No space for bookshelf speakers? The Victrola Soundstage sits neatly under my turntable

professionals and cons

Execs

• Elevated design
• Punchy, deep bass
• Loads digital and analog connectivity

Cons

• Recessed upper-mids
• Restricted separation

extra shopping for decisions

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Constructing a vinyl system generally is a main process: you will want a turntable and bookshelf audio system, and in the event that they’re analog, you will additionally want a preamp, perhaps an amp, too. Then, you will want information and a spot to retailer them. Vinyl generally is a demanding and space-consuming passion.

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Many individuals are low on house for a number of causes, however an all-in-one suitcase turntable is not an possibility for somebody with a classy ear. A soundbase just like the Victrola Soundstage might help you construct your vinyl system up slightly than out, with out compromising sound high quality. 

It is fairly spectacular

The Victrola Soundstage sits beneath your turntable. The Soundstage was made with Victrola’s Wave and Automated turntables in thoughts, however so long as your turntable has a preamp or you’ve gotten an exterior one, it will work with the Soundstage.

The Soundstage’s sound profile leans heat, with a larger emphasis on low and lower-mid frequencies. You find yourself with a really punchy, deep bass response with minimal distortion, making hip-hop and pop tracks extremely pleasant, whether or not you are listening passively at low ranges or having a maxed-out quantity jam session. 

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I spun BTS’s “Arirang” album and loved the high-energy A-sides, whereas the slower, extra relaxed B-sides provided simply as a lot bass with somewhat recession within the higher vary. Higher-mids get somewhat misplaced, however vocals aren’t drowned out by bass.

This emphasis on low frequencies, with slight damping at greater frequencies, is a mixture of the analog medium and the Soundstage’s tuning. You may get extra of the smaller particulars in a higher-resolution digital format, however the Soundstage’s texture and bass copy make for an pleasant hear.

Nonetheless, the grainy, textured vinyl sound comes by way of nicely in BTS’s “no. 29” and “Swim,” which have a lot quieter moments. In brief, I would describe the Soundstage’s sound as much like that of a heat, bass-forward sensible speaker that may replicate vinyl’s texture. So, in the event you just like the auditory really feel of vinyl, the Soundstage nonetheless preserves it, regardless of its digital prowess. 

I additionally spun Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” and the Soundstage shone a lot extra. I would prefer to attribute it to the analog recording strategies of the Nineteen Eighties, in contrast with the extremely digitized strategies used on albums within the late 2020s. Even with “Thriller,” the Soundstage’s upper-mids had been nonetheless recessed, however it had rather more shade and a extra current midrange. 

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The Soundstage’s bass response is a lesson in physics. It makes use of force-opposing diaphragms to cut back vibrations, thereby avoiding document scratching or cabin shaking. You possibly can really feel many of the Soundstage’s vibrations beneath it, the place the subwoofer resides. The Soundstage’s ft hold it from making direct contact along with your desk or stand, giving the air room to disperse. 

Consequently, the Soundstage makes the age-old rule of not inserting your audio system on the identical floor as your turntable null and void.

So some ways to attach

There are RCA, optical, Sub-out, and USB-C inputs on deck for connecting exterior units, and Bluetooth and Auracast can be found for digital connections. Victrola’s Auracast is open, that means you possibly can join the Soundstage to non-Victrola units which can be Auracast-compatible. 

The Soundstage serves as an Auracast transmitter and receiver, enhancing its digital versatility. Nonetheless, receiver mode solely works when linked with different Victrola audio system. So, you possibly can spin a document and put the Soundstage in broadcast mode with the included distant or by double-pressing its knob, and hook up with suitable headphones or audio system. Or, you can begin a broadcast out of your suitable telephone, and Victrola audio system can simply be a part of.

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Although the Soundstage’s Auracast function may sound like a bummer, it does make sense. In the event you’re streaming music in your telephone, you possibly can create a whole-home speaker setup through Auracast, and the Soundstage can be a part of the printed.

You too can make a journey to the pre-soundbar period, and use the Soundstage as a soundbase in your TV through an optical connection. The Soundstage’s USB-C ports can hook up with a PC to behave as audio system, or you possibly can plug in a USB-C drive with audio information.

Remember the target

You may discover that powered bookshelf audio system can ship extra separation and imaging, however they doubtless will not ship the punchy bass you possibly can really feel in your chest that makes you need to stand up and dance. The Soundstage does.

If you do not have the house for the a number of elements that may make up a vinyl setup, the Soundstage solves your drawback with out the tinny, hole, and downright unfun sound of a suitcase document participant. 

ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation

If versatility is what you are after, you will discover that the Victrola Soundstage excels at it. For inexperienced persons with minimal house seeking to improve their setup, the Soundstage is definitely an enchancment over low-quality audio system or an all-in-one suitcase document participant. With so many analog and digital connection strategies, you possibly can squeeze loads of use out of the Soundstage.

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In the event you’re a extra seasoned vinyl fanatic, you will benefit from the Soundstage’s compact body, particularly in the event you’re seeking to construct a second (or third) vinyl setup away out of your most important one. It will likely be bassier than your balanced, audiophile-grade audio system, however it is vitally enjoyable, and typically that is what issues extra.