Top 5 Best Speakers for Vinyl Record Players

Vinyl’s return might have been long overdue, but it’s here again making a comeback and people are loving it! But the surge in popularity for vinyl discs and turntables has also been accompanied by people looking for the best speakers to pair with their newly bought vinyl record players.   

If you’re one of those people, then you’ve come to the right place.   

It doesn’t matter if you have deep pockets and won’t settle for anything less than the best or if you need something that will give you the most value out of your money. Regardless of where you fall in the budget spectrum, we made sure to recommend products that will be a huge upgrade to the built-in speakers of your vinyl record players.   

So, without further ado, Here are the 5 Best Speakers for Vinyl Record Players available today.

Reviews for the Best Speakers for Vinyl Record Players 

Edifier S2000pro Powered Bluetooth Bookshelf Speakers - Near-Field Active Studio Monitor Speaker with Wireless and Optical Input
ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 Bookshelf Speakers, Black (Pair)
BEST CHOICE
JBL Charge 4 Waterproof Wireless Bluetooth Speaker Bundle with Portable Hard Case - Black
Polk Audio T15 100 Watt Home Theater Bookshelf Speakers – Hi-Res Audio with Deep Bass Response | Dolby and DTS Surround | Wall-Mountable| Pair, Black
Edifier S2000pro Powered Bluetooth Bookshelf Speakers - Near-Field Active Studio Monitor Speaker with Wireless and Optical Input
ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 Bookshelf Speakers, Black (Pair)
JBL Charge 4 Waterproof Wireless Bluetooth Speaker Bundle with Portable Hard Case - Black
Polk Audio T15 100 Watt Home Theater Bookshelf Speakers – Hi-Res Audio with Deep Bass Response | Dolby and DTS Surround | Wall-Mountable| Pair, Black
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Edifier S2000pro Powered Bluetooth Bookshelf Speakers - Near-Field Active Studio Monitor Speaker with Wireless and Optical Input
Edifier S2000pro Powered Bluetooth Bookshelf Speakers - Near-Field Active Studio Monitor Speaker with Wireless and Optical Input
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ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 Bookshelf Speakers, Black (Pair)
ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 Bookshelf Speakers, Black (Pair)
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BEST CHOICE
JBL Charge 4 Waterproof Wireless Bluetooth Speaker Bundle with Portable Hard Case - Black
JBL Charge 4 Waterproof Wireless Bluetooth Speaker Bundle with Portable Hard Case - Black
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Polk Audio T15 100 Watt Home Theater Bookshelf Speakers – Hi-Res Audio with Deep Bass Response | Dolby and DTS Surround | Wall-Mountable| Pair, Black
Polk Audio T15 100 Watt Home Theater Bookshelf Speakers – Hi-Res Audio with Deep Bass Response | Dolby and DTS Surround | Wall-Mountable| Pair, Black
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1. Edifier S2000 Pro Bookshelf Speaker

Edifier is one of the top names in the audio industry. It’s one of those brands that’s not afraid to cater to both high-end and budget-conscious consumers. However, the Edifier S2000 Pro carefully teethers the line between the former and the latter, resulting in a reasonably priced product that could probably keep up with the more expensive speakers available on the market.   

The Edifier S2000 Pro wasn’t just built for vinyl record players. It can connect with a lot of devices and comes with Bluetooth. This means that you can use them on your computer, laptop, smartphone, or connect it to your home cinema. Some music producers even use these speakers as studio monitors, which is a testament to their quality.  

Clear and crisp audio with a reliable Bluetooth connection and solid build quality, there’s very little else that you can’t find on the Edifier S2000 Pro that you can find on other products, especially at the same price point.  

TECHNICAL FEATURES

  • Flat diaphragm tweeters with 5.5-inch woofers 
  • Bluetooth 4.0 with aptX decoder 
  • Optical/coaxial inputs via toslink or spdif  
  • Large remote control with visible and labelled buttons 
  • Backed by 2-year warranty 

Pros:

  • Extensive 2-year warranty coverage in US and Canada 
  • Lossless audio streaming 
  • Convenient remote control 
  • Multiple input ports 

Cons:

  • Faux wood looks cheap 
  • A bit too pricey for beginners 
Edifier S2000pro Powered Bluetooth Bookshelf Speakers - Near-Field Active Studio Monitor Speaker with Wireless and Optical Input
  • USES HIGH-END AUDIOPHILE COMPONENTS - Built with flat diaphragm tweeters and 5.5 inch woofers, the S2000pro represents the top of the line powered speakers for home or studio use
  • BLUETOOTH WIRELESS - Bluetooth 4.0 support with aptX decoder makes playing high fidelity audio from your mobile devices at ease.
  • OPTICAL/COAXIAL INPUTS - Connect S2000pro via toslink or spdif connection for lossless digital audio streaming. AUX inputs via dual RCA or dual XLR ports at the back.
  • INCLUDES REMOTE - A large remote control with clearly labeled buttons is included for convenience.
  • 2 YEAR WARRANTY IN USA AND CANADA - S2000pro is proudly designed and manufactured by Edifier. The entire system is back with a 2 year warranty.

