Victrola Hi-Res Onyx Turntable Hands On: Easy Listening

If vinyl is your factor, there could have been a time or two up to now once you wished you might pay attention on a wi-fi speaker that you might transfer to any room in your house. The Victrola Hello-Res Onyx grants that want.

I used to be tremendous excited in regards to the Hello-Res Onyx turntable. The concept of with the ability to connect with a Bluetooth speaker that wasn’t a Sonos-branded one was the true draw for me, and I wasn’t dissatisfied. Straight out of the field, this factor is simply stunning. It has the modern type you’d anticipate from a high-end turntable. I can not think about anyplace in my dwelling it would not look good.

Because it seems, it landed in a prestigious spot close to my vintage typewriters (yeah, I am that author). However the beauty are simply right down to the easy, black design. There’s additionally the aluminum tonearm and steel elements that add to the type. The one factor I might want for is that the Audio Technica AT-VM95E cartridge wasn’t vivid inexperienced. However I do not suppose you may blame Victrola for that.

The Building

Since we’re on the subject of seems, let’s discuss in regards to the building of this turntable. One of many options that basically stood out to me was the standard of the elements. For instance, the plinth is comprised of low-resonance veneered MDF that not solely seems good but it surely additionally ensures vibrations do not trigger your information to slide or skip.

Then there’s the aluminum tonearm with a steel counterweight that retains the needle at simply the right spot so it would not find yourself scratching your vinyl. It additionally has a locking mechanism to maintain it secure when not in use. And in case you use 45s, the spindle adapter can be steel. Happily, it has its personal resting spot for once you’re not utilizing it, so it will not get misplaced.

Additionally fairly spectacular is the die-cast aluminum platter. It sports activities sufficient weight to make it really feel high-quality, and the silicon slipmat ensures your information are secure when spinning. The platter is belt-driven, so once you first set it up, you may want to slide the belt into place, however Victrola made that course of so simple as pulling a ribbon a pair inches to the left.

Lastly, the detachable headshell comes with the cartridge put in and slips simply into the tonearm. Even that little little bit of equipment simply feels well-made.

If there’s one grievance I might lodge about this whole setup, it is most likely the plastic mud cowl that matches over the platter and the tonearm. By itself, it feels fairly stable, and in keeping with the corporate, it is designed to maintain the platter and tonearm secure when the turntable is not in use, but it surely’s not tremendous good at maintaining the mud off both. It helps, but it surely’s open sufficient that some mud nonetheless will get below there.

The Controls

I had my first panic second when it got here to controlling the Hello-Res Onyx turntable, but it surely seems it is pretty easy. There is a change on the again to mechanically begin the platter spinning when the tonearm is positioned on a file and mechanically cease when the file is full.

The velocity management is up on the highest proper and is only a handbook change. There’s additionally an anti-skating adjustment close to the again of the tonearm, must you want it.

Past that, there’s the Bluetooth connection, which could not be instantly apparent in case you’re a kind of individuals who would not essentially learn all of the directions (raises hand). Whenever you flip your Hello-Res Onyx on, it is going to mechanically begin in wired speaker mode. To alter to Bluetooth, you simply have to press the facility button on the entrance a second time. This places the turntable into pairing mode, and so long as your speaker is in pairing mode, they may discover one another.

The facility button additionally lights as much as provide you with some clues about what is going on on. The white gentle comes on once you first energy on the turntable and signifies that the wired speaker mode is energetic. Press the facility button a second time, and it begins flashing blue, which suggests the Bluetooth pairing connection is in progress. Then as soon as the sunshine goes stable blue, the connection is made, and the sunshine goes again to white to point the turntable is able to use.

I totally anticipated points getting my speaker linked and even had a second of panic through the first connection as a result of I wasn’t certain it could work, however a few breaths later, all the things was paired and dealing fantastically. Victrola does counsel utilizing Bluetooth units that help aptX Adaptive Bluetooth, however it’s best to have the ability to join any Bluetooth speaker, headphones, or earbuds simply as simply.

Total Impressions

The Victrola Hello-Res Onyx is considered one of two fashions within the Victrola Hello-Res line, but it surely would not really feel like high quality was ignored in favor of the top-of-the-line Hello-Res Carbon. The Hello-Res Carbon has just a few extra options that audiophiles will respect, like a carbon-fiber tonearm as a substitute of the aluminum that the Hello-Res Onyx has. However for most individuals, the Hello-Res Onyx will present all of the options and sound you might need at a (comparatively) inexpensive $399.

Personally, I favor the stable black design on the Hello-Res Onyx over the two-tone type of the Hello-Res Carbon. This factor is actually a stupendous addition to my sound system and one which any vinyl lover will most likely respect. If you happen to suppose so too, you may order the Victrola Hello-Res Onyx from the corporate’s web site or by means of your favourite audio system retailer.