ION Audio Max LP - Vinyl Record Player / Turntable with Built In Speakers, USB Output for Conversion and Three Playback Speeds - Natural Wood Finish

Product Information

For customers in outlying areas of the country, the price of the Extended Warranty may be marginally higher, due to the potential for higher collection and redelivery transport costs. Also worth considering is this: do you want to rip your vinyl to your digital library? If so, look for a turntable with a USB output and reliable software to get the job done. Audio-Technica’s original AT-LP5turntable was a winner. Launched in 2016, its combination of solid engineering, useful features (including USB output) and fine sound was enough to make it one of our go-to recommendations for anyone wanting a sensibly priced, fuss-free record player with the added bonus of a USB output. The What Hi-Fi?team has more than 100 years of collective experience in reviewing, testing and writing about consumer electronics – and that includes plenty of record players. We have state-of-the-art testing facilities in London, Reading and Bath, where our team of expert reviewers do all our in-house testing. This gives us complete control over the testing process, ensuring consistency across all products.We always ensure we spend plenty of time with each turntable, setting them up correctly, trying them with different partnering electronics, in different positions and playing various records and music genres. Inevitably, we found that it does sound its best through some great wired components than even the best top-tier Bluetooth headphones. However, we did still get that rich, vinyl sound wirelessly, and with greater clarity and precision than from cheaper Bluetooth turntables. In our review, we wrote: "The Alva TT V2 is a deft, smooth and insightful listen, a little short of dynamic headroom but very long indeed on detail retrieval, tonal balance and generously engaging sound."

You want the ultimate audio experience: Sound is great here, but not perfect. For a more detailed, immersive experience you'll need to look elsewhere. USB record players are ideal if you want to transfer your record collection to other music forms but you'll have to be careful to ensure you get a good-quality recording. ProsSound quality: Audiophiles or those seeking a high-fidelity listening experience may find the sound quality from the built-in speakers underwhelming. This may lead to the need for external speakers, which could be an inconvenience or additional expense. Consider External Speakers: While the built-in speakers deliver clear sound, for an even better audio experience, consider using the RCA outputs to connect to an external speaker system. OK, there are issues with its rotational consistency and the construction of its tonearm (and its controls), and it leads to sound that's too weedy to be deeply satisfying. Connecting to a separate amp (using the built-in phono stage, or to your own phono stage, usefully) doesn't really improve things enough either.

turntables will also need an amplifier (if you're not plugging in via a hi-fi system that has one, or using self-powered speakers; record players in contrast have amplifiers built-in, although do take care as sometimes the terms turntable and record player are used interchangeably) User-friendly and as painless as possible, the SL-1500C stands on four hefty rubberized feet with a lot of articulation. A switchable phono stage proves useful along with a switchable auto-stop feature –we've gone into great detail about these in our extensive review. The Denon DP-300F is a gorgeous turntable that sounds just as good as it looks. As we wrote in our review: "If all you want is to listen to your records and not have to worry about queueing, premature needle wear or digitizing your records, the Denon DP-300F should be at the top of your list. Its features get you listening to your vinyl records as soon as possible, instead of having to fiddle with complicated components and manual queueing." This Debut Pro turntable is terrific at digging deep into the production and revealing layers of instrumental textures that most at this level ignore. It sounds incredibly precise and crisp. Its presentation is a little on the lean side, but the upside of such a balance is agility.It produces a stable and controlled sound too, one that retains its composure even when the music becomes dense and demanding. Stereo imaging and a spacious soundstage prove admirable and we are impressed with the sonic authority on offer.Durability concerns: Some users may have concerns about the durability and longevity of the turntable, given its glossy finish and reliance on built-in components. Long-term performance and wear-and-tear resistance are important factors for users who want their investment to last. Top-of-the-range record players can cost thousands of pounds, so it’s really important to do your research first if you’re looking for something with premium sound and a price to match. Ultimately, new turntables are more advanced than older turntables, but it all comes down to your preferences. Are high-end turntables worth it? It's also worth knowing that most record players can be plugged into a separate amplifier hi-fi system, too. Similarly, make sure you read up on the sonic characteristics of all your components – even five-star products benefit from the right partnering.

My husband has researched turntables for a long time. He settled on this one and is very pleased with the look and the sound of it. Use the 45 Adapter: If you’re playing a 45 RPM record with a larger hole, use the included 45 adapter. There’s a lot of debate over whether the Rega Planar PL1 or the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon is the best entry-level hi-fi turntable. It’s a close match and although we've tested both, we don't think there's a clear winner. Each one provides an excellent starting place for an audiophile on a budget. If you're willing to spend a little more, then the Cambridge Audio Alva TT V2 is our high-end option. This futuristic, fantastic-looking turntable brings you a balanced and insightful sound, as well as modern connectivity options. In contrast, the Fluance RT81 is a mid-range option with no-frills but a great sound for the price. These could be worth a look if you're after one with high build quality made from more premium materials that potentially could last for years. Should you buy a top-of-the-range record player?The USB ripping feature remains, so you can digitise your vinyl collection to CD-quality WAV files up to 16-bit/44.1kHz and 48kHz. If you're after a well-executed design that's well-built, easy to set up and sounds great for the money, the AT-LP5x is worthy of a spot on your shortlist. If you're an audiophile that can notice the subtle differences and nuances of the devices you're playing music on, you need a high end turntable.