Podcast #1134: Victrola Hi-Res Carbon Turntable Review

All Episodes

January 26, 2024 • 37 mins

On this week’s show we review the Victrola Hi-Res Carbon Turntable that retails for $599. We also read your emails and take a look at the week’s news.

News:

Other:

Samsung expands self-repair program to include home entertainment devices

CSS-Audio Torii Tower Youtube Shorts Playlist

Victrola Hi-Res Carbon Turntable

In an era dominated by digital music and streaming, the Victrola Hi-Res Carbon Turntable emerges as a beacon of nostalgia, offering a captivating journey back to the golden age of vinyl - but with a few modern twists. Designed for discerning audio enthusiasts and music aficionados alike, this remarkable record player promises superior performance and effortless setup, making it a highly recommended addition to any audiophile's collection. It retails for $599.

Overview

Product highlights:

semi-automatic belt-driven turntable
built-in Bluetooth with high-quality aptX HD and aptX Adaptive streaming to compatible speakers and headphones
anti-resonant die-cast aluminum platter
straight carbon fiber tonearm
Ortofon 2M Red moving magnet cartridge on removable curved headshell included
auto-stop feature (user must select "auto-stop" using button on rear of turntable)

platter starts spinning when you hover the tonearm over the leading edge of a record
platter stops spinning at the end of a side

switchable built-in phono preamp
adjustable anti-skating and counterweight
speeds: 33-1/3 and 45 rpm

Connections:

gold plated RCA output with ground for making wired connection to an existing hi-fi system
detachable power cord

Performance specs:

wow and flutter: 0.175%
signal-to-noise ratio: 45dB

Setup

The Victrola Hi-Res Carbon is designed to be user-friendly, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free setup process even for those new to turntables. As soon as you open the box, before you even pull the player out, you’re greeted with a clear diagram and description of the 7 steps required to get the unit to start playing records. The diagram has clear and concise instructions guiding you through each of the fairly typical steps involved in setting up a turntable. If you’ve done it before, you know the steps; if you’ve never done it, the steps are simple. It is the easiest record player we’ve ever set up. Depending on how you opt to install, you can be listening to vinyl in under 5 minutes.

The turntable has two output options, there are RCA connectors in the back that you can run to a traditional amplifier and speakers. But it also has Bluetooth - so you can send your music to your bluetooth speakers totally wirelessly. We set it up so we could test both options. For the RCA wired connection we used a Yamaha A-S701 amplifier powering a set of Ara Derderian signature tower speakers. For Bluetooth we got our hands on a couple different pairs of AptX headphones. We didn’t have any AptX wireless speakers to test with, but the headphones gave us a pretty good idea of what to expect. All told, from unboxing to savoring the first notes of your cherished records, the entire experience is streamlined and simple.

Performance

As simple as it is to install, where the Victrola Hi-Res Carbon truly shines is in its exceptional audio performance. We compared it with Braden’s current record player, a Yamaha MusicCast VINYL 500 turntable that retails for $100 more than the Victrola at $699. The audio performance difference between the two was astonishing. We would play a song from an album on one player, then transfer the record to the other

Mark as Played