A record player with Bluetooth output functionality allows you to connect it wirelessly to Bluetooth speakers or headphones, giving you the ability to enjoy your favourite music with high-quality sound reproduction without any cables getting in the way. The particular record player that connects to Bluetooth speakers featured in this blog is the RP162 model from Fenton.
There are many Bluetooth record players available currently, but it is rare to see one that features a Bluetooth transmitter rather than a receiver. The difference between these is that a Bluetooth transmitter sends a signal that can be picked up by receivers found in Bluetooth speakers and headphones, while a receiver simply picks up a Bluetooth signal being sent from a smart device like a smartphone, tablet or laptop.
RP162D Dark Walnut 
RP162W White 
RP162L Lightwood 
RP162 Teak Fenton RP162 Record Player
The Fenton RP162 features the best of both worlds, as it has a built-in Bluetooth transmitter and receiver. The transmitter makes it a turntable that connects to Bluetooth speakers, while the receiver allows you to pair your smartphone with it to play music from any app or streaming service of your choice.
There are many Bluetooth record players available currently, but it is rare to see one that features a Bluetooth transmitter rather than a receiver. The difference between these is that a Bluetooth transmitter sends a signal that can be picked up by receivers found in Bluetooth speakers and headphones, while a receiver simply picks up a Bluetooth signal being sent from a smart device like a smartphone, tablet or laptop.
The Fenton RP162 features the best of both worlds, as it has a built-in Bluetooth transmitter and receiver. The transmitter makes it a turntable that connects to Bluetooth speakers, while the receiver allows you to pair your smartphone with it to play music from any app or streaming service of your choice.
By using a turntable Bluetooth output, you can enjoy your favourite music at home completely wirelessly (excluding power cables to turn the record player and any compatible speakers on). Not only is this convenient to set up, but it also ensures that your sound system stays looking discreet in the room you are using it in without disturbing the aesthetic design of the room.
What speakers can I use?
This turntable with Bluetooth speakers gives you the option to connect to any speakers that feature Bluetooth connectivity, such as bookshelf speakers, PA speakers, ceiling speakers and even headphones. As long as the speakers you are using with the record player feature Bluetooth functionality, you can achieve wireless audio streaming from the vinyl player to the speakers.
The different speakers that you can use with this record player make it ideal for varying uses at home. For example, if you want to enjoy high-quality audio playback at higher volume levels, you can use bookshelf or tower speakers that are Bluetooth compatible, as they provide a wide frequency response with deep bass output and accurate sound reproduction.
For casual background music in your home, you can also use Bluetooth ceiling speakers. These are usually supplied as a pair in an active/passive design, meaning that one speaker has a built-in amplifier and connects straight to a mains power source, while the second speaker is daisy-chained from the main active unit. An advantage that this provides is that the active speaker can be wired directly into a lighting circuit, giving you the ability to simply turn a light switch on to power both speakers. It is, however, recommended that a qualified electrician installs the speakers in this manner to ensure you can operate the system safely.
Another purpose that is highly convenient is the ability to use Bluetooth headphones with this record player with Bluetooth output. Simply set your headphones to Bluetooth mode and ready to pair with a device, click the ‘split’ button on the side of the record player and they will connect together, allowing you to listen to your vinyl records completely wirelessly and silently to anyone else in the house.
How do I connect the turntable to Bluetooth speakers?
In order to connect the record player to a suitable Bluetooth speaker or headphones, you will need to ensure everything is set up correctly. Follow the below steps to connect the Fenton RP162 to your speakers or headphones.
1. Choose the mode selection on the record player
The first step is to make sure the record player is set up correctly so that it is able to pair with your Bluetooth speaker or headphones. Firstly, turn the turntable on by connecting it to a mains power socket using the supplied power adapter. Turn the volume dial on the record player up slightly until the red LED above it lights up, showing you that the record player is powered.
