Howdy from Wollongong! I'm Gabi from the Instant Classic team. I'm going to walk you through the ins and outs of this sound system. We've aimed to make the most educational product page around (and with no BS) so you'll be able to make a confident decision about your audio set-up.
The music of your dreams
You're going to hear things you've never heard in your music before - more instruments, deeper bass, and crisp vocals. Coming from a Bluetooth or computer speaker to this system is going to feel like putting your glasses on, drinking a Coke on a hot day and wearing a well-ironed shirt all at once.
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Expect your mind to be be blown, comrades.
We're talking about a Pro-Ject Audio turntable, Rotel amplifier and Monitor Audio speakers - leaders in the premium audio world who've been around for decades.
The first thing that's really important here is 'stereo' rather than 'mono' speakers. A good set of two speakers helps reproduce the full width and depth of the recording, tending to both of your ears and letting you feel sound in the space around you.
Mono sound (what you often get in streaming and portable speakers) is the antithesis of this, coming at you as a mushy, blended beam.
'Hifi' (high fidelity) quality is also achieved through the physical separation of components - music source, amp, and speakers - so they can each perform their specific roles without interference or compromise.
The result is less distortion and more clarity.
Until we came along, you'd have to spend upwards of $1,400 on a system like this. But for $999, there just ain't anything better. Mwahaha.
If you want to dig more into what's good about a traditional system like this, we've written a blog for ya →
Listen your way
The Killer Turntable System comes with all the necessary components to listen to records in high fidelity audio, and starts at an amazing $999. It can do more than vinyl, too.
Records / vinyl
The included Pro-Ject Primary E turntable with dust cover makes light work of playing your vinyl. Drop the needle, turn up the volume and get cosy.
Bluetooth
This is an optional extra that you can add for $100. It's a little extra module that lets you stream tunes from your phone, tablet or computer into the amp and out through the speakers.
TV
I'm gonna guess that when you're watching TV, you're doing it using the inbuilt speakers. These days because TVs are so thin, the speakers have to be tiny to fit inside. That produces a tinny, bass-deficient sound.
So long as your TV has an analogue audio output (many do - look for a 3.5mm-style headphone connector or red and white RCA outputs on the TV), you can use a cord to hook it up to one of the Rotel's aux inputs. Hey presto, you're making use of that sweet amplification and the Monitor Audio speakers, and man is it going to sound better!
Headphones
The Rotel amp has a headphone output on the front, so in case you don't want to use the speakers (maybe people are sleeping or there's unruly housemates around that you want to block out), your existing pair of headphones will work nicely.
The future!
The amp has a stack of audio inputs on the back. One of them gets taken up by the turntable, but if you want to hook up an existing CD player or radio tuner (we sell those separately), or add something else more hardcore down the line - like a high-res audio streamer, music server or external DAC - you can.
This system uses standards and formats that have been around for decades, so it's ready to take whatever you throw at it as your audio journey continues. Many of the cheaper systems out there don't have this flexibility.
Try it on
The virtual system here includes the Monitor 100 speakers, our most popular speaker option.
We've made an augmented reality version of our system at 1:1 scale, letting you see exactly how it'll fit into your place before you order. Open this page on your mobile for the proper AR experience.
Hear the difference (literally)
Coming soon...
What our customers think
Chryssie from Melbourne got the Killer Turntable System in May 2020. "The sound quality is beyond what I expected."
Read on
"I stumbled across Instant Classic. Drawn to their turntable stereo system subscription, it was the simplest, most cost-effective and impressive way to get set up and start playing some sweet tunes.
Within less than a week (and with some next-level customer service), I had received my dream record player and a stellar set-up to match.
The sound quality is beyond what I expected, the warm crackle of the record is literally music to my ears every time it plays, and the record player stays on pretty much all of my waking hours."
Nezzia from Torquay got the Killer Turntable System in June 2020. "I'm very impressed by the customer service, and feel very well looked after, even long after my purchase."
