Victrola continues to bring vinyl to the modern listener in 2025

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in General Discussion edited January 6

Victrola used CES 2025 to expand its audio offerings, including a collection of new turntables and a pair of speakers.

Black turntable with transparent dust cover flanked by two black speakers, creating a sleek audio setup.
Victrola Automatic



As a regular attendee of CES, Victrola uses the occasion to introduce that year's audio catalog. For 2025, that collection consists of five different turntables and a pair of bookshelf speaker systems.

The turntables start with the Victrola Wave, which offers Bluetooth 5.4 support, aptX Adaptive, and aptX HD Auracast broadcast audio. It also has wired connectivity options to go with the wireless versions.

Offered in three colorways, the Victrola Wave has an MSRP of $399.99.

A white turntable with a black vinyl record and a tonearm on the right side, featuring a prominent round dial on the front.
Victrola Stream Onyx



The Victrola Automatic, now in three colors is the entry-level option, complete with Bluetooth connectivity, one-touch operation, auto-stop, and full-side repeat functions. It's priced at $199.99.

The Victrola Stream Onyx returns for 2025, complete with its compatibility with the Sonos smart speaker system. Debuting in new colors and a new software update, it also includes Vinylstream Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support.

Victrola prices the Stream Onyx at $599.99.

The Victrola Journey Glow is a compact suitcase turntable. While priced at just $79.99, it adds to the experience by having Bluetooth streaming, versatile connectivity options, and 18 LED light modes.

The Victrola Harmony is a package that consists of a full-size turntable with matching stereo speakers. It also includes Bluetooth streaming support and uses an Audio-Technica ATN3600L cartridge for high audio quality.

The packages are priced at $199.99.

Two blue box-shaped speakers with a circular black speaker cone and knob, labeled 'Victrola' at the bottom.
Victrola Tempo



The speaker offerings for 2025 start with the Tempo Bookshelf Speakers. Designed to complement the turntables, the speakers have Bluetooth 5.4 support, Auracast, RCA, 3.5mm Aux, USB-C, and Optical inputs.

Matching the Wave, Automatic, and Stream Onyx colorways, the Temp speakers cost $199.99 per pair.

For garden users, the Victrola Zen Outdoor Speakers offer a low-maintenance way to get sound outside. Using a modern design for an expansive sound, it's a solar-powered speaker with Bluetooth and Auracast broadcast audio, and it can be paired with an unlimited number of speakers.

The price for the Zen Outdoor Speaker is $199.99 each.

Victrola will start shipping its 2025 collection in the spring.



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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 6
    mikethemartianmikethemartian Posts: 1,611member
    Is this all that is left of the once great RCA?
    watto_cobra
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  • Reply 2 of 6
    Stabitha_Christiestabitha_christie Posts: 710member
    Did they pay for this article? This seems totally random, AI doesn't really cover turntables .... ever. 
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  • Reply 3 of 6
    chasmchasm Posts: 3,721member
    Stabitha_Christie said:
    Did they pay for this article? This seems totally random, AI doesn't really cover turntables .... ever. 
    Take a look at the very top of the article, and you’ll have your answer.

    As for turntables generally, I’m a little bewildered by their current popularity. I certainly get the desire to have music available in physical form, particularly for those with the collector mindset, but vinyl is so easily damaged (ironically, by actually playing it) and is also prone to environmental damage if you don’t keep it climate-controlled at all times that I can’t understand why anyone would prefer it as a format compared to CDs — apart from the larger artwork.

    That said, my CD collection (and my vinyl collection) sit mostly untouched thanks to Apple Music. For less than the cost of a CD (and FAR less than a new vinyl album) per month, my ability to hear a song or album is nearly instant — I just ask Siri for it. Music is kind of an ethereal experience anyway, so streaming in many ways makes sense, and a pretty cheap way to have access to more-or-less every song you can think of.
    watto_cobra
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  • Reply 4 of 6
    Stabitha_Christiestabitha_christie Posts: 710member
    chasm said:
    Stabitha_Christie said:
    Did they pay for this article? This seems totally random, AI doesn't really cover turntables .... ever. 
    Take a look at the very top of the article, and you’ll have your answer.

    As for turntables generally, I’m a little bewildered by their current popularity. I certainly get the desire to have music available in physical form, particularly for those with the collector mindset, but vinyl is so easily damaged (ironically, by actually playing it) and is also prone to environmental damage if you don’t keep it climate-controlled at all times that I can’t understand why anyone would prefer it as a format compared to CDs — apart from the larger artwork.

    That said, my CD collection (and my vinyl collection) sit mostly untouched thanks to Apple Music. For less than the cost of a CD (and FAR less than a new vinyl album) per month, my ability to hear a song or album is nearly instant — I just ask Siri for it. Music is kind of an ethereal experience anyway, so streaming in many ways makes sense, and a pretty cheap way to have access to more-or-less every song you can think of.
    The top of the article just has a blurb about affiliate links not if it is paid content or not so I am still unsure if it is a paid ad or not. That said, I now see that it is in a sea of articles about random crap announced at CES. So I guess it is likely that AI is just writing an article based on every CES product announcement press release that they get. A good week to skip out on AI as it is going to be mostly filler.

    As for vinyl, modern records are far more durable than their counter parts of days past. Most of it is pressed on 120 or 140 gram vinyl and the collector stuff comes in at 180 or 200g. So warping and damage just aren't the problems they used to be when records were mass produced with 80 gram vinyl. The 80 gram stuff was pretty flimsy. Then there is also just general preference. I mostly listen to Apple Music but for the stuff that I really like I'll pick up the vinyl. I have little to no interest in CDs and we are in a weird turn of events where vinyl outsells CDs so you can't always get a CD of something.

    What baffles me is the resurgence of cassette tapes. I'm going to pass on that, I don't want to have to keep a much of pencils around to deal with that nonsense. 


    gatorguy
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  • Reply 5 of 6
    brianusbrianus Posts: 187member
    Yawn. Another year, another bunch of "modern" turntables that only support Bluetooth, no Airplay. 
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  • Reply 6 of 6
    chasmchasm Posts: 3,721member
    Stabitha_Christie said:
    As for vinyl, modern records are far more durable than their counter parts of days past. Most of it is pressed on 120 or 140 gram vinyl and the collector stuff comes in at 180 or 200g. So warping and damage just aren't the problems they used to be when records were mass produced with 80 gram vinyl. The 80 gram stuff was pretty flimsy.

    I have little to no interest in CDs and we are in a weird turn of events where vinyl outsells CDs so you can't always get a CD of something.
    Thank you very much for the information on the higher-quality vinyl of today’s releases. I was not aware, and that certainly makes more sense.

    As for CDs, everything that comes out on vinyl also comes out on CDs, but you have to order them from online sellers rather than seeing them as much in shoppes anymore. I switched to collecting CDs almost as soon as the format appeared, and to date I’ve had exactly one CD out of a couple thousand that shows signs of deterioration (if the plastic layer is not properly sealed, the aluminum layer with the actual data on it can deteriorate, but this is exceedingly rare).

    I can still play every CD I own (I replaced the one that “went bad”), which I can’t say about all the vinyl I’ve ever bought (okay, most of the vinyl is fine, but I wore some singles and albums out through repetition). I’m also not a fan of having to stop and flip the record, and prefer the ability to play the album straight through (or skip around the tracks if I so desire, which is easy on CD players).

    Your post has made me think that there may be a few select releases that I would like to have on modern improved vinyl after all, so again thanks for the information.
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