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
Speeds: 33/45rpm
Connectivity: Aux out, Bluetooth
Speakers: No
+ Truly portable design
+ Excellent quality sound
- Some subtle noise
A revamp of a classic design from the 80s, the Audio-Technica Sound Burger AT-SB727 is a truly portable record player you really can take anywhere. It looks incredible too and is sure to be a conversation starter wherever you take this bit of kit - but don't think it's just a gimmick, this thing has the sound to match those looks.
The Sound Burger's specs are in line with AT's full-size turntables, so you get a lovely warm sound no matter what records you like to spin. We found it bright and lively overall, lacking a little stability due to the design, but if you want a portable player, we can't think of much better than this.
Speeds: 33/45/78rpm
Connectivity: Aux in, RCA, Bluetooth
Speakers: Yes
+ Outstanding value
+ Looks great
- Speakers aren't the best
If you're looking for a budget portable record player, the Denver VPL-120BT is a fantastic option. Coming in below the £50 mark and packed with functionality, it'll look fantastic in any living space and easily folds up for taking your collection wherever you go.
The onboard speakers aren't the greatest, but they'll do the job in a pinch if you need them to. It's got excellent connectivity with RCA for adding additional speakers, a line in for playing music from other sources, and Bluetooth if you just want to quickly stream stuff off your phone. For the money, it's hard to knock this one.
Speeds: 33/45/78rpm
Connectivity: Aux in, Headphones RCA, Bluetooth
Speakers: Yes
+ Huge range of colours
+ Super easy to use
- Speaker could be better
If you're getting into records for the first time then we'd go for the Crosley Cruiser Deluxe Vintage. It won't break the bank and paired with a set of speakers delivers an excellent sound. We love that it's available in a huge array of colours too, which makes it that much easier to mix in with the home decor.
There's plenty of connectivity including an aux in, headphones out, RCA out, and Bluetooth. This means you covered for pretty much every eventuality, making it a great all-rounder. It's super easy to get up and running too, perfect for first-timers.
Speeds: 33/45/78rpm
Connectivity: Aux in, Headphones RCA, Bluetooth
Speakers: Yes
+ Great speakers
+ Excellent connectivity
- Some noise in speakers
Not all portable record player speakers were created equal and to be honest, most of them aren't great if you're looking for audio quality. That's why we were suitably impressed with the Retrolife Vinyl Record Player, which delivers much better sound from the onboard speakers than others.
It won't replace dedicated speakers of course, but they're certainly usable. You also get a raft of connectivity options, allowing you to play other devices via aux-in, as well as stream wireless via Bluetooth. To top things off you can also listen via headphones, should you want to do some late-night listening without disturbing others.
Speeds: 33/45/78rpm
Connectivity: Aux in, Headphones RCA, Bluetooth
Speakers: Yes
+ Easy to setup
+ Compact size
- Speakers aren't the best
While the majority of portable record players feature Bluetooth, we found the Victrola Journey + to handle this kind of connectivity seamlessly every time, making it our top pick for portable record players with Bluetooth. Whether you're using your phone or a Bluetooth speaker it provides a reliable connection every time.
The Journey + is super easy to set up, and even if you've never owned a record player before you'll be up and running in minutes. The onboard speakers are decent, but thankfully there's an option to add external speakers via RCA or use a good pair of headphones which will significantly improve the sound quality.
Speeds: 33/45/78rpm
Connectivity: RCA, line-in, headphone jack, USB
Speakers: Yes
+ Lightweight
+ Solid build quality
- Garish design
The Numark PT01 is designed for DJs and turntable aficionados who need a way of taking their vinyl out and about with them: whether that's to clubs, venues or rehearsal spaces. The Numark PT01 Scratch features everything you need to listen, record or scratch (yes, scratch) on the go.
I found the sound quality of the Numark PT01 Scratch to be exceptionally good for a portable device, which naturally we'd expect from a professional brand like Numark. If you like to DJ, you can even use timecode vinyl to simulate actual vinyl feel while you play your music digitally. A really useful portable turntable.
FAQ
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.
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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.
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