Best Turntables & Accessories
Audio-Technica's AT-LP120-USB direct-drive, high-torque professional turntable is perfect for DJs and other music enthusiasts, especially in an era that many would call "postvinyl," when it's no longer the norm for audio/video receivers or even integrated amplifiers to offer a dedicated phono input. It also includes a selectable internal stereo phono preamplifier and a USB output that connects directly to your computer-perfect for digitizing your old LPs to high-quality MP3 or FLAC files for playback from your computer. The turntable uses a DC servo motor to maintain accurate rotational speed at either 33-1/3 45, or 78 rpm, governed by a selectable, high-accuracy quartz-controlled pitch lock-all of which gives new life to 7- and 12-inch singles you may not have played for years. A pop-up stylus target light and stroboscopic platter speed indicator offer visual assistance in queuing and playing your favorite tunes. The turntable comes with a cast-aluminum record platter, a slip mat, and a professional cartridge and headshell (model AT95E) that plugs directly into the tone arm. Selectable internal stereo phono preamplifier and USB connection to your Mac or Windows computer.Selectable 33-1/3, 45, and 78 rpm speeds; +/-10 percent or +/-20 percent pitch adjust; high-accuracy quartz-controlled pitch lock.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"And like many other people my age, the crates of vinyl got stored and rarely played. Well, recently while going through some old keepsake items, I kept looking at those old crates of records and caught a new vinyl bug. I did pick up an extra stylus head and opted for an Audio Technica AT440MLB cart and now this thing really sounds good. It comes with Audacity software to load onto your computer so you can just plug the unit into your computer and archive all your vinyl to MP3, etc. But it is a known fact on these Turntables, this built in Pre amp, even when not in use tends to darken or muddy up the overall sound or your records. I plan on keeping mine stock just in case I ever want to archive all my vinyl one day..and have worked around the whole "Muddy, Dark" sound issue with the use of the AT440MLB cart and a little ol thing called an EQ. A little EQ adjustment for Vinyl...store the setting in one of the six pre sets on the Technics EQ and all done. But if you just want to play your records with a quality unit that will sound great, not tear up your records and looks fantastic I highly recommend this unit."
"I have been listening to my vinyl more and more lately and, while there wasn't anything wrong with my old turntable, I just kept thinking/feeling that I wasn't getting the best sound from it so I started looking around for an upgrade. I'm not one of those guys who sits around in a smoking jacket sipping brandy... analyzing the sound quality of my music. It is heavy (there is a large metal weight bolted inside the bottom of the chassis (I found this out by watching a couple youtube videos). There are a lot of features here that I'll probably never use... not a DJ so I don't know that I really need to change the pitch of my music or play a record backwards. I fully expected the cover to cost a crazy amount of money and for it to be such a huge pain in the ass that I'd just say the heck with it."
"After about 30 yrs, my old Dual turntable finally stopped working, I was apprehensive about changing brands until I started using this Audio-Technica, I am not a professional, but feel like one when playing records now."
"The cartridge is fairly decent."
"While it may seem amateurish, I would like it if had an automatic return at the end of the record. We have inadvertently left it running for hours t the end of the record."
"Few things like getting plastic buttons, not being able to plug directly other RCA cables (already built in), and having a yellowish target light keeps me away fron giving 5 stars."
Once stored, a simple push of the turntable's Function button is all that is required to connect the turntable to your chosen wireless device. Connects wirelessly to speakers and other devices equipped with Bluetooth wireless technology or to wired audio systems and powered speakers via included dual RCA output cable.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The problem with vintage is that how does one *really* know it is in good shape without taking it home? Some of the things we pay extra for on that model are: a) Quartz timing control. I'm told some bad recordings had the speed off, so this is a way to manually correct it. I've got a couple hundred records, and have not yet found one that had the speed obviously off, so I can't see any value in this. Seems like something that might give a little thrill to hear it once or twice, but to pay extra for this ability? In theory, this is better, as we can adjust the stylus to ride heavily enough in the grooves to provide good sound, but not so heavy as to cause undue wear to the records. They say a change of cartridge makes a big difference in sound. Some people will spend hundreds of dollars on high-end cartridges to tailor the sound just to their liking. It's worth paying extra for this feature, if only to make the records portable. This uses the same mechanism as the ever-popular Crosley Cruiser, but adds battery operation, which I love. Gotta find out if those scratches are "skippers" before paying the full $1 and taking up room in my apartment for more junk. I bought this for sixty bucks at a local Half Price Books store, which also sells records. If you're listening to a Crosley with this mechanism, you're really missing out on how good vinyl can actually sound. For the money, it gives just what one is after: 1) Affordable. 2) HiFi-grade sound. 3) Not too big or heavy. 4) Semi-automatic operation. It makes it very nearly as convenient to play a record as a CD, yet we still have the option to do it manually. I wasn't careful enough in repacking, and I crunched up the edge of the slip mat, so now the records don't spin flat. But considering it is basically a copy of the famous DJ-favored Technics 1200, which was a mature design to begin with, that's probably not even a concern."
