Audizio RP116CR Briefcase Record Player Bluetooth Review: The Perfect Blend of Nostalgia and Tech?

There’s a certain magic locked away in the attic of my parents’ home. It’s not in dusty photo albums or old furniture, but in a series of cardboard boxes filled with vinyl records. Decades of music, from my father’s cherished Beatles albums to my mother’s disco collection, sit there, silent. For years, the barrier to entry felt too high. The thought of sourcing a vintage turntable, a phono preamp, an amplifier, and speakers was daunting and expensive. I craved the warmth and ritual of playing a record, but my modern life, built around the convenience of streaming, demanded a simpler solution. This is a common story; the desire to connect with the physical tangibility of music without sacrificing the ease of modern technology. The risk of choosing the wrong entry-level player is ending up with a glorified toy that damages precious records and offers a hollow, tinny sound, souring the entire experience before it even begins. The challenge is finding a device that honours the past while embracing the present.

What to Consider Before Buying a Portable Record Player

A portable record player is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for bridging the gap between the analogue charm of vinyl and the digital convenience of our modern lives. It solves the problem of space, complexity, and cost often associated with traditional hi-fi setups. For those living in smaller apartments, dorm rooms, or for anyone who enjoys taking their music to a friend’s house, these all-in-one units provide instant gratification. The main benefits are their compact footprint, built-in speakers that eliminate the need for extra equipment, and modern features like Bluetooth, which integrate seamlessly with the way we already listen to music on our phones and wireless headphones. It’s about making vinyl accessible, fun, and shareable again.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone new to the world of vinyl, or a nostalgic listener returning to their collection after a long time. They value convenience, portability, and style over pure, unadulterated audiophile performance. It’s for the person who wants to play a classic album on a Sunday morning without a complicated setup process. However, it might not be suitable for those who are serious audio purists. If your primary goal is critical listening and achieving the highest possible sound fidelity, you would be better served by a dedicated component system with a separate turntable, amplifier, and high-quality speakers. For these users, an all-in-one briefcase player will likely feel like a compromise in sonic detail and build quality.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Portability: A key feature of a briefcase player is its portability. Consider the actual weight and dimensions. Is it light enough to carry comfortably? Does the handle feel sturdy? While compact, ensure it still provides a stable enough base for the record to play without wobbling, a critical factor for playback quality.
• Performance & Connectivity: Performance in this category is about versatility. Look for a player that supports all three speeds (33 1/3, 45, and 78 RPM) to play any record in your collection. Connectivity is paramount; built-in speakers are a must for portability, but RCA outputs are essential for future-proofing, allowing you to connect to a better sound system as your interest grows. Bluetooth In/Out functionality dramatically increases its usefulness, turning it into both a vinyl player and a wireless speaker.
• Materials & Durability: Briefcase players often use a combination of wood, plastic, and faux leather. The outer case needs to be durable enough to protect the internal components during transport. Pay close attention to the platter, tonearm, and controls. While lightweight plastics are common, they should feel secure and well-fitted, as any looseness or “wobble” can directly impact the needle’s ability to track the record groove, leading to skips.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: The beauty of an all-in-one player is its plug-and-play nature. It should be intuitive to operate right out of the box. Look for features like an auto-stop function, which lifts the tonearm at the end of a record to prevent unnecessary stylus wear. Long-term care involves occasional stylus replacement and keeping the unit dust-free, so check how easy it is to source and replace these parts.

Keeping these factors in mind, the Audizio RP116CR Briefcase Record Player Bluetooth stands out in several areas, particularly with its comprehensive connectivity options. You can explore its detailed specifications and features here.

While the Audizio RP116CR Briefcase Record Player Bluetooth is an excellent choice for many, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions: Retro Charm Meets Modern Tech

Unboxing the Audizio RP116CR Briefcase Record Player Bluetooth felt like opening a time capsule. The cream-coloured briefcase, with its vintage-style latches and handle, immediately evokes a sense of mid-century cool. At 3.35 kilograms, it has a reassuring heft without being cumbersome, striking a good balance for portability. Setup is virtually non-existent: you simply plug in the power cord, and you’re ready to go. The layout is clean and intuitive, with a single knob for power and volume, a speed selection switch, and a small button for Bluetooth pairing. The platter and tonearm assembly are made of plastic, which is expected at this price point. However, we were immediately keen to test its stability, having noted some user feedback about potential wobbliness in the main housing. Our initial impression is one of stylish convenience, a device designed to look good on a shelf and be simple enough for an absolute beginner to use within minutes. It successfully captures the desired retro aesthetic while hinting at the modern technology tucked away inside.

