There’s something timeless about records. Something that’s capable of even making a GenZ’er feel slightly nostalgic.
Maybe it’s the physical act of sliding one out from its sleeve. Or the subtle crackles you hear after gently lowering a needle into a spinning groove in just the right spot.
I’m not exactly sure what it is.
However, I do know this: listening to records is an experience that digital music simply can’t match. It’s a sound that feels grounded. It’s raw, textured, and real in a way that makes you feel more connected to the music you love.
There’s a certain authenticity to it that streaming just can’t replicate.
But if you’ve ever dropped that needle on one of your vinyl records and thought, “This could sound so much better,” you’re right. It can.
The truth is, most record players can only do so much on their own. They weren’t built to carry the full weight of today’s complex, layered music.
And while older models were designed to be all-in-one machines, the bar has been raised. Now, we expect more from our gear. And rightfully so.
If you’ve built up a solid record collection, it deserves to be heard the way you want to listen. And the best way to do that is by pairing your record player with the right set of speakers.
Whether you’re an audio purist who loves the control that passive speakers give you, someone who values the convenience of wireless speakers, or you’re just looking to swap out your current speakers for something with better bass response, multiple connection options, and a cleaner design, you’ve got some seriously good speaker options available to you in 2025.
Below, I’ve put together a list of what I consider to be the best speakers for record players this year.
Each one is based on how they perform for their price, how well they pair with different types of turntables, and the unique qualities each one brings to the table for different musical tastes.
Let’s get into it.
A Quick Glance at The Top Speakers for Record Players
| Speaker Model | Type | Tweeter | Midrange/Woofer | Last Listed Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Active |
1″ |
4.5″ |
$699.99 | |
Active |
1″ |
5.25″ |
$479.99 | |
Passive |
0.9″ |
5″ |
$449.00 | |
Active |
1″ |
6.5″ |
$229.98 | |
Passive |
1″ |
6.5″ / (2) 8″ |
$1,099.00 | |
Passive |
0.75″ |
5″ |
$499.00 | |
Active |
1″ |
6.5″ |
$912.99 | |
What are the Best Speakers for Record Players in 2025?
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1. Klipsch The Fives
Best Bluetooth Speakers for Record Players
Frequency Response: 50Hz – 25kHz
In-Room Sensitivity: 109 dB
Tweeter Size: 1″
Midrange/Woofer Size: 4.5″
Type: Active
Max Power Output: 160 watts
Weight: 11.8 lbs
Dimensions (H x W x D): 12″ x 6.5″ x 9.25″
Built-in Phono Preamp? Yes
Pros: Big, punchy sound, multiple modern inputs, premium build.
For Consideration: Slight upper bass boom, no RCA cables included.
If there’s one speaker setup I’ve recommended more than any other to people just getting into vinyl, or upgrading from the basic setup, it’s The Fives from Klipsch.
These aren’t just the best Bluetooth speakers, they’re some of the best bookshelf speakers, period.
I’ve run them with a few different turntables over the years, and every time I go back to them, I’m reminded why they’ve got such a good reputation.
Vinyl through The Fives feels full, punchy, and dynamic in a way that makes you want to keep flipping through your record collection all night.
Let’s start with the sound. You might need to spend a little time tweaking the EQ to get it exactly where you want it, but once you do, everything clicks. It’s rich and clean, with a ton of character.
The 4.5-inch fiber composite woofers deliver a strong upper bass that feels deep and punchy, though true sub-bass below 100Hz is somewhat limited due to the compact cabinet size. The built-in dynamic bass equalization helps maintain bass depth at lower volumes, but this can subtly alter tonal balance depending on your listening level.
For some, these might sound a little too boomy out of the box, but that’s something you can dial in with the EQ settings through Klipsch’s companion app.
Midrange frequencies are smooth and natural, though you might notice a slight midrange recession, which contributes to a more spacious soundstage.
The titanium tweeters, mounted in Klipsch’s signature Tractrix horns, provide detailed, accurate highs with controlled directivity, giving you clear, crisp highs without harshness or fatigue. Vocals come through with clarity and presence, and instruments retain that analog warmth that pairs perfectly with vinyl’s sonic texture.
The stereo separation and soundstage are impressively wide for bookshelf speakers, but optimal imaging will benefit from careful placement on stands or surfaces.
Overall, I’d say they give off a more classic, natural tone that’s well-balanced. It’s not flat, but it doesn’t overly exaggerate anything either. They work really well with jazz, rock, some old-school soul music, or really anything with some depth to it.
They come with a built-in phono preamp and a dedicated phono input, meaning you can plug most turntables straight in without needing extra gear. Just make sure you set the “Phono/Line” switch correctly, depending on whether your turntable has a built-in preamp.
There’s even a grounding terminal on the back to help prevent hum if your turntable needs it. You’ll just need a good pair of RCA cables to get connected, since those aren’t included in the box.
These speakers are powered by Class D amplifiers, which means you’re getting big, efficient sound without taking up too much space or generating a bunch of heat.
