The 1byone Belt Drive Turntable really shines when it comes to setup. Out of the box, it’s a breeze—there’s no tonearm balancing or complex assembly required. You can literally take it out of the box, plug it in, and start spinning records in no time.
This simplicity is a huge plus for first-time buyers who might be intimidated by more complicated setups. The straightforward controls keep the learning curve low, making it easy to dive right into your vinyl collection without any fuss.
Now, let’s talk about sound. The built-in speakers are decent for casual listening, but they do hit a ceiling pretty quickly. If you’re expecting audiophile-quality sound, you might feel a bit let down—these speakers are really just there to get you started.
03Features & Connectivity
One of the standout features is the Bluetooth connectivity. It’s a nice touch that lets you stream music from your phone to the built-in speakers, adding a layer of convenience for those laid-back days when you don’t want to fuss with records. However, I found that relying on Bluetooth can create the wrong expectations about sound quality.
While it’s great for casual room listening, audiophiles will likely want to stick with wired connections for that richer sound. The RCA output is a welcome addition, providing a path for future upgrades with powered speakers, but it does mean that you’ll have to invest more if you want a better listening experience down the line.
In everyday use, the 1byone is compact and fits nicely on a dresser or a small media stand, which is perfect for those of us with limited space. The auto-stop feature is another quality-of-life addition that I appreciate; it means I can set it and forget it without worrying about my records spinning endlessly after the last track.
However, I did notice that most buyers might not even utilize the 78 RPM setting, given that it’s not a common format today. This feature feels more like a checkbox than something truly useful, especially when the convenience-first tuning might not satisfy those looking for cleaner output.
05Upgrade Path & Long-Term Value
When it comes to the upgrade path, the 1byone feels a bit limited. Many users tend to start with the built-in speakers, only to find themselves wanting more after a month or two. At that point, the turntable can become the limiting factor in their audio setup.
If you’re someone who knows you’ll want to invest in better speakers or a more robust system down the line, you might want to consider alternatives like the Audio-Technica AT-LP60X-BK. The long-term value of the 1byone could leave you wanting more as you outgrow its capabilities.