A Deep Dive into the Audizio RP116CR’s Performance

A record player’s worth is measured not just by its looks, but by the experience it creates. Does it play records smoothly? Is the sound engaging? Do the modern features work as promised? We spent considerable time with the Audizio RP116CR Briefcase Record Player Bluetooth, putting it through its paces to see if its performance lives up to its charming exterior. We tested everything from its fundamental build integrity to the quality of its digital conversions, giving you our unfiltered, hands-on expert analysis.

Build Quality and Playback Stability: Addressing the ‘Wobble’

This was our primary area of concern, prompted by user reports of instability. The exterior briefcase itself is quite rigid and feels perfectly adequate for protecting the turntable in transit. The issue, as noted by others, lies with the internal plastic chassis that holds the platter, tonearm, and controls. We found that this entire assembly does have a noticeable amount of give or flex when pressed. It’s not rigidly secured to the bottom of the case, which seems to be a design choice, perhaps for some rudimentary vibration isolation. However, this can be disconcerting.

During our testing, we placed the player on a perfectly level and solid oak table. We played a variety of records, from brand new 180-gram pressings to older, slightly warped LPs from the 70s. With pristine, flat records, the player performed without issue. The needle tracked correctly, and we experienced no skipping. The ‘wobble’ of the platter was minimal and did not seem to affect playback under these ideal conditions. The story changed slightly when we introduced a record with a minor warp. The flexible chassis seemed to amplify the vertical movement of the tonearm, and we did encounter a couple of skips on a particularly challenging track. This confirms that the player’s stability is heavily dependent on the quality of your records and the surface it’s placed on. While a workaround like securing the chassis is not something a user should have to do, ensuring the player is on a rock-solid, level surface is non-negotiable for best performance. The build is a compromise for portability and price, and while it works, it lacks the reassuring solidity of more expensive, stationary turntables.

Sound Performance: From Integrated Speakers to a Full Hi-Fi Setup

The Audizio RP116CR Briefcase Record Player Bluetooth is an all-in-one solution, and its built-in stereo speakers are central to that promise. Let’s be clear: these speakers are designed for convenience and casual listening. They are small, full-range drivers that get reasonably loud enough to fill a small bedroom or office. The sound signature is very mid-range focused, which is great for vocals and acoustic music, but it lacks significant bass punch and high-end sparkle. Listening to a bass-heavy album like Daft Punk’s ‘Random Access Memories’ through the internal speakers, the low end felt present but not impactful. They serve their purpose perfectly for setting a mood or listening casually while doing other things, but they won’t deliver a critical or immersive listening experience.

This is where the RCA output becomes the player’s saving grace. We connected the Audizio RP116CR to our studio setup, running it through a Cambridge Audio amplifier and a pair of Q Acoustics speakers. The transformation was immediate and profound. The turntable’s line-level signal provided a clean, clear foundation for our external system to build upon. The same Daft Punk album now had a deep, articulate bass, and the cymbals shimmered with detail that was completely absent before. This demonstrates that the core turntable mechanism and cartridge are capable of extracting a decent amount of information from the record grooves. The RCA output turns the RP116CR from a simple portable player into a viable entry-level turntable for a proper component hi-fi system, offering a fantastic upgrade path for users as their passion for vinyl grows.

Connectivity Champion: Bluetooth In/Out and USB Encoding Explored

Where the Audizio RP116CR Briefcase Record Player Bluetooth truly shines and differentiates itself from many competitors is its comprehensive connectivity suite. The Bluetooth 5.0 functionality is brilliantly implemented. We first tested the ‘Out’ function, pairing it with a set of Sony wireless headphones. Pairing was fast and simple, and the connection remained stable even when we walked into an adjacent room. This feature is a game-changer, allowing for private listening without being tethered by a cable—perfect for late-night sessions or in shared living spaces.

Next, we tested the ‘In’ function, turning the player into a Bluetooth speaker. We paired our smartphone and streamed music to it. While the sound quality is limited by the same built-in speakers, it’s an incredibly useful feature. It means the player doesn’t have to sit silently when you’re not playing records; it can serve as your primary speaker for podcasts or playlists, making it a more versatile piece of equipment in a small room. The ability to switch seamlessly between these modes adds enormous value.

Finally, we tested the USB PC encoding. The package includes a USB cable and a disc with Audacity software, a popular free audio editor. The process is straightforward: connect the turntable to a PC, launch the software, and hit record while the vinyl is playing. We converted a few tracks from a classic Fleetwood Mac album to MP3. The resulting digital files were clean and free of obvious noise, with a quality perfectly suitable for listening on a phone or creating a digital archive of rare records. While it won’t replace a professional high-resolution digitising service, it’s an easy-to-use and highly effective tool for preserving your collection, and a major selling point for this model. For those looking to digitize their vinyl easily, this feature alone could make the Audizio RP116CR a worthwhile investment.