"I have owned 5 different record players including a vintage turntable. There is a button to manually lower the arm at any point in the record, which is helpful for when you have something other than a 12" or a 7". I have owned some lower end record players and I would recommend this over a Crosley any day. The sound quality is great, and the Bluetooth was not a feature I was thinking I would use, but I was proven wrong again."
"The sound just blew me away, I put the unit straight through a test of fire by running it into a professional audio interface with direct monitoring (no AD/DA conversion), and from that to a pair of active Genelec studio monitors. And if you complain that "assembling" the unit is difficult (putting three pieces together before running it), you're just beyond hope."
"I am fairly new to collecting and listening to music on vinyl but for all of my needs thusfar this machine has been great."
"Super simple to set up and I haven't had any issues with speed control or other playback issues."
14 3/16" W x 3 13/16" H x 14" D. Includes 45 RPM adapter, replaceable conical stylus, and RCA to mini-plug cable. Built-in switchable phono pre-amplifier with RCA output cables to connect to audio systems and powered speakers.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The problem with vintage is that how does one *really* know it is in good shape without taking it home? Some of the things we pay extra for on that model are: a) Quartz timing control. I'm told some bad recordings had the speed off, so this is a way to manually correct it. I've got a couple hundred records, and have not yet found one that had the speed obviously off, so I can't see any value in this. Seems like something that might give a little thrill to hear it once or twice, but to pay extra for this ability? In theory, this is better, as we can adjust the stylus to ride heavily enough in the grooves to provide good sound, but not so heavy as to cause undue wear to the records. They say a change of cartridge makes a big difference in sound. Some people will spend hundreds of dollars on high-end cartridges to tailor the sound just to their liking. It's worth paying extra for this feature, if only to make the records portable. This uses the same mechanism as the ever-popular Crosley Cruiser, but adds battery operation, which I love. Gotta find out if those scratches are "skippers" before paying the full $1 and taking up room in my apartment for more junk. I bought this for sixty bucks at a local Half Price Books store, which also sells records. If you're listening to a Crosley with this mechanism, you're really missing out on how good vinyl can actually sound. For the money, it gives just what one is after: 1) Affordable. 2) HiFi-grade sound. 3) Not too big or heavy. 4) Semi-automatic operation. It makes it very nearly as convenient to play a record as a CD, yet we still have the option to do it manually. I wasn't careful enough in repacking, and I crunched up the edge of the slip mat, so now the records don't spin flat. But considering it is basically a copy of the famous DJ-favored Technics 1200, which was a mature design to begin with, that's probably not even a concern."
"I have owned 5 different record players including a vintage turntable. There is a button to manually lower the arm at any point in the record, which is helpful for when you have something other than a 12" or a 7". I have owned some lower end record players and I would recommend this over a Crosley any day. The sound quality is great, and the Bluetooth was not a feature I was thinking I would use, but I was proven wrong again."
"The sound just blew me away, I put the unit straight through a test of fire by running it into a professional audio interface with direct monitoring (no AD/DA conversion), and from that to a pair of active Genelec studio monitors. And if you complain that "assembling" the unit is difficult (putting three pieces together before running it), you're just beyond hope."
"I am fairly new to collecting and listening to music on vinyl but for all of my needs thusfar this machine has been great."
"Super simple to set up and I haven't had any issues with speed control or other playback issues."
