Vinyl is back thanks to smart new £99 turntable with a modern twist

Streaming may be the default way for the majority of people to listen to music in 2025, but the resurgence in vinyl sales is well documented. People are clearly craving physicality with their albums again, seen both in the rising numbers of records bought last year and in the introduction of new turntables onto the market.

For some, nothing compares to the rich tones of a vinyl record, the scratch of the needle, and settling into a full album rather than the scatterbrain approach of Spotify’s soulless algorithmic playlists.

Whether you have a dusty vinyl collection from the 1970s waiting to be played again or don’t own any at all but want to get started, there’s a new portable turntable that might just fit the bill for you without breaking the bank.

Home audio firm Gadhouse has just announced its Brad Retro MKII turntable, a retro-inspired player that comes in several eye-catching colours and includes mod cons such as Bluetooth 5.3 and USB-C power and is advertised as portable.

That means you can chuck the power cable and brick in your bag and take the turntable over to a friend's house and enjoy your tunes thanks to the player's built-in 10 watt speakers.

If you’re thinking this updated turntable might be too expensive, think again. It’s available from Currys for just £99.

“The Brad Retro MKII features an updated motor and belt-drive system that ensure smooth, uninterrupted playback with reduced resonance and vibration,” Gadhouse said in a press release. “Equipped with a custom Gadhouse Ruby stylus, users can select between 33 1/3, 45, and 78 RPM speeds, accommodating various record types with a simple switch.”

The firm said the MKII also has “improved isolation technology” that is meant to keep the audio as close to the warm tone of vinyl as you would expect. This can be hard to recreate on smaller built-in speakers, hence the inclusion of traditional RCA outputs so you can attach external speakers if you’d prefer. The Bluetooth tech inside also means you can stream vinyl to any Bluetooth speaker, if you prefer.

It’s good to see new turntables hitting the UK market at affordable prices. Back in March, legendary audio firm Bang & Olufsen introduced a new turntable that looked like a great option until you noticed the frankly absurd $35,000 price tag.

"The Brad Retro MKII is a simple way of enjoying the vinyl revival with family and friends," Gadhouse said. I'm inclined to agree.