Bluetooth turntables connect wirelessly to Bluetooth speakers and headphones.
They enable you to stream music wireless up to 30 feet away.
Let’s look at the 4 best picks right now.
These are high-quality turntables from leading manufacturers.
1. Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT
The Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT is the Bluetooth version of one of the most popular turntables ever, the all famous AT-LP60.
It offers exceptional value for money and is one of those turntables that nearly all Hi-Fi critics and Turntable experts have at the top of their lists of best entry-level turntables.
After reading tons of good reviews of it, I eventually had to buy one for myself. You can read my full review here. Given its affordable price, it has impressed me a lot.
This is probably the best buy if you want a cool looking and well-built budget turntable with Bluetooth.
It pairs with speakers, headphones or other wireless audio systems that are Bluetooth compatible. It is fully automatic and very easy to set up and use.
Key Features and Specs
- Built-in Bluetooth: Connects wirelessly to all Bluetooth speakers and headphones
- Built-in preamp: No need for external preamp
- Analog output: Can also connect through cable for the best sound quality
- Fully automatic: Start and stop playing records with the push of a button. The tonearm automatically returns when the record ends.
- aptX codec: Higher quality wireless sound than standard Bluetooth
- Speeds: 33 RPM and 45 RPM
Pros / Likes
- Low price
- Outstanding value for money
- Well built
Cons / Dislikes
- Cartridge not upgradeable
If you don’t need audiophile sound quality and want a Bluetooth turntable that is affordable and well-built, then the AT-LP60XBT might be your absolute best option.
Click here to check price on Amazon.
2. Sony PS-LX310BT
Another great Bluetooth turntbale is the Sony PS-LX310BT. The leading Hi-Fi publication What Hi-Fi labeled this “one of the best sounding fully-automatic turntables we have ever heard” and gave it a score of 14 out of 15.
I would have a hard time choosing between this and the AT-LP60XBT above if I were in the market for a Bluetooth turntable. They have very similar features and specs. Both are great options. It might come down to current pricing and personal preference for design.
You usually have to pay a bit more for the Sony PS-LX310BT than the Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT. But it might also look a fraction cooler on your shelf. It offers a really nice design.
Key Features and Specs
- Built-in Bluetooth: Connects wirelessly to all Bluetooth speakers
- Built-in preamp: No need for external preamp
- Analog output: Can also connect through cable for the best sound quality
- Fully automatic: Start and stop playing records with the push of a button. The tonearm automatically returns when the record ends.
- aptX codec: Higher quality wireless sound than standard Bluetooth
- Speeds: 33 RPM and 45 RPM
Pros / Likes
- Affordable
- Great value for money
- Nice design
Cons / Dislikes
- Cartridge not upgradeable
The Sony PS-LX310BT is a relatively affordable wireless turntable that sound and look amazing for the money.
Click here to check price on Amazon.
3. Audio-Technica AT-LP120XBT-USB
In 2020, Audio-Technica added Bluetooth functionality to their legendary LP120 with their new AT-LP120XBT-USB.
It connects to hi-fi audio wirelessly via Bluetooth, to wired audio systems and powered speakers via RCA cables or to computer via USB. With this turntable, you have all the connectivity options you can dream of.
The LP120 is the first turntable I bought when I restarted my vinyl journey a few years ago. It is a very impressive package and offers unbelievable value for money. I am an electronics designer and engineer myself and I am honestly impressed of how cheap Audio Technica is able to sell this amazing package. It is a true bargain.
And it probably doesn’t hurt that is one of the most popular turntables ever, mimics the Legendary Technics 1200 in its design, and comes with cool DJ features like pitch control and reverse play. It has a solid direct drive motor that is suitable for scratching.
The AT-LP120XBT-USB is also a great turntable to upgrade for even better sound if you feel for that sometime down the line. With its removable headshell, it is very easy to fit a higher quality cartridge.
Key Features and Specs
- Built-in Bluetooth: Connects wirelessly to all Bluetooth speakers
- Built-in preamp: No need for external preamp
- Analog output: Can also connect through cable for the best sound quality
- Manually operated: Higher-quality tonearm that is manually operated
- AT95E cartridge pre-mounted: Can easily be upgraded
- USB Output: Rip records and store them digitally on your computer
- aptX codec: Higher quality wireless sound than standard Bluetooth
- Speeds: 33 RPM, 45 RPM and 78 RPM
Pros / Likes
- Amazing package at this price point
- Easily upgradeable cartridge
- Legendary design
Cons / Dislikes
- The DJ functionality may not be for everyone
The AT-LP120XBT-USB is a complete wireless turntable in a traditional design. One of the most sold, most loved and most popular turntables in the world today. Now available with wireless capability added as an option.
