The 5 Best Turntables for Sonos

  • By: Andrew
  • Date: November 17, 2022

Sonos makes wireless sound system solutions that are perfect for vinyl lovers. If you have a Sonos system, you’ll need to find the best turntables to go with it. That way, you can get the most out of your high-quality sound system.

The best turntable for Sonos is the Audio Technica AT-LP60X. This turntable is the best option for most people because it has a low price and offers the best sound quality in this price range. This model is great for new vinyl collectors too. It comes in different colors to match your room.

There are a few cases where I wouldn’t recommend the Audio Technica. These include:

This article will discuss a few important factors to consider when buying a turntable for your Sonos system. I’ll then go over all of my favorite picks to see what situations they work the best in. I’ll also explain why the Audio Technica AT-LP60X is the best pick for the majority.

Table of Contents

Factors To Consider

The turntable will need a built-in preamp to work with your Sonos system. All of the models on this list do have this feature. In order to connect your turntable to SONOS, you need at least one of the following SONOS system.

Sonos Five - The High-Fidelity Speaker for Superior Sound - White

If you want to learn more about how to connect your turntable to Sonos, take a look at this article that I wrote: How To Connect a Turntable to Sonos? Let’s Find Out!

Bluetooth isn’t the best option for Sonos, in my personal opinion. However, some Sonos speakers (Sonos Move and Sonos Roam) utilize Bluetooth and can be a great opinion if that is what you are looking for. So make sure you check before you start shopping!

You want to consider these three main factors before purchasing a new turntable:

  • Great sound quality
  • A great design
  • The overall cost

Most Sonos products aren’t costly, so it wouldn’t make sense to buy a high-end, premium record player to go along with your sound system. As long as the turntable scores well in the three features mentioned earlier, it’ll work well with your Sonos.

Sonos Five - The High-Fidelity Speaker for Superior Sound - White

Let’s now go over these features:

Great Design

TurntableNumber of Color/Style OptionsMaterials Used
Audio Technica AT-LP60X6Plastic, die-cast aluminum platter
Fluance RT81 Elite High Fidelity3Solid wood plinth, aluminum platter
Pro-Ject T1 Phono SB Turntable3Alloy steel, steel platter
U-Turn Audio2Solid hardwood plinth, acrylic platter
1 BY ONE Belt Drive Turntable1Wood, plastic, and metal platter

First, make sure that you love the design of the turntable! The appearance of the turntable should pair well with your Sonos. Sonos speakers are modern and sleek. That means you probably don’t want a bulky, vintage turntable.

Many of these turntables come in different colors, styles, and materials. You’ll want to consider how the turntable will look in your room, then choose the one that goes well with your aesthetic. 

This list gives you plenty of different options to choose from.

Great Sound Quality

Turntable ModelDistortion Level
Audio Technica AT-LP60XModerate at high volumes
Fluance RT81 Elite High FidelityLow
Pro-Ject T1 Phono SB TurntableLow
U-Turn AudioVery low
1 BY ONE Belt Drive TurntableModerate

Of course, you want a turntable that offers excellent sound quality so that you can enjoy listening to your favorite vinyl. The turntable should provide you with high-fidelity (uncompressed) sound, playing music as close to the original as possible. Other formats can decrease the sound quality. 

However, there are many different ways to measure sound quality. What you enjoy listening to is largely up to your personal preference. Some people are willing to invest more money in a turntable for better sound quality. In contrast, others want something more affordable and don’t care about the sound quality.

You want to have as little distortion coming from the turntable as possible. That way, you get a faithful translation of the music coming directly from the source. Vinyl allows you to listen to a song exactly how the artist intended it to sound.

Overall, you want a turntable that provides minimal distortion when listening to songs on your Sonos. Some cheaper models have little distortion at quiet volumes, but the distortion becomes more noticeable when you crank up the volume. 

Overall Cost

Lastly, you’ll need to consider the overall cost. The best overall pick on this list is very affordable compared to the other options. However, you might be willing to pay more to get the features that the other turntables offer.

You should always set a turntable budget before you start shopping. Turntables can cost as much or as little as you want — so you have plenty of room to set your budget. If you don’t set one, it can be easy to overspend.

When you pay more, you’re likely to receive a turntable that comes with more features, such as Bluetooth or WiFi capabilities. You also get better sound quality and sturdier materials.

Once you buy the turntable, you usually don’t need to invest more money into it as long as you take care of it. The only other expense may be purchasing a few cables to connect the turntable. However, these cables are usually very cheap!

When buying a turntable for your Sonos, you don’t need to choose an expensive model. A typical Sonos system is rather inexpensive, so you don’t need to buy a premium turntable either — unless you want a fancy model.

