VPI introduces new all-in-one turntable with headphone amp

The Player is the latest turntable to be produced by New Jersey-based brand VPI. Featuring a built-in phono stage, and a headphone amplifier with its own volume control, it is being labelled a truly plug ’n’ play deck, similar to the VPI Nomad.

There’s a headphone output onboard, in this instance a 3.5mm jack, but the Player can also be hooked up to your hi-fi system like any other turntable, and the integrated phono stage bypassed in favour of an external one.

The Player comes complete with an Ortofon 2M Red phono cartridge on a 9in metal gimballed tonearm, mounted on an aluminum platter which, along with the arm and feet, is upgradeable.

While VPI’s catalogue isn’t short of high-end decks, including the Award-winning VPI Prime, we weren’t bowled over by the build quality of its 'high-end entry-level' Nomad (£795).

At £1500, the VPI Player should hopefully offer a step up in build quality, and also open up the VPI brand to those on a more restricted budget. We look forward to finding out...

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Becky Roberts

Becky is the managing editor of What Hi-Fi? and, since her recent move to Melbourne, also the editor of Australian Hi-Fi magazine. During her 10 years in the hi-fi industry, she has been fortunate enough to travel the world to report on the biggest and most exciting brands in hi-fi and consumer tech (and has had the jetlag and hangovers to remember them by). In her spare time, Becky can often be found running, watching Liverpool FC and horror movies, and hunting for gluten-free cake.