If you’re reading this article, you must be among the few people who like the idea of collecting vinyls and playing them on your record player. Nowadays, modern life tends to lean toward advanced technology. A turntable is a great tool for playing music, but they’re not cheap at all.
But today you’ll be surprised at our detailed Victrola VSC-550BT Review.
About Victrola VSC-550BT
Nowadays, you can buy your favorite record player via several websites such as Amazon, eBay, Etsy, Craigslist, etc. Thus, you can easily purchase your preferred player, even customized ones.
A high-quality turntable costs somewhere between $400 and $700, so not everyone can afford that kind of record player. But what if we tell you there’s a record player out there that costs under $50 and does you wonders? Yes, here it is!
This is the Victrola portable 3-speed vintage suitcase turntable. Vintage suitcase turntables were made popular in the 50s, 60s but they were soon replaced by modern record players due to their limitation in features.
Assembly
First, if you take a glance at this Victrola record player, you’ll hardly notice any significant improvements in design like other portable turntables out there. However, it is available in a variety of colors, so feel free to choose one that pleases your eyes.
This record player is self-contained so you won’t need a stereo system or extra installation of any sort. So it’s a great option for whoever is starting out on collecting vinyls and record players.
The Victrola record player is a portable turntable with a carrying handle, a 3-speed belt, and built-in Bluetooth speakers.
Plus, it weighs approximately 2.7 pounds - much lighter than most record players that are in the same price range, which makes it easier to carry from place to place. This also minimizes internal shocks if the machine bumps or falls from a great distance.
The surface of the suitcase is made of leather, with metal-covered corners to protect it from getting scratched. On the back are the jacks (output, stereo) where you put the power cord in. And of course, it has an auto-stop feature that stops the record once it’s got to the last song of the vinyl.
Opening this suitcase, you can see there are various controls on the turntable. There is a line input so you can connect your CDs, tapes, or anything that doesn’t have Bluetooth connectivity. Other than that, the device has 2 knobs for adjusting the volume and switching modes between Bluetooth and phonograph.
One noticeable thing is that the stylus is about 5 grams, which is within the standard spec that records are designed to be played in terms of down pressure on the stylus. So you don’t have to worry about the turntable ruining your vinyls.
A vinyl collector must know that vinyls come in different sizes and require different speed settings. It’s awesome when this Victrola record player can meet the needs to play all 3 different speeds at 33, 45, and 78 RPM.
Performance
Sound quality
On the phono input, we can easily use the cue lever to raise the tonearm and rotate the stylus over the record. The speaker of the Victrola record player the sounds full but not crystal clear. But, for a speaker that size, Victrola has proved that it’s small but mighty.
For our expectations, the speakers on the Victrola has given us a considerably authentic, raw sound than some other products on the market.
We have listened to classical music like The Beatles and Elvis for years on this record player and it has been an interesting vintage-sounding experience. You can even maximize the volume by using RCA jacks and hooking up with a pair of active speakers.
The record player works fairly well for starters, but then again, you get what you pay for. This record player won’t produce the sound quality of a $500 record player.
Thus, if you are serious about playing your vinyls professionally, this device is not for you. The sound quality of this record player is quite mediocre, suitable for playing at home, not at a fancy party.
Bluetooth feature
Despite its low price, the Bluetooth feature of this record player works impressively well. And for streaming at home, the brand claims that you can stream anywhere within 33 feet range.
But after having been put through the test, surprisingly the Victrola record player showed that the streaming range is way bigger than what the brand promotes.
And another plus is you won’t have to worry about music skipping, noises or distortions while streaming your favorites.
Price
There’s no need to argue about the price of this record player. It’s one of - if not the cheapest - record players on the market. At the price of $49.99, you can experience vinyl music in an old-fashioned, authentic way without any interruptions.
The truth to cheap-priced record players is that the design and the functions are very similar. If you see one that suits your demand, it’s better to go for one with the best design, with colors and patterns that you like.
And when comparing to similar price range record players, like the Jensen 3-speed turntable music system, the Victrola record player is much more portable. But something’s gotta give. The Victrola gives a heavier bass sound, not as deep as the Jensen. That’s a common thing about cheap products: you get this, you lose that.
- Recommended read: Try This When Your Victrola Record Player Won’t Spin
Victrola Vs. Crosley: Who Makes Better Record Player?
Regarding the matter of who makes better record players, we have 2 different brands with a similar range of products.
First, we have Victrola - a 3-speed portable turntable that works wonder for its surprisingly cheap price. And then we have Crosley, which costs almost twice as expensive as the Victrola record player. But which one actually works better? Let’s find out.
Crosley - a portable turntable brand - was made in 1992 to serve the needs of vinyl music lovers. From an aesthetic perspective, we can see that the Crosley turntable has a similar design as the Victrola. But retro style never seems to look out of place in the last century.
Both of these well-known brands give us a variety of suitcases’ colors. From retro looks to the flag of the UK, they have it all.
But on the inside of the briefcase, Crosley doesn’t have as many buttons as well as features like Victrola. The Victrola has 2 knobs: one for volume adjustment and one for mode pick. But the Crosley only has one for volume adjustment and doesn’t have Bluetooth feature.
For Crosley, an advantage that they have is the years they’ve been in the vinyl industry. ‘Till this day, a Crosley record player is still an affordable record player that’s under $100.
And Victrola, a younger name in the industry, has produced several styles of players. Moreover, this record player seems to add up modern technology by making it a multi-functional product.
With the Victrola record player, not only can you play your CDs and classic vinyls but also play your favorite tunes via Bluetooth, or even the radio.
What about sound? When comparing sound quality, surprisingly the Crosley tends to receive more negative feedbacks due to its terrible design of the 2 speakers up front. Despite being the cheaper record player, Victrola seems to outperform Crosley when it comes to sound.
The Victrola company focuses on producing home entertainment, with products of different ranges of price, which makes it easier for buyers to choose. And on the opposite, the Crosley company aims at producing old-fashioned style record player so that they don’t lose their traditional values.
If you want more detail about the Crosley product line, you can find it in this Crosley record player top 5 turntables review.
- Read further: Victrola 6 In 1 Nostalgic Entertainment Center Review
Conclusion
Did you find what you are looking for in this Victrola VSC-550BT Review?
The Victrola 3-speed Bluetooth record player might not be the top record player, but it’s one of the best options for those who are starting out on collecting vinyls and record players. Especially if you are on a budget and can’t afford an expensive record player, this is just the one for you.
Thanks for reading and stay tuned to our upcoming reviews!
