When you think of a record player, you might imagine a dusty antique that sits in the corner of a room unattended, like something out of ancient history. But modern record players, as music-lovers and audiophiles will know, that they are a totally different beast.
This device used to play music has delighted several generations. Thanks to the prowess of technology and several years of testing, it is back in fashion with improvements that make it modern while retaining what made its success.
This sleek pieces of equipment that supports a lot, from vinyl to Bluetooth. You can expect record players to come packed with modern features, as well as a great, authentic listening experience.
If you’re a music lover, you also know that record players don’t come cheap. But if you’re careful about it, you won’t have to spend too much money. You can get some of the best record player under 200 out there, and it’ll definitely be worth the money. To take full advantage of it, here is a guide to help you choose the best record player under 200.
List of BEST RECORD PLAYER UNDER 200
10 BEST RECORD PLAYER UNDER 200 review
1) VICTROLA NAVIGATOR - BEST BLUETOOTH RECORD PLAYER
This record player from Victrola is not just a great addition to your music collection, it’s also a beautiful piece of craftsmanship that will wow your guests. The box the record player is housed in is made of wood and has that iconic look that takes you back to the late 1900s. The boxes come in different colors, so you choose from options like polished wood or an elegant white.
Victrola definitely has a winner with this model, which allows you to stream music via Bluetooth, so you can easily crank it up from your phone. You can also throw in cassettes there if you happen to own any.
The record player itself is a 3-speed turntable, and you can use it to play your vinyl records. The player as a whole is very convenient to use because you can play music from your phone or tablet or plug in a device to stream from there.
It’s a very versatile piece of music tech and the perfect addition to your guest room. The beautiful design of the box preserves all the nostalgia of a record player, but the modern features makes it a true delight.
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2) LP&NO.1 BLUETOOTH TURNTABLE - BEST RETRO RECORD PLAYER
This is a record player from LP&No.1 will lend a bit of polish to your bedroom desk or your living room decor, with its great vintage-feel and bookshelf speakers. Being one of the best record player under 200, this turntable comes with a set of 2 additional stereo speakers. The entire setup comes in a few for neutral-colored home spaces.
But, of course, you can put it wherever you like, no matter the decor of your home, and its minimal and flexible setup will work well with your surroundings. This record player is great for playing vinyl, and it plays analog audio particularly well to give you a full, rich sound. But the turntable also has a Bluetooth receiver so you can stream music from any device, like your phone or tablet.
The external speakers are also a good addition, and you can arrange them however you like, setting them up as bookends for your records or just placing them below the turntable. The dust cover will keep your turntable and records safe when you’re not playing them, and the set makes a great gift for a music-loving friend. It’s also good for house parties when lining up tunes on a Bluetooth speaker just isn’t cutting it.
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3) DIGITNOW BLUETOOTH - BEST STEREO RECORD PLAYER
If you’re not particularly concerned about the look of a vintage record player and are looking for something that is purely modern, you’ve lucked out. This record player from Digitnow has the look of a modern music-system and is an all-in-one device for your music.
Despite not having the look of a record player from the old days, it’s very compact and has a clean design, and will work well anywhere in your home.
You can play CDs and cassette tapes, so if you’re not a vinyl person, you have other options as well. You can, of course, play vinyl on this as well. AM/FM stereo radio is supported, and you can plug in any device and play the music files on it as well, particularly good for making your way through your morning Spotify playlist or evening instrumental playlists for study or work.
The LCD screen on the device is backlit, and playing soothing music with just a little corner of light is great when you just want to relax in a dark room. All in all, this is a really versatile device that is ideal if you want a lot of different ways to play music. This best record player with speakers reduces the friction to playing stuff like CDs and cassettes, and you’ll find yourself reaching for them more frequently.
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4) SONY PS-LX310BT - BEST WIRELESS SPEAKERS FOR RECORD PLAYER
Sony is great with producing convenient-to-use and reasonably-priced technology generally, so this is a great option for the audiophiles out there who are already Sony fans and love their phones and audio equipment. This is a sleek, very modern-looking piece of tech, and you can totally imagine laying a jazz vinyl record onto the turntable and spending a dreamy afternoon caught up in your music.
It’s also very easy to use; the device features auto playback, so you simply put the record on, and the record player will do the rest. The plate and the arm of the player are both aluminum-make to ensure sturdiness and also to give you a clear sound with a stable base.
The set comes with a thick dust cover, which you can either use or leave aside when you’re playing music, depending on your preferences. The wireless feature of the Sony record player means that you can also connect and play your favorite tunes via Bluetooth.
This is a fuss-free, simple piece of tech for music-lovers who want to go back to the time of vinyl, and you don’t have to be a genius with gadgetry to figure this out. The player also has a really minimal, simple look and won’t look out of place in your home at all.
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5) BLUETOOTH RECORD PLAYER - BEST VINYL RECORD PLAYER
Investing in this record player is basically like having your own music system, and at roughly the $100 mark, it’s a real bargain. This is one of the best record player under 200, with a jet-black color that will lend an undeniable style to your decor.
It’s simple, functional but still looks chic. The durable diamond stylus will not scratch your precious vinyl, and the tonearm has an adjustable counterweight so you can change around the needle pressure as required and make sure that there’s not too much pressure on your records.
The premium look of the turntable is enhanced by 2 stereo speakers, which can be placed on either side (or wherever you like, really), and they’re just simply-built black block speakers, which will make your records sound amazing. There’s a single on/off button which can be used to control volume as well, and the RCA jack allows you to connect to amplifiers or other speakers so your music can sound even better at parties or events, where you want things to be a little fancier.
