Finding great soundbars to use with turntables is honestly a bit tricky.
The reason is that sound bars rarely come with the AUX analog input that we need to connect a turntable. Most soundbars only feature digital inputs that is compatible with modern TVs. And turntables only output an analog signal.
As a matter of fact, the only sound bars I found that have an analog AUX input is the Bose TV Speaker and soundbars from VIZIO and Polk Audio. The good news is that these seem to be great products with tons of positive reviews.
Beside the Bose TV speaker and the VIZIO and Polk Audio soundbars, the best option I’ve found is to use a Sonos Beam or Sonos Arc soundbar together with a Sonos Port streaming module.
The soundbars from Sonos don’t feature an AUX analog input, but we can use the Sonos Port to connect the Sonos soundbar to the turntable. The Sonos Port is a multi-room streaming module with analog inputs that let you stream music from the internet or from a turntable wirelessly to Sonos speakers and soundbars around your house.
Below are the 6 soundbars that I recommend for turntables after doing tons of research on this topic.
PS! If you have a Bluetooth turntable, then most soundbars (except Sonos) will connect wirelessly.
1. Bose TV Speaker
Best soundbar for turntables overall
My top recommendation for a turntable compatible soundbar is the Bose TV speaker. It is a premium-range soundbar from world-class audio manufacturer Bose. It is a nice sounding and nicely designed quality product without unnecessary gimmicks.
The Bose TV Speaker replaces the older Bose Solo 5 and it has received great reviews. It comes with an AUX analog input so it connects to turntables beautifully. It can also be expanded with a Bose Bass Module 500 or 700 (subwoofers) if you fancy more punch in the low end.
Key Features
- AUX Analog input
- Compatible with Bose Bass Module 500 and 700
- Bluetooth Compatible
Key Specifications
- Channels: 2.0
- Decoding: Dolby Digital
- Height: 2.2”
- Width: 23.4”
- Depth: 4.0”
- Connectivity: HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel), Optical in, AUX in, Bluetooth
Pros
- Premium sound
- Easy setup
- Expandable with subwoofer
- Premium manufacturer (Bose)
Cons
- Subwoofer not included
Verdict
If you are serious about finding the best soundbar for your turntable, then the Bose TV speaker should be on the top of your list.
Price
Click here to check price on Amazon.
2. Polk Audio Signa S3
Best soundbar for turntables (Runner-Up)
The Polk Audio Signa S3 is known to be fun and exciting sounding soundbar that is great for music listening as well as movie watching. It comes with a powerful subwoofer included in the box, and has tons of handy features like built-in Google Chromecast, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. A very good choice for a vinyl compatible soundbar.
Key Features
- AUX Analog input
- Wireless Subwoofer
- Built-in Google Chromecast
- Bluetooth Compatible
- Works with Google Assistant
Key Specifications
- Channels: 2.1
- Decoding: Dolby Digital
- Height: 2.2”
- Width: 35.4”
- Depth: 3.2”
- Connectivity: HDMI ARC, Optical in, AUX in, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
Pros
- Wireless subwoofer included
- Great sound for music
- Many handy features
Cons
- None that I can think of at this price point
Verdict
The Polk Audio Signa 3 is one of my absolute top recommendations for a good sounding turntable compatible soundbar.
Price
Click here to check price on Amazon.
3. VIZIO 2.1 Soundbar System
Best budget soundbar for turntables
When shopping for VIZIO soundbars, you can choose to go soundbar only, soundbar with subwoofer, or full theater system with soundbar, subwoofer and satellite speakers.
The pick that stands out as the best budget option for vinyl is the VIZIO 38” 2.1 Sound Bar System SB3821-C6 with Wireless Subwoofer included.
This soundbar system may not sound and feel as premium as my top recommendations above, but it costs less and gives very high value for money.
Key Features
- AUX Analog input
- Bluetooth Compatible
- Wireless Subwoofer
Key Specifications
- Channels: 2.1
- Decoding: Dolby Digital + DTS
- Height: 3”
- Width: 38”
- Depth: 3”
- Connectivity: Optical, Digital (Coax), 2 x AUX in, Bluetooth
Pros
- Affordable
- Wireless subwoofer included
- Acknowledged brand
Cons
- No HDMI input
Verdict
VIZIO have become a very popular brand for soundbars and soundbar systems. The VIZIO 38” 2.1 Sound Bar System SB3821-C6 is a great budget pick for vinyl that offers very high value for money.
Price
Click here to check price on Amazon.
4. Polk Audio Signa S2
Best budget soundbar for turntables (Runner-Up)
Another great entry-level soundbar with subwoofer is the Polk Audio Signa S2. This is a great budget soundbar with very low profile and a wireless subwoofer. It has received lots of positive reviews. It comes with an Analog AUX input which makes it perfect for connecting a turntable.
Key Features
- AUX Analog input
- Bluetooth Compatible
- Wireless Subwoofer
- Ultra-slim
Key Specifications
- Channels: 2.1
- Decoding: Dolby Digital
- Height: 2.2”
- Width: 35.4”
- Depth: 3.2”
- Connectivity: HDMI (Arc), Toslink Optical, AUX in, Bluetooth
Pros
- Affordable
- Wireless subwoofer included
- Easy to set up and use
Cons
- Might feel a bit plasticky
Verdict
For a budget soundbar with wireless subwoofer, the Polk Audio Signa S2 is one of the very best options I was able to find.