Best Amazon Launchpad Gadgets
*IMPORTANT - Please be advised that Tile’s connectivity and app are affected by a known Bluetooth issue with devices using Android 6.0.0 (Marshmallow). Tile Mate easily loops onto keychains or attaches to anything you don’t want to lose so you can find it fast. Battery life:One year from shipment: Charging:NoneAll activity measurements and calculations are estimates.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"As it clearly outlines in the screen shots, anyone else who happens to have the app installed and is near you will cause the tile to report its location through THEIR phone. That's right, the company can find out where you shop, eat, go to church, jog, or walk the dog simply by your tile reporting its location through someone else's phone running the app. Once the app is ready to go it pairs with the tile easily and then there are some very interesting features. You do have to register and create an account in order to get to the point where you can tie a tile to the app. If, and I say if reluctantly, you have location services turned on the web site will allow you to view the last known location of the tile(s) under your account on a map. Now proximity here is Bluetooth distance which is at best 10 meters (30 feet) so the location overlaid on the map will be fairly close to where the tile was left as long as the location services on your phone can actually get a GPS lock (this gets far to technical to explain here but buildings, underground parking and just about any structure can block GPS signals). What I really liked, if you have the tile in hand but can't find the phone, double press the silver tile logo and if the phone is within range it will play a tune associated with the app. All in all, this is an easy to use device and there will be dozens of applications you could think of. I found the app very simple both to set up and use. The tile itself while having to real speaker isn't really loud enough to heard when trapped between cushions on a sofa or stuffed in a purse. I like that pairing a tile with the app is painless, totally non-technical. When using the web interface, I found the site easy to access through both the app and PC online. There are so many Bluetooth devices we already use that we can have a good idea of the coverage that can be expected between phone and tile. The app works and does not require a 10-year-old to set it up. Great idea and product but beware the intrusion to your comings and goings."
"No matter what system I tried to introduce him to, what basket was on the counter just for his wallet...was a dismal failure."
"At first, I was so happy with this product, helping me find misplaced keys and cell phone in my family's busy home."
"At first, it went well; I didn't really lose my keys so I'd use the tile a few times a month to make sure that everything was in working order. And it was spotty; sometimes, when the tile was right next to me, it'd take minutes for the app to locate the tile and ring. According to the Tile App, there were a few thousand Tile users around, able to find my device if they stumbled near it."
"After working correctly (or at least seeming to) for a few months I received a warning notice that several of my items--including the camera gear--had moved while I was away on a business trip."
"Could someone from customer support please contact me if they see this or just replace my dead tile?"
Best Wireless & Streaming Audio Systems
Connect your Play:1 to any Amazon Echo or Alexa-enabled device, then just ask for the music you love. Wirelessly Stream all your favorite music services like Amazon Music, Pandora, Apple Music, and Spotify.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Understand, I downgraded from a 7.1 system anchored by an Onkyo AV receiver, two Bose floor speakers and a set of Energy 5s + subwoofer. So, I install the system on a newer LED tv that has a 5.1 pass through on the optical port and bam! The playbar is a great anchor for the TV when it comes to dialogue and as it acts as a front pair and center speaker for the whole system during movies and music. As mentioned at the start of this diatribe, Sonos needs to get off their elitist butts and add HDMI connectivity and support for DTS. After reading through countless forum threads about the issue, it almost seems as if the Sonos team takes a certain pride in telling their paying faithful to shut up and colors they decide are in our best interest. I would recommend it if you can afford it, you aren't looking for audiophile ego strokes, you want to scrap the wires, and if you have a TV that passes the full 5.1 through the optical port."
"I've only had the speaker for 24 hours but so far I've had several problems with the app playing spotify content consistently. I love the sound of this thing when it is playing but it's been a bit frustrating to get the app to read music consistently."
"- You should almost exclusively use the SONOS app for connecting to the speaker which itself hooks to a good variety of music/radio services."
"I've had any number of wireless speakers and Sonos by far is the superior product. The sound quality is amazing."
"Play 1 is perfect for any space and add a second unit for music throughout. Wow - wish I would have started with Sono instead of other wired products."
"I've listened to country, classical, contemporary, religious and pop music ~ all of them sound great. It boasts clean, sleek, simple lines and a nice compact size. The price is expensive but the ability to link multiple devices wirelessly in different rooms is extremely appealing."
Best Compact Radios & Stereos
Just tap and ask for music from Amazon Music, Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, and TuneIn.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It worked well for playlists and occasional questions, but I got so used to just saying "Alexa...." that it was odd having to reach for it. I set it up so not only can it work from my home network (when in range) but also from my phone's hotspot. He works away from home often and it makes me feel more safe to have that option where I can just yell at Alexa if something happens where I should fall down the stairs, hear an intruder, etc. I kind of like listening to baseball, football and hockey on the radio when I am working or painting or whatever, and miss that with this. This is sort of like Echo Junior now that they have added the hands free option. I suppose I could carry the tap and use the mobile hotspot on my phone, but I don't really like to use that much data unless I have to (like for music at a picnic or something.). The dot is the least expensive, but you likely won't like the sound for music (unless you attach it to another device.). Stand alone bigger item, always tethered to electricity, very nice speaker even for a party, most expensive = Echo. 2. Portable size (kinda like a 16 oz can of beer), rechargeable, okay sound for a quieter room, medium-priced of the 3 = Tap. 3. Smallest (like a hockey puck), tethered to electricity, acceptable sound (like a clock radio type but attachable), cheapest = Dot."