Older speaker model pictured.
Read on
"Instant Classic is hands down one of the best record retailers in Australia. They might not be the biggest company out there but, they’ve got a team of people who are knowledgable and passionate about music and actually care about their customers.
First and foremost, I'm very impressed by the customer service, and feel very well looked after, even long after my purchase. I honestly can’t recommend them enough. I know that gears could add up and get a little pricy, especially if you’re only starting up like me, but you are at the right place!
Instant Classic offers quality which I'd say is definitely worthwhile. Hit them up with any inquiries you have and you’ll understand what I am talking about."
Josh from Sydney got the Killer Turntable System in June 2020. "My whole setup arrived within a day and my vinyl has never sounded better."
Older speaker model pictured.
Read on
"I was looking to dust off the record collection and stumbled across Instant Classic one afternoon.
From the outset, the service provided has been second to none. Angus is knowledgable, helpful and made everything simple.
My whole setup arrived within a day and my vinyl has never sounded better.
If you want to enjoy listening to your vinyl again, these are the guys to set you up."
Check out more customer feedback
The turntable
The Pro-Ject Primary E is hand-crafted in Czechia with a single purpose: to extract deep detail from your music. The build quality at this price level is incredible, meaning you'll be spinning vinyl for years (without damaging it in the process).
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Precise tolerances and electronics make the platter spin evenly and at the correct speed. No plastics in the plinth along with shock-absorbing feet ensure unwanted vibrations don't make their way into the signal.
A light aluminium tonearm and pre-fitted Ortofon diamond cartridge pick up the delicate grooves in your records without coloration, and in a way that will be delicate with your precious vinyl collection.
Shifting speeds from 33 to 45 RPM is as easy as switching the drive belt on the Primary E’s pulley which takes seconds.
It's hand-made in the Czech Republic by Pro-Ject, the world's biggest and most trusted manufacturer of hifi turntables.
This version includes a dust cover but doesn't have a phono stage on board, as the Rotel has that built-in already.
We sell it for $332 on its own with the dust cover included. Learn more about it →
What Hi-Fi review
"For purists at the head of the beginner’s vinyl revival path... and aren’t fussed about features such as record ripping and automatic operation, the Pro-Ject Primary E could be just the ticket."
Specs & dimensions
Speeds: 33, 45 (manual belt change)
Belt drive system
Speed variance 33: 0.8% 45: 0.7%
Wow & Flutter 33: 0.29% 45: 0.27%
Platter: 300 mm with felt mat
Main bearing: stainless steel
Tonearm: 8.6” aluminium
Effective arm length: 218.5 mm
Overhang: 22.0 mm
Effective tonearm mass: 8.0 g
Counterweight for mass: 3 - 5.5g (supplied)
Tracking force range: 0 - 25mN (18mN pre-adjusted)
Power consumption: 4.5 Watts max
Dimensions: 420 x 112 x 330mm (WxHxD)
Weight: 4.0 kg net
The amplifier
Think of the Rotel A10 amplifier as a mini generator, connecting to your turntable, receiving the faint signal from your record, and applying power to feed your speakers. The A10 does this important work without adding distortion or colouration to your music.
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Rotel has been making amplifiers since before you were born. They're a family-owned business that owns their own factory, where they hand-wind power transformers and delicately craft audio products that are known to last for decades.
The A10 is perfect for vinyl lovers and hi-fi beginners, with timeless style and rich, classic analogue sound. Showcasing the Japanese brand’s decades of experience in making high-quality audio equipment, it's crafted to impeccable standards for this price level. We sell it for $642 on its own.
A good amplifier like the A10 applies this power cleanly and without adding distortion or colouration to the delicate signal coming from your record (or optional Bluetooth receiver).
The amp has inputs for multiple sources, so it's very future-ready. One of those will be your shiny new turntable, but if you have a CD player already, this can plug in too, as can a wired analogue audio source like an iPod.
