Let’s take it back to 1895, when the first commercial record player was released.

The debut of the record player intrigued many while its capabilities crafted allure and its sound created joy. That is until the radio took over the music scene and pushed vinyl to the sidelines.

It seemed as if turntables were done until DJs of the 80s and 90s started to use them as rhythmic instruments. Now, it’s as if record players never left, as music gurus are turning back to the beloved electronic to listen to coveted vinyl.

Turntables also now offer Bluetooth pairing, AM and FM radio, AUX plugins, and more. We put a number of them to the test to find the very best, so keep reading to find the best record player for you. Options include record players with speakers, Bluetooth record players, portable record players, and more.

“Beautifully simple, affordable (compared to competitive models), and easy to understand, my U-Turn Audio Orbit was custom-made for me and delivered in less than a week,” raved Kendall Cornish, New York Post Commerce Writer & Editor. “I was able to choose the finish and color of the base as well as the turntable itself. It was a cinch to assemble — I can’t stop recommending the brand to friends, nor do the compliments I receive on it seem to wane.”

“The Rega Planar 6 record player gives an unparalleled sound experience when it comes to listening to music at home,” raved Cornish of another luxe turntable she’s often playing Leonard Cohen on. “If you close your eyes and listen, it’s the closest thing to being transported to a live show, which for me and my music choices is more of a gift than a purchase.”

“Vintage style, modern tech,” mused Sophie Cannon, New York Post associate manager of commerce strategy. “When I got this Crosley record player as a hand-me-down, I really thought it was a vintage box, with a worn woodgrain and old-school knobs and screens. However, upon further inspection, I found that the Musician Turntable was actually of this era, and came with Bluetooth capabilities — who knew?

“I love that I can close the sturdy lid and use the player as a coffee table, or as my cat’s favorite place to lounge, since the only downside of the hefty contraption is its large footprint and heavy weight.”

According to Emma Sutton, New York Post commerce writer, this turntable has “great build quality, which you’d expect from Sony. [It] connects with any Bluetooth device and even home speakers like Google and Alexa. Once connected, you start your record and it auto-plays through your Bluetooth speaker with no lag.” It’s got a “simple and clean look”, high quality that you’d expect from Sony.” to boot.

“Still one of my favorite Christmas gifts ever, my baby pink Crosley Voyager is a relatively compact suitcase-style record player with built-in speakers and Bluetooth connectivity,” said Decider commerce reporter, Angela Tricarico. “I’ll be honest, I’m not really concerned with high-tech equipment here — this Crosley model is perfect to play my Taylor Swift vinyl collection, sounds good doing it, and does not take up too much space when it’s not in use (I’ll typically just close the top and use that for picture frames, etc.).

“I’d recommend this to anyone looking for their first turntable, but not interested in getting lost in the weeds with external speakers, amplifiers, and more. The Crosley Voyager is the whole package, for just $100.”

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