A Fashionable, Ultraportable Bluetooth Speaker

For those who thought Victrola was a turntable firm, nicely, you’re not improper. That stated, the corporate has been branching out currently, together with a brand new line of Bluetooth audio system. The Victrola Music Version 1 is the smaller, extra transportable model of those new audio system.

With so many Bluetooth audio system within the wild, Victrola wants a strategy to differentiate its choices. With each of the Music Version audio system, Victrola is specializing in two features: toughness and design sensibilities. Most Bluetooth audio system deal with design as an afterthought, however the Victrola Music Version 1 (in addition to the Music Version 2) presents a extra fashionable design than many audio system.

Is the combo of climate resistance and design sufficient to make the Victrola Music Version 1 a more sensible choice than different Bluetooth audio system? Or ought to Victrola stick with turntables?

Construct and Portability

• Dimensions: 136 x 80 x 45mm (5.35 x 3.14 x 1.77in)
• Weight: 500g (14.1oz)

Whereas the Victrola Music Version 1 has the scale, portability, and controls of a Bluetooth speaker, the look is completely different. Accessible in black and silver, the speaker is designed with a mesh of triangles over a silver grille material that makes the speaker look extra like a severe piece of residence audio tools, simply shrunk down.

This isn’t only a painted-on look on a plastic speaker, both. The Music Version 1 is constituted of aluminum, and it feels fairly powerful. Dropping the speaker may find yourself denting the aluminum, however I doubt it might break the best way some equally sized audio system would.

This toughness extends to climate resistance as nicely, with IP67 water and mud resistance. Audio system with one of these safety not often look as good because the Music Version 1, with the one trace that it’s a rugged speaker coming within the rubberized buttons for the controls.

One remaining attention-grabbing element of the Music Version 1 is the included wrist strap. There’s a mount for this on the identical facet of the speaker because the controls, and is helpful to maintain from dropping the speaker whereas on the transfer. On the identical time, it doesn’t get in the best way when it comes time to hearken to music.

Connectivity

• Bluetooth model: 5.0
• Bluetooth profiles: A2DP V1.3, AVRCP V1.6

The Music Version 1 is supplied with Bluetooth 5.0, and that comes with all of the connectivity you’d often anticipate. The utmost vary is round 33 toes, not like different audio system which have been rising the utmost vary lately.

Increasingly more Bluetooth audio system have been including the choice to pair a number of audio system for stereo sound, and Victrola has included this feature right here as nicely. You may pair two Music Version 1 audio system for both stereo or dual-mono sound, relying on what you’re searching for.

In a function I’m stunned we don’t see extra typically in Bluetooth audio system, the Music Version 1 additionally helps USB-C MP3 playback. Plug in a flash drive loaded with MP3s, and you’ll take your music with you with out even having to achieve to your cellphone.

Controls

Wanting on the controls, it’s a reasonably normal affair. You’ve an influence button, devoted quantity buttons, a Bluetooth button for pairing, and a multifunction button. This takes care of pausing and resuming playback, in addition to double and triple faucets and a number of button combos that activate different options.

Double tapping the multifunction button skips to the subsequent observe, whereas triple tapping it performs the earlier observe. Holding the button for 5 seconds activated USB-C MP3 playback mode.

To pair a number of audio system, press and maintain the Bluetooth and multifunction buttons on each audio system for one second. As soon as they’re paired, tapping this button combo swaps between stereo and twin mono modes.

Sound High quality

• Driver: 50mm (2in)
• Frequency vary: 80Hz-20KHz

Wanting on the sheer specs, the Music Version 1 doesn’t precisely look spectacular. The speaker boasts a 2-inch driver and passive bass radiator, and that’s it.

Regardless of the tiny driver, the Music Version 1 has loads of quantity and even a good quantity of bass. It’s not going to energy a celebration, nevertheless it’s simply obtained sufficient quantity for a single particular person and even sufficient to supply background for a small group.

I first gave the Music Version 1 a problem, listening to the Large Walnuts Yonder music “Warmth Melter.” That is very a lot a stereo headphone music, and never one I believed would swimsuit a small Bluetooth speaker. That stated, the Music Version does a superb job collapsing the whole lot right down to mono, and Mike Watt’s bass comes by way of nicely with out distorting.

Subsequent up was The Kinks’ “The Contenders,” and the acoustic opening labored nicely on the Music Version 1. In a manner, the speaker seems like an enormous stereo shrunk down, however with enough bass, particularly as soon as the music kicks off. Some decrease bass notes did appear to vanish infrequently.

Lastly, I queued up The Informal Dots’ “Descending,” a music with a sparse association that would simply sound unhealthy on a small mono speaker. The Music Version 1 delivered right here, highlighting small particulars like reverb tails very nicely.

Wanting on the grille design on the again of a speaker, you might think about that sound comes out of either side of the speaker, however that isn’t the case. The sound solely comes out of the facet of the speaker with the Victrola emblem, and may be very directional.

The sound modifications barely if you flip the speaker between portrait and panorama orientation, nevertheless it’s probably not noticeable.

Battery Life

• Battery sort: Rechargeable Li-ion
• Battery capability: 7.4V / 2500mAh

Regardless of the small measurement, the Victrola Music Version 1 presents respectable battery life. A full cost will get you as much as 12 hours of music playback. This may range based mostly on the amount you’re taking part in music at, however you may anticipate to remain near that 12-hour determine so long as you’re not taking part in the speaker too loud.

When it comes time to cost up, you may cost by way of the USB-C port on the again. Assuming your charger has sufficient energy, the speaker can cost from empty to full in round two hours.

I point out your charger as a result of whereas Victrola features a USB-C cable with the Music Version 1, it doesn’t embody a charger.

Ought to You Purchase the Victrola Music Version 1?

Whereas the IP67 climate resistance is sweet, it’s not distinctive to this speaker. As an alternative, the primary robust fits of the Victrola Music Version 1 are the design and portability. There are many different components right here, however the eye-catching look and wrist strap are among the many extra distinctive options.

The Music Version 1 is smaller than you might anticipate, and for the scale, it sounds greater than you might anticipate. No, you don’t get the booming bass you’d get from a bigger speaker, however that bigger speaker wouldn’t be as simply transportable because the Music Version 1.

Contemplating the worth, choosing up two Music Version 1 audio system and pairing them for stereo could also be a greater decide than a single, dearer speaker. If Victrola began providing a bundled pair, that might be an awesome purchase, however you may at all times begin with one and increase later.