Other options it can handle down the line include audio from most TVs, radio tuners, higher-end music streamers and so on. Learn more about the A10 →
Stereonet review
"I can see this little amplifier either at the heart of a great starter system with a turntable attached, or doing the heavy lifting in a second system in the home or office."
Specs & dimensions
Speeds: 33, 45 (manual belt change)
Belt drive system
Speed variance 33: 0.8% 45: 0.7%
Wow & Flutter 33: 0.29% 45: 0.27%
Platter: 300 mm with felt mat
Main bearing: stainless steel
Tonearm: 8.6” aluminium
Effective arm length: 218.5 mm
Overhang: 22.0 mm
Effective tonearm mass: 8.0 g
Counterweight for mass: 3 - 5.5g (supplied)
Tracking force range: 0 - 25mN (18mN pre-adjusted)
Power consumption: 4.5 Watts max
Dimensions: 420 x 112 x 330mm (WxHxD)
Weight: 4.0 kg net
The speakers
Loudspeakers convert an amplified music signal into physical sound. We want this final step to be performed accurately and evenly across the spectrum of human hearing, even when the volume's up loud! The Monitor 50 speakers that come with our system do this superbly.
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Monitor Audio is one of the UK's storied loudspeaker manufacturers, up there in reputation with Bowers & Wilkins, KEF, Dynaudio and JBL.
The square form factor is compact and allows for easy placement around the home. But don't let their size fool you. The high-frequency tweeters and bass drivers create a full-range frequency response which will produce life-like sound from any music thrown at them. We do the pair on their own for $369.
The Monitor 50's modern square cabinets complement the 51/2" MMP II drivers and 25 mm black C-CAM tweeters. By placing the tweeters in the top corner of the speakers, Monitor Audio has been able to reduce the size of the cabinet and give a unique appearance.
The compact dimensions, driver technology and rear port allow the speakers to perform in the most confined locations. As the cabinet is rear ported, the output is well damped and is suitable for placement close to a wall. A single set of high quality gold plated binding posts provide the connections for a suitable amplifier.
The Monitor 50s certainly sound bigger than they look. Learn more →
AVForums review
"I have spoken in the past - at length - about joy. It’s not a measurable phenomenon and it therefore falls deeply into the realms of subjectivity but the Monitor 50 has it in spades."
Specs & dimensions
System Format: 2 Way
Frequency Response: 55 Hz – 30 kHz
Sensitivity (1W@1M): 87 dB
Nominal Impedance: 8 ohms
Maximum SPL: 109 dBA
Power Handling (RMS): 70 W
Recommended Amplifier Requirements: 15 – 70 W
Cabinet Design: Rear ported bass reflex with HiVe II port technology
Drive Unit Complement: 1 x 51/2" MMP II bass mid-range, 1 x 25 mm black C-CAM tweeter
Crossover Frequency: 2.8 kHz
External Dimensions (Including Grille (H x W x D)): 206 x 206 x 237.8 mm (81/8 x 81/8 x 93/8")
Weight: 3.56 kg (7 lb 14 oz)
Sold As: Pair
Product gallery
Primary E turntable (white); A10 amplifier (silver); Monitor 50 speakers (white); 2 x sets of Damp It feet to isolate speaker vibrations
Primary E turntable (white); A10 amplifier (silver); Monitor 50 speakers (white); 2 x sets of Damp It feet to isolate speaker vibrations; Clean It record brush; Brush It stylus brush
Primary E turntable (black); A10 amplifier (black); Monitor 50 speakers (black); 2 x sets of Damp It feet to isolate speaker vibrations
Cable connections at the rear of the Primary E turntable and A10 amplifier (check out the abundance of available inputs on the amp!)
