How to Build a Hi-Fi Turntable System for Less than $1,000 (2024)

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Vinyl continues to boom. After being nearly extinct in the early 2000s, its popularity has skyrocketed over the last ten-plus years (oddly, at the same time as music streaming). People are captivated by the slow analog experience — placing the record, dropping the stylus, and hearing its warm, nostalgic sound.

The good news is that because vinyl has made such a defiant comeback, it’s spurred a resurgence of the other necessary components to play vinyl. Audio companies are making new turntables, phono preamps, amplifiers and speakers — all of a range of price points — so it’s pretty easy to build a basic turntable system. You don’t need to refurbish some vintage gear (although you still can if you want to).

The Four Components of a Basic Turntable System

A turntable system is comprised of four primary components: the turntable, the phono preamp, the amplifier, and the speakers. It can get a little complicated nowadays because many of these components are combined together, such as a turntable with a built-in phono preamp (also known as an integrated turntable) or a speaker with a built-in amplifier (which is any powered or active speaker). The bottom line is that you need these four components to work.

• Turntable: The turntable and the speakers are the two most important components. The turntable — specifically its stylus — is the thing that makes contact with the record and picks up the signal. It then produces a phono output signal.

• Phono Preamp: The phono preamp takes the phono output signal and converts it into a “line level” or an “AUX” signal. It also equalizes the signal — staying true to the RIAA playback equalization curve — so that it sounds as true to the original recording as possible.

• Amplifier: The amplifier takes the weak signal from the phono preamp and amplifies and readies it for the speakers. Without the amplifier you wouldn’t be able to play (or, more accurately, hear) music. Today, the standalone amplifier (aka a power amplifier) is nearly an extinct component because powered speakers (combines amp and speaker), receivers (amp with a radio) and integrated amplifiers (combines amp and phono preamp) have all become so popular.

• Speakers: The speakers the amplified signal and split it up (using its crossover circuitry). The high-end frequencies get sent to the tweeter, and the low-end frequencies get sent to the mid-range and bass driver. If the speaker has an extra, dedicated driver from midrange, that’s where those frequencies get sent. The speakers are probably the most important component because they’re what you actually hear.

The Three Turntable Systems

There are a multitude of ways to build out your turntable system. It’s no secret that the more separate components your turntable system has, the better it’s likely to sound; it prevents them interfering with each other components’ jobs.

However, having more components comes with its share of problems. Each individual component needs its own space. It adds more complexity because there are more moving parts. And the total cost is typically higher because you’re paying for more individual components.

That said, you can build a starter turntable system any way you want and still keep the price relatively down. We’ve assembled three turntable systems in three different ways, and they all cost around the same price — all are under $1,000.

Turntable System #1: The Starting Point

• Turntable (w/ preamp): Fluance RT81
• Powered speakers: Sonos Five

If you have Sonos speakers in your house and you want to add a turntable to the mix, your best option is to get a Five. It has a line-in connection, so you can connect it directly to your turntable (so long as it has a built-in preamp). You can then group it with your other Sonos speakers and play vinyl throughout your home.

In this current setup, we have a powered speaker (so speaker and amp) and a great entry-level turntable with an integrated preamp (so turntable and preamp).

Fluance

Fluance RT81

The RT81 is a great entry-level turntable. It has abuilt-in preamp soyou can connect directly to the Sonos Five (with aRCA to 3.5 mm cable).

• $249.99 at Amazon

Sonos

Sonos Five

The Five is the company’s most powerful and best-sounding standalone wireless speaker. It has a 3.5mm line-in jack, which makes connecting to a turntable super easy.

• $549 at Sonos

Turntable System #2: The Upgrade

• Turntable (w/o preamp): Pro-Ject T1
• External phono preamp: Schiit Mani 2
• Powered speakers: Audioengine A5+

The advantage of having a turntable without a built-in phono preamp is that it gives you more options to customize your sound. Most built-in preamps aren’t that great, and because they’re close to the turntable’s other components, they’re more susceptible to vibrations and distortions.

An external preamp can make your system sound better for not that much — you can get a great external phono preamp for between $60 and $200. Add that to a powered speaker system that delivers true stereo sound … and you’re cooking.

Pro-Ject

Pro-Ject T1

The T1 Phono is one of Pro-Ject’s mid-range turntables. Thanks to its tempered glass platter, it has a striking design and can be bought with (shown) or without a preamp.

• $449 at Amazon

Schiit Audio

Schiit Mani 2

The Mani 2 is an affordable external phono preamp that supports MM and MC cartridges and will work with most turntables. It’s available in two different finishes: silver or black.

• $149.00 at schiit.com

Audioengine

Audioengine A5+

TheAudioengine A5+ is a set ofpowered bookshelf speakers that deliver superb stereo sound. You can buy either in black, white or bamboo.

Turntable System #3: The Elite

• Turntable (w/o preamp): U-Turn Audio Orbit Custom
• Integrated amplifier: Cambridge Audio AXA35
• Passive bookshelf speakers: KEF Q150

This system combines an excellent mid-level turntable, one of the best budget integrated amps (so amp and phono preamp) and a great pair of passive bookshelf speakers. It’s a relatively affordable system, but it also leaves a lot of room for future upgrades.

If you want to a nicer turntable or bigger and better bookshelf speakers in a few years, this setup gives you that flexibility.

Orbit

U-Turn Orbit Custom

U-Turn Audio’s Orbit Custom is an excellent affordable turntable that, as its name gives away, is incredibly customizable. You can customize everything from the color to the platter, the speed control to the cartridge. For this setup, we opted for a model without a built-in preamp.

• $249 at U-Turn Audio

Cambridge Audio

Cambridge Audio AXA35

The AXA35 is a two-channel integrated amplifier (with a phono preamp) that can power 35 watts per channel, which is plenty enough for theKEF Q150 bookshelf speakers.

• $399 at Amazon

KEF

KEF Q150

The Q150 are the smallest and most affordable speakers in KEF’s Q series. If you’re looking for a more refined sound than most “entry-level” passive bookshelf speakers, these are a great “bang for your buck” option.

• $349.99 at Amazon

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