What Other Users Are Saying

Our findings are largely echoed in the feedback from the wider user community. There is a clear consensus on the aesthetic appeal of the player, with one user noting, “Initially the record player looks good.” This highlights its strength as a stylish piece that fits well with modern decor. However, the same user confirms our primary concern regarding the build, stating, “The plastic part which holds the controls and the turntable wobbles like it isn’t fitted properly.” They describe how this instability leads to the needle skipping, a problem we were able to replicate with warped records. This feedback is crucial as it points to a potential design flaw rather than an isolated defect, reinforcing our advice to use the player on a very stable surface. On a positive note, the user also mentions that “The sound quality is good,” which, in context, likely refers to the clear output when connected to an external system or the acceptable performance for the price, but they conclude that this doesn’t “make up for the flimsy quality.” This balanced view is invaluable, painting a picture of a product with fantastic features and style that is slightly let down by its physical construction.

How Does the Audizio RP116CR Compare to the Alternatives?

The Audizio RP116CR Briefcase Record Player Bluetooth occupies a specific niche, but it’s important to understand the landscape. Depending on your priorities—be it improving its performance, seeking higher fidelity in a similar form factor, or graduating to a true hi-fi setup—there are several compelling alternatives to consider.

1. KozyOne Record Stabilizer with Bubble Level

This isn’t a record player, but an accessory that directly addresses the primary weakness of the Audizio RP116CR: stability. The KozyOne Record Stabilizer is a weighted clamp that sits on the center of the record, pinning it firmly to the platter. This has two benefits: it helps to flatten minor warps in the vinyl and its added mass can reduce platter resonance and wobble. For a user experiencing skipping issues on a player like the Audizio, a stabilizer like this could be a cost-effective solution to improve tracking and overall sound clarity. While it doesn’t change the player’s internal construction, it can mitigate the symptoms, making it a smart upgrade for any entry-level turntable owner looking to get the most out of their device.

2. Qlearsoul ONE-Q Vinyl Record Player Bluetooth HiFi

The Qlearsoul ONE-Q represents a significant step up in audio quality while retaining the all-in-one convenience. It’s targeted at the listener who loves the Audizio’s feature set but is willing to invest more for better sound. The inclusion of a respected Audio-Technica AT-3600L cartridge and a built-in phono preamp means it will extract far more detail from the record grooves. While it still has built-in speakers, the focus is on providing a higher-fidelity “HiFi” experience. It’s less about portability and retro style, and more about being a serious, compact vinyl listening station. If you’ve tried a briefcase player and know you want better audio without building a full component system, the Qlearsoul ONE-Q is the logical next step.

3. Fluance RT82 Turntable with Ortofon OM10

The Fluance RT82 is in a completely different league and represents the path for a budding audiophile. This is not an all-in-one device. It has no built-in speakers, no Bluetooth, and no USB encoding. It is a dedicated, high-fidelity turntable that requires a separate phono preamp, amplifier, and speakers to function. Its heavy MDF plinth, speed-controlled motor, and superior Ortofon OM10 cartridge are all designed for one purpose: to reproduce sound with maximum accuracy and detail. A user would choose the Fluance RT82 over the Audizio RP116CR if portability and convenience are no longer priorities, and the ultimate goal is pure, uncompromised sound quality. It’s the ideal choice for someone ready to build their first serious hi-fi system.

Our Final Verdict: Is the Audizio RP116CR Briefcase Record Player Bluetooth for You?

After extensive testing, the Audizio RP116CR Briefcase Record Player Bluetooth reveals itself to be a product of compelling dualities. On one hand, its retro design is undeniably charming, and its feature set is absolutely superb for its class. The inclusion of three speeds, Bluetooth In/Out, and easy USB encoding makes it one of the most versatile and user-friendly entry points into the world of vinyl available today. It brilliantly merges the analogue past with digital present.

On the other hand, its primary weakness is the lightweight, somewhat flimsy internal construction, which can lead to stability and skipping issues if not placed on a solid surface with relatively flat records. The built-in speakers are merely adequate, serving convenience over quality. We recommend this player to vinyl newcomers, students, or casual listeners who prioritize style, portability, and an all-encompassing feature set above pure audio fidelity. It’s the perfect device for rediscovering old records and enjoying them in a modern, flexible way. If you understand its limitations and value its strengths, it offers a fantastic and fun experience.

If you’ve decided the Audizio RP116CR Briefcase Record Player Bluetooth is the right fit for your journey into vinyl, you can check its current price and purchase it here.