Unleash the Sound : 5 Best Speakers for Audio-Technica Record Player

Have you got your very own Audio-Technica turntable but have yet to buy the separate speakers you require? What are the best speakers for Audio-Technica record player technology and how do you know who to trust and where to turn?

Well, saddle up and get ready to find out!

Table of Contents

• 1. PreSonus Eris E3.5
• 2. Edifier R1280T
• 3. Audioengine A2+
• 4. Q Acoustics 3020i
• 5. Kanto YU6
• Final Tones
• FAQs Best Speakers for Audio-Technica Record Player

1. PreSonus Eris E3.5

For those looking to equip their Audio-Technica turntable with speakers on more of a budget, then you might be inclined to try these speakers from PreSonus. Sure, these are on the more affordable end of the spectrum, but they are still going to offer sound quality that gets the job done, much as powered speakers want to do. Naysayers are likely to be pleasantly surprised by the quality of sound on offer here, especially those who once poo-pooed Audio-Technica turntables.

Key among the speakers’ finer points is the acoustic tuning membrane, a module that provides the speakers with the ability to reproduce sounds in a crystalline way despite the changes in acoustics in the surrounding area. And don’t let their size fool you, these speakers sure can pack a punch. Their 3.5″ woven composite drivers, 1″ silk dome tweeters, and a frequency response of 80Hz to 20kHz (more or less the range of human hearing) ensure that you are getting a pretty good listening experience for your money.

Plenty of people have been impressed with the response these passive speakers can offer despite being the size of bookshelf speakers. Sadly, they don’t come with a built-in amplifier or anything, so you will need to purchase your own, but since the Audio-Technica AT-LP60 and AT-LP120 come with a built-in phono preamp, you won’t have to buy much else before you can get listening to your precious records.

Key Features

• Type: Active.
• Peak power output: 25 Watts.
• Frequency Response: 80Hz – 20kHz.
• Sensitivity: 100 dBA.
• No Bluetooth functionality.
• Dimensions: 5.6 x 6.4 x 8.3 (inches) / 14.1 x 16.2 x 21 (centimetres).
• Weight: 6.4 lbs or 2.9 kg.

Pros

• For the price, this is a piece of kit that has been skillfully engineered and there has clearly been a lot of love poured into it – the soundstage is precisely defined enough to suggest this.
• The compact size can really work to your own advantage for you can truly fit these things anywhere you like.
• These are versatile speakers too, not just meant for listening to music but rather for all sorts of tasks, like gaming, movies, and even mixing music.
• These speakers are easy to adjust and use, being user-friendly and inviting even to those with little knowledge of audio technology.

Cons

• For all this, the chassis itself does feel a little cheap, even despite the love and care that has so clearly gone into the design overall.
• The cables that come with the speakers do feel a little lackluster, though this is perhaps to be expected from such affordable speakers.

2. Edifier R1280T

Another set of speakers that masters the more affordable end of the spectrum is the R1280T by Edifier, another little-known brand that boasts a very special sound, especially in the realm of Bluetooth speakers.

As far as active speakers in this price range go, these really are one of the best in the business. At such a price point, no one should be expecting a particularly rich or involving sound experience, though the Edifier delivers something akin to this without a doubt.

The speakers are surprisingly smooth and warm whereas other speakers in this price range lack a little in the low-end. The high-end is catered to but is not harsh, the mid-range is soft and balanced enough, and the bass is reasonably right without shaking the room or anything. This is all thanks to the 4″ bass drivers, the calibrated and flared bass-reflex ports, and the 13mm silk dome tweeters, all of which give the sound its clear and mellow veneer.

With an overall power output of 21 watts, this speaker can offer a reasonable amount of power without overbearing the listener. Thankfully, there is also the option to customize the sound by attaching external speakers and subwoofers.

You can do this by using the two ports on the back of the speakers to hook them up either by RCA to aux or RCA to RCA. By including so many external connections, Edifier really has ensured the staying power of their product, that it may be customizable and live on as part of a larger setup for a longer time.

