In this article, I review the FiiO TT13 vinyl turntable. It costs 249 USD and features a fully automatic tonearm, a built-in phono preamp, 7 lighting effects, and Hi-Res Bluetooth transmission capabilities.

Disclaimer: This sample was provided by FiiO for an honest review. All observations and opinions here are my own, based on my experience with the product.

FiiO TT13

The last time I owned a turntable, the world felt different. Music lived on shelves, not in clouds, and my Technics SL1200s were the heartbeat of my listening sessions. Decades later, as I unboxed the FiiO TT13, I braced myself for a reunion tinged with uncertainty—would vinyl still feel like home, or had streaming’s convenience erased that part of me for good?

Turns out, some instincts never fade. Handling a record again—cradling its edges, aligning the spindle, guiding the tonearm—felt as natural as breathing. Muscle memory I didn’t even know I’d retained kicked in, like riding a bike after a lifetime away from the saddle. The ritual came rushing back: the crackle before the first note, the faint scent of aged cardboard sleeves, the deliberate choreography of flipping sides. It was a language I’d spoken fluently as a kid, buried under years of Spotify playlists and lossless files, yet still etched into my hands.

Don’t get me wrong—I’m no analog purist preaching a vinyl revival. My digital library is vast, and streaming’s immediacy is a modern miracle. But there’s a magic to LPs that no algorithm can replicate. It’s not just nostalgia; it’s the weight of a record in your palms, the intentionality of choosing an album and letting it breathe, flaws and all. The FiiO TT13, with its sleek hybrid of retro charm and modern engineering, promised to bridge these two worlds. Could it reignite that tactile connection without sacrificing the precision I’ve come to expect from today’s gear? Let’s drop the needle and find out.

The TT13’s Built-In Phono Preamp: A Modern Necessity

FiiO’s integrated phono preamp isn’t just a convenience—it’s a gateway. By eliminating the need for external amplification, the TT13 sidesteps vinyl’s traditional friction, plugging seamlessly into modern systems like active speakers or AV receivers. No extra boxes, no clutter—just pure analog signal path simplicity.

Driving this preamp are dual JRC5532 op-amps, a stalwart duo known for their low noise and musical performance. They strike a deft balance: subtle enough to preserve vinyl’s organic texture, yet articulate enough to avoid the muddiness of budget preamps.

The FiiO TT13: A Feature-Packed Modern Spin on Vinyl

The TT13 blends retro charm with modern convenience, starting with its fully automatic tonearm—no need to hover nervously as it cues and returns on its own, ideal for newcomers or those with less steady hands. Pair that with a repeat/loop function, and you’ve got a turntable that’s happy to spin your favourite side endlessly.

For atmosphere, the TT13 offers seven lighting effects (with adjustable brightness) to set the mood. The lighting can also be turned off completely. Control it all via the included infrared remote, which handles playback, volume, and lighting.

The TT13 doubles as a Bluetooth transmitter (supporting aptX, aptX HD, aptX Low Latency, and SBC), wirelessly streaming vinyl warmth to headphones or speakers. Power options are equally flexible, thanks to a dual AC/DC supply design—use the included adapter or pair it with a premium external DC supply for audiophile tweaking.

An external balance potentiometer lets you fine-tune with precision, while the bundled Audio-Technica AT3600LA cartridge keeps things affordable and fuss-free. It’s perfect for rediscovering dusty records, and when it eventually wears out? Swapping in a new one is cheap and painless.

First Impressions and Unboxing

The TT13 makes a strong first impression with its clean, minimalist design. At 4kg, it feels reassuringly solid, though the materials lean more toward practical durability than outright luxury. All buttons are clearly labelled and intuitive—no cryptic icons here. My only initial gripe was the lack of a tonearm lock, but this omission makes sense: the automatic tonearm’s motor could burn out if it repeatedly tries to lift the tonearm while it’s locked in place.

Setting up was refreshingly simple. After removing a few foam protectors, I mounted the aluminium platter and looped the drive belt onto the spindle. Total time from unboxing to spinning records? Under five minutes.

Bluetooth & Setup

Testing the Bluetooth was next—a surprisingly seamless process. Hold the dedicated button until the FiiO logo flashes blue/red, then pair with your device. My Noble FoKus Apollo headphones connected instantly, and the sound… well, that’s a conversation for later.

For my wired setup, I linked the TT13 to my Aiyima A07 Max amplifier and NHT C3 bookshelf speakers. The built-in phono preamp eliminated the usual extra step (and clutter) of an external unit, making the chain gloriously simple.

Sound Impressions

The audio quality of a turntable like this depends on several variables. You need to consider the built-in phono preamp and op-amps used, for example, plus the stylus (in this case the Audio-Technica AT3600LA).

Okay, so when it comes to how the FiiO TT13 actually sounds, here’s my take. To my ears, it really seems like FiiO was aiming for a pretty neutral kind of sound. The bass is there, it’s balanced, not boosted or anything, which I appreciate. And the highs? They’re definitely detailed, you can hear the little things, but there’s a slight roll-off up top. It’s not a bad thing at all; in fact, it keeps things smooth and easy to listen to for longer sessions.

The midrange is probably where this turntable impressed me most. It feels really spacious, and instruments and vocals come through clearly, with good articulation. But it’s not all just detail and precision; there’s a nice bit of warmth in there too, which stops it from sounding too clinical or cold. It still sounds natural, you know? And for the price, the amount of detail you get is honestly pretty impressive.

Now, is it going to blow you away with massive dynamics? Probably not. But honestly, for what it costs, it holds its own. It can handle those shifts from quiet to loud pretty well and it creates a nice, wide soundstage. Look, let’s be real, it’s not going to compete with those crazy expensive, high-end turntables. But for anyone looking for a solid, affordable turntable that just sounds good, I really think the TT13 delivers. I doubt many people would be disappointed with what it offers, especially considering the price point.

Verdict

To sum it all up, the FiiO TT13 really nails it on the looks and feel. For the price, you get a ton of features that just make life easy, like that fully automatic arm and Bluetooth streaming. Honestly, though, the biggest surprise for me was the sound quality which is genuinely excellent for the money, with the potential for even greater sonic refinement through a stylus upgrade later on. Ultimately, if you’re looking to take your first step into vinyl, or dust off your old collection without fuss or a fortune, the TT13 is pretty much spot-on – a fantastic and accessible gateway to the joys of analog sound.