The cabinets are made from dense MDF with real wood veneer, giving them a solid, substantial feel in your hands. They’re heavier than you might expect for their size, and that extra weight works in their favor, helping keep vibrations from coloring the sound when you really turn them up.
Even the small details, like the cork-lined bottoms to prevent slipping and surface damage, show that Klipsch actually thought about how these would fit into a real home setup.
Visually, they give off a retro feel without being stuck in the past. The natural wood finish and minimal branding let them blend into a room just as easily as they can stand out.
If you want them to disappear into the background, they can. If you want them to be a centerpiece next to your turntable, they can do that too.
Personally, I like how they look without the grille. It gives off that clean, studio-monitor aesthetic.
You’ve also got multiple connection options here:
- Bluetooth with aptX-HD to bounce between your vinyl and streaming from any other source
- RCA (phono/line) inputs for direct connection to your turntable
- HDMI-ARC for TV and home theater integration
- Optical input for other digital sources
If you want a speaker system that handles both vinyl and digital sources, gives you Bluetooth convenience without giving up too much sound quality, and sounds just as good as it looks, the Fives from Klipsch hit the sweet spot.
They’re not the cheapest out there, but they’re one of the most complete options available in 2025 and easily the best Bluetooth speakers you can get for your record player. For the performance and flexibility you get, they easily justify the cost.
2. Kanto YU6
Best Powered/Active Bookshelf Speakers for Record Players
Frequency Response: 50 Hz – 20 kHz
In-Room Sensitivity: 89 dB
Tweeter Size: 1″
Midrange/Woofer Size: 5.25″
Type: Active
Max Power Output: 200 watts
Weight: 11.4 lbs
Dimensions (H x W x D): 10.7″ x 6.9″ x 8.1″
Built-in Phono Preamp? Yes
Pros: Relaxed but detailed, perfect for small to mid-sized rooms.
For Consideration: Bass rolls off early, not as punchy or exciting out of the box for bassheads.
The Kanto YU6 are one of those speaker sets that don’t call much attention to themselves until you drop the needle. Then you realize these things were built for vinyl lovers who want a clean, full, modern sound without getting too deep into audiophile territory.
I’ve used the Kanto YU6 in both smaller rooms and larger open spaces, and they handle both surprisingly well. The overall sound profile leans slightly warm, with a clean and smooth presentation.
They’re not trying to impress you with unnecessary boom or sparkle. Instead, they give your records room to breathe. They have just enough personality to keep things interesting, without getting in the way of the music.
The 5.25-inch Kevlar woofers give you a decent amount of punch in the bass. Drums and bass lines come through with solid weight, but the low end starts to roll off around 50Hz.
You’re not getting a lot of bass with these, but that’s not really what they were built for.
The sub-out gives you room to expand if you want more low-end down the line. But for casual listening or apartment setups, it hits that middle ground between tight and satisfying.
Mids come through naturally and clean without sounding too forward or boxy, which makes acoustic records or more detailed music sound fantastic.
The highs are handled by a 1” silk dome tweeter, which keeps things smooth and easy to listen to. There’s no harshness or sibilance, and they do a great job of revealing detail without making vinyl surface noise more obvious than it needs to be.
If you’ve used speakers with more aggressive tweeters, like metal domes or horns, you’ll notice how much more relaxed these feel. Some people call the treble “polite,” and honestly, that’s not a bad description.
Imaging is tight, vocals are locked in the center, and instruments have clear placement left to right.
The soundstage is wider than you’d expect for the size, especially if you give them a little space from the walls and place them on stands. If you’re listening in a small to mid-sized room, these speakers will project a big, coherent soundstage without a huge footprint.
With them being active speakers, that means everything is self-contained. You don’t need an external amplifier, as they come with a phono preamp built-in, so you can plug your turntable straight in without having to worry about buying anything extra. They also have AUX and optical inputs, Bluetooth capability, and even a USB port for your computer.
And while it doesn’t get talked about much, I think the remote is actually one of the most useful features. It’s basic, but fully functional.
You can switch sources, control the volume, and tweak bass and treble independently. It’s really useful if you end up moving your record player to a different room or like adjusting the sound based on what kind of record you’re playing without having to keep leaning over to fiddle with knobs every time.
Aesthetically, the YU6 keeps it simple. The design is clean and modern, with multiple finishes available depending on what you like. And they don’t take up much space.
If you’re after powered speakers with everything built in, the Kanto YU6 speakers are one of the most well-rounded options out there. They’re easy to set up, sound good right out of the box, and won’t take over your space or your weekend dealing with speaker wires.
3. Q Acoustics 3020i
Best Stereo Speakers for Record Players
Frequency Response: 64 Hz – 30 kHz
Impedance: 6 Ohms
In-Room Sensitivity: 88 dB
Tweeter Size: 0.9″
Midrange/Woofer Size: 4″
Type: Passive
Amplified Power: 75 watts
Weight: 10.6 lbs
Dimensions (H x W x D): 10.9″ x 6.7″ x 11″
Built-in Phono Preamp? No
Pros: Honest, neutral sound, excellent imaging, excels in near-field.