Cable connections at the rear of the Primary E turntable, A10 amplifier and Bluetooth Box E
Monitor 100 speakers (black); optional speaker stands
Primary E turntable (black); A10 amplifier (black); Monitor 200 speakers (black); Bluetooth Box E (black); 2 x sets of Damp It feet to isolate speaker vibrations; Clean It record brush; Brush It stylus brush
Primary E turntable (black); A10 amplifier (black); Monitor 100 speakers (walnut); 2 x sets of Damp It feet to isolate speaker vibrations; Clean It record brush; Brush It stylus brush
Monitor 100 speaker (walnut)
Primary E turntable (black); Monitor 100 speaker (walnut); Clean It record brush; Brush It stylus brush
A10 amplifier (black)
Primary E turntable (white); A10 amplifier (silver); Monitor 100 speakers (white); Bluetooth Box E (white); 2 x sets of Damp It feet to isolate speaker vibrations; Clean It record brush
Go configure
I want your system to be yours. So when you're on the buy page, you'll see a few handy options for customising it.
The speakers
The cute Monitor 50 speakers come standard, but if you want to hear even more out of your music, the Monitor 100 speakers have a larger 6.5" bass driver and more conventional rectangular cabinet design. Step up to the Monitor 200s for a really breathtaking, bassy experience.
Bluetooth streaming
If you want to stream via Bluetooth from your phone or laptop in high quality, we'll add a little Pro-Ject Bluetooth Box E for an extra $100. This plugs into the back of the Rotel amp. Everyone likes to play music off their phones, especially when friends are over, so this is a popular option.
The colours!
If I had a dollar for every time someone asked for a product in white or matte, well, I'd have some dollars.
So we've hassled our suppliers and got the colours you wanted. On the configuration page you'll get your pick of white, black and walnut systems. Woop!
30 days to play
We allow refunds and exchanges for any reason within 30 days, even after you've used the system. Because ultimately, we want you to be happy. Return policies that expect things to come back 'as new' kinda suck, right?
Best sound guarantee
If this system doesn't meet your expectations and give you the sound you'd always hoped for, no problems. We want you to be satisfied. So get in touch within 30 days, and we'll arrange a refund for you.
Product change guarantee
If you get your system and do want to keep it but wish you'd got another colour or configuration, you're in luck. Just get in touch within 30 days of your original invoice, and we'll take care of everything!
How's it work?
If you decide you want to get a refund or exchange, we'll arrange for a free return postage slip so you can drop the system off at the post office. No printer required - just show your phone with the barcode we send to you. Once we receive it, you'll get a full refund, and we'll find another home for it as a second hand item.
If you like the system but realise that you'd like different speakers or a different colour combination, for example, just tell us within 30 days. We'll gladly swap out the necessary equipment (and bill you the difference if applicable), making sure you don't pay anything more than if you'd bought that system at the outset.
Either way, make sure you keep all of your packaging in case you do want to request a return; the product can't travel safely without it.
Legendary support
We're not a big ecommerce business who's hard to reach and doesn't care. One of the reasons we started IC is because we hate that nonsense!
Contact us how you like
Think of us more as buddies here to help with your audio. Whether it be on WhatsApp, livechat, mobile or email - whatever suits.
You'll talk directly to one of our team in Australia. No lousy bots or queues, and you'll usually hear back within an hour during opening hours.
Genuine advice
The relationship can start before you buy - we're online to give you the right guidance, even if that means not getting one of our products.
It's important that we see you with the right solution, and that won't always mean buying something from IC.
Personal set-up help
When it's time to set up your system, we'll send you materials to get you going. The system takes minutes to get going and doesn't require any technical skills.
But, you still may want to chat with us before or after buying. We'll always be on hand to chat (even via video) if you want some extra help.
2 year warranty & lifetime love
Each system component comes with a 2 year Australian manufacturer's warranty, honoured by us as an authorised retailer for the brands. That'll protect you against unexpected defects and breakdowns (not caused by physical damage).