"Having had an Echo for a while I was used to this, and pretty well expected that I was just getting more of the same in a smaller less expensive package. The weight is necessary as batteries are heavy, and speakers are heavy. You need to download the Alexa app to your mobile device and then connect to the Echo device and configure it in the Alexa app so that it can connect to your Wifi network. http://amzn.to/2eIn3ku. The battery powered nature of the Tap makes it different than the other Echo products. Still the Tap is the only Echo that works as a portable bluetooth speaker, and does so very well. It's audio quality is above par for devices in this price range and on par with devices costing 2-3x as much."
"I loved mine until the battery died."
Best Home Theater Audio
Designed for an excellent listening experience, Mpow Bluetooth headset with CSR chip and around-ear cushion design can provide robust, immersive and Hi-fidelity sound. The Bluetooth headset can easily and quickly connect with smartphones, tablets, TVs and other Bluetooth devices within 33 feet, bringing you crystal clear sound effect. In the wireless mode: With a built-in 420mAh battery which provides 13 hours' continuous wireless playback and let you get rid of the tangled cables on the move; In the wired mode: Used as a wired headphone with an audio cable. 1x Mpow Bluetooth Headset. 1x 3.5mm Audio Cable. 1x USB Charging Cable. 1x Packing Bag. 1x User Manual. The stainless steel slider and softly padded headband allows you to find the perfect fit without constraint and provide excellent durability. Gentle Reminder: Depending on your head/ear size/shape, it may be a little tight(feels like“on ear”) for someone to wear which is designed to avoid sound leakage. In case of that and to get both audio and wearing comfort, please take off the headphone every 1-2 hrs to get your ears relax and protect them from muggy environment in use.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"These are the BEST headphones I've tested (and I've tested a lot) when it comes to latency--that is there's no delay when viewing a video on my iPhone and the audio that's playing."
"Update 04/06/2017: Customer service did pretty good job and fast, by contacting me about the issue I had."
"No headphone has ever covered my ears without hard places or sweaty or too tight. Pairs easily with my moto G 4 phone and also a BT transmitter connected to my Chrome TV dongle. Ear cups are flat enough to lay head on pillow to watch TV. We'll see how they hold up to long daily use. Update 9/30/2017 I wear these for several hours each day."
"My wife took over my $300 head phones so I needed to find something that was ok and won't break the bank."
"I've really enjoyed these MPow Bluetooth Headphones, especially for the price."
"Need a nice value bluetooth headphones with durability, good sound quality, & can be wireless OR wired? while also testing the ability for folding the headphones (worked great, very solid feeling). 2) Turn on Bluetooth on your phone and pair the MPOW headphones / connect. 4) Operate the headphones (connected and streaming from your BT-enabled phone) for 10 hours continuous streaming and wired mode (using the supplied 3.5mm audio cable) along with conducting a test phone call. I turned on the headphones (the headphones provide an initial. "powering on" along withe a "not paired" audio cue), then paired the device and connected by phone using Bluetooth (yet another audio cue "phone 1 connected"). I next disconnected from bluetooth and attempted to test wired connection using the supplied 3.5mm audio cable that was supplied by MPOW to connect to my phone's headphone jack. I've done a test with the headphones running while streaming music using bluetooth, my test ended after 10 hours and it was still running! *Conclusion*. This MPOW Bluetooth Headphones Over Ear delivers in what they said this device could do. Mpow Bluetooth Headphones Over Ear, Hi-Fi Stereo Wireless Headset, Foldable, Soft Memory-Protein Earmuffs, w/ Built-in Mic and Wired Mode for PC/ Cell Phones/ TV."
"The only complaints I have is when doing certain exercises they tend to slide off my head a little so I have to adjust them a few times."
Best Home Audio Speakers
Play music simultaneously across Echo devices and speakers connected via cable with multi-room music.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"He was in tears with happiness when Alexa played 70's music, played Jeopardy, answered all his questions and wakes him up every morning."
