Best Record Player Under $100 (What To Sacrifice At This Price?)

With a budget under $100, you’re going to have to make some sacrifices.

Most turntables in this price range are severely lacking.

But there are a few that are pretty good.

We’ve narrowed them down to give you the 6 best record players under 100 dollars

None of these players will satisfy a true audiophile.

But if you’re on a budget, they are good options.

They will play records and give you a decent sound quality, especially if connected to better speakers.

Some of them come equipped with internal speakers, but you can’t expect them to deliver amazing sound.

You get what you pay for. With the recommendations below, you actually get a bit more than you pay for. All are great values, but again, nowhere near a quality record player.

 

Best Record Players Under 100 Dollars Compared

Disclaimer: these players were priced under 100 at the time of writing and may have suffered a price increase since.

12/04/2023 11:31 am GMT

 

Best Turntables Under $100

These are the best record players you are going to find for under one hundred dollars. If that is your budget limit, any of the models below will give you great bang for your buck.

But is you want a quality record player, you are going to have to pay more. There is no way around that. Once you go the the under-$200 level, you start getting much better models.

But for truly good quality, you’ll have to go a bit higher. That said, it is certainly possible to find quality affordable record players.

Read our article on how to choose a record player here, for some realistic budget ranges. You’ll see that none of the model in this article are suitable for someone who is serious about vinyl.

 

Best Turntable Under $100: ION Audio Max LP

The ION Audio Max LP sells at a good price and has a classic, solid-wood look. It also has some useful features. All of this combines to make it the best turntable on this list and also one of the more popular players available.

The main unique feature is the included EZ Converter software. With it, you can easily transfer your old cassette tapes and vinyl records to a digital format. The software includes tons of useful features, like the ability to automatically detect different tracks and separate them into their own files.

Features

• 15.2 by 16.4 by 4 inches — about average
• Weighs 7.7 pounds — about average
• EZ Vinyl/Tape Converter software — makes it easy to convert your vinyl and cassette collection to digital
• Fully-automatic belt-driven turntable — less noise distortion from the motor, so better sound quality
• 3.5mm aux-input slot — allows smartphone or tablet connectivity
• Can play records at speeds of 331/3, 45 and 78 RPM — will play any record
• Built-in stereo speakers — no need for additional equipment
• Headphone and RCA jacks — connect to speakers or headphones
• USB port — save your digital files after converting your vinyl discs

Summary

The ION Audio Max is a great player for the price that is especially useful for anyone looking to transfer their vinyl collection into digital files and it works pretty well for sampling too. The included software works very well and is easy to use.

If you are looking for top-of-the-line sound quality, look elsewhere, especially if you plan on using the internal speakers. You won’t find that at this price level.

That said, the built-in speakers that give you a good sound for a unit at this price level. They are as good as any other similarly-priced. I would definitely recommend connecting to better speakers. You can connect headphones as well.

I recommend this unit for anyone looking for a super low cost introduction to the world of vinyl. It does not cost much, but the money you spend is better spent here than elsewhere, with the next player below being a very close second.

The lack of cassette deck, CD player or radio means the designers put more effort into playing vinyl and they got much better performance than other players costing about the same that have those additional features (you’ll notice none of them made this list…for a reason).

 

Runner-Up: Wrcibo Vintage Record Player

The Wrcibo Vintage turntable is simple, but it includes everything you need to start playing music immediately, even if you don’t own a single vinyl record yet.

It has built-in stereo speakers, so you don’t need any additional components. The speakers are pretty good for the size, but they’re not going to blow anyone away. If you want quality sound and more volume, you’ll want to use the RCA plugs to connect to a hi-fi system with real speakers.

The aux in allows you to connect your smartphone or other external device that has digital music files on it, so that you can play those files through the Wrcibo speakers. If playing vinyl, this model plays all three speeds and does a great job considering the low price. It does not have Bluetooth capability.

Features

• 16.5 by 16.5 by 6.5 inches — not tiny, but not huge either
• Weighs 8.6 pounds — a bit heavier than similar players, but also sturdy
• Fully automatic belt-drive — plays at consistent speed
• Aux in port — play music from smartphone, computer, etc.
• Built-in stereo speakers — no need for any additional components
• Plays records at speeds of 33-1/3, 45 or 78 rpm — all standard speeds
• RCA outputs — connect to external speakers for boost in sound quality
• Ceramic stereo cartridge with sapphire stylus — good quality for the price

Summary

If you want a simple player that does not have a ton of frills, but that simply plays your records well, this is a good choice. It does have a few additional options, like the ability to play music from your phone or other external storage device.

