GPO Memphis Vinyl Turntable Review

The GPO Memphis is a retro all-in-one record player and music centre for people who want vinyl, CD, FM radio and USB/SD functions in one compact box. It suits casual listeners, gift buyers and smaller rooms where simplicity and appearance matter more than hi-fi separates.

This is not best viewed as a specialist component turntable. Its appeal is the 1950s-style look, built-in speakers, visible controls and the ability to play or record several formats without building a separate audio system.

For occasional records, CDs and radio in a bedroom, kitchen or informal living space, the Memphis makes practical sense. Buyers with valuable vinyl collections or strong sound-quality expectations should approach it as a convenience product rather than a long-term hi-fi front end.

The Memphis has a tabletop retro cabinet with a clear dust cover, front-facing controls, an LCD display and integrated stereo speakers. Its dimensions are listed as 38 x 37 x 17.5 cm, with a weight of 3.4 kg, so it is compact enough for a sideboard or shelf with suitable clearance for the lid.

The layout is intentionally visible and straightforward. The unit includes a CD door, USB port, SD/MMC slot, AUX input, FM aerial, speed selector, cueing lever, tonearm rest and auto-stop selector, making it more like a small music centre than a minimalist turntable.

Official material describes the record deck as belt drive, but key turntable construction details are not published. There is no confirmed cartridge model, platter material, tracking force, tonearm bearing information or stylus profile, which limits how much can be said about its mechanical quality.

Finish information is not completely consistent across official material, with black and red clearly listed in current product information and other finishes appearing in a datasheet. If colour is important, it is worth checking the exact finish with the seller before ordering.

The Memphis plays records at 33, 45 and 78 rpm, which covers LPs, most singles and some older records. A 45 rpm adapter is included, while 78 rpm use should be treated cautiously because no dedicated 78 stylus is specified.

Its strongest feature is multi-format convenience. Alongside the turntable, it has a CD player, FM radio, USB MP3 playback, an SD/MMC card slot and a 3.5 mm AUX input for compatible external sources.

Recording is a notable part of the package. Vinyl and CDs can be recorded to MP3 on USB or SD/MMC media, which is useful for simple archiving without using a computer interface, although some copy-protected CDs may not record.

The built-in amplifier and twin stereo speakers are rated at 2 x 1.5 W. External 4-ohm speaker sockets are described in the manual, but the built-in speakers continue to play when external speakers are connected, so this is not a conventional line-output arrangement.

Setup is designed to be approachable. Place the unit on a flat, stable surface, release the tonearm clamp, remove the stylus guard, select PHONO, choose the correct speed and lower the arm gently using the cueing lever.

For 45 rpm singles, use the supplied adapter where required. For USB or SD recording, insert compatible media, choose the source and use the recording function, remembering the FAT32 and under-32 GB USB limitation.

The remote control is useful for CD, USB and SD functions, but record handling remains manual. Before moving the unit, the tonearm should be secured again to avoid damage.

Day-to-day operation should be simple for users who want a low-effort music centre. Select the source, choose the correct record speed, use the cueing lever and let the unit handle basic playback through its own speakers.

Auto-stop is useful but limited. It is described for 33 rpm records when enabled, while some 45 and 78 rpm discs may need auto-stop switched off to avoid stopping before the end of a side or song.

No official wow and flutter, rumble or speed-accuracy figures are provided, so firm claims about speed stability cannot be made. The absence of published cartridge and tracking-force data also means record-care performance is harder to assess than with a more conventional entry-level hi-fi turntable.

USB support has practical limits. The manual specifies FAT32 USB keys under 32 GB and warns that not every USB brand will be supported, so simple, modest-capacity storage is the safest choice.

Sound expectations should be set by the design. The 2 x 1.5 W built-in speakers and compact cabinet point towards casual listening at modest volume rather than wide stereo imaging, deep bass or room-filling scale.

The Bass Boost control may help the small speakers sound fuller, but it should not be mistaken for true low-frequency extension. For background music, radio, older CDs and occasional records, the built-in output is likely to be the main reason to buy; for focused listening, separate speakers and a better-specified turntable would be a stronger route.

Because the cartridge model, stylus profile and tracking force are not published, it is not possible to make detailed claims about groove tracing or record wear. Owners of valuable or rare records may prefer a deck with an adjustable tonearm, known cartridge and clearer setup data.

External speakers may improve spread or usable loudness depending on the speakers used. However, as the internal speakers remain active, the Memphis should not be treated as a clean component source for a traditional hi-fi system.