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Let’s be honest: there’s something exciting and even romantic about vinyl records, about opening the album jacket, something that the digital files from today simply can’t replace. Vinyl listening is one of those things that will never get obsolete, no matter how technology evolves and how time passes. Yes, nowadays it’s easy to stream your favorite songs straight from your cellphone, computer, or streaming device, and without the need for too many components, you have your favorite artist performing right in your home. But are you experiencing the best performance you can get?

The ultimate reality is that many cherished records may never be issued in digital formats, and that’s why analog recording is still on trend, hence why lots of people are considering joining the vinyl lovers community. At the end of the day, classics are classics for a reason, and we’re strong believers that vinyl is an old - and yet new - trend, that many people are considering getting into.

When it comes to a turntable system, maybe you already love vinyl records but you have a low budget to invest in a nice setup. Or maybe you are new to vinyl listening and are looking for a system to experiment with. Maybe you are just not ready to spend thousands of dollars on a turntable setup. No matter what the case is, we are here to present you with three different solutions for you to build a complete HiFi Turntable System spending less than $1,000.

The first thing to have in mind is that for you to build a complete turntable system, you need four main components: TURNTABLE, PHONO PREAMPLIFIER, AMPLIFIER, and SPEAKERS. And you have three routes to go from here. But before we get into details, let’s clarify a few things:

A PHONO PREAMPLIFIER is a piece that yields the connection between the turntable and the amplifier. So it suffices to say that you NEED a phono preamplifier in your setup, whether it’s a separate item or built-in another component of your system. 

A POWERED SPEAKER has an amplifier built-in, meaning you don’t need an external amplifier or receiver. This is useful not only to keep you on a budget but also for you to have fewer items to display, as space can sometimes be an issue. For this post, we’ll give preference for powered speakers because we’re trying to keep you under $1,000.

Ready to dig in?

Route 1 - A turntable WITHOUT a built-in Phono Preamplifier + Powered Speakers WITH a built-in Phono Preamp

In this scenario, the turntable does not have a phono preamplifier built-in but the powered speakers do! Hence, all you need are two items and $950.00. 

Go for the Yamaha TT-S303 turntable ($499.95) and the Kanto YU4 powered speakers(499.95).

Route 2 - A turntable WITH a built-in Phono Preamp + Powered Speakers WITHOUT a built-in Phono Preamp 

This is the opposite scenario from route 1, in which the turntable is the component that has the phono preamplifier built-in, so the powered speakers don’t have to. All you need are two items and $699.00. 

Go for the Denon DP-300F turntable ($429.00) and the Kanto YU2 powered speakers ($289.99).

Route 3 - A turntable WITHOUT a built-in Phono Preamp + Powered Speakers WITHOUT a built-in Phono Preamp + Phono Preamp 

This is a scenario in which turntable nor powered speakers have a phono preamplifier built-in, meaning you’ll need an external one. Here you will need three items and $998.00.

Go for the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo turntable ($599.00), the Kanto YU2 powered speakers ($269.99), and the Pro-Ject Phono Box phono preamplifier ($129.00).

Remember that these are only a few options that we recommend, but it gives you a good idea of the components you need and the details to keep your eyes open for! The options and combinations are endless!

Something else to keep in mind is that you’ll obviously need cables to bring your system to life, and if you’re looking to upgrade your cables as quality cabling makes all the difference, AudioQuest has the best cables in town!

At the end of the day, whether you’re aiming for spending under $1,000 or if you’re just interested in learning a bit more about turntable systems in general, remember that taking care of your vinyl records is as important - if not more important - than your system itself!

We hope we provided you with useful information regarding turntables and turntable systems, so you can enjoy a true vinyl experience like a pro!

We are here for you if you have questions or are in need of suggestions! If you’re new at this and are interested in learning more about turntables, watch our YouTube Video, Turntables 101!