Turntable System for Daughter (12 years old)

[mmulhern]

My daughter (12 years old) is looking to get a turntable system for her birthday. I know nothing about turntables. In an ideal world she would also be able to stream music to the system via bluetooth from her iphone.

Is it best to go with active speakers?

Budget for all the gear (turntable, speakers, etc) is $700-$1200. I'd love to get some suggestions.

Thanks in advanced for the help!

 

[afterlife2]

Hi Welcome! I highly recommend this TT. It's automatic and a great deal. No need to change the cartridge it's a good one. I got one last year in White and love it:
Audio-Technica AT-LP3BK Fully Automatic Belt-Drive Stereo Turntable, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N6YK1GA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apan_i_KNMMB39CXWFFD1D31WTX
Edit this stand looks nice and cheap for TT and speaker placement:
HOSTACK TV Stand for TVs up to 50", Wood TV Media Console Table with Doors and Shelves, 47“ Modern Television Stand Entertainment Center for Living Room, Bedroom - White, Oak https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09M5SMXT5/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apan_i_XJ7H8WMD92WQEMH2NA5E?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

 

[John Parks]

That's a nice budget! I've been thinking about something similar for my daughter - something very easy to use, should sound pretty good (at least to my discerning ear) etc. I have had my eye on this since it came out:

SpinBase Turntable Speaker

SpinBase is an all-in-one powered speaker system designed for use with turntables. It packs room-filling sound, simple operation, and easy setup in a compact package with a turntable-sized footprint. It features Bluetooth, 270º sound dispersion, bass and treble EQ, and a built in phono pre-amp...

www.andoveraudio.com

They also offer a turntable (made by Pro-ject, a good company):

SpinDeck Turntable

Spindeck offers music lovers of all backgrounds a high-grade, plug-and-play belt-drive turntable that sets up in minutes. Featuring high-quality materials and precision-engineered parts, Spindeck is the perfect vinyl-playing addition to Spinbase and other audio equipment. Exclusively made by...

www.andoveraudio.com

And a stand to put it on/records in:

SpinStand Record Stand

SpinStand provides a lightweight yet robust storage solution for audio components and up to 150 vinyl records. SpinStand offers a clean, stylish appearance that works well with any décor. It includes adjustable feet and a headphone hanger that can be installed on the stand’s left or right side.

www.andoveraudio.com

Of course, if it were me, I would go crazy and get the subwoofer...
If you wanted to save a few bucks ($200 to be precise) this turntable by Fluance is perfectly serviceable:

RT80 Classic High Fidelity Vinyl Turntable

Fluance's Classic High Fidelity Turntable plays traditional LP and EP vinyl records with stunning quality that achieves the purest sound reproduction. When you want the absolute best in music performance, pull out your favorite 33 1/3 or 45 RPM records, hook up your sound system, drop the...

www.fluance.com

The one @afterlife2 mentioned is good too!

 

[afterlife2]

Good options, John. This is a good option and nice color.
Kanto YU4 Powered Speakers with Bluetooth and Phono Preamp, Gloss Teal https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N7PMUXW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apan_i_9JZ1VMKZ6BW9WFVJWSGA?psc=1

 

[Eppie]

I'll start with something at the lower end. A pair of Fluance Ai41 bluetooth powered speakers reviewed here and an Audio Technica AT-LP60X-GM fully automatic turntable. Just $250 + $140. The turntable has a built in phono pre-amp, so it can be connected to regular RCA inputs, and the Fluance has bluetooth so you can stream from a phone as well.

Step up to the Fluance RT80 turntable (also with built in preamp) for $200 for a nicer starter turntable but no automatic functions. Amazon even bundles the RT80 and Ai41 together for a nice starter package at $440.

If you want to step up the speakers, the Kanto YU4 that Afterlife2 mentioned are a great option. $330 for the speakers and $200 for the RT80 tt.

She's only 12, but if you want to really get into hi-fi, then the Fluance RT85 includes the excellent Ortofon Blue cartridge for $500 with different color options for the base. You will need an amp or powered speakers with a phono preamp though. The Kanto YU4 has that covered though. The RT85 with Kanto YU4 would be a great bedroom setup at about $830.

If you really want to spend more, we can , but for a 12 year old that is some very nice kit. The Kantos perform as well as other speakers twice their price. Keep in mind whether you have desk or shelf space or whether you need speaker stands as well.

 

[WookieGR]

No 12 year old really needs more than the Fluance RT81 and nice set of Klipsch The Sixes Powered Monitors. That would blow the minds of most adults just getting into vinyl 2 channel music. These Klipsch have bluetooth streaming and phono pre-amp built in. Since your budget is so high, these Sixes are prefered over the regular powered bookshelves.

 

[3db]

That's a nice budget! I've been thinking about something similar for my daughter - something very easy to use, should sound pretty good (at least to my discerning ear) etc. I have had my eye on this since it came out:

SpinBase Turntable Speaker

SpinBase is an all-in-one powered speaker system designed for use with turntables. It packs room-filling sound, simple operation, and easy setup in a compact package with a turntable-sized footprint. It features Bluetooth, 270º sound dispersion, bass and treble EQ, and a built in phono pre-amp...

www.andoveraudio.com

They also offer a turntable (made by Pro-ject, a good company):

SpinDeck Turntable

Spindeck offers music lovers of all backgrounds a high-grade, plug-and-play belt-drive turntable that sets up in minutes. Featuring high-quality materials and precision-engineered parts, Spindeck is the perfect vinyl-playing addition to Spinbase and other audio equipment. Exclusively made by...

www.andoveraudio.com

And a stand to put it on/records in:

