Best portable record players 2024: Portable turntables that’ll fit even the smallest space

Best portable record players
(Image credit: Getty Images/Cavan Images)

With the rising tide of vinyl, more and more music lovers are returning to using record players. This can create a few problems, however, namely the amount of space they take up. If you're looking to get a record player but need something you can take on the road or fit in a small space, then you'll want one of the best portable record players.

A quick online search reveals a multitude of different options for portable record players, but many of them are of questionable quality and not worth the cash. However, the vinyl addicts here at Louder have tested our fair share of turntables over the years, so we've got a great overview on what's good and what you should totally avoid. 

We put all the portable record players we test through a rigorous process, playing records of various sizes and genres to push them to the limit. We try onboard speakers if they have them as well as plugging them into our own systems - or hooking them up via Bluetooth - to establish the most important factor when it comes to playing vinyl: Sound quality.

If you've never used a record player before or are buying for the first time, we've got loads of common questions answered in our FAQ section below.

Don't forget this year's Black Friday will be with us on November 29. There's going to be some brilliant bargains on portable record players - and I'll be highlighting the best on Louder's Black Friday record player deals page. I'll also have even more discounts on our Black Friday music deals hub.

And if you're also interested in CDs, I've got you covered with the best Black Friday CD player deals guide.

Product guide

FAQ

Best portable record players: Victrola Revolution Go

(Image credit: Victrola)

When you’re looking for one of the best portable record players, you’ll notice how the majority of units opt for a traditional ‘suitcase’ design, meaning they can be packed up and moved around simply by closing the lid and snapping the clasps into place. 

While this does enhance their portability credentials, in reality, most people will find a specific location and leave the player in one place - with some deciding to buy a portable record player simply because they don't take up much room and can be set-up easily. If this is true for you, and in addition to portability, you’re likely looking at the record player’s aesthetics. For example: How will it look on your side table? Will it fit in with your bedroom layout?

There are plenty of variations on the theme, from players designed to look like they’ve been removed from a 1930’s time capsule, retro 70s-styled models or even futuristic, sleek designs. You’ll know which look will suit you best so it’s worth shopping around. 

Thankfully, while we freely admit there are some pretty garish models on offer, there are also some which retain an element of class and understated style.

Can I connect a portable turntable to speakers?

Each of the portable record players I've highlighted above offer speakers built into the unit itself but, realistically, they’re not the best sounding. Built-in speakers are great for casual, background listening but I wouldn’t trust them with anything where you want to hear detailed audio.

Instead, check to see if the portable record players have outputs for connecting external speakers or headphones.

Most portable record players will also offer Bluetooth functionality but be aware that this can sometimes be a one-way street, meaning they’ll play music back from your phone but won’t allow you to send your vinyl sound to an external Bluetooth speaker. 

If you want proper Bluetooth experience, we’d recommend checking out our guide to the best Bluetooth turntables.

Do I need a cartridge and stylus for a portable turntable?

Realistically, you’re not going to be getting elite audiophile levels of sound from any of these portable turntables, so you may need to adjust your expectations slightly. 

That said, there's still joy to be had from the lo-fi stylings of vinyl audio quality. If pristine audio was your goal you arguably wouldn’t be looking at portable players. 

Take them for what they are; quick, easy ways to enjoy your vinyl records and the perfect way to get newcomers into the world of vinyl.

How we test record players

We’re music fans first and foremost here at Louder so, while we are certainly interested in the spec sheet of any portable record player we test, we’re less focused on the nitty gritty detail of a deck that will deliver marginal gains. For us, we’re all about how the turntable sounds. 

We listen to music around the clock - it's part of our job - so we know how albums are meant to sound. For our tests, we hook each turntable up to our home systems and spin an eclectic variety of genres, and albums from classic to modern, to really put the gear through its paces. That means we can test if the deck delivers the fullness of modern metal, the low-end of hip-hop, the richness of classical, the lo-fi grit of punk etc. We’ll often call on the ears of a colleague or family member to give us a second opinion, too. 

To cap it all off, we also test how easy the record player is to set up and operate. Anything that makes it harder to get on with listening to our favourite albums gets marked down. 

Finally, we take a look under the hood of any other features a turntable offers, such as computer-connectivity for digitising our records, an automatic tonearm or built-in preamp.

You can trust Louder Our experienced team has worked for some of the biggest brands in music. From testing headphones to reviewing albums, our experts aim to create reviews you can trust. Find out more about how we review.

Paul Dimery

Paul has spent the past eight years testing and writing about gadgets and technology for the likes of Louder, T3 and TechRadar. He might not have the wealth or the looks of Tony Stark, but when it comes to knowing about the latest cool kit, Paul would surely give Iron-Man a run for his money. As for his musical leanings, Paul likes everything from Weyes Blood to Nirvana. If it's got a good melody, he's on board with it.

With contributions from