In short, you should only pay what you’re comfortable with. Many new vinyl collectors start with cost-efficient record players and upgrade to a more expensive option in the future. You should first figure out what features you want on your turntable.

Best Overall: Audio Technica AT-LP60X

The Audio Technica AT-LP60X is the best Sonos turntable for most people. It’s not overpriced, and it has a good sound quality and a cool design. Many users feel that it’s one of the best-sounding turntables in this price bracket. That’s why the Audio Technica AT-LP60X is the best overall pick.

However, you’re not going to get perfect sound quality at this price point. The turntable will distort slightly at higher volumes, but you shouldn’t notice it very much. Overall, it’s ideal for casual vinyl listeners. Still, that doesn’t mean that it’s bad quality or that you won’t love it. It’s also perfect for use with Sonos!

Audio-Technica AT-LP60X-BK Fully Automatic Belt-Drive Stereo Turntable, Black, Hi-Fi, 2 Speed, Dust Cover, Anti-Resonance, Die-Cast Aluminum Platter

The model comes with two operating speeds and an anti-resonance platter. It also improves tracking for more accurate listening and a reliable dust cover. The device is straightforward to set up with Sonos, too, so you can listen to your favorite vinyl in no time at all!

Audio Technica is one of the most popular modern turntable manufacturers today. The company always makes high-quality turntables, with improvements between each upgrade. This model offers a quiet motor and improved build quality compared to its predecessor. Finally, it comes with a built-in preamp, which you need to work with your Sonos. 

Bottom Line: You get all the features you need at a fantastic price — making the Audio Technica AT-LP60X turntable the best for most. You’ll also enjoy all of the color and material options that they have available.

Pros

  • Great price. This model costs a fraction of the price of other turntables with identical features.
  • Good design. The turntable is very sturdy, has excellent tracking, and has a dust cover.
  • Decent sound. The Audio Technica AT-LP60X offers the best sound quality compared to other products in this price range.

Cons

  • Distortion at high volumes. When playing loud music, you may notice some distortion or a drop in sound quality.

Product Specifications

Number of Operation SpeedsDimensionsWeight
214.7 x 14.1 x 3.8 inches (37.33 x 35.81 x 9.65 cm)8.11 pounds (3.67 kg)

Best HiFi Option: Fluance RT81 Elite High Fidelity

The Fluance RT81 Elite has a fantastic design — It’s very smooth and modern, making it fit well with anyone’s home. The wooden base is a nice touch too. Many people love the walnut wood finish, which is what gives the Fluance great durability too.

The best feature of the Fluance RT81 Elite is the high fidelity sound. The sound is very clear and accurate, allowing you to enjoy your favorite songs to their full potential with your Sonos.

You also receive two operation speeds, additional vibration control, an adjustable counterweight, and even gold plated line outputs! All of these benefits factor into excellent audio quality. There’s so little distortion that you probably won’t even notice it!

Fluance RT81 Elite High Fidelity Vinyl Turntable Record Player with Audio Technica AT95E Cartridge, Belt Drive, Built-in Preamp, Adjustable Counterweight, Solid Wood Plinth - Walnut

Bottom Line: The Fluance RT81 Elite has the best HiFi sound in this price range. It comes with a solid wood plinth, making it very sturdy. You won’t ever feel the table the turntable is on vibrate. It’s a turntable for those seeking the best HiFi experience.

Fluance RT81 Elite High Fidelity Vinyl Turntable Record Player with Audio Technica AT95E Cartridge, Belt Drive, Built-in Preamp, Adjustable Counterweight, Solid Wood Plinth - Walnut

Pros

  • Outstanding design. The Fluance RT81 Elite is beautifully designed and contains quality materials, such as solid wood.
  • Amazing sound. You receive excellent HiFi sound with less distortion.
  • Reasonable price. The price is great for the quality that you receive.

Cons

  • Manual tonearm. You’ll need to move the arm back to its base yourself when the vinyl ends.

Product Specifications

Number of Operation SpeedsDimensionsWeight
213.75 x 16.5 x 5.5 inches (34.92 x 41.91 x 13.97 cm)6.39 pounds (2.89 kg)

Best Design: Pro-Ject T1 Phono SB Turntable

When it comes to a design that can match your Sonos sound system, the T1 Phono SB Turntable is the one to get. This turntable is straightforward to set up and works exceptionally well with Sonos. You get good sound quality, and the cartridge comes precision aligned — you can just plug it in and start rocking.

You have plenty of stylish options for the base. You can choose between 3 different finishes, each of which looks and feels completely unique. For example, you could choose the classic Satin Walnut, which uses natural wood, or opt for the High Gloss Black design. 

Pro-Ject T1 Phono SB Turntable with Built-in Preamp and Electronic Speed Change (Satin Walnut)

Plus, Pro-Ject is another very well-known brand of high-end turntables. Their turntables are a bit more expensive than the other options on this list, but you receive a premium product.

