Best Vinyl Record Player · For Sonos

Best Vinyl Record Player for Sonos

The best vinyl record player for Sonos is the Victrola Stream Onyx, which streams records to your Sonos system over Wi-Fi; for one room with a Sonos line-in, a turntable with a built-in preamp such as the Audio-Technica AT-LP60X is the low-cost route. Sonos says any turntable needs a phono preamp, built in or separate, before it reaches a Sonos line-in.

Turntable on a credenza next to a smart wireless speaker in a modern living room

Our top 3

Top picks at a glance

Best for Sonos#1
Victrola Stream Onyx record player

Victrola Stream Onyx

Premium price range

Marketed as Works with Sonos: streams over Wi-Fi to your Sonos system, no line-in needed.

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Best low-cost line-in route#2
Audio-Technica AT-LP60X record player

Audio-Technica AT-LP60X

Mid-range price range

Automatic deck with a switchable built-in preamp; plug its output into a Sonos line-in.

See full specs ›
Best line-in for sound#3
Fluance RT81+ record player

Fluance RT81+

Premium price range

AT-VM95E elliptical cartridge, adjustable tonearm and a switchable preamp for a Sonos line-in.

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In detail

Who each one suits

Specifications are each brand’s own; fit notes draw on manufacturer guidance and independent reviews. We have not tested or used these record players ourselves.

Best for Sonos#1

Victrola Stream Onyx

The Stream Onyx is the turntable Victrola built for Sonos homes. Victrola says it streams to Sonos over Wi-Fi with no extra components needed. Victrola lists an Audio-Technica AT-VM95E or Ortofon OM5E cartridge and adds an adjustable counterweight, Bluetooth output and a wired RCA output with a built-in preamp. It is well above this site’s usual price band.

Why it stands out

  • Marketed as “Works with Sonos”: streams to Sonos over Wi-Fi with no extra components, Victrola says.
  • Victrola says Wi-Fi streaming supports up to 24-bit/48 kHz lossless FLAC.
  • Audio-Technica AT-VM95E or Ortofon OM5E cartridge (Victrola lists both) and adjustable counterweight.
Drive & speedsBelt · 33/45
Preamp / outputsBuilt-in; RCA out
BluetoothOut, plus Wi-Fi (Works with Sonos)
SpeakersNone (streams to speakers)
CartridgeAT-VM95E or Ortofon OM5E (Victrola lists both)

Good fit if

  • Your Sonos speakers have no line-in; Sonos’s line-in list leaves out Ray, Arc, Beam (non-Ultra), Roam and Roam 2.
  • You want vinyl on Sonos without cables to a line-in.

Skip it if

  • You only need one room and own a Sonos Five, Era 100 or Port; a cheaper turntable with a built-in preamp plugs into line-in.
  • You do not use Sonos or Roon.
Best low-cost line-in route#2

Audio-Technica AT-LP60X

The AT-LP60X is the simplest proper turntable to live with: fully automatic, belt-driven, with a built-in preamp you can switch off. Pair it with powered speakers and you are playing records in a few minutes.

Why it stands out

  • Fully automatic start, stop and arm return.
  • Built-in phono preamp with a PHONO/LINE switch, so it works with powered speakers, a receiver’s phono input or a Sonos line-in.
  • Replacement stylus is the ATN3600L; Audio-Technica’s manual suggests replacing it after about 400 hours.
Drive & speedsBelt, fully automatic · 33/45
Preamp / outputsBuilt-in, switchable phono/line
BluetoothNo
SpeakersNone (add powered speakers)
CartridgeIntegral dual magnet; ATN3600L stylus

Good fit if

  • You want the easiest wired setup with powered speakers.
  • You are buying a first turntable and do not need Bluetooth.
  • You want a compact deck (about 14 by 15 inches).

Skip it if

  • You want a cartridge upgrade path: the cartridge is integral, so step up to the AT-LP70X or AT-LP70XBT.
  • You want to adjust tracking force or anti-skate; the automatic arm is fixed.
Best line-in for sound#3

Fluance RT81+

If sound quality matters more than one-button convenience, the RT81+ is the step up. It is a manual belt-drive deck with an auto-stop, a proper S-shaped tonearm with adjustable counterweight and anti-skate, an Audio-Technica AT-VM95E elliptical cartridge on a removable headshell, and a switchable preamp. Fluance backs it with a 2-year warranty.

