Every audiophile and avid vinyl collector’s favorite day is approaching, and soon Record Store Day 2026 will hit us like a meteor on Saturday April 18 — and I for one am thrilled to embrace the chaos for another year.
I’ve been busy scouring the official RSD list for the best new presses (I’m hoping to snag a Jeff Buckley live album if I can), but it’s also a perfect time to consider upgrading to one of the best turntables. Speaking of, I’ve suddenly been distracted from curating my pre-RSD shopping list after spotting what’s probably the most funky looking vinyl player I’ve ever seen, and I need it to house my growing collection immediately.
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The Fisher-Price Music Box comes back to life
Blending the maximalism of the 1980s Memphis aesthetic with the nostalgia of the Fisher-Price Music Box (our Audio Editor Becky Scarrott remembers it well — and you can see what she means, because Disney re-released that with it’s own twist, last year), this is the Play Pro turntable from Japanese audio company Tinyl which, thanks to the magic of the TikTok algorithm, landed on my ‘For You’ page. It’s as if we were destined to meet.
It’s not the first time we’ve been reminded of the retro musical toys of our youth when new kit arrives, just check out Teenage Engineering’s Record Factory, a device that launched a few years ago and that actually lets you record and cut your own records — limited to singles of up to four minutes in mono per side, but still…
Back to the new Play Pro, and it is the latest turntable to join Tinyl’s range of audio products, having launched in late 2025/ early 2026. So you can bet it’s gone straight into my tech wish-list. Its bold design and viral hype add to its grandeur, but don’t be fooled, it’s actually not as pricey as you’d think — how’s $199 / £165/ AU$342 for a turntable this groovy?
With its relatively humble asking fee, the Play Pro makes for a solid user-friendly vinyl player, so while it won’t be as punchy and agile as something like the Pro-ject Debut Carbon Evo (which is also more than double the price), it likely represents the kind of quality more than acceptable for first-timers and vinyl novices. And Sony‘s new affordable offering, the Sony PS-LX5BT is also quite a bit pricier, talented though it is.
The next best entry-level turntable?
For starters, the setup isn’t overly complicated and intricate. Its plug-and-play system means it’s simple for beginners to navigate, and the turntable is already fitted with speakers — ideal if the complete audio experience isn’t a huge matter for you. That said, users online haven’t raved about its native audio quality, but pairing it with bookshelf speakers has significantly improved the listening experience. And you don’t need to spend mega bucks on these either — allow me to point to you our roundup of the best stereo speakers.
Speaking of connectivity, you can pair the Play Pro with speakers, and even headphones, via Bluetooth, or use the AUX and RCA imports for wired connectivity. It also gives you the option to stream playlists right from your device when connected by Bluetooth, though this isn’t a huge appeal to me.
But what surprised me is that its tonearm is fitted with the Audio-Technica MM AT3600L cartridge, a trusted and reliable stylus, accompanied by an adjustable weight to not only protect the cartridge but to allow you to hear crisp detail no matter the genre. Before now, I’d been heavily eyeing up the Audio-Technica AT-LP70XBT turntable, and though it’s not totally off the table as far as options go, you can’t deny those come-buy-me primary colors. It’ll be the centerpiece of all your dinner party antics — and that’s enough to sway me.
The best turntables for all budgets
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rowan.davies@futurenet.com (Rowan Davies)