It also has the built-in speakers, but internal speakers are never amazing. You’re better off connecting to a receiver and using real speakers, or simply plugging in a good pair of headphones.

Overall, this model is a solid option that falls just slightly behind our top choice above. It also costs slightly less, most of the time. If you were hoping to spend a bit less, the next model will probably be more to your liking.

 

Best Budget Model: Wockoder Classic Wireless Record Player

Now we’re getting really cheap. The Wockoder has a stunning classic design and some great features and functionality, but the quality is pretty low. It’s amazing for the price, but remember, it’s a very low price.

The big sacrifices here are a somewhat lower sound quality and less quality control. You may get a great sounding unit, or you may get one that has issues and needs to be returned. Sure, you can get a replacement if that happens (and another, if needed), but you end up wasting precious time.

I realize I’m making it sound pretty bad. I just want you to know what to expect. What you have to expect at this price. All that said, this little turntable still beats any others at its current price level (under $60 at the time of writing).

It features Bluetooth capability, but only in, not out. This means you can connect to Bluetooth-enabled devices and play music from them through the built-in speakers, but you can’t connect to external speakers to play your vinyl through those.

If you want to connect to external speakers, you can do so using the RCA outputs. And I strongly recommend you do, because they built-in speakers, while great for the price, leave a lot to be desired. You can also use headphones, thanks to the headphone jack.

You might also want to upgrade the cartridge and the tonearm, but by that point, it might make sense to just get a more expensive record player. This one only makes sense if you can’t afford to pay more.

Rounding out the features, is 3-speed capability and a pring built into the base that functions to reduce vibration by absorbing shocks. This means a better sound quality.

Features

• Beautiful wooden appearance — a beautiful addition to any home
• Plays at speeds of 33 1/3, 45 and 78 RPM — all standard speeds
• Bluetooth capable — play music from external devices, like a smartphone
• Built-in full-range stereo speakers — good sound for such a small unit, but not great overall
• RCA line-out — connect to external speakers for the best possible listening experience
• Built-in dust cover — protect your player and records
• Spring in base — a built-in spring in the base reduces vibrations for better sound

Summary

The classic look of the Wockoder belt-drive turntable is striking. The feature set lags behind some competitors, but it includes the most useful features. You definitely want to make sure it has the features you want before buying, though.

If it does and your budget does not have room for the two players above, this one is your best option. The two below are even a bit lower quality, but they are suitcase players. Those are always the most poorly constructed, but if you need that portability, they are your only real option.

 

Best Suitcase Player: Victrola Vintage 3-Speed Suitcase Turntable

The Victrola portable turntable is the best suitcase player available for under $100, but not by much. The Crosley Cruiser is the best selling one, but it is maybe just a bit inferior, due to lower quality speakers. But the difference is tiny and probably not even noticeable.

The Victrola is just as small and lightweight as the Cruiser, but it is perhaps a bit better made. Materials are maybe a bit better quality and the internal speakers, while not great, are slightly superior to those in the Cruiser. Again, barely a difference.

It also has headphone and RCA jacks, so you can hook it up to external speakers, a Sonos home sound system, or a pair of headphones for a much better sound quality.

It comes in 11 different colors (the Cruiser comes in 20+) and the wooden suitcase-style cabinet looks great and is ultra-portable. It plays all 3 standard record speeds.

Features

• 5.1 by 10 by 13.8 inches — ultra-portable
• Weighs 5.7 pounds — extremely lightweight
• Wood suitcase-style cabinet with leather exterior — sturdy and beautiful retro suitcase design
• Fully-automatic belt-driven turntable — less noise distortion from the motor, so better sound quality
• 3.5mm aux-in slot — allows smartphone or tablet connectivity
• Can play records at speeds of 331/3, 45 and 78 RPM — will play any record
• Built-in stereo speakers — no need for additional equipment

Summary

If you’re looking for an ultra-portable suitcase style player, the Victrola is your best option. But the Crosley below is honestly right there with it.

The Victrola is equipped with built-in speakers that produce a good sound for a unit at this price level, but don’t expect a sound quality equal to higher-end units. It also has a 3.5 mm headphone jack for private listening and an RCA jack so you can connect it to external speakers for a better sound quality.

The main reason to get this unit is portability. If you like the suitcase style players, this one one is the best. Only the Crosley Cruiser can match it in terms of size and weight, but the Victrola is the slightly better quality player.

Take a look at all the colors and designs of both models and just pick the one you like best. The players themselves are so close that it doesn’t matter much which one you get.

Sometimes one of them is also listed at a lower price, so you might also base your decision on whichever one is cheaper at a given time.

