Best portable record players 2022: Portable turntables that’ll fit even the smallest space

With sales of vinyl continuing to rise, many people are looking to get their hands on something to play their records on. But for many, space can be at a premium and that can lead to issues when it comes to installing a full hi-fi system with deck, amp, speakers, metres of cabling and more. That’s when looking through a selection of best portable record players comes in handy; not only will these take up less space than some turntables on the market, but they are easy to set up too. Perfect if you want to plug in and get playing ASAP.

Of course, many vinyl lovers will want to equip themselves with a quality Hi-Fi system, but if space in your home is limited or you simply want some flexibility when it comes to where you listen to your music, then an all-in-one system is most definitely an option worth exploring.

In this guide, you’ll find our pick of the best portable turntables around – perfect for simplicity and convenience. There are some great deals to be found too, with our widgets displaying the best prices online right now.

If you’re looking for more options, don’t forget that Black Friday will be with us on November 25, bringing with it a load of Black Friday record player deals. We’ll also have all the best Black Friday vinyl deals, Black Friday Bluetooth speaker deals and our favourite Black Friday music deals.

Best portable record players: The Louder Choice

When compiling the list below, two portable record players stood out. First is the Pyle Suitcase (opens in new tab), which packs in everything you’ll need for playing your vinyl anywhere, and has the added benefit of nifty fold-out stereo speakers which produce highly respectable results. 

We’re also big fans of the Crosley Discovery (opens in new tab), purely from a design perspective, with its curved edges and leatherette case giving it an air of style and sophistication where others on the list have opted for pure retro designs. 

Realistically, however, any of the portable record players featured here will have you up and running in no time at all, and mean you can start scouring the internet for those hard-to-find vinyl masterpieces with something ready and able to play them as soon as they arrive.

Best portable record players: Product guide

The Victrola Vintage is one of the highest rated portable record players on a certain global shopping website, with over 32,000 reviews averaging out just under five stars. For good reason too. For your money you get a three-speed suitcase-style record player with Bluetooth playback capability, and around 30 different colour variations to choose from. 

We liked the fact it can play records of any size – not a given at this price point – and it comes with an extra stylus too. As for volume, the Victrola Vintage copes perfectly well, but the RCA stereo outs offer extra flexibility for connecting to external speakers.

If you’re going for a cool 1970s vibe with your portable record player, then the Crosley Discovery is well worth a look. We loved the curved leatherette casing – more briefcase than suitcase – and found it performed perfectly well across a range of different musical styles. 

There is a slight design issue around using larger 12-inch records, where the lid needs to be as far back as it can to allow playback, but providing you have a suitable space to locate the player this shouldn’t be too much of a problem.

Another great option for those looking to save space and their bank account is this offering from Vinyl Music On. Their portable USB record player is a neat and sturdy bit of kit and it allows you to convert your vinyl to MP3 through a USB connection. 

While it comes with two speakers built in, you You can also connect the turntable to external speakers, headphones or even your phone which gives you a decent bit of flexibility.

The whole case is covered in premium PU leather and features a bronze carry handle, along with bronze protection at the corners and solid hinges, making this a robust record player… and it’s available for a great price.

Owners of large vinyl collections will have possibly pondered the nightmare scenario of losing their treasured records at some point. The Popsky Record Player offers a great solution by allowing you to hook up to a computer via USB, meaning you can both play and record your vinyl for safe keeping at the same time.

We felt the vintage wooden casing offered a nice alternative to the alternative models, without appearing too much like it had been found at the back of a thrift store cupboard.

While some may be vinyl veterans, with huge collections ready to work their way through, others may be starting their journey on the vinyl frontier. The Byron Statics record player offers an inexpensive way to get up and running, and is ideally suited to younger listeners thanks to its simple operation and compact build. 

There’s no Bluetooth on offer here, so it’s a pure record player in that respect, but if you plan on treating a record player as exactly that, rather than an all-in-one music hub, then this could be a good bet.

It’s not just music listeners that would have need for a portable way of playing vinyl records. The Numark PT01 is designed for DJs and turntablists who need a way of taking their vinyl out and about with them, be that to clubs, venues, or rehearsal spaces. The PT01 features everything you need to listen, record or scratch (yep, scratch) on the go. 

It doesn’t have the same vintage aesthetic as most other portable record players, but what it lacks in retro patina it more than makes up for in versatility, backed up by the included USB connectivity and the fact it can run on battery power. 

Best portable record players: Buying advice

When you’re looking for a portable record player, you’ll notice how most models opt for a traditional ‘suitcase’ design, meaning they can be packed up and moved around simply by closing the lid. While this does enhance their portability credentials, in reality, most will find a specific location and leave the player in place. So, in addition to portability, you’re looking at the record player’s aesthetics. How will it look on your side table? 

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

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

Connectivity options

Each of the systems we highlight offer speakers built into the unit itself but, realistically, they’re not the best sounding. We certainly wouldn’t trust them with anything where you want to hear a bass line, for example. Instead, check if the players have outputs for connecting external speakers or headphones.

Most 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 reading our guide to the best Bluetooth turntables.

Cartridges, drive systems and the stylus

Vinyl buffs will know the importance of cartridges, stylus’ and drive systems. Being realistic, you’re not going to be getting elite audiophile levels of sound from any of these systems so you may need to adjust your expectations slightly. 

That said, there is 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.

If you’re interested in record players and turntables, then we have more content for you right here on Louder. We have guides to new vinyl releases, cheap vinyl records, the best vinyl record storage ideas, the best record players around, the best budget turntables, the best portable record players and the best headphones for vinyl. 

Want more? Then we also take a look at direct-drive vs belt-drive turntables to find out the difference and have a list of the best vinyl record cleaners so you can keep your collection in tip-top shape.

You can also find out how we test and rate products at Louder.

Source: loudersound.com