Let’s get straight to the point: the built-in speakers on the DIGITNOW are pretty thin and lack any real depth. If you’re expecting room-filling sound, you’ll be disappointed. They get the job done for casual listening in a dorm or bedroom, but you’ll quickly notice that everything sounds a bit boxed in and lackluster.
The bigger concern is the turntable section itself. It typically uses a ceramic cartridge and a basic stylus, which just doesn’t deliver the refinement you’d hope for. You might experience more wow and flutter than you’d like, especially if you’re coming from something with a bit more quality.
This is where the DIGITNOW really shines for first-time buyers. You can unbox it, plug it in, drop a record, and you’re listening within minutes. That low friction is a real advantage for anyone who’s just inherited a stack of LPs and 45s and wants to dive right into the music without a lengthy setup process.
The built-in phono preamp is a nice touch, too. It means you don’t have to worry about sorting out phono versus line level on day one, making it super user-friendly for those who might be a bit intimidated by all the audio jargon.
03Connectivity & Features
The DIGITNOW has some practical extras that make it appealing, especially for a casual user. The RCA output and headphone jack are exactly what I want to see in a player like this. If you decide to connect powered speakers later on, you’ll get a much cleaner sound than what those internal drivers can manage.
USB recording is another feature that’s decent for basic vinyl-to-MP3 transfers. It works fine if you’re looking to digitize a few records, but don’t expect archival quality. It’s a nice bonus, but it’s not going to replace a dedicated setup.
As an everyday player, the DIGITNOW is incredibly convenient. The three-speed playback—33 1/3 RPM, 45 RPM, and 78 RPM—makes it versatile enough for a casual buyer with a mixed bag of hand-me-down records. It’s good for those who want to play whatever they find without worrying about compatibility.
However, I’ve seen many people start out using the internal speakers and then quickly realize they want something better, which usually leads to disappointment. The tracking force can also be less forgiving on warped records, especially if you’re not placing it on a stable surface.
Here’s where the DIGITNOW starts to feel like a dead end. This isn’t a turntable you can slowly improve over time. The cartridge upgrades aren’t realistic, and if you get better speakers, you’ll soon find that the player itself is the weak link in the chain.
If you’re already thinking about investing in better external speakers, I’d recommend skipping this category altogether. Something like the Audio-Technica AT-LP60X might be a better starting point if you want a solid entry-level player that can grow with you.
