Are Two Affordable Hi-Fi Brands Making the Ultimate Entry-Level Turntable System?

The two hi-fi manufacturers want to give “listeners more ways to enjoy vinyl without compromise.”

A vintage-style turntable with a wooden base and a clear dust cover is placed on a wooden surface. It has a vinyl record on the platter and a tonearm positioned over the record. On either side of the turntable, there are two matching wooden speakers with black fabric covers. The background features a textured brick wall.

Published 3 hours ago

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If you’re looking to build an entry-level turntable system, one of the best ways to do so is to get an integrated turntable (which has a built-in phono preamplifier) and a pair of powered speakers. It’s a simple setup and sounds way better than a true all-in-one turntable.

In 2025, there are a lot of great integrated turntables (priced between $300 and $400) to choose from. The same is true with powered bookshelf speakers. However, pairing the two takes a little research and expertise, which can be time-consuming.

Well, two well-known American audio companies are teaming up to make getting a great turntable-and-speaker combo even easier.

Audioengine x Crosley

Turntable with a wooden base and a transparent dust cover, featuring a black platter mat with "audioengine" and "Crosley" logos printed on it. The tonearm is positioned on the right side, and there is a small switch on the bottom left corner of the base. The background is textured black. — The two brands have announced a partnership that “will introduce a collaborative lineup of products that blend ease of use, handcrafted design, and high-quality performance.”

That’s right, Audioengine and Crosley have announced a multi-year partnership that, according to the press release, promises to yield “co-developed hi-fi bundles and curated pairings” of Audioengine’s speakers and Crosley’s turntables.

And, honestly, it’s a collaboration that makes sense.

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A speaker and turntable collab

Audioengine is a maker of some of the best and most popular powered speaker systems designed for both desktop and home hi-fi applications.

(In fact, Audioengine just came out with “Next Gen” versions of several of its best powered speaker systems, including the A2+, HD3, and HD4).

Audioengine A2 Plus 2025 — The Audioengine A2+ (2025) are compact powered speakers that are primed for turntable or desktop use.

On the flip side, Crosley is well-known for its retro-inspired turntables, which are very affordable and can be purchased from major retailers such as Walmart, Target, Home Depot, and Barnes & Noble.

However, as exemplified by its recently released C65 System, Crosley is trying to get more into the “hi-fi space” by making higher-end (but still entry-level) turntables.

Two wooden turntables with transparent dust covers are shown. One turntable is positioned with its dust cover closed, displaying the tonearm and platter beneath. The other turntable has its dust cover open, revealing the black platter, tonearm, and cartridge. The turntables have a minimalist design with black feet and control switches on the wooden base. The back of one turntable shows audio output ports and power input. — Audioengine now sells the Crosley C6 turntable.

Two beige Crosley turntables with black platters and clear dust covers, one with the cover closed and the other with the cover open, showing the tonearm and control buttons. — It also sells Crosley’s C100 record player.

When’s it coming?

At the time of writing, the two brands haven’t announced any of their curated pairings or hi-fi bundles just yet. But they are coming. The press release states that they will launch “several new collaborations over the coming months.”

In the meantime, Audioengine has started selling three of Crosley’s higher-end turntables, including the Crosley C6 ($199) and the Crosley C100BT ($279), both of which feature built-in phono preamps and can be easily paired with Audioengine’s powered speaker systems.

About the Author:

Tucker Bowe has been on Gear Patrol’s editorial team since 2014. As a Tech Staff Writer, he tracks everything in the consumer tech space, from headphones to smartphones, wearables to home theater systems. If it lights up or makes noise, he probably covers it.

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