Without speakers (or vinyl, for that matter), your record player is just a nice centerpiece to admire, but not really functional. Add a couple of decent speakers, however, and you’ve got yourself a real sound system. Vinyl record players are making a comeback in the world of music, and are increasingly found in homes around the world. Acoustics for a vinyl record player should offer clear, spacious, detailed sound, and match the record player’s specifications.
Playing music on a vinyl device gives quality sound, brings back the past, and creates a unique atmosphere for any style. Vinyl speakers are highly reproducible with a clean sound, perfectly conveying the density and airiness of the recording. Well, let’s take a closer look at which speakers are best suited for the record player.
What kind of speakers do you need for a vinyl record player?
Vinyl turntable acoustics are produced by major brands and young campaigns for listening to true treasures of analog sound. It appeals to aesthetes who prefer academic music and classical year, connoisseurs of blues and luxury compositions, giving limitless possibilities for experimentation with sound. Aiming to buy the best speakers for vinyl and stay within the budget does not have to pay very much. The main thing is to determine the ratio of characteristics.
Great sound – clear, spacious, detailed – requires a “gentleman’s kit” that clearly expresses both density and ease of recording. High sensitivity and macro dynamics provide:
- Silk or commensurate with the properties of the dome.
- Three-way construction.
- Paper pulp cones (may be reinforced with wood fibers).
- Separate acoustic volume.
- Phasoinverters.
- Crossover assembled by hinged mounting.
- Acoustically inert enclosure.
- The magnetic system minimizes sound distortion.
If your deck is equipped with Bluetooth, you can connect the record player to any Bluetooth speaker, just like you can connect any Bluetooth headphones to your iPhone, whether it’s a single device or a stereo pair. This is certainly a convenient way to connect, but perhaps not the best in terms of pure sound quality. It’s a compromise between convenience and sound quality, and only you can tell if that compromise suits you.
Power speakers or active speakers have built-in amplification, but that still doesn’t get rid of the need for a phono stage in the circuit. If you have yet to buy a turntable, it’s worth considering buying one with a built-in phono stage. Also, make sure that your active speakers have volume control.
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What companies make the best speakers for vinyl?
Let’s not look at multi-million dollar concert audio equipment. Considering the acoustic properties of our apartments and homes, the following brands should be considered:
- Monitor Audio
- Edifier
- Advance Acoustic
- Microlab
- Klipsch
- Genius
- Yamaha
- ELAC Solano
- Sven
As an example, let’s take a closer look at the speakers from ELAC, namely the model called ELAC Debut B5.2.
These budget speakers from the manufacturer ELAC will make your recordings really sing. They’re brilliant performers, with dynamic expression and tonal finesse, capable of handling anything you offer them. And they’re versatile enough to sound even better when paired with a high-end system. Thus, they far exceed their price point.
Sure, you can definitely tell they don’t have enough warmth in the midrange, but they’re still well-balanced and can make any recording sound its best. In addition, you’re more than able to connect these speakers to other devices, such as Vizio Smart TV.
Active or passive speakers for vinyl?
When deciding which speakers to choose for a vinyl record player, consider two types of audio systems that have fundamental differences. Two different approaches to the design of audio systems are expressed in their names: passive speakers plus stereo amplifiers or active speakers.
Let’s start with the most obvious difference between passive speakers – the overall size of the system. Using passive speakers, it’s difficult to do without a rack for such a component as a sound amplifier for vinyl. After all, in addition to speakers, you need to place at least two devices: a sound source and an amplifier. Combination units are an exception.
Increasingly common systems are based on active speakers. And in this way, no less sound quality is achieved. Active speakers don’t require amplification, you only need a signal source and two speakers, in which “everything is included”. Further upgrades of such a system won’t be necessary for those who like to listen to the original performance from vinyl.
What speakers to get for the record player based on cost
Let’s compare the active and passive versions.
If you intend to use a single source, and for vinyl, this is the most common option, it’s enough to tune the system once. Active speakers and the record player are connected with a pair of interconnect cables, the sound distortion is minimal. The vinyl player is precious to the owner, so it’s the most profitable way for the audiophile. Rarely is anyone going to change many settings when playing a concert recording. There are basic controls built into the speaker to adjust to the size of the room and amplify frequencies.
In the case of passive speakers, 3 components, not 2, must match in character: amplifier, loudspeaker, and source. In addition, it complicates the wiring, and you will have to spend more. To be fair, it’s worth noting that an integrated solution isn’t always cheaper than a separate one with the same sound quality, options are possible.
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What kinds of speakers are suitable for vinyl?
Speakers are divided into types in addition to types: shelf and floor standing. Vinyl speakers are a kind of musical instrument, the choice of which determines the sound of the record. Floor-standing speakers are really rarely placed on flat furniture surfaces.
The most correct for quality sound reproduction is installation on a special acoustic stand, eliminating vibrations and unwanted resonances. Designs with a height of 60-70 cm can safely be referred to the shelf, and everything higher is installed on the floor (spikes are included).
Floor-standing speakers give full sound from a vinyl record, but they’re cautiously purchased for rooms less than 16 sq.m. Among the offered range, you should choose models with a certified bass not lower than 50-60 Hz.