Halls to home: 7 HMV audio upgrades to transform your Leeds student room
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Breeze-block walls and basic university furniture don't have to define your living space. From vinyl turntables and CD players to flatmate-proofing noise-cancelling headphones, here are seven standout audio upgrades from HMV to elevate your student accommodation this term
Moving into student halls or a new house share in Leeds usually means inheriting a fairly clinical setup: a single bed, desk, pinboard, and wipe-clean surfaces.
While posters and fairy lights are the standard go-to for decoration, nothing changes the feel of a room faster than warm, room-filling sound.
Whether you want to spin vinyl on your desk, play thrifted CDs from charity shops along the Headrow, or block out noisy flatmates during late-night library study sessions, HMV has lined up seven key audio upgrades worth looking at this term.
If you are a new or returning student, you can knock an extra 10% off your order online or at HMV too - verify your student status via UniDAYS at checkout to apply for 10% off eligible audio and physical media.
Turntables & Vinyl Setups
House Of Marley Rise Up Bluetooth Turntable
- RRP / Sale Price: £139.99 (Was £199.99)
- Price with UNiDAYS: £125.99
- Best For: Eco-conscious design and wireless flexibility
- Standout feature: Crafted using solid bamboo and recycled materials.
If space on your desk is tight, or you already own a decent Bluetooth speaker or pair of wireless headphones, the House Of Marley Rise Up is built around seamless wireless streaming.
Constructed using sustainable bamboo and Marley's signature REWIND fabric, its warm aesthetic instantly softens the look of university-issued furniture.
Built-in Bluetooth means no trailing RCA cables across your desk - you can stream vinyl directly to your portable speaker or listen privately on headphones without disturbing flatmates through thin walls.
Lenco LS-301 Black Turntable & Speakers
- RRP / Sale Price: £159.99 (Was £199.99)
- Price with UNiDAYS: £143.99
- Best For: A sleek, all-in-one stereo setup straight out of the box
- Standout feature: Includes two matching 10W RMS external speakers.
For those who want a complete audio system without the hassle of matching separate amplifiers and speakers, the HMV-exclusive Lenco LS-301 delivers a ready-to-go solution. Wrapped in a matte black finish, it comes packaged with two matching external wooden speakers that deliver genuine stereo separation.
External speakers mean you get proper room-filling sound for pre-drinks or Sunday afternoon relaxing, while the built-in Bluetooth receiver lets you stream Spotify playlists from your phone when you aren't spinning records.
- Buy the Lenco LS-301 Black Bundle at HMV
Lenco LS-310 Wood Turntable & Speakers
- RRP / Sale Price: £159.99 (Or £99.99 with qualifying LP purchase)
- Price with UNiDAYS: £89.99 (With LP purchase)
- Best For: Mid-century aesthetic & maximum bundle value
- Standout feature: High-value promotional pricing when paired with an LP.
Sharing the same robust internals as the LS-301, the Lenco LS-310 trades sleek black for a classic natural wood finish that gives any student desk a refined, vintage look.
Crucially, HMV is currently running a promotion knocking the price down to £99.99 when bought alongside a vinyl LP - which drops further to £89.99 with your student discount code applied.
Jam Sound Stream+ Wood Bluetooth Turntable
- RRP / Sale Price: £199.99
- Price with UNiDAYS: £179.99
- Best For: Premium sound quality and versatile connectivity
- Standout feature: Superior dampening chassis with dual-way Bluetooth streaming.
Sitting at the top of the range, the Jam Sound Stream+ is designed for students who prioritise audio fidelity and build quality.
Featuring a weighted wood plinth to dampen vibrations, a precision tonearm, and dual-direction Bluetooth functionality (allowing both Bluetooth output to speakers and input from mobile devices), it offers a permanent fixture for a house share or master bedroom.
The integrated pre-amp allows you to connect directly into existing home hi-fi systems or active desktop monitors via RCA, giving you room to upgrade your speaker setup as you move into second- and third-year housing.
Physical Media Revival
Crosley Voyager CD Washed Blue CD Player
- RRP / Sale Price: £79.99
- Price with UNiDAYS: £71.99
- Best For: Compact shelf decor & budget physical media collecting
- Standout feature: Built-in stereo speakers and headphone output in a compact Washed Blue casing.
CDs are undergoing a massive revival among students, driven by low second-hand prices in local charity shops and independent record stores across Leeds.
The Crosley Voyager CD player combines a pastel Washed Blue retro aesthetic with built-in stereo speakers, making it an ideal bedside or desk companion.
It’s a lightweight, self-contained unit that lets you build a physical music collection for just a few pounds per album without taking up precious desk space.
Study & Flatmate Peacekeepers (Active Noise Cancelling)
JBL Tune T770NC Black Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Headphones
- RRP / Sale Price: £59.99
- Price with UNiDAYS: £53.99
- Best For: Deep focus at Laidlaw Library & long battery life
- Standout feature: Adaptive Noise Cancelling with JBL Pure Bass sound.
A good pair of over-ear active noise-cancelling (ANC) headphones is a non-negotiable for student life.
The JBL Tune T770NC packs Adaptive Noise Cancelling to block out noisy flatmates in shared kitchens or ambient chatter during study sessions at Laidlaw or Edward Boyle libraries.
Boasting up to 70 hours of battery life (or 44 hours with ANC enabled) and a 5-minute speed charge giving 3 hours of playback, you won't get caught with dead headphones mid-essay deadline.
Skullcandy Hesh ANC Mod White Active Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Headphones
- RRP / Sale Price: £49.99
- Price with UNiDAYS: £44.99
- Best For: Clean room aesthetic & active noise cancelling under £45
- Standout feature: Active Noise Cancelling with integrated Tile location tracker.
Coming in under the £45 mark after student discount, the Skullcandy Hesh ANC in Mod White delivers full Active Noise Cancelling with a striking, minimal aesthetic.
Its flat-folding design makes it easy to slip into a backpack alongside textbooks or a laptop.
Built-in Tile finding technology means if you misplace your headphones in a lecture theatre or across a busy house share, you can ring them directly from your phone.