Why it stands out

  • AT-VM95E bonded elliptical cartridge; Audio-Technica rates the VM95E at 1.8 to 2.2 g of tracking force.
  • Adjustable counterweight and anti-skate, removable headshell, and a bubble level in the box.
  • Built-in switchable preamp, so it works with powered speakers now and an external preamp later.
Drive & speedsBelt, manual with auto-stop · 33/45
Preamp / outputsBuilt-in, switchable phono/line
BluetoothNo
SpeakersNone (add powered speakers)
CartridgeAT-VM95E elliptical; adjustable counterweight

Good fit if

  • You are happy to balance a tonearm and set tracking force once, following the manual.
  • You want better sound and an upgrade path without moving to separates prices.

Skip it if

  • You want automatic play or Bluetooth; it has neither.
  • You want a small, light deck: it weighs 14.1 lb.
Also worth a look

Audio-Technica AT-LP70X

The AT-LP70X is the AT-LP70XBT without Bluetooth. You get the same fully automatic operation, switchable preamp and AT-VM95C cartridge with its upgradeable stylus, for less money. If your records will always go through wired speakers, this is the smarter buy.

Why it stands out

  • Fully automatic belt-drive deck.
  • Switchable built-in preamp for powered speakers, receivers and Sonos line-in.
  • AT-VM95C cartridge; the stylus can be replaced with other VM95-series styli.
Drive & speedsBelt, fully automatic · 33/45
Preamp / outputsBuilt-in, switchable phono/line
BluetoothNo
SpeakersNone (add powered speakers)
CartridgeAT-VM95C; accepts other VM95 styli

Good fit if

  • You will listen through powered speakers or a stereo, never Bluetooth.
  • You want room to improve the sound with a better stylus later.

Skip it if

  • You want to stream to wireless speakers or headphones; get the AT-LP70XBT.

Want vinyl on your Sonos system?

A Works with Sonos turntable streams over Wi-Fi with no extra components, Victrola says. A line-in setup needs a Sonos product with line-in and a preamp.

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Tips

Three things that make the difference

01

Check your Sonos has line-in

Sonos lists line-in on Amp, Amp Multi, Beam Ultra, Era 100, Era 100 SL, Era 300, Five, Move, Move 2, Play and Port. Ray, Arc, Beam (non-Ultra), Roam and Roam 2 are not on the list.

02

Buy the adapter if needed

Era 100, Era 300 and Move 2 need Sonos’s $19 Line-In Adapter plus an RCA-to-3.5 mm cable. Five uses an RCA-to-3.5 mm cable; Amp and Port take RCA directly.

03

Turn on the preamp

Set the turntable’s switch to LINE so its built-in preamp is on. Sonos says without a preamp the sound will be very quiet.

Honest note

Sonos says its Line-In Adapter converts analog audio to 16-bit/44.1 kHz. The Stream Onyx is far above this site’s usual price band, and Victrola’s lossless FLAC figure applies to its Wi-Fi streaming, not Bluetooth.

FAQ

Questions people ask

Can I connect any turntable to Sonos?

Yes, if you have a Sonos product with line-in and a phono preamp in the chain. Sonos says to connect a turntable without a built-in preamp to a phono preamp first, then the preamp to Sonos.

Which Sonos speakers work with a turntable?

Sonos lists line-in on Amp, Amp Multi, Beam Ultra, Era 100, Era 100 SL, Era 300, Five, Move, Move 2, Play and Port. Era 100, Era 300 and Move 2 connect through the $19 Sonos Line-In Adapter.

Do I need a preamp for Sonos?

Yes. Sonos says a turntable needs a phono preamp, built in or separate, and that without one the sound may be very quiet. Turntables with a built-in preamp can connect directly to a Sonos line-in port.

What does “Works with Sonos” mean on a turntable?

Victrola markets its Stream Onyx and Stream Carbon as Works with Sonos: Victrola says they stream to Sonos over Wi-Fi with no extra components needed. The Stream Carbon adds an Ortofon 2M Red cartridge at a higher price.

How do I select the turntable in the Sonos app?

Sonos says to choose Line-In under Your Sources (Browse in the older S1 app). Autoplay can switch to line-in automatically when a record starts.

Can I play vinyl on a Sonos Arc or Ray?

Not through line-in: Sonos does not list Ray, Arc, Beam (non-Ultra), Roam and Roam 2 among products with line-in. You would play the turntable through another Sonos product with line-in, or use a Works with Sonos turntable.

Put your records on your Sonos system

Want the full picture? See all our best vinyl record player, compared by setup, and the FAQ on preamps, styli and record care.