Turntable

The first thing you need to pay attention to is size standards and speeds available. As we found out, most turntables for under $100 have three playback speeds – 33 1/3, 45, and 78 rpm, so you don't have to worry about your new turntable not being able to play your favorite vinyl, no matter how old or new they are. The second important component of a turntable is its stylus. Of course, you wouldn't expect any top-range styluses coming with turntables under $100, but be sure to check whether it's replaceable so you can upgrade it. The needle doesn't make a huge difference in sound quality, but bear in mind that sapphire needles should be replaced more often.

Speakers

Speakers are an integral part of any record player, however, the quality of built-in speakers varies greatly. And although the speakers that come with a record player for under $100 may sound decent and smooth, it may be better to check whether the record player can be connected to external speakers for vinyl for even better sound.

Bluetooth

In the world we live in today, versatile connectivity is a normal state of things. And many of the most affordable record players can be connected to your smartphone or speakers via Bluetooth. If you can't imagine your life with those wires anymore, be sure to check whether a record player you intend to buy has Bluetooth connectivity.

Other Media

The more you can get for less than $100, the better, right? So if a record player can play CDs or cassettes, or has a built-in radio, that's a huge advantage. This turns it into a whole entertainment center with vinyl playback available.

Recording

The ability to convert your vinyl collection into digital MP3 files might be one of the best features of modern record players. This was, you can create a digital collection of your vinyl and play it on-the-go wherever you are while keeping your records safe. You can record your vinyl directly to a USB flash drive or connect your record player to a computer, depending on the features of a specific record player you choose.