntable

WOCKODER LP Belt-Drive 3-Speed Vintage Turntable
Although this is an extremely cheap turntable, I am pretty satisfied with its test results. This is the best vintage turntable for the money it costs. As most other vintage turntables produced today, the Wockoder can both play vinyl records as well as play songs wirelessly via Bluetooth. This model is that it goes with the belt drive, which reduces vibration drastically to increase your satisfaction with this turntable. The core advantage of this item is that it is equipped with a spring ensuring shock absorption and improving sound quality. Moreover, this pretty-looking turntable has 3 traditional listening speeds and works with 3 different playing sizes of records (7”, 10” and 12″).

The product has very compact dimensions (12.6 x 10.4 x 4.4 inches) and weighs only 5.6 pounds, so you can easily take it to the barbeque party and lay songs from your phone. However, I cannot say that I am 100% satisfied with the quality of sound, as the model has mediocre built-in speakers. The problem can be resolved with external speakers as the model has both a headphone jack and RCA Aux-in jack.

Pros

  • The item boasts easy-going set-up.
  • The model has no skips and runs all vinyl records smoothly.
  • The item is perfect for novice users.

Cons

  • The quality of materials used in this turntable seems to be below average.

1byone Wooden Vintage Turntable

1byone Wooden Vintage Turntable
Everything is good in this turntable, take its loyal price or the set of functions it offers to users. Being a vintage turntable, the 1byone has a solid wood appearance, which returns you to the atmosphere of the middle of the 20th century. Thankfully, the sound of this good vintage turntable meets the quality standards of the 21st century. I was very surprised to find out that the item goes with built-in full-range stereo speakers, which deliver amazing sound clarity.

Apart from its ability to play vinyl records of different sizes, this particular turntable also helps users transform audio from vinyl records into MP3 format thanks to the vinyl-to-MP3-recording feature. It should be mentioned that the model has a USB port and RCA AUX-in, so you will have an option to hook up your own system. Nevertheless, I do not like the fact that you can listen to music wirelessly via Bluetooth but you still cannot transmit your records out to your Bluetooth speakers.

Design of the model is nothing but sophistication, as natural wood with transparent plastic dust cover and medium dimensions (17 x 14 x 6.2 inches) result in just 7.1 pounds of weight.

Pros

  • The model is built using high-quality materials.
  • Easy-going set-up even for novice users.

Cons

  • The item can skip old-fashioned or dusty vinyl records.
  • The model is not compatible with headphones, as you will not be able to control the volume.

ClearClick Vintage Suitcase Turntable

ClearClick Vintage Suitcase Turntable
This item has rather extraordinary design, which still can be characterized as a vintage style. Handmade design is what most customers will definitely like in this turntable. It reminds me of a drum bag, but what is inside the case is an up-to-date turntable for sure. This model works wirelessly via Bluetooth and is still goes with RCA Aux-in and USB port to ensure adequate connectivity with other devices and gadgets. As most turntables, the ClearClick has three classic listening speeds. When speaking about sound quality, I can assure you that this model is capable of delivering very decent clarity, especially for a turntable under $100.

What I also like about this product is that it still gives users an opportunity to convert vinyl records to MP3. The device is of medium dimensions (18 x 15.2 x 8.5 inches) and weighs as much as 7.75 pounds. However, I still hesitate whether the product can work long enough, especially when keeping in mind its price and cheap materials used in it.

Pros

  • You can easily set up the model.
  • The model goes with Audacity software for audio editing (Windows & Mac Compatible).

Cons

  • The device has a mediocre tone arm, which still cannot be advanced.
  • The model really lacks built-in speakers.

Pyle PVTTBT9BR Classic Vintage Turntable

Pyle PVTTBT9BR Classic Vintage Turntable
Even despite the fact that this is a very cheap vintage turntable, it is still good at different aspects. The first obvious product’s upside is that the item supports USB/SD playback, and has RCA audio output and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Add to this Bluetooth connection that delivers high-end wireless music streaming and you will see how cool this item is in terms of compatibility with other devices, speakers, and gadgets.

Those of you who have a collection of rare vinyl records and want to digitize it can rely on this model offering the function of converting vinyl records to MP3. My favorite thing about this item is that it boasts very functional and user-friendly side panel controls featuring rec/delete/play/pause light indicators, play/pause, stop, record, next, delete buttons along with phono USB/SD switch. Moreover, the model can be fairly called compact (13.8 x 10.2 x 4.7 inches), although it weighs as much as 7.45 pounds. However, sound quality is not the best feature of this model as it has no built-in speakers.

Pros

  • The model boasts an easy-going set-up.
  • Price-friendly model.