Key Features

• Type: Active.
• Peak power output: 21 Watts.
• Frequency response: 75Hz – 18 kHz.
• Sensitivity: 86 dBA.
• No Bluetooth functionality.
• Dimension: 6.9 x 9.5 x 5.8 (inches) / 17.5 x 22.8 x 12.7 (centimetres).
• Weight: 10.8 lbs / 4.5 kg.

Pros

• The chassis itself is made from a luxurious wood finish that many will likely be head over heels about.
• Can be pushed to more extreme volumes without distorting the base signal too much.
• Comes with a volume control so you can listen at your convenience and not worry about having to get up and turn the volume up or down.
• The ratio between price and quality has been deemed by many to be theoretically perfect.

Cons

• The volume buttons on the remote sadly don’t have an ‘on’ or ‘off’ switch, so you will have to get up and turn the speakers on or off. This will no doubt be a real bummer to those who lust after convenience in all its guises.
• True audiophiles will no doubt not be fully satisfied, but you can’t really go wrong in this price range with such a vessel.

3. Audioengine A2+

If you really want to strike a good balance between quality and value, then Audioengine has got you covered. This is a pair of speakers steeped in professionalism that can offer both Bluetooth and tone control and a whole host of other different things, far more than the means of the reasonable price might suggest.

Delivering a whole 60 Watts of power, these speakers are not only able to offer quality but also an entirely immersive listening experience. The custom-made aramid fiber woofers and silk dome tweeters help to convey and act as a conduit for the natural tones that they emanate forth. The built-in DAC with its own power supply rail is the icing on the cake that helps to eliminate stray noise that might otherwise be introduced from external sources.

Unlike many other speakers, the Bluetooth connection on offer here is truly one to commend and laud from a high place. The aptX codec support means that you can actually enjoy listening to your record collection without worrying that the sound isn’t up to scratch, free from the hustle and bustle of all the wires that might otherwise clog the way and get all tangled and dusty.

These speakers also include their own A/B power amplifier, USB port, and analog inputs, and come with high-quality versions of all the necessary cables, ensuring that you need nothing extra to get started (apart from your turntable and records of course).

Key Features

• Type: active.
• Peak power output: 60 Watts
• Frequency response: 65Hz – 20kHz.
• Sensitivity: 95 dBA.
• Bluetooth functional.
• Dimensions: 6 x 4 x 5.2 (inches) / 15.2 x 10.2 x 13.3 (centimetres).
• Weight: 6.8 lbs / 3 kg.

Pros

• The sound offered by such a small set of speakers is truly something to behold. The size of the chassis really does belie the sound that comes out as a result.
• The design is sleek and inoffensive. Some might go as far as to say that it is chic and minimal.
• This thing is brimming with modern technology – the Bluetooth functionality is of particular note as it is upgraded to deal with the inter-communication between turntables and speakers incredibly well.
• This is user-friendly and inviting even to those who do not yet have much experience with audio technology of this kind.

Cons

• Audiophiles might be disappointed to realize that you can only use one input at a time, though this is something that likely won’t plague the masses too much.

4. Q Acoustics 3020i

For those with a little more money to spare on this venture, the 3020i speakers from Q Acoustics will no doubt be an attractive offering. This British brand has been engineering audio equipment since 1994, slowly acquiring a name for itself in audiophile circles. This model attempts to strike a keen balance between cost-effective economics and a high-performance listening experience that will not disappoint your resident audiophiles.

Yes, even the types of record collectors who love to be picky will be satisfied. The speaker output here is a whopping 50 Watts to 125 Watts, offering an immense amount of sensitivity at around 88dB. This is no doubt thanks to the 125mm and 2mm decoupled high-frequency drivers that thus equipped can offer a wide surround sound that pushes the limits of what this price range can really do.