Click here to check price on Amazon.
4. Pro-Ject Essential III Bluetooth
For those that want a clean-looking Bluetooth turntable that offers a high level of sonic performance, the Pro-Ject Essential III Bluetooth is the best option in my opinion.
The Pro-Ject Essential III is great for the seasoned vinyl spinner that fancy high-quality sound. And that is willing to pay a bit more to achieve that.
Pro-Ject is known to manufacture some of the best turntables in the world, from entry-level turntables for beginners to high-end turntables for hardcore audiophiles.
The Pro-Ject Essential III Bluetooth is probably one of the very best sounding turntables on the market that is equipped with Bluetooth. And for even better sound, it is possible to upgrade the cartridge to a higher-quality one down the line.
Key Features and Specs
- Built-in Bluetooth: Connects wirelessly to all Bluetooth speakers
- Built-in preamp: No need for external preamp
- Analog output: Can also connect through cable for the best sound quality
- Manually operated: Higher-quality tonearm that is manually operated
- Ortofon OM10 cartridge pre-mounted: Can be upgraded
- aptX codec: Higher quality wireless sound than standard Bluetooth
- Speeds: 33 RPM and 45 RPM
Pros / Likes
- High-quality cartridge pre-mounted
- Upgradeable cartridge
- Elegant design
Cons / Dislikes
- Costs more than the most affordable options
The Pro-Ject Essential III Bluetooth is a great option for the Hi-Fi enthusiast that wants to include Bluetooth functionality to the turntable for extra convenience.
Click here to check price on Amazon.
Conclusion
In this article, we have reviewed four great Bluetooth turntables.
If you are on a budget and are looking for an entry-level Bluetooth turntable, then the Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT and the Sony PS-LX310BT are the two best picks in my opinion.
For those that have a bit more money to spend and are looking for a mid-range turntable with Bluetooth that offers a higher level of sonic performance, I recommend the Audio-Technica AT-LP120XBT-USB or the Pro-Ject Essential III Bluetooth.
How does a Bluetooth turntable work?
A Bluetooth turntable read the record’s grooves and transforms them to an analog electrical signal just like any other turntable. That signal is then boosted and RIAA equalized by an on-board phono preamp. The on-board phono preamp then outputs a standard LINE level analog signal.
This LINE level signal is then applied to the on-board Bluetooth codec and radio transmitter that digitize, compresses, and transmits the signal wirelessly through an antenna.
When Bluetooth speakers or Bluetooth headphones are paired with the Bluetooth turntable, they can pick up the wireless signal through an on-board radio receiver with antenna. The signal is then converted back to its original analog form by a Bluetooth codec. And then amplified and converted to sound waves we can hear by the drivers in the speakers or headphones.
The LINE level signal that is created by the on-board phono preamp on Bluetooth turntables is outputted as an analog audio signal as well. So if you want to connect a receiver or powered speakers to a Bluetooth turntable via a regular signal cable, that is also an option.
You can read more about how Bluetooth turntables work and how you connect them in this Vinyl Restart article.
Does Bluetooth ruin sound quality?
For highly passionate music listeners with expensive Hi-Fi systems, a noticeable reduction in sound quality might be experienced when using Bluetooth.
Bluetooth is digital and highly compressed. With the new aptX Bluetooth protocol, the sound quality that is slightly inferior to the sound quality of CDs. For those who remember that format.
In my own testing and experience, I have found that Bluetooth is fully acceptable for casual music listening.
Many stereo system manufacturers (like Sonos) have chosen WiFi as their wireless protocol rather than Bluetooth. The reason for this is that WiFi has a much higher bandwidth than Bluetooth and can transfer music with higher bit rates and less compression. And therefore, sounds better.
For most vinyl spinners, the sound quality from Bluetooth will be fully acceptable. Nowadays, trains and airplanes are stacked with people that listen to music through Bluetooth wireless headphones. And I don’t think too many of them are that bothered about the reduced sound quality from Bluetooth.
Bluetooth vs AUX/LINE
For passionate music listening, you can always use the turntable’s LINE level analog audio output and connect the turntable with a standard signal cable that comes with the turntable. This way you will not lose any of that beautiful smooth analog sound that vinyl records are loved for.
Feel free to check out our How to Connect a Turntable article to see every possible way to connect a turntable.
Resources
Audio-Technica Home – AT-LP60XBT
Sony Home – PS-LX310BT
Audio-Technica Home – AT-LP120XBT-USB
Pro-Ject Home – Essential III Bluetooth