Victrola continues its push into high-end audio with the new Victrola Stream Sapphire turntable, its most expensive and advanced unit to date. Announced at CES 2024, the Sapphire is joined by a new fully automatic turntable and rock-shaped outdoor speakers in the company’s spring product lineup.
Victrola Stream Sapphire turntable
Victrola has garnered outstanding reviews for its Stream turntable line, with models designed to seamlessly connect with Sonos or Bluetooth speakers. The new Victrola Stream Sapphire will retail for $1,499 and will be squarely aimed at the demanding audiophile market.
The belt-drive turntable (pictured above) comes with the outstanding Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge and features a die-cast aluminum platter, a carbon-fiber tonearm with removeable headshell, a walnut veneer on its MDF plinth, adjustable-height aluminum feet with a sound-dampening base, and an upgraded brushless motor for quieter operation. The unit measures 13.58 x 16.93 x 4.37 inches (LxWxH).
The Sapphire supports audio streaming up to 24-bit/48kHz lossless FLAC audio by ditching the Bluetooth and instead focusing on support for Sonos, UPnP, and Roon integrated systems. While Sonos has become a mainstream product, both UPnP and Roon are protocols aimed at audio enthusiasts. If you know what they are, this is exciting news from Victrola. If you don’t, know that a subscription to the Roon service will give users the opportunity to use Airplay and Chromecast in addition to the hi-res Roon Read protocol. Users can connect via the Victrola Stream app.
The turntable can also be used with an integrated audio system or powered speakers by plugging into its gold-plated RCA outputs.
The Victrola Stream Sapphire will be available in Spring 2024 at Victrola.com, specialty audio retailers, and custom installation dealers.
Victrola Automatic turntable
Victrola has equally exciting news at the other end of the price scale. The new Victrola Automatic turntable will bring fully automatic playback to users for just $199. One-button operation will lift the tonearm, drop it onto the vinyl, and return the arm to its rest after the side is over. There’s also a repeat function that plays the same side over and over until the user wants it to stop.
Victrola
The turntable is ready to go out of the box, featuring a fixed counterweight and headshell, allowing users to skip the often-complicated process of balancing the tonearm. The Automatic uses the Audio Technica AT-3600L moving magnetic cartridge.
The unit is made of MDF and plastic and measures 14.8 x 13.4 x 3.86 inches (LxWxH). Unlike most Victrola turntables, the Automatic comes with a traditional dust cover that can be closed while a record is playing.
In addition to a wired connection, the Victrola Automatic can also connect wirelessly to Bluetooth speakers or headphones. Users can flip a switch to bypass the unit’s internal phono preamp and use their own preamplifier. The Victrola Automatic will be available this Spring at Victrola.com and other major retail outlets.
Victrola Rock Speaker Connect
The Rock Speaker Connect is a $99 MSRP wireless Bluetooth speaker designed to look like a rock and disappear into your outdoor landscaping. Users can pair up to 20 Victrola Rock Speaker Connect speakers to create a fully immersive backyard audio experience.
Victrola
The speaker uses Bluetooth 5.3 and offers up to 22 hours of battery life from its built-in solar panel or USB-C charging and a 4,400 mAh battery. Each speaker measures 2.6 x 10.8 x 10 inches (LxWxH) and weighs 7 pounds. The speaker has an IP54 rating, meaning it should be protected from dust (but not dust-tight) and resistant to water splashes.
The Victrola Rock Speaker Connect will be available in Sand, Stone, and Granite colors starting in winter 2024 at Victrola.com and major retailers.
Author: James Barber, Contributor
James began his career as music director at college radio station WHRB. Over the past three decades, he’s managed the legendary Georgia rock band Drivin’ N’ Cryin’, signed Grammy-winning recording artist Lisa Loeb as an A&R executive at Geffen Records, and worked as a producer for artists like Ryan Adams. He currently advises the startup music companies Soapbox Studios and 24/7 Artists and writes about the history of the entertainment business on Subastack at Stars After Stars After Stars. As a freelancer, he has contributed to Slate, the Robb Report, and Rick Beato’s Everything Music channel on YouTube.