Turntable or CD player which is better?
Quick Answer
Turntables offer warmth and ritual but require setup and maintenance. CD players provide convenience and perfect sound reproduction. For most people wanting to start with vinyl, the Sony PSLX310BT (£277.51) hits the sweet spot of quality and ease of use.
Sound Quality: The Real Story
Let's cut through the vinyl romanticism. CDs are technically superior - they have wider dynamic range, no wow and flutter, and zero surface noise. A well-mastered CD will beat even an expensive turntable setup in pure measurements.
But here's what the specs don't tell you: vinyl's "imperfections" create a sound many prefer. The slight compression, harmonic distortion, and that famous "warmth" aren't technically accurate, but they're pleasing to many ears. It's like preferring film grain to digital perfection.
The catch? You need a decent turntable to get these benefits. Budget record players under £100 often sound worse than any CD player, with tracking issues and muddy sound that gives vinyl a bad name.
Convenience Factor
CDs win by a landslide here. Press play, skip tracks, no cleaning ritual, no worry about damage. They're also portable and take up minimal space.
Turntables are the opposite. You need to clean records before playing, handle them carefully, and accept that surface noise happens. But many find this ritual rewarding - it forces you to listen to full albums and engage with music differently.
Modern Bluetooth turntables try to bridge this gap, though purists argue wireless transmission defeats the purpose of analog playback.
Cost Comparison
Entry-level CD players start around £30 and deliver consistent quality. Turntables need more investment - a proper setup starts around £200-300 when you factor in cartridge, phono stage, and cleaning supplies.
Vinyl records cost £20-30 new versus £10-15 for CDs, though second-hand vinyl offers better value hunting. The real cost comes from the addiction - vinyl collectors tend to buy more music than CD buyers.
Don't forget accessories. Every turntable owner needs a quality cleaning kit and ideally a proper stand for stability.
Best Turntables to Consider
If you're leaning toward vinyl, here are the turntables worth your money from our current range:
Record Player Sony PSLX310BT Black – £277.51
Best for: First-time vinyl buyers who want quality without complexity
Sony's entry-level automatic turntable handles the basics well. The belt drive is quiet, tracking is solid, and Bluetooth lets you play through wireless speakers. It's plug-and-play simple with a built-in phono stage.
The honest take: Not audiophile-grade, but it won't damage your records and sounds respectable. The Bluetooth is handy despite purist objections. Decent value at this price point.
Pairs well with: Hama Record Cleaning Kit for maintaining your records properly
View Product →Record Player Teac 280 Bluetooth - Black Turntable – £300.46
Best for: Those wanting better build quality and sound than entry-level options
Teac brings proper hi-fi heritage to this price point. Better construction than the Sony, with a more substantial platter and improved anti-skate mechanism. The cartridge is also a step up.
The honest take: Worth the extra £23 over the Sony if sound quality matters more than convenience features. Still has Bluetooth but focuses more on analog performance.
Pairs well with: Social Hike Turntable Stand for proper isolation and storage
View Product →Hama Vinyl Record Cleaning Kit - Professional Antistatic Brush with 100ml Cleaning Solution – £20.20
Best for: Essential maintenance for any vinyl setup
If you buy a turntable, you need this. The antistatic brush removes dust and debris before each play, while the cleaning solution handles deeper cleaning. This is basic vinyl hygiene, not optional equipment.
The honest take: Nothing fancy, but it does the job properly. The fluid works well and the brush construction is solid. Every turntable should come with one of these.
Pairs well with: Sony PSLX310BT as your first turntable setup
View Product →The choice between turntables and CD players isn't really about which sounds "better" - it's about how you want to experience music. CDs offer convenience and technical perfection, while vinyl provides ritual, large-format artwork, and that distinctive analog character. Both have their place in a music lover's setup.