Best First Turntable you can buy FiiO TT13 review /vs. Pro-Ject E1 phono, Audio-Technica AT-LP3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcjkwOchS3U

Let’s say you are a vinyl enthusiast, you collected vinyls, and you want to buy your first turntable or to upgrade from all-in-one suitcase turntables. And you don’t know what you want.

For who this turntable is?

What is manual, automatic, direct/belt drive, phono preamplifier? Can I have Bluetooth as well, speakers…? These are all valid questions, and the role of your first serious audiophile turntable should be to answer all of those. And will it throw you into the waters of separate hi-fi components, or will it ease the transition with included phono stage, automatic arm, Bluetooth, etc.

And FiiO TT13 is just the latter one. It eases you into serious hi-fi gear by providing a belt-driven, automatic turntable that has Bluetooth and an integrated phono stage. With, of course, the gorgeous LED light to sweeten the package.

 Great Phono, Automatic set, Specs, Features....

And this is a serious budget audiophile device, no skipping here on quality. Right out of the box, the TT13 presents itself as a refined, minimalist turntable that strays from the cheap plastic look common in budget machines. Its all-aluminum alloy plinth and panel give the unit a solid, premium feel that belies its price class. The substantial metal chassis also provides improved electromagnetic shielding and helps dampen environmental vibrations — a notable advantage for detailed sound reproduction.

Great thing you can also do is play, stop, move the tonearm forward or backward, and even repeat playback. And what is also a great point is you can do all of that with a remote control, which is really functional. You can even turn on and off the device, change the lights dimness and even colors, with a large array of colors to choose from. You can even connect to this turntable via Bluetooth, and it supports a lot of different audiophile codecs like aptX HD.

Regarding the innards, there is also a lot to say here. Analogue audio path built around dual JRC5532 op-amps in a two-stage amplification circuit designed to minimize noise and preserve analog warmth. But I think the star of the show is the phono preamp that is inside. It is, for this price range, a good phono, yielding a generous 800 mV @1 kHz line output. This helps to drive even the active speakers.

We have the usual suspect with Audio-Technica AT-3600LA cartridge, a reliable entry-level moving magnet unit that offers good tracking and clarity out of the box. And there is even dual-power flexibility (AC global range 100–240 V + optional DC 12 V), making it compatible with varied setups.

Sound Quality

But enough with specs, how does this budget turntable sound? And the answer is quite surprising. I think it sounds quite differently than other entry-level turntables. And I think it has a lot to do with the phono preamp inside, it is a rather neutral presentation. While other turntables in this price range always aim to create that warmth, I think TT13 is more giving you a very neutral presentation.

With an emphasis on displaying instruments and voices in the midsection. It is not that bass does not have that signature turntable warmth, but it is less emphasized. Bass is still well controlled, with enough details and textures to be able to have definition among instruments that go in the lower register. But also, as it uses an aluminum platter, it does give weight and definition. The aluminum platter plays a key role here, adding mass and rotational stability, which translates into more confident bass notes and better pitch consistency on sustained low-frequency material.

On electronic and hip-hop tracks, sub-bass lines carry real physical presence, while kick drums in rock and jazz sound tight and rounded rather than thin or plasticky. Importantly, the TT13 avoids the common budget turntable issue of “one-note bass.” Instead, it preserves texture and layering, allowing bass guitars and synths to retain their individual character rather than collapsing into a generic low-frequency blur.

The midrange is where the TT13 truly shows its musical intentions. Vocals sit front and center, with a natural, slightly warm tonality that flatters both male and female voices. There is no artificial forwardness, but also no recession — the midband feels properly anchored, which makes long listening sessions effortless and engaging.

Acoustic instruments such as guitars, pianos, and strings have good body and harmonic richness, avoiding the thin, papery texture that plagues many budget turntables. The TT13 excels at preserving the organic flow of analog recordings, especially on older rock, folk, and jazz pressings. But all of that is presented with enough separation and space to be truly audible and enjoyable.

Treble reproduction is clean, airy, and well-extended, without drifting into harshness or fatigue. Cymbals shimmer naturally, and high-frequency details such as string harmonics or room ambience come through clearly, but never aggressively.

The stock AT-3600LA cartridge performs better than expected, offering a smooth top end with respectable clarity. That said, experienced listeners will notice that the very finest micro-detail — such as reverb tails or subtle spatial cues — is slightly softened compared to higher-end cartridges.

The real strength here is forgiveness. Poorly mastered or older records remain listenable, as the TT13 avoids emphasizing sibilance or surface noise. With a stylus or cartridge upgrade, the treble opens up further, gaining more sparkle and precision while retaining its smooth character.

Synergy and Pairing

I would heavily recommend pairing this with FiiO’s active monitors. So that for like 400 euros, if you pair it with FiiO SP1, you get an awesome full system. Or even SP3 if you are ready to cash out even more.