For Consideration: Requires a phono stage and external amp, light bass presence.
The Q Acoustics 3020i is the speaker setup I recommend when someone’s ready to stop dabbling and actually listen to their records. Not just background music, actual, intentional listening.
I’ve pointed a few friends to these for their first “real” setup, and every one of them ended up surprised at how much music they’d been missing.
These are passive speakers, so unlike the others we’ve covered so far, you’ll need to pair them with an external amplifier to run.
That might be a turn-off for some, but if you’re in the stereo listeners club, you already know the charm these can carry: control, tone shaping, and a sound that feels more yours. And if you match them with a quality phono stage and a reliable amp, you’ll quickly hear what makes them special.
Out of the box, they don’t push any part of the frequency range harder than they need to. The tuning is refined, neutral, and transparent. They have a presentation that feels closer to studio monitors. Everything just feels honest and genuinely enjoyable to listen to.
The bass is composed and but responsive. It doesn’t thump or rumble, but it’ll give your music a strong foundation. And considering the size of these speakers, the depth they’re able to manage is impressive.
The mids are where these speakers outperform a lot of their competitors in this price range. Vocals and acoustic instruments are handled with a kind of ease that’s hard to explain until you hear it.
Guitars, pianos, and horns all show up with articulation and detail, not cranked or smoothed over. It’s why people into jazz, folk, or anything analog-leaning end up loving these.
High frequencies are handled with restraint. The soft-fome tweeters do a good job of highlighting textures without overexposing flaws in older records.
But maybe the most surprising thing about this speaker set is the sense of space they create. There’s a precision to the stereo imaging. It’s stable and precise.
You can hear instruments and vocals occupy distinct positions within the sound field and pick out where the reverb tails off. It’s immersive in a way that speakers in this range rarely are. And it’s a big reason why they also made our list of the best bookshelf speakers under $1,000.
A lot of that spatial precision comes down to the build. The P2P bracing inside the cabinets reduces resonance and keeps everything locked in. So even at higher volumes, you’re not dealing with muddy sound or cabinet buzz. It’s just clean, articulate playback.
If you want to get the most out of your turntable without overspending, the Q Acoustics 3020i speakers give you high-end performance at a very approachable price point.
They’re consistent, reliable, and work well with a wide range of amps. But more than anything, they’re honest.
These are the kind of speakers you buy when you want a true-to-source experience and when you’re finally ready to create a space that reflects that level of intentional listening.
If you’re looking for the same tonal balance as the 3020i but in a powered format, I’d recommend the Q Acoustics M20 HD speakers.
4. ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2
Cheap Passive Speakers for Turntables
Frequency Response: 44 Hz – 35 kHz
Impedance: 6 Ohms
In-Room Sensitivity: 87 dB
Tweeter Size: 1″
Midrange/Woofer Size: 6.5″
Type: Active
Max Power Output: 120 watts
Weight: 16.3 lbs
Dimensions (H x W x D): 14.76″ x 7.69″ x 10.55″
Built-in Phono Preamp? No
Pros: Full, rich sound, forgiving on vinyl noise, good bass.
For Consideration: Larger, plain design, you’ll need a phono stage and external amp.
If you’re looking for a speaker that gives your vinyl the kind of rich, full-bodied sound that pulls you in without pulling too much from your wallet, the ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 speakers are the ones to look at.
These are passive bookshelf speakers, so you’ll need an amp, but once you’ve got them hooked up, you’ll see why they’ve built such a solid reputation among vinyl fans.
For me, it’s the way they let the textures and tones of records expand naturally. You hear the depth in a double bass, the grain in a singer’s voice, and the room around a live recording.
The 6.5-inch aramid fiber woofer brings real low-end weight without getting boomy or bloated. Bass guitars have thickness, drums hit with impact, and you don’t feel like you’re missing anything, even without a sub.
The mids are smooth and vivid, which is exactly what you want if you’re listening to vocal-heavy records, stripped-down folk music, or songs with acoustic elements. There’s a slight warmth here, but it’s not syrupy. It feels natural, especially on older or less compressed records.
Highs are clear and detailed without being harsh. You won’t get that piercing edge that some budget speakers lean into. Instead, you get a treble that’s present and open.
One thing that makes these work so well with vinyl is how forgiving they are. Surface noise and imperfections don’t jump out at you the way they can with more analytical speakers. They give you a lot of detail, but in a way that still feels musical.
They’re front-ported too, which makes them a lot more forgiving with placement. You can sit them a bit closer to a wall without messing up the bass response too much.
They’re also easy to drive. You don’t need a massive amp to get great sound out of them. Even mid-tier integrated amps can get these singing.
Design-wise, they’re a little larger than the others we’ve talked about already, but they feel solid and well-made. They won’t make any of your friends turn their heads, but they’re not built for beauty contests. They’re made to play records and sound really good doing it.
