Here’s the setup: The Audio-Technica AT-LP70X turntable paired with the Edifier R1280Ts powered speakers.
This combo keeps things dead simple but still delivers actual vinyl sound. It’s affordable, easy to set up, and built well enough that you won’t immediately outgrow it. You won’t find every audiophile bell and whistle here, but you’ll get clean playback, zero hassle, and everything you need to start enjoying records right away.
You can check out the full build here
Audio-Technica AT-LP70X: Entry-Level Perfection
The AT-LP70X is one of the best cheap turntables if you’re just getting into vinyl. It’s simple, reliable, and sounds good without costing a fortune.
This thing is fully automatic – press a button and the record plays. Handles both 33 ⅓ and 45 RPM. Built-in preamp means you can plug it straight into powered speakers without buying a separate phono stage. The aluminum platter keeps records stable, and the tonearm tracks well enough that your beat-up old records won’t skip constantly.
Reddit audiophiles love to shit on it. “It’s not real hi-fi.” And sure, it’s not. But that’s missing the point entirely. At this price, the AT-LP70X is an actual turntable that gets you into vinyl the right way. Compared to those suitcase players with built-in speakers, this is a massive upgrade in both sound and build quality.
The best part? No complicated features. No extra boxes to buy. Just a solid setup that makes your records sound how they’re supposed to. If you want the best affordable turntable to start with, this is it.
Edifier R1280Ts: Power and Simplicity
The Edifier R1280Ts are some of the best budget speakers you can pair with a turntable. They’re compact, simple, and powerful enough to bring your records to life.
Inside you get 42 watts of power, 4-inch bass drivers, and ½-inch silk dome tweeters. The sound is clear up top, full on the low end, and a huge step up from headphones or the garbage speakers built into suitcase players.
Best part? Flexibility. Two RCA inputs mean you can plug in your turntable and something else at the same time. No annoying cable swapping. There’s also a sub-out if you want to add more bass down the road.
Three simple dials on the side let you adjust bass, treble, and volume. That’s it. Easy, intuitive, no menu diving.
If you want wireless, Edifier makes the R1280DB — same speakers, adds Bluetooth. Either way, solid pick for beginners.
If you’d rather go wireless, Edifier also makes the R1280DB, which adds Bluetooth but keeps the same sound quality. Either way, these speakers are a great pick for anyone starting out.
Where This Setup Falls Short
No setup is perfect, and this one has its limits. The AT-LP70X is a great starter turntable, but it’s not designed for heavy upgrades. You can’t swap cartridges easily, and it lacks fine-tuning features like a counterweight or anti-skating. That means you don’t have the same control over sound and tracking that you’d get with more advanced turntables.
The Edifier R1280Ts speakers are solid for the price, but they don’t hit the same depth or detail as higher-end bookshelf speakers. If you want bigger bass, you’ll need to add a subwoofer. And because this setup skips an external amp, you also lose the ability to shape your sound the way you could with separate components.
In short: this combo is perfect for starting out, but if you stick with vinyl long enough, you may eventually want to step up to gear that offers more flexibility and room to grow.
Conclusion: The Ideal Beginner’s Setup
If you want something simple, affordable, and actually good, this setup nails it. The Audio-Technica AT-LP70X gives you a reliable turntable. The Edifier R1280Ts bring power and clarity. Together, they make getting into vinyl easy without cutting corners.
This is plug-and-play. No extra gear. No complicated wiring. Just connect, drop the needle, and go. For beginners or casual listeners, it’s one of the easiest ways to start spinning records and hear them the way they’re meant to sound.
If this setup feels close but you wish you could fine-tune something, try playing around with our free Builder tool. You can swap in different turntables, speakers, or even add an amp to see how the whole system changes. It’s the easiest way to test out upgrades and imagine where you might want to take your setup next.