Believe it or not, the Elac Debut B5.2 is considered entry-level when it comes to Elac’s line of speakers. But, make no mistake, these are brilliant performers regardless of the price. It’s just that they become even more valuable when you consider just how good these play your favourite vinyl records without the price tag of its more expensive brothers.

If you want to know what it’s like to hear your records sing with the kind of dynamic expression and tonal sophistication that will make even audiophiles smile, these won’t disappoint. The best part is that they can keep up with high-end systems and will only sound better for optimal performance.

Well-balanced, versatile, and with a solid build quality, your turntable will be thanking you many times over if you pair it with these.

TECHNICAL FEATURES

  • 6-ohm nominal impedance  
  • 5 and a quarter inch woven aramid fiber bass driver with 1-inch soft-dome tweeters  
  • Front-firing ports  
  • 46Hz-35kHz frequency range 
  • Thick MDF internally-braced cabinets  

Pros:

  • Built to minimize vibrations
  • Punched well above its price range (pun intended) 
  • Well-balanced and warm sound 
  • Pairs well with high-end systems 

Cons:

  • Might not work as well with low-powered amplifiers 
Sale
ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 Bookshelf Speakers, Black (Pair)
  • Easy-to-drive 6-Ohm nominal impedance - Compatible with nearly all AV receivers and stereo amplifiers
  • 5-1/4" woven aramid fiber bass driver and 1" soft-dome tweeter delivers deep impactful bass and smooth extended highs for both movies and music.
  • Front Firing Ports - Allows for greater flexibility in room placement - even up against a wall.
  • 46Hz - 35kHz frequency response - Ensures a wide range of accurately reproduced sound.
  • Thick MDF cabinet with internal bracing - The speaker cabinet has specially designed internal bracing reducing unwanted cabinet vibration.

The Sonos Five demands top dollar, but it gives you matching performance if not more. It has large and powerful drivers that deliver smooth and clear music with surprising powerful bass that, on top of it all, can be seamlessly clustered together with other Sonos Five speakers to fill larger rooms with minimal effort.  

Although the lack of Bluetooth functionality, especially for its price, is a bummer, if it’s any consolation, it does support Airplay, which somewhat negates this issue.

TECHNICAL FEATURES

  • 3 high-excursion woofers  
  • precisely-angled side tweeters  
  • Smart stereo sound  
  • 3.5 millimeter line-in port  
  • Pro-level tuning via Trueplay 

Pros:

  • Easy multi-speaker set-up 
  • Sonos app 
  • Perfect for digital and analog set-ups alike 

Cons:

  • Expensive
Sonos Five Two Room Set - The high-Fidelity Speaker for Superior Sound (White)
  • All-new Sonos Five - Experience vividly clear, room-filling sound for music and more with Five, tuned by renowned producer Giles Martin. Enjoy control with the Sonos app, Apple AirPlay 2, and more.
  • Deep bass - Five's unrivaled acoustic design features three high-excursion woofers within a sealed architecture that eliminates reverb and echo.
  • Ultra-wide soundstage - Two precisely-angled side tweeters create spatial extension and rich stereo sound, while a center tweeter optimizes vocal playback.
  • Smart stereo sound - Place a single speaker horizontally for stereo sound. Pair two speakers in an upright position and each automatically adjusts to mono for more detailed stereo separation and an even wider soundstage.
  • Line-in and play - Connect your turntable, CD player, or other device directly to Five using the 3.5 millimeter line-in port. Customized sound - Trueplay puts the speaker-tuning capability of the pros in the palm of your hands, adapting and optimizing the sound of the speaker to the unique acoustics of the room. Compatible with the new generation of the Sonos app, Sonos S2.

The JBL Charge 4 isn’t the best-sounding Bluetooth speaker out there. It is, however, very portable, durable, and has long battery lives. Plus, they’re perfect for when you also have a portable turntable and want something that you can carry around with you that lets you enjoy good music.

The
JBL Charge 4 might not necessarily be a true replacement for the other high-quality speakers for vinyl record players on our list, but it’s an easy recommendation for those who like to carry around suitcase record players wherever they go.

TECHNICAL FEATURES

  • Bluetooth connectivity  
  • Up to 20 hours of playtime on a single charge
  • IPX7 waterproof  
  • JBL Connect+
  • JBL bass radiator 

Pros:

  • Waterproof and rugged
  • Versatile 
  • You can connect multiple JBL speakers together 

Cons:

  • Sound quality is noticeably lower compared to bookshelf speakers 

Not everyone who has a vinyl record player wants to spend top money. Some prefer to keep more to themselves so that they can buy more vinyl records and discs. If you’re one of those, then the Polk Audio T15 should suit you just fine.