"The main problem is that excellent products like the Samsung Smart Things hub, which do a fantastic job of unifying a slew of different connected devices from different companies (Nest, Honeywell, Phillips, and so on), still lacked the web connectivity and entertainment support I wanted, so I'd still end up needing my tablet or phone. Thanks to fantastic third party support, the Dot has no problem controlling all of my smart stuff while allowing me to listen to music, order food, check the weather, listen to the radio, set alarms and timers, all of which is easily accomplished through simple voice commands. Similar to the smartphone and tablet I use every day that didn't exist just a few short years ago. Kinda hard to quantify, but I'd guess Alexa is at least twice as likely to understand long, complex phrases and has also gained noticeable accuracy when ambient noise I'd present. I was a bit worried initially that Alexa might be triggered accidentally by ambient TV or general household noise, so I'm really impressed that it's only happened twice so far. If it's a concern, the mic can be temporarily disabled, so the dot won't trigger and listen accidentally. I've had no problem pairing the dot to a variety of devices including: two different Bluetooth speakers, my Galaxy S7 edge, and pioneer receiver. Even though the microphones are extremely sensitive and quite accurate, I've found that the Dot works best when placed on a surface that's close to the level of the person speaking to it. If you'd like to place the dot higher, it works much better when flush with the wall, instead of sitting on a shelf etc. I tried both setups and found with a couple nails set apart to make a cradle facing the dot out towards the room works best for me (sorry for the run on sentence lol). Unlike the upcoming Google Home BT speaker, the Dot and other Alexa devices are unable to answer general web queries. They do a decent job of answering factual questions like "How far away is the sun" but I'd really like too see Amazon add a "search" function."
"A few days ago I was searching for something to put my mind at ease and saw the advertisement for the Amazon Echo on the Amazon app. The Amazon echo did not replace my beautiful cat kouga but it did bring stop the empty feeling around the house for now. I added a picture of my cat instead of the echo since everyone already knows what the echo looks like."
"This was my first purchase of Echo and I gave it to my mom who did not want it or think she needed it, haha I purchased Echo dot for 2 reasons, 1) I had wanted the original echo but thought the near $200 price tag was too steep so this price was perfect and 2) I wanted to get something for my mom that would open her mind to the power of technology and the need for change because ultimately I want her to have amazon fire tv because her monthly cable bill is insanely high but she has always been resistant to change. She had no wifi in her bedroom but I resolved that when I purchased TP Link AV500 Wi Fi Range Extender, Powerline Edition which did what no other wifi extender I purchased in past could do, gave my mom's room a secure wifi connection; apparently using already existing phone lines. TP-Link and Echo / Alexa have given my mom a whole new level of excitement, bewilderment, curiosity and wonder and we have only scratched the surface to the power of Echo."
Best Home Stereo System Components
Premium Sound Quality: Mpow Bluetooth Music Streambot uses updated wireless technology to adapt audio systems with Bluetooth capability. Turn Non-Bluetooth Headphones to Bluetooth-Enabled: Turn your non-Bluetooth headphones to Bluetooth-enabled,just connect the Mpow Bluetooth adapter with your non-Bluetooth headphones through the 3.5mm audio cable,then to enjoy your lovely music from your phone with the headphones. Play All Day: Mpow Bluetooth 4.1 Adapter with A2DP technology can not only a crystal clear sound, but also ensure low battery consumption, thus allowing you to enjoy up to 10 hours non-stop music! AUTOMATICALLY RECONNECT: Just turn on the Bluetooth of your cell phone first,and then turn on the Bluetooth receiver, the Mpow Bluetooth Receiver can be automatically paired.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Plus the cord was annoying and ugly, especially since the port is behind the center console (basically in the back seat)."
"This receiver keeps audio in tact and is very stealthy looking."
"The hands free feature when receiving or making calls is super simple, just push the power button on the side to answer/hang up. Sound quality in the car is excellent, on the receiving end it is acceptable, but I imagine it would be better if the unit was not in the center console, but it still works."
"If your vehicle is an older model that did NOT come with Bluetooth for your phone (my car's bluetooth works on my smartphone for phone calls but not music) and has the audio jack port, this device is perfect!"
"However, I took the advice of a previous reviewer and allowed the battery to fully drain and after 3 days it seemed to reset itself."
"I have an older truck that I have installed an auxiliary adapter into the back of the stereo APPS2Car Car Stereo AUX Adapter Auxiliary Input Mp3 Interface for Ford Edge Expedition Explorer F-150 F-250 F-350 F-550 Focus Freestyle Mustang Sport Trac, Lincoln MKX Navigator Zephyr, Mercury Milanso that I can use my phone."
"Long term wise idk but all seems well going forward, but they just advised me that it comes with a 18 month manufactures warranty and with all the other positive reviews, I feel that this is more than covers it."
"For some reason the EQ over Bluetooth is better than through a headphone jack. Third, Bluetooth for a car is so dang expensive!"