If anything happens, just get in touch and we'll get it sorted. Faults are pretty uncommon thanks to the quality of our components, but if something does play up, we want you back up and running!
Realistically though, that kind of warranty is par for the course these days. What's more important is the support you get from your retailer for set-up help, troubleshooting and just general advice as you go.
That's where I like to think we excel. We're here to help you for the lifetime of your product, any day of the week and for any question.
Instant Umbrella
If you want some extra protection for your purchase, we offer Instant Umbrella - two years of cover provided by us for unlimited accidental physical damage to your sound system. Available on the next page when you place your order.
Have it your way
We don't just want you to have a beautiful sound system... we want to make it easy for you to own. That's why our shipping, payment and returns processes are designed to make shopping with us a lovely experience.
Free shipping or pick-up
No matter where you are in Australia, we'll send your system to you registered and insured with no freight cost.
Alternatively, when you go through checkout, you'll see an option to get your system delivered to one of our partner record stores in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast or Perth.
A convenient way to pick up your new system, and a great chance to visit a local record store. New cities will be added over time.
Delivery times
Despite COVID-19, things are running pretty smoothly!
We ship from Melbourne via Australia Post, and most orders are getting to Australian capital cities in 2-3 working days for everywhere except WA and regional areas (which are more like 5-7 days).
Things are still a bit unpredictable though, so we can't give any guarantees unfortunately.
Payment methods
Yep, yep, we accept Afterpay, Zip and PayPal, because you're worth it.
And of course, we take normal Visas and Mastercards. Remember them?
Be sustainable
Mass-produced plastic devices that become defunct after a few years aren't nice. With upgrades, care and innate quality, our sound systems can last decades. That's good for the environment and your pocket.
Craftsmanship
Each brand that makes the components in the Starter Turntable System is independently owned and producing its product with skills built-up over decades.
Wood and metal are prioritised over plastics, and the manufacturing process involves ethically-employed and skilled workers. Most assembly is hand-performed rather than robotic.
Long-lasting & upgradeable
Component audio as a philosophy is an inherently sustainable one.
Quality products of this nature, with love and care, are designed to last decades, not years.
When you decide you want to upgrade or add an element, you don't have to throw away the whole system. Any piece you do part ways with can be given to someone else to enjoy.
This is the slow-food of music systems. Stay away from fast food!
Plastic neutral
We're really conscious about the footprint of our supply chain at Instant Classic, and are constantly working on ways to shrink it. The nature of the products we choose certainly helps, as do operational considerations like efficient shipping and waste minimisation.
While our products use a small amount of plastic compared to some of the more crude and disposable audio products out there, the packaging still contains plastics and foams for protection during freight.
We're always bugging our suppliers about transitioning to more environmentally-friendly materials, but in the meantime, we're doing what we can ourselves by buying plastic offsets for every product we sell. Find out more about the program and our general sustainability credentials→.
Australia's best returns policy
I've already mentioned our rad 30 day returns policy, and again you might be wondering why it's being talked about here. Well, because bad returns policies - and ecommerce is full of them - are incredibly wasteful.
Since COVID-19, we're all shopping online more. It's convenient, yes, but there's so much extra waste created (I just read that household rubbish has gone up 20% in Australia since the start of the pandemic). Part of that is things we bought and found weren't right for us but we never sent them back.
Our 30 day return policy applies even if you've used the set-up. In fact, it's designed so you can. We don't want you holding onto a product that makes you unhappy, and you're only going to be sure of that by playing with it.
In case you're not a fan for whatever reason, just make sure you keep the packaging and keep the products in good working order. We'll organise a free pick-up and a full refund once it's back.
Reading material
by Angus
We take a look at the different ways to do the important work of keeping your records and stylus clean.
by Angus
Since many of our visitors are at the beginning of their vinyl voyage, we thought it'd be helpful to have a starter's compass.
by the team
Instant Classic is Australia's new way to buy records + the equipment to listen to them on.