 

Suitcase Runner-Up: Crosley Cruiser

The Crosley Cruiser is small and very lightweight. It is the most portable player on this list, along with the previous model above. It comes in 22 different colors and looks great, but its sound quality leaves a bit to be desired.

It plays 3 speeds of vinyl and digital music via aux input. It has built in speakers, but they are not great. They work fine given the size, but can’t fill a large room like real speakers could. Luckily you can hook up outside speakers via the RCA jacks.

If you want the ability to play your record anywhere, the Cruiser is a great option. The Victrola above might be a slightly better option, but they are very close.

Of course, suitcase players are not very useful as record layers. They are closer to toys, to be honest. They work and there are reasons t get them, but you need to know what you are getting.

Do suitcase record player damage records? You may have heard this and there is some truth to it. They can cause damage to your vinyl, so I would recommend only using them for cheap albums you don’t care about too much, or ones that are already scratched up.

Features

• 14 by 10.5 by 4.63 inches: very small and ultra-portable design
• 5.5 pounds: one of the lightest on the market
• Wooded suitcase design bound in leatherette or velvet material: gorgeous and portable
• 3.5 mm auxiliary input slot: allows smartphone or tablet connectivity
• Bluetooth capable: connect to the same devices wirelessly
• Can play records at speeds of 33 1/3, 45 and 78 RPM: will play any record
• Dynamic full-range stereo speakers: good sound quality for the size and price
• RCA and headphone jacks: connect more powerful speakers or a pair of headphones

Summary

The Crosley Cruiser is the most popular suitcase style player. It is small, extremely lightweight and it looks cool, with 22 colors to choose from, so you’re sure to find one you love.

It plays all three speeds of vinyl, as well as digital music files from your tablet or smartphone via auxiliary input or Bluetooth. The included stereo speakers are not that great. They’re good considering the size, but you’ll probably find yourself hooking the Cruiser up to outside speakers via the RCA jack when you’re at home.

The Cruiser is a good suitcase player, but none of these are amazing, to be honest. We rank it just slightly behind the Victrola, but the difference is negligible. Get whichever one has the color or design you like best.

 

Good Alternative: Jensen JTA-230 3-Speed Stereo Turntable

The Jensen JTA-230 is very similar to the old JTA-222, in that it is a very low cost player that delivers far above its price. The main differences are the inclusion of a USB connector and an auxiliary input.

The aux-in allows you to play digital music from your smartphone or tablet and the USB allows you to record your vinyl music to the digital format. The player comes bundled with software for converting and editing your music.

The included speakers are actually pretty good for a player at this price. With RCA ports and a headphone jack, you are not limited to those speakers. You can connect to an external sound system for much better quality.

The JTA-230 plays all 3 common record speeds and actually has controls for pitch control and tone control, which is very unusual for turntables under 100 dollars. Read Jensen Vs Crosley Turntable for more on this brand.

Features

• 6.4 by 13.4 by 13.8 inches — average for record players
• Weighs 5.5 pounds — average for record players
• 3.5mm auxiliary input slot — allows smartphone or tablet connectivity
• Can play records at speeds of 331/3, 45 and 78 RPM — will play any record
• Built-in stereo speakers — no need for additional equipment
• USB port — can record your vinyl records to external drive
• Headphone and RCA jacks — connect speakers or headphones
• Conversion software — makes it easy to convert and edit your vinyl music
• Pitch control and tone control — adjust record speed and tone

Summary

Jensen’s JTA-230 is an even better choice than the old JTA-220. It has all the same features, plus pitch and tone controls, a USB slot and an auxiliary input. And the price is almost the same.

The only reason to go with the JTA-222 is for the unique design, but since it is no longer available, I’m guessing the design was not unique enough to get many people to choose it over this one (edit: it’s available again, but costs almost the same as this one now).

With the JTA-230 you don’t get the retro look, but you do get the ability to play music from your smartphone or tablet and the ability to record your vinyl collection to digital using the included USB cable and conversion software.

The tonearm is a bit light, but you can easily weigh it down with a few pennies if necessary. The speakers are not the greatest either, but for the price, they’re pretty good.

Overall, the Jensen JTA-230 is one of the best values you’ll find. It proves that not all good turntables have to be expensive.

 

Best Record Player Under $100: Final Thoughts

When you’re buying a record player for less than $100, you have to make sacrifices. You’re not going to get amazing sound quality, especially if you use the internal speakers.

But it is still possible to get something decent. The turntables above are all as good as you can get in this price range. If you hook them up to external speakers, you even get some pretty good sound out of them. The ones that do have RCA outputs, at least.

As mentioned, if you want a really good entry level player, you’re just not going to get that at this price level. You’ll have to pay at least a few hundred in order to get top quality sound. The best value turntables on the market all fall within that range.