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

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

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. Affordable record players without speakers generally perform much better, since the money went toward other factors.

We chose a variety of models that each have different features. For this reason, we can’t single out one of them as “the best”. The best turntable under 100 dollars depends entirely on your needs.

We highlight the features that make each player unique, as well as the pros and cons, in our short reviews beneath the comparison table.

 

Best Record Players Under 100 Dollars Compared

Product	Size	Plays	Speakers	Ports	Rating
1byone Belt-Drive Stereo Turntable Check Price	14.8" x 11.4" x 5" 5 lbs.	vinyl, digital	yes	USB, RCA out	8.8 / 10
1byone Portable Turntable Check Price	5.1" by 10" by 13.8" 5.7 lbs.	vinyl	yes	headphone jack, RCA, 3.5 mm aux in	8.6 / 10
Wrcibo Vintage Check Price	16.5" x 16.5" x 6.5" 8.6 lbs.	vinyl, digital	yes	headphone jack, RCA, 3.5 mm aux in	8.6 / 10
Crosley Cruiser Check Price	14" x 10.5" x 4.63" 5.5 lbs.	vinyl, digital	yes	headphone jack, RCA, 3.5 mm aux in, Bluetooth	8 / 10
ION Audio Max LP Check Price	15.2" x 16.4" x 4" 7.7 lbs.	vinyl, digital	yes	headphone jack, USB, 3.5 mm aux in, RCA out	8.2 / 10
Jensen JTA-230 Check Price	13.4" x 13.8" x 6.4" 5.5 lbs	vinyl, digital	yes	headphone jack, USB, 3.5 mm aux in, RCA out	8 / 10

 

Best Turntables Under $100

1byone Belt-Drive Stereo Turntable

The 1byone Belt Driven Turntable sells at a low price and has a classic, solid-wood look. It also has a ton of useful features. All of this combines to make it one of the best values on this list and also one of the more popular players available.

The 1byone has a stunning classic design, but its features and functionality are thoroughly modern. It has a USB slot that allows it to play MP3s and to do vinyl to MP3 recording. Unlike many other players, it does not have an aux input. For this reason, you can not connect your smartphone or similar device to the turntable.

The built-in speakers are not going to match those of a stereo system, but they are actually very good given the size. They produce a crisp, clear sound you don’t usually get from a unit this inexpensive. That said, you get much better sound if you use the included RCA ports to hook the unit up to an external speaker system. There is no headphone jack, but there is a dust cover.

Features

• 14.8 by 11.4 by 5 inches — smaller than most competitors
• 5 pounds — one of the lightest options on the market
• Beautiful wooden appearance — a beautiful addition to any home
• Plays at speeds of 33 1/3, 45 and 78 RPM — all standard speeds
• Play MP3s via USB drive — enjoy your modern collection, too
• Built-in full-range stereo speakers — great sound from such a small unit
• RCA line-out — connect to external speakers for the best possible listening experience
• Vinyl to MP3 recording — save all your old records and take their sound with you anywhere
• Built-in dust cover — protect your player and records

Pros

• Beautiful classic design
• Compact and portable
• Plays vinyl at 3 speeds
• Can transfer your vinyl records to digital format
• Full-range stereo speakers
• Can play audio files from USB
• Budget-friendly price

Cons

• No AM/FM radio
• Does not play CDs
• No auxiliary-in or bluetooth to connect smartphones and tablets

Summary

The classic look of the 1byone belt-drive turntable is striking. The feature set lags behind many competitors, but it includes the most useful features. You definitely want to make sure it has the features you want before buying, though.

It comes equipped with full-range speakers that sound much better than most this size, as well as RCA line-out plugs for even better sound quality using external speakers. It does not have a headphone jack. It plays vinyl discs at 3 different speeds, but does not have Bluetooth or an aux input to play from external devices.

It does, however, have a USB connector, which allows you to play digital music and to digitize your vinyl collection to an external drive. It’s not perfect, but it’s the best player on the market at this price and it got the highest rating on this list: a 8.8 out of 10.

 

1byone Belt-Drive Portable Stereo Turntable

The 1byone portable turntable is the best suitcase player available for under $100. The Crosley Cruiser is the best selling one, but it is inferior, due to lower quality speakers.

The 1byone is just as small and lightweight as the Cruiser, but it is a bit better made. Materials are better quality and the internal speakers, while not great, are superior to those in the Cruiser. 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 only comes in two different colors (the Cruiser comes in 20+), but 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

Pros

• Ultra-portable and lightweight
• Made of wood with a leather exterior
• Plays vinyl records and files from a smartphone or tablet
• Plays all standard record speeds
• Classic vintage suitcase design, elegant look and old-fashioned construction
• Best sound quality of any suitcase player under $100
• RCA jacks
• Headphone plug

Cons

• No USB slot
• No Bluetooth (see the Cruiser below for Bluetooth capability)
• Sound quality is good for the price, but does not match more expensive record players

Summary

If you’re looking for an ultra-portable suitcase style player, the 1byone is your best option.

The 1byone 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. Only the Crosley Cruiser can match it in terms of size and weight, but the 1byone is the better quality player. The Cruiser is Bluetooth capable, though.

 

Wrcibo Vintage Record Player

The Wrcibo Vintage turntable is simple, but it includes everything you need to stat 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

Pros

• Simple design
• Beginner-friendly
• Three-speed
• Low-price
• Ceramic cartridge
• Natural wood finish

Cons

• Speakers are too quiet
• Is not compatible with Bluetooth devices

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.

 

Crosley Cruiser

The Crosley Cruiser is small and very lightweight. It is the most portable player on this list. 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. If you want a portable player but don’t mind going slightly bigger, then you are better off with the 1byone player reviewed above.

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

Pros

• Extremely portable and lightweight
• Made of high-grade and durable components
• Available in 22 colors
• Can play vinyl at 3 different speeds
• Has built-in speakers
• Can play music from iPhones, iPads and tablets via aux input or Bluetooth
• Can connect to more powerful speakers
• Budget-friendly price

Cons

• No AM/FM radio
• Speakers are decent for the size, but lower quality than the competition
• No USB port

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 great player is you’re looking for maximum portability and you want Bluetooth. Otherwise, you’re probably better off with another suitcase style player like the 1byone (see above).

 

ION Audio Max LP

 

The ION Audio Max LP is among the lowest-priced turntables on the market. It is a great little player for the price, but the internal speakers leave a lot to be desired. It has RCA outputs, though, so you can connect to better speakers, which hugely improves the sound quality.

The main unique feature is the included EZ Converter software. With it, you can 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

Pros

• Included software easily converts vinyl and cassettes to digital files
• Gorgeous natural wood look
• Plays vinyl records and digital files from a smartphone or tablet
• Plays all standard record speeds
• RCA and headphone jacks

Cons

• Internal speakers are good for the price, but don’t match the better players on this list

Summary

The ION Audio Max is a great player 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.

The built-in speakers that give you a decent sound for a unit at this price level, but they aren’t as good as those in similar players. I would definitely recommend connecting to better speakers. You can connect headphones as well.

I would mainly recommend this unit for anyone looking for a low cost way to convert their old files to digital. They 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.

 

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

Pros

• Includes USB connector, cable and software for converting vinyl to digital
• Plays vinyl records and mp3’s from a smartphone or tablet
• Plays all standard record speeds
• Pitch and tone control
• Headphone jack
• RCA plugs

Cons

• Tonearm is very light and prone to skipping with even slight vibrations
• Sound quality is good for the price, but does not match better record players

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.

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.