If you’re starting to get more serious about your vinyl setup and want something with a little more weight, depth, and presence than your average small bookshelf speaker, the ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 is easily one of the best passive options out there under $400.
They’re for listeners who want to get closer to the music. Who want a speaker that plays back what’s in the grooves with richness and intent.
They’re unflashy, unpretentious, and probably one of the most satisfying passive speakers you can pair with your turntable today. For their price, they compete as one of the best value speakers you’ll find.
5. Polk Audio Reserve R700
Best Floorstanding Speakers for Record Players
Frequency Response: 30Hz – 50kHz
Minimum Impedance: 3.6 Ohms
In-Room Sensitivity: 88 dB
Tweeter Size: 1″
Woofer/Long-Throw Drivers Size: 6.5″ / (2) 8″
Type: Passive
Max Power Output: 300 watts
Weight: 79.1 lbs
Dimensions (H x W x D): 45″ x 12.6″ x 16.9″
Built-in Phono Preamp? No
Pros: Room-filling, dynamic sound, smooth highs, built for bi-amping/advanced setups.
For Consideration: Large footprint, you’ll need a phono stage and benefits from a powerful amp.
Some speakers give you good enough sound. But the Reserve R700’s hit different.
If you’re the kind of person who wants to live inside of your music, these are the speakers that put you there and surround you in it.
Yes, they’re floor speakers, so they’ll fill up a room more than the previously mentioned bookshelf speakers will, but they’ll also fill up the room with an audio experience that feels much bigger. These give you presence.
It’s more than just two speakers standing in front of you. They bring scale to your records without overwhelming them. They move more air, reach deeper, and create a bigger sense of space.
If you like funk, classic rock, hip-hop, or even cinematic post-rock, you’ll love the dual 8-inch woofers. They give music that grounded, physical sensation you can feel in your chest. You get a solid foundation with depth and punch when a track calls for it.
And even on softer cuts, the low end stays planted and composed. You won’t even need to think about adding a sub unless you have plans to set them up in a full home theater.
The best part about the R700s is that they let the record decide what to spotlight.
Guitars ring out with body, strings feel spacious, and layered arrangements never get congested. Vocals don’t get lost in the mix, but they also don’t scream for attention. Nothing’s shoved forward unnaturally.
The mids are carried by a 6.5-inch turbine cone driver made from a molded fiber core reinforced with internal foam. This construction keeps them rigid and lightweight, which lets them respond quickly without flexing or breaking up.
The highs are handled by a one-inch ring radiator tweeter that keeps the treble smooth and clear across the room, not just in one spot. It’s airy and extended, but never harsh. When playing brighter recordings or cymbal-heavy tracks, the treble stays expressive without ever getting edgy.
If you’re the type who plays albums all the way through from side A to side B, these will keep you entrenched the entire time.
You’ll notice all the tiny shifts in mood and the hidden gems buried deep within albums. You’ll feel the way different tracks are meant to bleed into each other to form something bigger than the sum of their parts.
It’s the kind of speaker that rewards patient listening and can shift your reality of what music is all about.
Even though these are big speakers, they never feel clumsy. There’s a sense of finesse baked into the way they handle dynamics. It can be an intimate folk song, a cinematic soundtrack, or an old-school funk arrangement. It doesn’t matter. These speakers have an open door to all music genres and will scale with your music choice.
You’ll need an amp or receiver to run them, but nothing outrageous. They’re efficient enough to work with most solid integrated amps, and their tonal balance plays nicely with both warmer and brighter gear.
Something like the Yamaha A-S701 gives you clean power and just the right amount of punch, or the Cambridge Audio CXA61, which leans into a little smoother and more refined sound.
While I say they’re “efficient enough”, their true character comes alive with better amplification. For the full effect, pair these with an amp that can get down to 4 ohms and push 100–200 watts per channel. This will help bring out even more of that analog composition.
They even give you the option to bi-amp or bi-wire, which is great if you’re the type who likes to squeeze every drop of nuance out of your setup and experiment with separation.
These things are big and heavy, but between the rubber outrigger feet, reinforced bracing, and upscale wrap, they look and feel every bit like the flagship floorstanders they are.
The R700s from Polk Audio are for listeners who don’t want to be left wondering if they’re missing something. If you’ve got the space and you’re ready to commit to listening to your vinyls with a big, bold, and immersive sound, then they deserve a spot in your setup.
6. Audioengine A5+ Wireless
Best Speakers for Audio-Technica Record Players
Frequency Response: 50 Hz – 22 kHz
In-Room Sensitivity: 95 dB
Tweeter Size: 0.75″
Midrange/Woofer Size: 5″
Type: Active
Amplified Power: 150 watts
Weight: 15.4 lbs
Dimensions (H x W x D): 10.75″ x 7″ x 9″
Built-in Phono Preamp? No
Pros: Smooth highs and full mids, great imaging, flexible connection options.
For Consideration: No volume level indication, may need subwoofer support to get better bass in large rooms.
There are plenty of powered speakers that pair well with Audio-Technica turntables, but few feel as complete and dialed in as the Audioengine A5+ wireless speakers do.