Cons

  • The item does not engage properly when the tone arm is moved over the record.
  • The item uses pretty cheap materials.

Buyers Guide

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Is it True that Vintage Turntables Sound Better?

The real fans of old-fashioned interiors and greatest hits of the 20th century will surely opt for a vintage turntable as an ideal tool to play music at home. An old record player can not only give some charming atmosphere to your apartment, but it is also believed to produce clear and high-quality sound.

The reason behind this assumption lies in the fact that vinyl was by far the most popular music media until the beginning of the 1990s. Hence, turntables were produced in rather great quantities almost everywhere, so following quality standards strictly was the core way for manufacturers to compete with each other.

Moreover, if we speak about turntables produced in the 1960’s or later, they were of very decent quality because this was a period when audio manufacturers started to pay special attention to digital media and audio/video surround systems. Obviously, these devices did not have even half of the features that most modern turntables usually have (USB ports, RCA outputs, Bluetooth, etc.). However, they were meant to attract customers with exceptional sound quality. Additionally, they were not just mass-market options with mediocre characteristics and low sound quality.

Vintage turntables were made to last long and to bring pleasure to listeners through high-end sound quality. This does not necessarily mean that modern turntables sound worse or something like that, though it still indicates that vintage turntables are still capable of producing crystal clear sound and compete even with modern professional turntables in terms of sound quality.

How to Choose the Best Vintage Turntable?

For most audiophiles, it is absolutely clear that vinyl is back. The vintage turntable is now considered a perfect option for updating your interior design and making it cozier and warmer by creating the atmosphere of the 20th century right in your apartment. What is more important, most vintage turntables can still play vinyl records with outstanding sound clarity. At this point, you can kill two birds with one stone (improve your interior design and enjoy the soft and unforgettable sound of vinyl records)! The only thing you need to do is to learn how to choose the best vintage turntable.

The first thing you should remember once and for all is that eye-catching design rarely has something in common with sound quality. In most cases, manufacturers want to mask some downsides of their devices with attractive design. Obviously, there are still many models that still both look and sound great.

However, the attention-grabbing design is not what you should be looking at when trying to find one of top vintage turntables. The second thing you should take into consideration is called the quality of materials. Turntables built from low-quality materials have minimum chances to sound great. The third important issue will be to make sure that a turntable can be updated. Professional users are rarely satisfied with how their turntable sounds from the very first time. If they fail to set up it according to their needs, they are going to find ways how to improve it. They can accomplish this goal by installing a better tone arm or opting for a high-quality stylus. Finally, always listen to a turntable before buying it (if you have such an opportunity though) in order to make sure that you are totally satisfied with the sound quality!

Key Elements of Turntable Maintenance

Even the basic rules of turntable maintenance will allow you to keep your vinyl record player sounding great and running smooth. As vinyl records create static electricity, they usually attract a lot of dirt and dust to both vinyl records and essential parts of your turntable. Moreover, dust can remain invisible to your eye but it can still affect the sound quality a lot creating that annoying hissing and popping sound.

You should have the following supplies in order to effectively maintain your turntable: microfiber cloth, stylus brush, soft bristle brush, dusting cloth, and rubbing alcohol. First, you should always clean the stylus when you are going to use your turntable. The process is not very demanding as you just need to use a cleaning brush (preferably that one designed specifically for the stylus) and carefully wipe the tip of the stylus. You can also use rubbing alcohol if you feel that the stylus is too dirty.

Second, you should ditch the dust at least twice a week with a microfiber anti-static dusting cloth and rubbing alcohol. Be attentive and soak up any remaining moisture with a dry microfiber cloth!

Third, recalibrate the tone arm at least once a month in order to keep it perfectly balanced. Finally, clean your vinyl records from dust every time you are going to use them in order to enjoy listening to them and keep your turntable dust-free!

A Short History of Turntables

The technology that gave birth to modern turntables was invented in 1857 by French engineer Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville who showcased his phonautograph. Twenty years later, Thomas Edison used this technology to produce the first phonograph. This phonograph was initially built from a grooved cylinder wrapped in tin foil (served as the recording surface), which could be turned with a hand crank. Sound waves entered into the mouthpiece and sound waves created indentations in the foil. Edison soon opted for wax instead of tinfoil to achieve greater sound and improved durability. In 1887, the first gramophone was invented by Emile Berliner, which used a needle in order to laterally trace spiral grooves into a cylinder. In the 1930s, electric-powered turntable systems were introduced and they quickly became booming throughout the world. They already had built-in amplification and speakers and could be fairly named the real predecessors of good and vintage record players and of modern hi-fi turntables.