Make no mistake. The
T15 costs significantly less than the other speakers on our list and while the audio performance is not that good, it’s not that far off either. The quality is beyond what you’d expect from its price range and, as an added bonus, they don’t look half bad.

If you’re more of a casual vinyl listener, the
Polk Audio T15 is an easy recommendation that won’t hurt your wallet as much as the others on our list.

TECHNICAL FEATURES

  • 0.75-inch tweeter with 5.25-inch Dynamic Balance Driver 
  • Wall-mountable 
  • Compatible with multiple set-up arrangements 

Pros:

  • Budget-friendly 
  • Expandable
  • Minimal buzzing and distortion 

Cons:

  • Subpar build quality 
Polk Audio T15 100 Watt Home Theater Bookshelf Speakers – Hi-Res Audio with Deep Bass Response | Dolby and DTS Surround | Wall-Mountable| Pair, Black
  • GET SUPERIOR HOME THEATER EXPERIENCE WITH IMMERSIVE SURROUND SOUND – Featuring (1) 0.75" tweeter & (1) 5.25" Dynamic Balance Driver, these speakers are designed to produce a natural, well-balanced sound with massive bass even at the lowest frequencies
  • Use these wall-mountable bookshelf speakers as FRONT, LEFT-RIGHT SETUP, SURROUNDS OR AS REAR SPEAKERS and get mesmerized by detailed audio with crystal clear vocals, enough to fill any small to medium sized room, Total Frequency Response 45 Hz → 24,000 Hz
  • CREATE A FULL-FLEDGED 5.1 HOME THEATER SETUP with the complete range of T-series speakers from Polk with two T50 Tower Speakers, one T30 Center Channel, two T15 Bookshelf speakers and a subwoofer
  • Polk speakers are COMPATIBLE WITH MOST HOME THEATER AV RECEIVERS giving you many setup arrangement options - in single or multi-room with 2.0, 2.1, 3.1 systems or an immersive 5.1, 7.1 or 9.1 setup
  • POLK'S UNMATCHED QUALITY AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE. With these value-priced speakers, you can now enjoy premium acoustics, high quality construction, easy setup and a spectacular theater experience right at home

How to Choose Speakers for Vinyl Record Players 

Once you’ve made the decision to go from the built-in speakers of your turntable to a dedicated set-up, the next step is to look for the best speakers for vinyl record players that fit your budget and preferences the most.

This is where our list of recommendations comes in handy. We’ve already done the research for you so all you have to do is to choose.

However, if you prefer to do your own research and pick your own product, we suggest that you consider these factors:

Connectivity

Connectivity, whether it’s wired or wireless and if it supports Bluetooth or other wireless audio streaming options, are important factors when you’re shopping for speakers for vinyl record players.

Wired speakers are more reliable. You don’t have to worry about their signal dropping and they usually sound better. However, wireless speakers aren’t half bad either, especially the more expensive ones. Although you do have to pay a premium, they can sound just as good as wired speakers while also having the benefit of being wireless and/or portable.

How much power a speaker needs is usually measured in wattage and the maximum volume it can consistently play is usually represented by SPL or sound pressure level.

Make sure that you pay attention to both. Some speakers, in particular, require amplifiers to power them or can benefit from having a separate amplifier even though they have preamps built-in already.

Frequency Response

Frequency response refers to the range of audio frequency that a speaker can replicate. The human ear, for example, can hear audio frequencies between 40Hz to 20kHz, with the lower end sound being considered the bass and the higher end being considered as the treble.

The more balanced the highs and lows the speakers are, the wider the frequency response usually is and the better the quality of the sound that it can reproduce.

With that said, you’ll have to choose in some cases. If you prefer your music with some punchy bass, go with a speaker with better low-end frequencies. However, keep in mind that you can always add a subwoofer to your system down the line. This means that you don’t necessarily need to focus on lower frequencies only when buying a speaker for your vinyl record players.

Budget

The best speakers for vinyl records won’t come cheap. True, there are some that cost below $100, but most will set you back by at least $200 to $300. There are even other speakers that cost twice that amount if not more.

Make sure that you set a fixed budget and set your expectations accordingly so you end up with the best speaker that your money can buy.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, there’s no such thing as a single best speaker for vinyl record players. This is why we recommended multiple products. We know that it’s a personal choice and everyone’s preferences, as well as needs, are different.

With that said, the models we recommended all have an excellent mix of features, price, and sound clarity, making them an excellent start when you’re shopping for the best speakers for vinyl record players.

Last update on 2021-12-31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API