The design is simple but modern. You’ll need to assemble the turntable yourself, though it’s a very simple process to complete. You’ll just need to make sure you set aside 20 minutes or so to get the job done.

Finally, the tonearm comes with precision sapphire bearings, giving you a pleasant listening experience. You won’t have trouble with distortion or the needle jumping around. It’s a sturdy turntable that won’t vibrate on your table.

Pro-Ject T1 Phono SB Turntable with Built-in Preamp and Electronic Speed Change (Satin Walnut)

Bottom Line: T1 Phono SB Turntable comes in several colors and finishes, making it the best choice for those who want the best design to match their Sonos. It’s the most expensive option on this list, but you do get superior sound quality.

Pros

  • Outstanding design. The design of the T1 Phono SB Turntable is definitely the best! It’s sleek, lightweight, durable, and has many options to choose from.
  • Good sound quality. You get reduced distortion, and your music will sound great.

Cons

  • Cost. This model comes with a premium price tag, so it’s not for everyone.

Product Specifications

Number of Operation SpeedsDimensionsWeight
319 x 15.7 x 10 inches (48.26 x 39.87 x 25.4 cm)17.42 pounds (7.90 kg)

Best Sound Quality: U-Turn Audio Orbit Special

The U-Turn Audio (Orbit Special with Built-in Preamp) also features a great design but has outstanding sound quality. The acrylic platter is clear and helps the turntable blend into the rest of your surroundings. You also have plenty of finishes for the base, including natural wood.

U-Turn Audio - Orbit Special Turntable with Built-in Preamp (Maple)

However, the best feature on this player would have to be the sound quality. If this is your first turntable, you’ll notice a striking difference between it playing your vinyl collection and the music you stream from your phone. It’s a high-end record player that offers an exceptional music listening experience. Plus, the model sounds great with Sonos.

The acrylic platter gives the player a better speed constituency, which helps reduce distortion. The external belt also removes noise from the motor, giving you the best possible sound quality. If you want the best turntable for Sonos, this model is for you.

U-Turn Audio - Orbit Special Turntable with Built-in Preamp (Maple)

Bottom Line: The U-Turn Audio is another premium product with a high cost. However, it also provides you with some of the best audio quality possible through a record player connected to a Sonos speaker.

Pros

  • Perfect sound quality. The sound quality that comes from this player is clear and precise. You won’t notice any distortion or motor noises at all.
  • Sleek design. The turntable has a very natural design that suits any room theme.

Cons

  • Cost. The U-Turn Audio is very pricey, and not everyone will want to spend that much for a turntable that connects with their Sonos.

Product Specifications

Number of Operation SpeedsDimensionsWeight
220.87 x 17.17 x 9.92 inches (53.00 x 43.61 x 25.19 cm)12.5 pounds (5.66 kg)

Best Wireless Connectivity: 1 BY ONE Belt Drive Turntable

The 1 BY ONE Belt Drive Turntable comes with a preamp and offers Bluetooth connectivity. Some Sonos models work well with Bluetooth. However, please check that your Sonos is Bluetooth-compatible first. Check out this article that I wrote: How To Connect a Turntable to Sonos? Let’s Find Out!

It’s not very expensive, looks nice, and plays vinyl records at two speeds.

1 BY ONE Belt Drive Turntable with Bluetooth Connectivity, Built-in Phono Pre-amp, USB Digital Output Vinyl Stereo Record Player with Magnetic Cartridge, 33 or 45 RPM

Many people also love that it comes with a USB port, allowing them to digitalize their records and save them on their computer.

It connects well with Sonos products too. However, a cost-effective model will not give you perfect audio quality. You may notice minor levels of distortion here and there.

Pros

  • Bluetooth connectivity. Bluetooth is helpful to have for some Sonos products. You can also connect your wireless headphones or other devices to it.
  • Good price. This model isn’t as expensive as the premium options on this list, making it more affordable for more people.

Cons

  • Moderate distortion. You’ll hear distortion from time to time. This model isn’t for those who want the best sound quality possible.

Product Specifications

Number of Operation SpeedsDimensionsWeight
216.5 x 13.6 x 4.9 inches (41.91 x 34.54 x 12.44 cm)12.8 pounds (5.80 kg)

Key Takeaways

To summarize, the Audio Technica AT-LP60X is the best turntable to use with Sonos. It suits the most significant number of people and comes at a fair price. However, if you want to buy a more expensive model to go with your Sonos, you have plenty of choices!

I’m confident that you’ll love listening to music on any turntable from this list. If you take the time to consider what you want and the three main factors, you’re sure to choose the one that suits you the best!
Check out the Audio Technica AT-LP60X on Amazon.com or on Turntable Lab now.