This is a great option for music lovers who want a fuss-free experience, and of course, you can also use Bluetooth devices to play music on the record player.
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6) FUSE VERT VERTICAL VINYL RECORD PLAYER
This model from Fuse is great for vinyl collectors who are looking for something slightly high-quality but not totally out of budget. This isn’t a record player that plays the record flat, so it lends a unique style to the device, as it’s a vertical turntable. It’s a huge space-saver, and the case is made of handcrafted Ashtree wood, so it’ll really lend a classy edge to your decor. You can also use it to play FM radio, and it also has an alarm clock function.
It has 2 built-in 8-ohm 5w speakers for a full-range sound, and all the controls are on the case itself, so the whole setup is quite compact. Just slide in a record and play!
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7) VOKSUN HIGH FIDELITY VINYL RECORD PLAYER
This is an elegant record player that can just as easily substitute as a beautiful piece of furniture for your house. Close to the $200 mark, this is still one of the best record player under 200, and you get the benefit of a premium-looking player. The dual external speakers are 15w, with a simple but appealing design.
The case of the turntable has a faux walnut veneer, and the speakers match the make. You can also use the RCA outputs if you don’t want to play vinyl, and for an added retro boost, the case features three old-fashioned knobs for volume, speed, and Bluetooth controls.
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8) SEEYING RECORD PLAYER WITH SPEAKERS
This record player from SeeYing is one of the best record player under 200 and comes at a very good price point as well. You can adjust the pitch and counterweight as per your preferences, and there’s dual RCA output so you can connect to speakers or amplifiers for a larger sound. The look of the record player is slightly vintage, with a nice wood case and a dust cover to protect your records.
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9) EASYGOPRODUCTS VERTICAL BLUETOOTH TURNTABLE
EasyGoProducts sells one of the best record player under 200, with a unique, triangular look that has a black and white design. The monochrome aesthetic works really well in most spaces, so this should be a welcome addition to your home. This is a vertical turntable, and you can also mount it on a wall if you like (it comes with optional feet). There’s a 3.5mm aux-in for devices you want to a plugin, or in case you want to add your own speakers.
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10) CROSLEY C8 TURNTABLE
Crosley is well known for producing some of the best record player under 200, as well as higher price points, but you can get pretty good ones for under $200. The C8 model is a great record player with a retro look and a walnut casing.
The platter is aluminum, which gives it a very old-school vibe, and the tonearm is adjustable. This is basically a classic record player that is simple and powerful. You can hook up to speakers if you like, but this is mostly for playing vinyl as they did in the old days.
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HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST RECORD PLAYER UNDER 200
Are you are one of those people who want to own a record player. But before giving in for one model or another, read our advice first. They will help you know how to buy a better value record player. In relation to this, some characteristics such as the type of drive, the phono preamplifier as well as the additional functions are to be analyzed.
Manual or automatic record player :
when choosing your record player, you will probably have to choose between the different types of start-up offered. First, there is the manual record player, which allows you to keep control of the playback of your device. In particular, you will have to operate the articulated arm of the turntable yourself to start playing the record. Then there is the automatic record player, which automatically activates the articulated arm once the record has been programmed to play. Finally, there are also models of a semi-automatic record player which effectively combines these two types of processes.
Playback speed:
You can imagine it, but the speed is not necessarily the same on all record player models. There are, in particular, record players exclusively intended to play 33 rpm records. Some models will be specially designed for playing 45 rpm records. These different types of vintage record players are easily recognizable by the size of their platter. Note also that the disc platters of about 30 cm in diameter are suitable for 33 rpm readings. The 20 cm platters are used to read 45 rpm records. Obviously, the ideal would be to opt for a vintage record player capable of handling all types of records. But, as you can imagine,
The options on offer:
As we have mentioned throughout this article, more modern models of turntables have appeared on the market recently. Most newer record players now have a built-in CD player or an FM tuner radio function.
We have also seen the progress of connected record players equipped with Bluetooth connectivity. But the most requested function and the most requested remains undoubtedly that of scanning via USB. And yes, thanks to a USB cable, you will now be able to convert the recordings made on your vinyl record to mp3. You can even transfer your sound recordings to your computer in order to re-master them if necessary.
Accessories:
Old model or modern version, the vintage record player is often delivered with various accessories in addition. Among the most essential, there is, in particular, the anti-static brush which allows you to clean your favorite vinyl records more effectively. Some vintage record player models are also delivered with specific adapters to facilitate the power supply to the device. Newer record players may also come with other essential accessories such as a USB cable or headphones.
aesthetics:
Before buying a record player, you must first remember that this is a retro accessory. Therefore, the design of the device takes precedence over any other criteria. You will therefore have to choose a record player that can adapt to the general appearance of your room as well as to the remains of the main decoration. But the vintage record player is not exclusively intended to beautify your living room.
Conclusion
Now that you’ve had a look at some of the best record player under 200, you’ve probably decided what best suits your musical sensibilities. People pay thousands for record players, but you can get a high-quality one just as easily for a lower price, and it will be a great conversation-starter for guests.
If you happen to be particularly interested in music or a collector of vinyl, then you should definitely get yourself a dedicated record player so you can better manage your hobby. Everything on this list is absolutely worth buying for any audio aficionado.
I’m Peter, a freelance writer, researcher and part of the EnterTheUnderWorld team. Writing intrigues me a lot and it is also fun. I believe that I am good at researching different varieties of products from different categories. My aim is to help people who are looking for any product under a specified budget. So you can find different articles covered under varied budgets on this website. All the products are tested and used by me so that I can write the review precisely.