If you’re looking for a record player, choosing the cheapest option isn’t always the best way to start your vinyl journey. Ultra-cheap turntables can feature undersized platters, poor tracking, limited connections and low-quality components that affect sound quality and usability. This article explains what to look for when buying a beginner record player and why investing a little more can deliver a much better listening experience. Discover why the Lenco LS-310WD is a great entry-level option, combining a quality turntable, two separate speakers, Bluetooth connectivity and everything you need to start enjoying vinyl at home.
Getting into vinyl can be an exciting experience. There is something uniquely satisfying about choosing a record, placing it on the platter and lowering the stylus for the first track.
But if you are buying your first record player, it can be tempting to choose the cheapest option available. After all, a record player is a record player, right?Not quite.
While there are affordable turntables that offer excellent value, some of the cheapest record players cut corners in places that can have a major impact on sound quality, usability and even your records themselves. From tiny half-size platters to poor-quality cartridges and almost no useful connections, the cheapest players can leave you wondering why your vinyl collection doesn’t sound as good as you expected.
If you are serious about starting your vinyl journey, spending a little more on a properly designed system can make a significant difference.
The Problem With Cheap Record Players
The biggest issue with extremely cheap record players isn’t necessarily the price itself. It is what manufacturers have to sacrifice to reach that price. Turntables are mechanical devices. The platter needs to rotate at a consistent speed, the tonearm needs to track the record correctly and the cartridge needs to accurately convert the tiny movements of the stylus into an audio signal.
When these components are poorly made or inadequately designed, you can hear the difference. Common problems with very cheap record players can include:
- Distorted or harsh sound
- Weak bass and limited detail
- Inconsistent playback speed
- Poor tracking
- Skipping or jumping
- Excessive vibration
- Limited connectivity
- Small or poorly supported platters
- Low-quality built-in speakers
And while some of these problems may be frustrating, poor tracking is particularly concerning when you are playing valuable records.
Why a Full-Size Platter Matters
One of the easiest things to overlook when shopping for a record player is the platter. Some ultra-cheap record players use very small platters that only support part of a 12-inch record. This might help make the player smaller and cheaper to manufacture, but it is not an ideal way to play your vinyl.
A full-size platter provides proper support for a standard 12-inch LP across its surface. This helps keep the record stable while it spins and provides a more substantial platform for the record to sit on. A half-size or undersized platter can also be a sign that other components have been designed primarily around keeping the cost down rather than delivering a quality listening experience.
If you are buying records, particularly 12-inch albums, a proper full-size platter is one of the simplest things to look for.
Cheap Tonearms Can Mean Poor Tracking
The tonearm is one of the most important mechanical components of a turntable. Its job is deceptively simple: hold the cartridge and allow the stylus to follow the microscopic grooves in your record. When the tonearm and cartridge are poorly designed or incorrectly weighted, the stylus may struggle to track those grooves accurately.
This can result in distortion, particularly during louder or more complex passages of music. In more extreme cases, a stylus can skip across the record. Cheap turntables have been criticised for excessive or poorly controlled tracking force, which can potentially cause unnecessary record wear. Experienced audio publications have documented cases where poorly set-up budget turntables caused significant distortion and, in extreme cases, permanent damage to records. That is not something you want to discover after putting your favourite, and increasingly expensive, vinyl record on for the first time.
Sound Quality Is More Than Just the Record
It is easy to assume that vinyl automatically sounds warm, detailed and immersive. But the record itself is only one part of the equation. The cartridge, stylus, tonearm, platter, motor, amplification and speakers all contribute to the final result.
A cheap turntable can take a beautifully mastered record and produce something that sounds thin, distorted or lacking in detail. This is particularly noticeable with vocals and higher frequencies. Instead of hearing clear vocals and instruments, you may hear harshness or distortion. Bass can also sound weak and poorly controlled. A good entry-level system should allow you to hear what makes vinyl enjoyable in the first place.
Limited Connections Can Quickly Become a Problem
Another reason to be cautious with ultra-cheap record players is connectivity. Some inexpensive models are designed around a single purpose: put a record on and listen through the speakers built into the unit.