The reason why I recommend this is the already built synergy between these devices. You will not need another amp or such. Just all you need and really great sonics, as SP1 is by nature a bit warmer, and that will complement this system greatly to get that great musical feeling to your sonics.

But then again, any kind of speakers are fine here, but try to aim that you get a bit warmer equipment to pair with this turntable.

I want shortly to speak about competition. I think closest competition is Audio-Technica LP3 and Pro-Ject E1 Phono.

vs. Audio-Technica LP3

Audio-Technica is described as clear and expressive, with decent space and musical detailing for the price. The MM/MC switch allows a wider range of cartridge choices, which can be leveraged for future upgrades. Its automatic tonearm works reliably, and the die-cast platter gives decent rhythm stability. There are some minor treble issues on budget cartridges — a sign that a future upgrade is worthwhile. The sound is very similar, but I think FiiO offers a bit more, and you get remote, you get Bluetooth, and a much stronger phono preamp to drive active speakers easily. And if you like all of those fancy lights.

I think that Audio-Technica is a bit cheaper, like 15 to 20 dollars. But I believe the major point is do you need all the things I said that FiiO has, and do you like the looks of the FiiO turntable.

vs. Pro-Ject E1 Phono

The other is a great alternative, which is Pro-Ject E1. You can get three variations of Pro-Ject E1: regular, which is a bit cheaper than FiiO, the phono and Bluetooth one, which are a bit more expensive. Now the major difference is that Pro-Ject is fully manual, so no play/stop, rewind, etc. But it is greatly calibrated from the box, so just add speakers and you get amazing audiophile goodies ahead. The other major difference is that the sonic character of Pro-Ject is more warmer. The upper bass and lower mids are more accentuated, you have this wonderful vintage sound. Vocals sound lovely, with weight and body. The drive and passion is also a bit softer, but again more forward, and size of sound gives more musical sound.

It is a sound that I prefer a bit more than FiiO’s, but FiiO is a little bit cheaper. It has remote, automatic, great looks, and a much stronger phono inside. So if sonics is all you want, then Pro-Ject, but ease of use and a bunch of features, automatic, remote… then FiiO.

This is BEST first Turntable to buy

It is obvious that sound-wise and feature-wise, and everything that FiiO does, makes it easily the best turntable for someone who wants an upgrade to more serious gear. It is a great audiophile product that aims for ease of use and practicality. Everything about this gear screams so.

It prioritizes musical enjoyment over measurement perfection, offering an analog presentation that feels lively, inviting, and emotionally satisfying. The combination of solid bass, rich mids, smooth treble, and open staging results in a sound signature that works across virtually all genres.

Everyone, even if you don’t know anything about turntables, will be amazed with its sonics and how easily you connect it and just use it. Find great speakers to pair with and here it is — an amazing turntable system for you.

So this should be your first beginner’s turntable, and even so, if you are not a beginner, there is a lot to love here even as a seasoned audiophile.

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Pros

Design & Build

• Premium all-aluminum chassis and platter – feels solid and far above typical budget turntables.

• Good vibration damping and electromagnetic shielding.

• Minimalist, modern design with customizable LED lighting.

  
  

Features & Usability

• Fully automatic operation (play/stop/repeat/tonearm control).

• Remote control for playback, power, and lighting.

• Built-in phono preamp – no need for external amp.

• Bluetooth with aptX HD and other high-quality codecs.

• Dual power support (AC + optional 12V DC).

• Great “plug & play” experience for beginners.

  
  

Phono Stage

• Strong integrated phono preamp (800 mV output).

• Can easily drive active speakers directly.

• Neutral, low-noise analog circuit with good headroom.

  
  

Sound Quality

• Neutral tuning compared to warm-sounding competitors.

• Bass is controlled, textured, and well-defined.

• Excellent midrange – vocals and acoustic instruments sound natural and engaging.

• Treble is smooth, airy, and non-fatiguing.

• Very forgiving with poor or older records.

• Good separation and soundstage for the price.

  
  

System Synergy

• Pairs exceptionally well with FiiO active speakers like FiiO SP1 / SP3.

• Can form a complete system without needing extra components.

  
  

Value Proposition

• Outstanding feature set for the price.

• Best-in-class for ease of use + sound combined.

• Ideal “first serious turntable”.

  
  

Cons

Cartridge

• Stock Audio-Technica AT-3600LA is decent but limits ultimate resolution.

• Micro-details and spatial cues are slightly softened.

• Serious listeners will eventually want an upgrade.

  
  

Sonic Character

• Less “romantic warmth” than competitors like Pro-Ject E1.

• Some may prefer a more colored, vintage sound.

  
  

Audiophile Purism

• Automatic mechanisms and Bluetooth may not appeal to purists.

• Not as tweakable or minimalist as fully manual decks.

  
  

Price Positioning

• Slightly more expensive than Audio-Technica LP3.

• You partly pay for features and design, not just raw sound.