Whether you’re using something like the new AT-LP70XBT, the LP120XBT-USB, or any other Audio-Technica deck with a built-in phono stage, the A5+ speakers are an immediate upgrade that can take your setup from “pretty good” to “why didn’t I do this sooner?”
These are very easy to set up, versatile, and unapologetically focused on sound quality.
A lot of people will recommend Klipsch’s R-51PM speakers as the best match for Audio-Technica turntables, but I tried them out and I could just never quite get past the subtle, but constant humming they produced at lower volumes. It was impossible to ignore, and it was enough to pull me completely out of my music.
On paper, the R-51PMs have a lot going for them. And I’ve always appreciated the brightness and energy Klipsch usually brings to their sound. But in this case, the background noise was a dealbreaker for me. So I kept looking.
The A5+ speakers couldn’t be more different. These stay completely silent when idle or when moving between tracks. There’s no humming, no hiss, and zero interference. Even with your ear right up against it, there’s nothing.
Built around a 5-inch aramid fiber woofer and a 0.75” silk dome tweeter, the A5+ produces far more than these numbers suggest.
For many, they’ll sound great right out of the box. However, I do think these benefit from some break-in time. After 30 to 50 hours of playback, you’ll start to hear the low end fill out with a little more body, and the overall presentation becomes more fluid. It’s a gradual shift, but a noticeable one if you’re listening regularly.
Once broken in, there’s a calmness to their sound. It’s confident and smooth without ever becoming sterile. Highs are gentle and clear, never shrill or thin. Cymbals roll off gracefully, and background textures stay audible without calling attention to themselves.
They have the kind of presentation that invites you to really sit down and listen.
The midrange is especially well-suited to vinyl. Vocals are full and expressive, and even when the mix gets busy with layered guitars, piano runs, or complex brass arrangements, everything maintains its shape without collapsing into each other.
When I threw on albums like Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys and Sound and Color by The Alabama Shakes, that balance carried through from track to track.
Both of these albums are filled with dense layering and unconventional production choices, and the A5+ handled them incredibly well.
If you’re someone who gravitates towards albums with dynamic arrangements or a wide range of instrumentation, you’ll really enjoy what these speakers bring out in the music.
Bass is tight and evenly distributed, with enough presence to carry most genres. However, if you do most of your listening in a larger room or regularly play bass-heavy records, pairing the A5+ with Audioengine’s S8 sub can compound their depth and impact.
One of the most rewarding things about using these speakers is how well they shape the space around your music. There’s a real sense of left-to-right placement, and even in tighter listening setups, everything has room to exist.
Instruments are placed with intention, vocals remain centered, and harmonies settle into their own space just behind everything without getting lost. Even those subtle shimmers at the edges of a mix show up and make themselves known.
Their imaging adds real depth and dimension to audio, and it holds up remarkably well, regardless of your listening position.
Physically, they’re medium-sized speakers, but they still benefit from proper spacing. You’ll want to give them some breathing room to get the most out of them. I set mine up on stands, which made the spatial cues even more noticeable.
Once you have them set up, the dense cabinets and solid construction keep everything anchored. Even at higher volumes, there’s no vibrations, rattle, or low-end bloat. And with premium speaker terminals and a clean, well-finished exterior, they show the same level of quality you hear in their sound.
Functionally, the A5+ speakers are easy to set up and use, but there are a couple of important things to know first:
They don’t have a built-in phono preamp. If your turntable already has one (like many Audio-Technica models do), you’re good to go. If not, you’ll need to add a standalone phono stage to get everything working properly.
They come with dual analog inputs (RCA + AUX), so you can keep your turntable and a secondary audio source connected at the same time without constantly swapping cables. Just keep in mind that both inputs are live at once, meaning if both sources are playing, the signals will mix together.
Beyond the wired connections, the A5+ also gives you wireless flexibility with Bluetooth (with aptX support) to stream wirelessly without a big drop in quality.
A few other things to note: the volume knob spins endlessly, so there’s no visual reference for where your levels are. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it can be a small annoyance when coming back for another listening session and you can’t remember where you left it.
Also, there’s no built-in EQ, so any tonal shaping will need to happen upstream or through software.
That said, if you’re looking for speakers that pair well with an Audio-Technica turntable and bring the best out of your vinyl, Audioengine’s A5+ speakers are one of the best options on the market that will leave you satisfied.
They don’t try to color your music. They don’t force you into a specific sound. They simply let your music unwrap, with the kind of clarity, balance, and quiet authority that’s easy to enjoy, and even easier to trust.
7. Fluance Reference RT85 Turntable with Ai61 Powered Speakers
Best Turntable with Speakers Combo for Vinyl
RT85 Turntable
Drive System: Belt Drive
Speed: 33 1/3 RPM, 45 RPM
Tonearm Type: Static Balanced, S-Type
Anti-Skate: Yes
Cartridge Type: Moving Magnet
Cartridge Model: Ortofon: 2M Blue
Ai61 Speakers
Frequency Response: 32 Hz – 20 kHz
Tweeter Size: 1″
Midrange/Woofer Size: 6.5″
Type: Active
Amplified Power: 120 watts
Weight: 14.03 lbs
Dimensions (H x W x D): 13.1″ x 7.8″ x 9.2″
Pros: Complete vinyl setup, smooth, dynamic sound with excellent stereo imaging.