That might sound convenient, but your needs can change surprisingly quickly. You might eventually want to connect headphones, external speakers, an amplifier or another audio system. If your record player has limited outputs and no useful connectivity, you can quickly find yourself replacing the entire system.
Bluetooth is another useful feature for modern vinyl listeners. While vinyl remains the focus, having Bluetooth means the system can also become a convenient way to listen to music from your smartphone or other Bluetooth device. A record player does not have to choose between old-school vinyl and modern convenience.
The Better Approach: Buy a Complete System
For beginners, one of the best ways to avoid these problems is to buy a properly designed system rather than simply looking for the cheapest possible turntable. You don’t necessarily need to spend thousands of dollars on a dedicated hi-fi setup. Instead, look for a system that gives you the fundamentals of a good turntable while also providing everything you need to start listening straight away. That is where Lenco offers an appealing alternative.
Meet the Lenco LS-310WD
The Lenco LS-310WD is designed for people who want to get into vinyl without turning their living room into an audio laboratory. It combines a belt-driven turntable with two separate wooden speakers, giving you a complete stereo system straight out of the box. The system supports both 33 and 45 RPM records and includes Bluetooth for streaming music from a smartphone or other compatible device.
Most importantly, the speakers are separate from the turntable. That might sound like a small detail, but it makes a big difference. Instead of having both speakers squeezed into the same box as the turntable, the two speakers can be positioned apart from one another. This creates genuine left and right stereo separation and gives you much more flexibility when positioning the system in your room.
Everything a Beginner Actually Needs
The LS-310WD is designed to remove much of the confusion that can come with buying your first turntable.
Inside the system you get:
- A belt-driven turntable
- Two separate wooden speakers
- 33 and 45 RPM playback
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Moving-magnet cartridge
- Built-in preamplifier
- Auto-stop functionality
- Dust cover
- 45 RPM adapter
- Speaker cables
- Slip mat
That means you don’t have to start researching separate amplifiers, speakers and other components just to hear your first record. Connect the speakers, choose your record and start listening.
The LS-310WD also includes auto-stop, which stops the record from rotating when playback finishes. This is a particularly useful feature for beginners who are still getting used to looking after their vinyl collection.
And It Doesn't Cost That Much More
This is perhaps the most important point for someone buying their first record player. You don’t necessarily need to make a huge jump in budget to get a significantly more complete system. The Lenco LS-310WD sits in an accessible part of the market while giving you a proper turntable and separate stereo speakers in one package. Lenco Australia currently lists the LS-310WD alongside its other record-player systems, positioning it as an entry point into a more complete vinyl setup.
So rather than buying the absolute cheapest record player you can find and discovering six months later that you want better speakers, more connectivity or a better overall listening experience, it can make more sense to spend a little more at the beginning. You are not simply paying for a nicer-looking record player. You are investing in the entire listening experience.
Cheap Doesn't Always Mean Better Value
There is nothing wrong with wanting an affordable way into vinyl. In fact, entry-level turntables are one of the best ways to start building a record collection without spending a fortune. The mistake is assuming that the lowest price automatically represents the best value.
A record player with a tiny platter, questionable tracking, poor speakers and virtually no connectivity might be cheap at the checkout, but it can become expensive when you inevitably want to replace it. A slightly more capable system can give you room to grow while making your first records sound the way they should.
Start Your Vinyl Journey With the Right Equipment
Vinyl is meant to be enjoyed. You shouldn’t have to fight with skipping records, distorted vocals, weak speakers or a lack of connectivity every time you sit down to listen to an album.
For beginners, the goal should be finding a record player that balances simplicity, sound quality and useful features. The Lenco LS-310WD does exactly that by combining a proper turntable with two separate speakers, Bluetooth connectivity, auto-stop and everything else needed to start listening straight away.
So before you click “buy” on the cheapest record player you can find, look beyond the price tag. Check the platter. Check the tonearm. Check the cartridge. Check the connections. Check what speakers are included. And most importantly, ask yourself whether you are buying a cheap record player, or buying a system that you will actually enjoy using for years.
For only a little more investment, choosing a system such as the Lenco LS-310WD can make the difference between simply owning a record player and genuinely enjoying vinyl.