SpinStand Record Stand

SpinStand provides a lightweight yet robust storage solution for audio components and up to 150 vinyl records. SpinStand offers a clean, stylish appearance that works well with any décor. It includes adjustable feet and a headphone hanger that can be installed on the stand’s left or right side.

www.andoveraudio.com

Of course, if it were me, I would go crazy and get the subwoofer...
If you wanted to save a few bucks ($200 to be precise) this turntable by Fluance is perfectly serviceable:

RT80 Classic High Fidelity Vinyl Turntable

Fluance's Classic High Fidelity Turntable plays traditional LP and EP vinyl records with stunning quality that achieves the purest sound reproduction. When you want the absolute best in music performance, pull out your favorite 33 1/3 or 45 RPM records, hook up your sound system, drop the...

www.fluance.com

The one @afterlife2 mentioned is good too!

Hey John, My only criticism is with the storage. She will soon run out of it *LOL ...but then again, maybe not with the price of vinyl these days. All in all, a solid recommendation.

 

[3db]

My daughter (12 years old) is looking to get a turntable system for her birthday. I know nothing about turntables. In an ideal world she would also be able to stream music to the system via bluetooth from her iphone.

Is it best to go with active speakers?

Budget for all the gear (turntable, speakers, etc) is $700-$1200. I'd love to get some suggestions.

Thanks in advanced for the help!

What you could also do as an alternative to the already good options mentioned is look at used AVRs with a phono input and used speakers and the money saved can go to a really decent turntable. Just throwing out ideas.

 

[mmulhern]

Thanks for the great suggestions. I suspected powered speakers were the best path forward but wasn't sure.

Might seem like a largish budget for a 12 year old but my thought process is she'll either have an awesome set up that lasts forever or she'll lose interest and the gear will be mine to play with.

I have a pair of Kanto YU2's with the sub8 for my computer set up that I really like so the idea of Kanto YU4 or maybe even stretch for Tuk is interesting.

 

[lovinthehd]

To play devil's advocate, I'd talk her out of it....not the audio gear, just the tt part. Do you really need a tt if she moves on/drops interest? Lasting forever with wireless/powered speakers might be a big ask, too, altho to adulthood might work out well enough.....

 

[mmulhern]

lovingthehd, thanks for the opinion. re: speakers with bluetooth I guess it begs the question on a timeline of 6-8 years will we see a different technology? Maybe on a timeline of 2-3 years we could have a different tech.

 

[lovinthehd]

I was thinking both changing tech as well as the life of typical consumer electronics....on the less expensive active speakers I suspect the amp modules may not be the most robust....on the vinyl front even though I still have mine, I just don't use it much, far more convenient and with better fidelity to use digital.....but I grew up with vinyl too so it's not fascinating to me at all, more a pain-in-the-ass to deal with in several ways....

 

[mmulhern]

I know nothing about vinyl. Never thought about it in my life. All digital for me. She ask us for a tt for her b-day, what's a dad to do?

 

[lovinthehd]

I know nothing about vinyl. Never thought about it in my life. All digital for me. She ask us for a tt for her b-day, what's a dad to do?

LOL don't look at me, I remained happily single and childless but I could well see myself being a soft mark otoh So who will be buying the vinyl? Costs more now than ever.

 

[Eppie]

I know nothing about vinyl. Never thought about it in my life. All digital for me. She ask us for a tt for her b-day, what's a dad to do?

It's not uncommon for indie bands to release music on vinyl or even cassette. I never discouraged my daughter from getting a tt. She may not use it as much now, but for a few years she was happy to support some of her favorite indie bands that way.

 

[TLS Guy]

To play devil's advocate, I'd talk her out of it....not the audio gear, just the tt part. Do you really need a tt if she moves on/drops interest? Lasting forever with wireless/powered speakers might be a big ask, too, altho to adulthood might work out well enough.....

I think Bluetooth is here to stay, it is widespread, cars etc.

I like the made in America U-Turn tables. The unipivot arm puts it at the head of the budget turntable list in my view. U-Turn allow you to choose options.

A U-turn with built in phono preamp and cue is excellent value at $309.00

They also offer their Ethos powered speakers if you want.

The above would be an excellent starter turntable. U-turn have an excellent reputation and their gear is well reviewed.

I strongly recommend you avoid automatic turntables. Gilbert Briggs the founder of Wharfedale had it right years ago when he said, " the designers of automatic turntables wandered in from the bicycle industry." He was right then and still right now. The reason being, the delicate stylus should not have to pull all that extra mechanical linkage around.

 

[afterlife2]

I think Bluetooth is here to stay, it is widespread, cars etc.

I like the made in America U-Turn tables. The unipivot arm puts it at the head of the budget turntable list in my view. U-Turn allow you to choose options.

A U-turn with built in phono preamp and cue is excellent value at $309.00

They also offer their Ethos powered speakers if you want.

The above would be an excellent starter turntable. U-turn have an excellent reputation and their gear is well reviewed.

I strongly recommend you avoid automatic turntables. Gilbert Briggs the founder of Wharfedale had it right years ago when he said, " the designers of automatic turntables wandered in from the bicycle industry." He was right then and still right now. The reason being, the delicate stylus should not have to pull all that extra mechanical linkage around.

Hey hey.

 

[lovinthehd]

FWIW I went with the totally manual tt thing over 30 years ago, had a Dual changer before that, but the inconvenience at the end of a record can also be addressed with a completely manual tt with an add-on device for such. Personally I have no automatic functions on my tt, but I do not like situations where I can't be ready to lift the arm at the end of the fairly short 18-20 minute capability of lps generally.