For Consideration: Will need a short break-in period, might sound reserved if you prefer a “bigger” or bassier signature.
If you’re looking for a complete vinyl setup that nails both performance and simplicity, this combo from Fluance checks just about every box. The RT85 turntable, paired with the Ai61 powered bookshelf speakers, delivers clarity, warmth, and serious musical detail.
And the best part is, you don’t have to spend months researching different components, wonder if you’ve got the right preamp, or even figure out how to connect speaker wires. Just convenience and serious sound quality.
Let’s start at the source. The RT85 turntable has earned its reputation for its sound, build quality, and how easy it is to live with day-to-day.
It comes fitted with the Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge, which is well respected for its ability to pull nuanced, expressive detail out of your record collection. Vocals sound vivid, and instruments sound lively.
Don’t be surprised to hear new drum brushes or ambient room sounds pulled out from beneath the surface in albums you’ve played for years. If you’re coming from an entry-level or vintage setup, the upgrade in clarity is immediate.
The acrylic platter delivers smooth rotation and excellent speed stability. And the servo belt-driven motor is a big part of that. It uses a built-in sensor to continuously monitor platter speed and makes real-time micro-adjustments to keep everything consistent.
That means no manual tweaking needed, no drifting, and virtually no flutter while a record is playing. Just tight, accurate rotation every time you drop the needle, so you can spend less time adjusting and more time listening.
Fluance also made sure to include some quality-of-life features, like auto-stop when your record is done playing and a simple speed selector for consistent platter velocity. You can switch between 33 and 45 RPM vinyl with a simple dial turn rather than manually having to move belts around.
It’s also impressively quiet. I know it’s running in the background, but it’s completely silent and there’s no hum or mechanical noise bleeding into the audio. Compared to most direct drive models in this price range, it’s a noticeable step up.
From there, the PA10 phono preamp rounds out the analog side of the chain beautifully. It picks up the signal and passes it cleanly to the Ai61 powered speakers, which are more than capable of showing off just how good vinyl can sound through powered speakers.
Out of the box, they lean a little neutral, which actually works in their favor if you’re aiming for accuracy. But after a short break-in period, the sound opens up, especially in the midbass. You’ll get a nice sense of punch, which works great for rock, pop, folk, jazz, classical, and vocal-heavy tracks.
However, if you’re into more EDM or hip-hop, deep sub-bass isn’t overwhelming in these. They do have a sub-out port, so you can expand the low-end impact if you want.
The 6.5-inch glass fiber woofers have a controlled authority to them, delivering a tight, articulate low-end response without overshooting into muddy or boominess territory. They maintain their definition even when pushed. And rhythmic elements carry real weight without compromising other frequencies.
Complementing that, the 1″ silk dome tweeters give music a deluxe top end with smooth extension. There’s no harsh edge and no piercing presence. It’s a well-controlled, open treble that stays fatigue-free over extended listening. The dispersion is consistent, which contributes to a stable and volumetric stereo image.
In the midrange, vocals come through with distinction and natural tonality. Instrumental layers retain their space with precision and separation. The result is a sound profile that supports both focused listening and casual enjoyment.
It’s balanced, dynamic, and revealing without being clinical. If you mostly listen in a smaller room, or from a desktop or listening chair, you’ll appreciate how well the stereo image holds together.
Despite it looking like a complex hi-fi system, it’s pretty easy to get up and running. If you’re new to vinyl, Fluance includes step-by-step instructions and really helpful video guides to help you with the setup process.
I’ve set one of these up for a friend who just wanted a good-looking, solid-sounding way to listen to vinyl in their apartment. Unboxed it, plugged it in, connected the speakers, and we were listening to Come as You Are by Nirvana in under an hour.
The reason I chose this package is because it does a good job of eliminating the usual anxiety of building a system piece by piece. There’s no worrying about impedance matching, power requirements, or compatibility issues. It works together because it was designed to work together.
Aesthetically, the whole system looks sharp and feels well-engineered. You’ll get to choose what finish combination you want, with options available in walnut, bamboo, black, or white to match the turntable and speakers to your space.
You also get plenty of modern connection options. Bluetooth, RCA, USB-C, Optical, and that sub out, I mentioned, so you can listen from multiple sources.
Considering everything you get with the turntable, phono preamp, and powered speakers, the price of this system feels like a steal compared to piecing components together individually.
From the intuitive experience of using the RT85 to the clarity and control of the Ai61 speakers, everything in this combo works together to deliver a vinyl listening experience that’s both elegant and accessible.
If you’re looking for a turnkey setup that gives a high-quality feel without being overwhelming, this Fluance package is one of the most complete offerings available in 2025. It’s classic analog listening, simplified. And done right.
