- Audio-Technica’s Bluetooth turntables are solid buys
- Pro-Ject’s Juke Box costs more, but does everything
- House of Marley bundles may be worth seeking out
It’s that time of year: the weather is changing, there’s finally good stuff on TV, and my email inbox is already full of companies talking about Black Friday deals.
The event is still a few weeks away (although these days Black Friday isn’t limited to the Friday after Thanksgiving; it’s now Super Mega Black Friday Deals Month And A Bit), but if you’re thinking of investing in new audio or entertainment gear, this is a good time to make plans and look at spec sheets because you don’t want to get caught up in the sales frenzy.
Knowing what you want, what it usually costs, and what you want to spend can greatly increase your chances of getting a real Black Friday bargain instead of just paying the same price you would have paid three or four weeks earlier.
Turntables are often discounted during Black Friday and similar events, but not all turntables are created equal – and if you’re new to vinyl, it can be difficult to identify which Black Friday turntable deal is actually worth getting. I’ve reviewed a lot of turntables, and I’m a working musician, so I have some strong opinions about what makes an entry-level turntable that really does your music justice. Here are three pretty different buys for beginners that I think you should keep an eye on.
The all-in-one wonder: the Pro-Ject Juke Box E1
This is much more expensive than the other turntables I recommend here, but if you want an excellent all-in-one where all you need to add is a pair of passive speakers, then the Pro-Ject E1 is a good option. As I said in my Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 review, “This is not a cheap-o system, nor does it look, feel or sound like one.”
The advantage of an all-in-one is that you don’t also need to invest in a preamplifier or even an amplifier. And in addition to the built-in amplification, the Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 has a good Bluetooth module that enables you to stream from your phone or laptop as well as stream out to Bluetooth headphones. It is exceptionally easy to set up and delivers impressive performance.
The launch price for this all-in-one was £599 / $799 / AU$999. But I think we’ll see it for less during Black Friday – and if you don’t need the integrated amplification, the standard Pro-Ject E1 is a great turntable in its own right, and less than half the price of the Juke Box – here are the latest prices for it.
A good budget buy: Audio-Technica AT-LP70XBT
This excellent Audio-Technica is the cousin of the record player I use at home and offers excellent value for money. As we said in our AT-LP70XBT review, it’s a plug-and-play device ideal for anyone getting started with vinyl, designed for both wired and wireless listening thanks to its built-in Bluetooth.
This is the successor to our long-term favourite, the AT-LP60XBT, which is still available from retailers and is likely to feature in the Black Friday deals too: at the time of writing it costs around 10% to 20% less than its newer sibling, meaning it could be one of the best sub-$200 / £200 top model picks this year, just under that.
The one for students / small spaces: House of Marley Revolution
With an official price of just $169.99 / £149.99 / A$199, the Revolution is already aggressively priced, and I’d particularly like to keep an eye out for Black Friday deals that pair it with House of Marley’s wired Uplift bookshelf speakers or, if you’re in the UK, the wireless Together Duo speakers. Adding wired speakers roughly doubles the price, and the wireless ones cost a bit more on top, but bundles are often favored by retailers who offer discounts during big sales events.
This is a super cheap system, so don’t expect to impress your local audiophile. But as we said in our review of the House of Marley Revolution, “If you’re looking for a straightforward turntable at a palatable price, we think the House of Marley Revolution comes close to the value sweet spot. There are some cheaper Bluetooth turntables out there, but none with the style and build quality of the Revolution.” It is a particularly good option for smaller spaces such as student accommodation.
Here are the latest prices for the speaker bundle:
The best turntables for all budgets
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