After this, you will need to choose the mode that the record player is set to. If you want to listen to vinyl records, you will need to select the ‘PH’ mode using the dial above the volume selection. ‘PH’ means phono, and this will ensure that the audio signal being outputted is coming from the record you are using on the turntable.
Similarly, you can also select the ‘AUX’ or ‘USB’ modes. The AUX mode will send any audio from a device connected to the 3.5mm Jack AUX input to the paired speakers, while the USB mode will send audio from a connected USB stick in the respective port to the connected speakers.
2. Make sure your speaker or headphones are ready to pair
The next step is to set your speaker or headphones so that they are ready to pair with a device. The best way to do this is to turn off Bluetooth on any other smart devices you have used with the speaker or headphones previously, like a smartphone. There will most likely be an LED that flashes on your speaker or headphones when they are searching for a suitable device to pair with.
3. Pair the turntable and your speakers or headphones together
Once the turntable is on PH, AUX or USB mode and your speaker or headphones are ready to pair with a device, you can simply press the ‘Split’ button on the right side of the record player and they will pair together. Depending on the speaker or headphones you are using, you should hear a confirmation beep or sound effect that confirms a device has been connected.
4. Turn the volume up on all devices
This is a simple one, but it can be overlooked quite easily. Make sure the volume levels on the speaker or headphones as well as the turntable are all turned up. If you are using the AUX mode and playing audio from an external device like a DJ controller, you will also need to turn the volume up on that device.
5. Enjoy!
Your Bluetooth speaker, headphones and the turntable are now paired together, and you can play any music you like completely wirelessly!
What is the point of a Bluetooth record player?
The addition of Bluetooth in a record player is great, as it means that you are able to listen to music at home without any cables getting in the way. Even though the record players have Bluetooth connectivity, they also feature all of the other input channels and functions that you would find on a record player without Bluetooth, giving you a nice extra function that you can take advantage of.
This particular model from Fenton that is featured in this article also features built-in stereo HiFi speakers. The Bluetooth receiver that is built into the record player makes it great to use as a standard Bluetooth speaker, as you can pair your smart device and play any music you like through the inbuilt speakers in a simple manner.
The transmitter in this turntable with Bluetooth speakers gives you the ability to send audio to external speakers completely wirelessly, making it perfect for any room in your home. With cables not being needed to connect the turntable and speakers together, you are able to place the record player anywhere you like without having to worry about how the cables will look, making this turntable with Bluetooth output ideal to keep a discreet look in any room.
Another great advantage of a Bluetooth transmitter in a record player is that you can pair it with suitable Bluetooth headphones. The benefit that this provides is that you can listen to your records at any time of the day without disturbing anyone else in your household, as well as still being able to move around the room freely without being restricted by the length of cable connect to the headphone socket on the record player.
Does Bluetooth affect sound quality?
Although there is a difference in the sound quality when you compare Bluetooth to wired signals, it is barely noticeable. The wireless signals that Bluetooth uses contain less information than a wired signal, however, the difference is so little that most people wouldn’t even notice it.
Bluetooth connectivity also reduces the distance between the speaker and turntable when compared to wired connections. A Bluetooth signal is commonly known to go up to around 10 metres before it starts to cut out, while a wired signal can go up to roughly 30 to 60 metres. In a home setting, this will have little to no importance, as the Bluetooth signal can be transmitted throughout the entire length of most rooms (unless you live in a mansion!)
Summary
The Fenton RP162 is a record player with Bluetooth output functionality, making it able to transmit a Bluetooth signal to a suitable speaker or wireless headphones. The addition of Bluetooth does not take away from the sound quality of the record player, however, as the difference in sound quality between a wired and wireless connection is barely noticeable.
Being able to transmit a wireless signal to suitable speakers and headphones, this Bluetooth record player provides convenience for your home listening experience, and the sleek overall design of the record player ensures that it blends seamlessly into any room that you choose to use it in.