What Makes Speakers Good for Record Players?
When you’re building a vinyl setup, it’s easy to get caught up in just the turntable itself. But speakers are where everything finally comes to life. So what actually makes a speaker good for a record player?
It’s not about volume or brand names. It’s more about how well the speaker handles analog sound, how easily it integrates with your setup, and whether it brings out the depth and warmth that makes vinyl worth listening to in the first place.
The best speakers for record players reveal the music to you. They should complement the character of vinyl, pulling all that texture, depth, and energy hiding in the grooves and turn it into something you can actually feel.
Let’s break it down.
Do Speakers Matter for Listening to Vinyl?
Your turntable is the heart of your setup, your speakers are the voice. And not all voices speak vinyl fluently.
You can have the best turntable and cartridge in the world, but if your speakers can’t keep up with your music taste, all of the emotion and authenticity in your records simply gets lost.
Vinyl is analog. It’s not compressed, it’s not processed. It’s just grooves and vibrations filled with subtle details that digital sources miss. You need speakers that can bring that character to the surface.
This is where those all-in-one box setups and basic computer speakers fall short. Sure, they’ll get the sound out, but they won’t capture the intricacies that make vinyl feel so special. They can’t unlock the nuance hiding in those grooves.
A good pair of turntable speakers brings out the richness in your records. The warmth in the vocals, the detail in the instruments. The low-end groove that makes your foot tap without even realizing it.
If you plug your turntable into some cheap computer speakers or a low-quality Bluetooth source, you won’t be hearing what the artist intended. You’re just getting a watered-down version of it.
Whether you go with powered speakers (which have amps built in) or passive speakers (which need an external amp), your goal should stay the same. Clean signal, accurate response, and the ability to do your records justice.
Speakers are the final link in your vinyl setup, and they make a massive difference in how your records actually sound.
Can You Use Any Speakers with a Record Player?
Technically, yes. You can use almost any speakers with a record player. However, not every speaker will work straight out of the box or sound the way you want it to.
Turntables need a little help in the form of a phono preamp to boost their signal to a level your speakers can actually use. If you’re running powered speakers with a phono input, or you have a turntable with a built-in preamp, you’re pretty much good to go.
If not, you’ll need to add a standalone phono stage between your turntable and your speakers to bridge the gap.
Beyond just making the connection, though, you’ve got to think about sound character.
Some speakers are tuned to bring out the warmth, body, and natural details that give vinyl its full presence. Others can sound a little too sharp or clinical, and pull the soul and organic feel out of your records, especially those made for digital or home theater setups.
So yes, while any speaker might technically work, that doesn’t mean it’s going to work well.
It’s not just about getting sound out of the speakers. It’s about matching a speaker’s sound profile to the kind of listening experience you want to have.
Some established companies are able to show a better understanding of what vinyl listeners actually need, while others prioritize flashy specs and lose sight of the organic, textured sound that makes vinyl special.
Look for speakers that lean into the natural character of vinyl and complement the sound profile that feels right to you.
How to Pick Speakers for a Record Player
Here’s a simple checklist I use when helping people choose the right speakers for their record players:
1. Powered vs. Passive Speakers: What’s Easier for You?
If you want the simplest, most straightforward setup, powered speakers give you that. They’ve got built-in amplification, so you won’t need to run speaker wires, and most of them are smaller than passive speakers, leaving you with more room on your shelf.
Most powered speakers also include multiple connection options so you can use them with other sources, and some even offer Wi-Fi streaming if you want to build a multi-room setup.
They’re great if this is your first time setting up external speakers, or if you just want decent sound quality without getting too deep into system building.
The tradeoff is that you’re locked into the amp that’s built inside. So if you ever want to upgrade your sound down the line, you’ll have to replace the whole set.
Passive speakers, on the other hand, don’t have an amp built in, so you’ll need to pair them with a separate amplifier or a receiver for them to work.
Setting these up is a little more involved at first, but passive speakers open the door to customizing your sound and expanding your setup down the road.
If you like tinkering and the idea of personalizing your system over time, passive speakers might be the better choice for you.
If you’re still unsure which type of speaker would work best for you, check our full breakdown of the differences between active vs. passive speakers. It covers the pros, cons, and use cases for both.
2. Matching Your Turntable and Speakers: Do You Need a Phono Preamp?
Here’s where many people get confused. Turntables output a very low-level signal that needs a phono preamp to boost it before it hits your speakers.
These phono preamps also apply RIAA equalization, which corrects the frequency response of vinyl.
During the vinyl mastering process, bass frequencies are reduced by about 20 dB, and treble is boosted by around 20 dB. This is done on purpose to save space on the record and minimize surface noise and tracking issues.
The phono preamp reverses that EQ curve, boosting the bass back up and cutting the treble, to restore the music’s original frequency balance.
That’s why your typical preamp made for microphones or guitars won’t work. They don’t apply the RIAA curve, so you’ll end up with a sound that’s thin and unbalanced if you try to use them.