Price
Click here to check price on Amazon.
5. Sonos Beam + Sonos Port
Best audiophile soundbar for turntables
The Sonos Beam is Sonos’ latest and smallest soundbar. In addition to being a fantastic soundbar, it is also a wireless speaker that can stream music wirelessly from any source you can think of. Spotify, Tidal, Apple Music, Amazon, Google Play, Deezer, you name it.
The downside with Sonos’ soundbars is that they do not feature an analog AUX input. To connect a turntable to a Sonos soundbar we’ll need to include a Sonos Port “connectivity hub” in the system. The turntable then connects to the analog inputs on the Sonos Port, and the music is transferred wirelessly from the Sonos Port to the Sonos Beam soundbar. It is an elegant system that will give you a lot more functionality than a traditional soundbar, but it is also a more costly solution.
The Sonos Beam can be expanded with the Sonos Sub for more grunt in the low end.
Key Features
- Analog RCA inputs (Sonos Port)
- Subwoofer can be added
- Streams music from a wide range of streaming services
Key Specifications
- Channels: 3.0
- Decoding: Dolby Digital
- Height: 2.7”
- Width: 25.6”
- Depth: 3.9”
- Connectivity Sonos Port: Analog RCA, Network, Wi-Fi
- Connectivity Sonos Beam: HDMI, Network, Wi-Fi
Pros
- Top Quality Product
- Sound is best in class
- Lots of options for wireless streaming
- Compact
Cons
- Need the Sonos Port for turntable connectivity
- Sonos Port adds cost
- Does not support Bluetooth streaming (Only Wi-Fi)
Verdict
If you are already a Sonos fan, then the Sonos Beam might be an easy choice for you. If you haven’t become a Sonos fan yet, then the Sonos Beam + Sonos Port is a fantastic soundbar for vinyl listening and a nice opportunity to enter the Sonos world.
Price
Click here to check price on Amazon.
6. Sonos Arc + Sonos Port
Best high-end soundbar for turntables
The Sonos Arc is one of the highest rated soundbars on the market. It is Sonos’ top-of-the-line soundbar aimed at their high-end customers. It has the same connective and functionality as the smaller Sonos Beam, but it has more speakers and will produce higher and better sound. Just as the Sonos Beam, it needs to be paired with the Sonos Port to be able to connect a turntable. It also has a trick up its sleeve for home theatre enthusiasts. It supports Solby Atmos 3D sound.
Key Features
- Dolby Atmos (3D sound)
- Analog RCA inputs (Sonos Port)
- Subwoofer can be added
- Streams music from a wide range of streaming services
Key Specifications
- Channels: 5.0.2
- Decoding: Dolby Digital, Dolby Atmos
- Height: 3.4”
- Width: 45”
- Depth: 4.5”
- Connectivity Sonos Port: Analog RCA, Network, Wi-Fi
- Connectivity Sonos Arc: HDMI, Network, Wi-Fi
Pros
- One of the best sounding soundbars on the market
- Very high-quality product
- Lots of options for wireless streaming
Cons
- Need the Sonos Port for turntable connectivity
- Sonos Port adds cost
- Does not support Bluetooth streaming (Only Wi-Fi)
Verdict
If you want the best of the best, then the Sonos Arc + Sonos Port soundbar system might be your ultimate choice.
Price
Click here to check price on Amazon.
Conclusion
The soundbars above are the newest and best soundbars I found that are compatible with the analog signal output from turntables.
I hope this helps and wish you the best of luck on picking the best options for your needs and budget.
If there are great soundbars for vinyl that I have overlooked in my research, please feel free to send me an email with your feedback.
Related Questions
What is the difference between a soundbar and powered speakers?
A soundbar has a wide and flat format which makes it suitable to be placed below a TV. As they are too flat to fit big drivers, they often need a separate subwoofer to handle the low frequencies.
Powered speakers usually have a traditional stereo (two) speaker format and are meant to be spread wide so that a triangle is formed between the two speakers and the listener. Due to their size and format, powered speakers can usually fit bigger drivers that soundbars. Because of this they can usually produce decent bass without a subwoofer.
Both soundbars and powered speakers have the amplifier built-in and don’t need a separate amplifier.
Soundbars vs. powered speakers, which is best for vinyl?
For pure vinyl music listening, powered speakers are generally a better choice than soundbars because they can be spread out and provide a wider stereo image. Since powered speakers always come with analog inputs, it is also easy to find models that are compatible with turntables.
Soundbars can however be a great choice in a situation where it is handy to have one speaker system that works well for both TV and movie watching as well as for vinyl spinning.
Do I need a phono preamp?
To connect a turntable directly to a soundbar, it is crucial that the turntable has a built-in preamp. If it hasn’t, then a separate preamp must be included between the turntable and the soundbar.
The sound from my turntable is way too low, what is wrong?
If the sound from your turntable is way too low (almost zero) that is probably because you haven’t included a preamp in the setup. If you use a turntable with a built-in preamp and the music is way too low, it might be because the preamp is disables (switch set to PHONO, not LINE).
What is the purpose of a subwoofer?
The purpose of a subwoofer is to provide the bass (low frequencies) that the soundbar can’t deliver. Big drivers are needed to produce low frequencies and because a soundbar is too slim to fit big drivers, an external subwoofer with a big driver is often added to the system.