The high frequencies – especially the vocals – are clear and crystalline, well-groomed, and with little to no tinniness. Not only this, but the cabinet volume has even been increased from the previous model which was itself the receiver of many industry awards. This is backed up by the internal bracing that is computer-aided, built in this way to protect the speakers from external vibrations, its own internal vibrations, and sound distortion from these and other sources.

Though this is not Bluetooth functional, the wires that come fitted with these speakers are great and inviting to use for those who have no previous experience with this kind of audio technology.

Key Features

• Type: Active.
• Peak power output: 50 Watts to 125 Watts.
• Frequency response: 64Hz to 30 kHz.
• Sensitivity: 88 dBA.
• No Bluetooth functionality.
• Dimensions: 10.8 x 6.7 x 10.4 (inches) / 27.5 x 17 x 26.5 (centimetres).
• Weight: 10.6 lbs / 4.8 kg.

Pros

• These speakers offer an excellent sound that can easily fill out a room, packing plenty of punch and volume that won’t distort unless push to the absolute max.
• The power delivered by the speakers is really something to behold, boasting a pretty good amplifier to boot.
• They come fitted with binding posts with a low enough profile so they can easily be set up in a room permanently.

Cons

• Some of the low and mid-range frequencies are neglected a little too much.
• In this way, bass-heavy genres like hip-hop, dubstep, dub, electronica, etc., are not going to be handled well. For more vintage sound, these speakers will do the job, but otherwise, you would be better off casting your net elsewhere.

5. Kanto YU6

For those who have the most money to spare but who still want to keep it within the bounds of $500, then the Kanto YU6 is a great set of speakers. Part of the brand’s most recent artist series that was designed with picky audiophiles in mind, these speakers manage to strike a keen and considered balance between digital and analog technology. This means no matter if you prefer listening to vinyl records or digital music, the sound quality will be equally impressive with this device.

Bearing 1-inch silk dome tweeters and 5.25-inch Kevlar woofers, these speakers are well-equipped to produce natural and balanced sounds, thanks in no small part to their larger size and efficient design quality. This larger size is reflected in the output power which can peak up to around 200 Watts, to the point that they have been said to reproduce in part the feeling of being at a live performance. This will no doubt be appealing to those who are homebound but who miss the real world in a detached sort of way.

The acoustic qualities are helped along by the design, comprised of acoustic-grade MDF cabinets that only amplify the sound of the music without acting as a conductor for any external vibrations. The build quality in this regard makes them perfect for projecting music throughout an entire house or office, especially when no one is around and you are free to do your cheesiest air guitar routine.

Aligned with the balance between old and new that these speakers attempt to take a stance between, they are Bluetooth capable. Thus, you can easily and simply connect wirelessly, either playing records (if your turntable is also Bluetooth capable) or indeed playing music digitally if you are so inclined.

Key Features

• Type: Active.
• Peak power output: 200 Watts.
• Frequency response: 50Hz – 20kHz.
• Sensitivity: 95 dBA.
• Bluetooth functional.
• Dimensions: 6.9 x 8.1 x 10.7 (inches) / 17.5 x 20.5 x 27.2 (centimetres).
• Weight: 20 lbs / 9.2 kg.

Pros

• The sound here is powerful and thus can impact you as fully or partially as you desire.
• The design is deemed elegant and chic, much akin to the hyper-minimal trends sweeping just about everything these days.
• Comes with a remote control that can not only control the volume but also whether or not the speakers are on or off.
• Aligned with their attempt to strike a balance between old and new, these speakers are compatible with just about any gadget imaginable, whether via Bluetooth functionality or the RCA and aux outputs.
• Some would say this is great value for money.

Cons

• As with all the speakers listed, it should be paired with a sub for the optimum listening experience.
• The input selection buttons on the remote control are almost comically small.

Final Tones

So, there you have it! Hopefully, you have found a match that is right for you and are ready to get creative listening to your precious records.

FAQs Best Speakers for Audio-Technica Record Player