Some turntables (like many Audio-Technica models) already have a phono preamp built into them.
But here’s what you need to pay attention to if your turntable doesn’t:
- If you’re going with powered speakers, check if they have a phono input on the back. If they do, that means you can plug your turntable directly into the speakers without needing anything else between the two.
- If the speakers only have a line input, you’ll need to add an external phono preamp between your turntable and the speakers.
- Some powered speakers will have a small Phono/Line switch on the back. You’ll just want to make sure you set that correctly depending on what the rest of your setup includes. Set the switch to PHONO if your turntable doesn’t have a built-in preamp and your speakers do. Set it to LINE if your turntable has a built-in preamp or if you’re using an external preamp.
- If you’re using passive speakers, you’ll need to run everything through a standalone phono preamp or an integrated amplifier with a built-in phono stage. Otherwise, the sound will be too quiet or not play at all.
It’s not complicated once you get the basic signal flow down, but it’s definitely something you want to sort out before buying your speakers.
If you’re still confused, use our flowchart below as a quick reference. It maps out every connection path, so you’ll know exactly what you need depending on whether your turntable has a built-in preamp, your speakers are powered or passive, or you need to add an external phono stage.
3. Think About the Size of Your Space
In small or mid-sized rooms, like a bedroom, office, or apartment, a good pair of compact bookshelf speakers will usually give you the best result.
You don’t need massive woofers or towering floorstanding speakers to fill a small space. Oversized speakers can actually make your vinyl sound worse and overwhelm the room.
Floorstanding speakers can sound amazing if you have enough space for them, but they take up a lot of room. In smaller areas, they can easily dominate the space both visually and acoustically. This can throw off the balance and make it harder to create a focused and immersive listening experience.
If you’ve got a larger living room or dedicated listening area, that’s a different story.
Bigger rooms benefit from speakers that can move more air. Floorstanders or larger bookshelf speakers paired with a subwoofer start to make more sense in this case.
The extra headroom and low-end extension these speakers have make a real difference, especially if you listen to bass-heavy records or want a speaker system with more bass response to fill your larger room.
Speaker sensitivity matters as well. In smaller spaces, ultra-sensitive speakers (90dB and up) can get loud very fast, sometimes making it tricky to dial in a comfortable listening volume. A slightly less sensitive speaker can actually give you better control, especially for nearfield setups.
And don’t forget to think about where you’ll actually position your speakers. If you’re working with limited floor space, bookshelf speakers placed on stands, or even mounted on your wall, will deliver better imaging and separation than trying to wedge big floorstanders into a tight corner.
Fit the speakers to the room, and you’ll end up with a cleaner, more focused sound. And you won’t be chasing EQ fixes or upgrades you don’t need.
4. How Important is Sound Character to You?
This one’s a bit more personal. Vinyl has its own sonic personality, often described as rich, organic, or warm. Some speakers are tuned to bring out that character. Others lean brighter, more analytical, or flatter and studio-like.
Neither is better or worse. It just depends on what you enjoy.
Do you want a sound that wraps around you and softens the edges? Then look for speakers with a warmer or laid-back voice.
Do you prefer more immediacy and detail? Then go with something more transparent or forward.
It’s worth reading reviews carefully, and whenever possible, try the speakers yourself. A speaker that makes jazz come alive might not have the same effect on electronic music, and vice versa.
5. What’s Your Price Range?
Yes, speakers can get expensive, but there are excellent choices at just about every price point.
You don’t need to drop over $1,000 to get great sound. But you shouldn’t expect to be wowed by a $50 pair of speakers either. It definitely helps to know what you’re paying for.
Some speakers punch well above their price. Others are priced based on the branding rather than their actual performance.
Speakers priced around $150 to $300 can still offer clarity and musicality, especially when paired well with your record player.
Once you step into the $400 to $700 range, you start getting better drivers, wider frequency range, tighter imaging, and a more open sound overall. There’s some really good value in this price range from manufacturers that specialize in turntable speakers.
Above that, you’re basically paying for refinement. At this price point, you’re getting a level of polish that shows up in small but meaningful ways.
Higher-end speakers also tend to have better cabinet construction and internal bracing, which helps with imaging, detail retrieval, and long-term durability.
That said, spending more doesn’t mean you’ll love the sound more.
It’s about finding the right fit for your setup, your music tastes, and the kind of listening experience you want to have. Trust your ears first.
The price should guide you, not pressure you.
At the end of the day, the best speaker system for your record player is the one that fits your setup, your space, and how you listen.
The good news is, you’ve got a ton of excellent options to choose from this year.
If you’re going for simplicity, a good set of powered speakers with Bluetooth capability and a built-in phono preamp will keep things clean and hassle-free.
If you want that extra control, or you’re already thinking about expanding into a full home theater or custom system, passive speakers with a quality amp might be more your speed.
Just remember, your speakers are the ones doing the storytelling for each one of your favorite artists. So pick the ones that tell their story the best.
Take your time, weigh your options, and don’t be afraid to start simple and build from there.
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