Victrola Stream Onyx
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Sonos, the wi-fi speaker firm, would not make a turntable, but when it did, the Victrola Stream Onyx is likely to be what it might appear to be.
The Stream Onyx is smooth and trendy and might hook up with a number of Sonos audio system over Wi-Fi.
The Stream Onyx is Victrola’s second stab at a technology-driven turntable. The primary was Stream Carbon which solely debuted final 12 months and retailed for $899.
Now, with Stream Onyx, the long-time music firm is decreasing the bar to entry for its Works with Sonos merchandise.
There are some variations with the {hardware}, however not as many as you may anticipate for a $300 distinction.
We loved utilizing the Stream Onyx related to bookshelf audio system with RCA cables, however this line of turntables from Victrola is geared towards Sonos prospects.
So, when contemplating a purchase order of the Stream Onyx, or Stream Carbon, the selection comes down as to whether you worth the wi-fi facet and the way a lot you worth the best particulars.
The advantages of a wi-fi document participant
When you think about the juxtaposition of the fiddly nature of listening to music on a turntable and nonetheless wanting the comfort of connecting it to wi-fi audio system, some psychological juggling happens.
Stream vinyl information wirelessly to Sonos audio system
Because of this, we now have primarily averted any Bluetooth-enabled turntables over time and caught to a wired connection.
Victrola’s use of Works with Sonos adjustments the equation slightly, although. The Stream Onyx has Wi-Fi built-in and when on the identical community, can immediately see and hook up with any chosen group of Sonos audio system.
This nicety and benefit go above and past different Bluetooth options in our minds. Plus, a stereo pair of Sonos One speaker or a 5 speaker are nice choices for music listening.
Listening on the Stream Onyx
The Victrola Stream Onyx turntable is a smooth piece of {hardware}. Not like Stream Carbon, it has a low profile and is available in a stealth black colour. We most well-liked this colour choice to the silver variant.
Aspect view
RCA connectors are on the again, together with an ethernet port for a wired community connection.
A single knob on the entrance is primarily for adjusting the amount on wirelessly related Sonos audio system however can be utilized for energy or manufacturing unit reset.
The tonearm is aluminum and contains an adjustable counterweight. As well as, there’s an anti-skiing adjustment out there, and the unit has an computerized begin.
To spherical out the options, there is a two-speed belt drive to play 33 1/3 and 45 RPM vinyl information, and it comes with an Audio Technica AT-VM95E cartridge.
In our use, the turntable appeared well-made and performed information as anticipated. It had a premium really feel, however we’re undecided the elements justify a $600 worth.
Exhibiting the again of the unit
Reducing the tonearm with the built-in lever was bouncier and fewer steady than most others we have tried — together with the Stream Carbon.
The playback was flawless when wired to bookshelf audio system. We listened to information starting from Sufjan Stevens to Mos Def, and the copy of the music was as anticipated.
On the wi-fi aspect, we bumped into audio dropping out at time. Altering the audio delay within the Victrola cell app from minimal to excessive helped with this however did not resolve it one hundred pc.
Ultimately, we moved from utilizing Wi-Fi to wiring an ethernet cable instantly into our router to attempt to keep away from any random occurrences. This nonetheless did not resolve the dropping of audio playback occasionally. We additionally made certain the unit was up-to-date and tried manufacturing unit resetting it greater than as soon as.
In fact, this community facet will depend upon folks’s dwelling Wi-Fi and exterior elements. Now we have a contemporary community configuration so it was disappointing to expertise any unreliability.
We did just like the instantaneous playback to our Sonos Play:5 once we lowered the needle. It was simple to enter the Victrola app and select a brand new speaker group too.
Equally, the amount knob on the Stream Onyx was an excellent addition. It made adjusting the amount a breeze.
The much less enticing components of the Stream Onyx
Sadly, we had been lower than thrilled with the finer particulars of the Stream Onyx. The entrance knob had a slight wobble to it.
The mud cowl leaned extra towards the aspect of artwork than utility, which was unlucky. It wanted to be eliminated completely with every use moderately than tilted again. It additionally did not do an excellent job of preserving mud off the highest of the unit.
Mud cowl is molded across the arm and sits on high
The faults and detractions from the Stream Onyx had been minimal however avoidable, making them really feel much more disappointing.
Is the Victrola Stream Onyx value its worth?
The Victrola Stream Onyx is a superb turntable that will get most of its worth from its Works with Sonos integration.
Whereas it could sound shocking, we nonetheless suppose the Stream Onyx is a stable possibility for individuals who are all-in on the Sonos ecosystem. The community points had been random sufficient that it is arduous to write down off the unit for everybody. It is one thing we’ll proceed to regulate over the long run.
We do advocate contemplating the Victrola Stream Onyx for anybody who self-identifies as a music lover trying to find a particularly trendy possibility. In loads of methods it felt like an unofficial Sonos turntable.
However most individuals sufficient in listening to vinyl information are additionally keen to undergo the difficulty required to get a greater worth on a inexpensive turntable or spend extra on higher elements.
Professionals
- Works with Sonos integration
- Quantity knob is helpful and labored nicely
- Glossy and classy design
Cons
- Audio drop-outs when utilizing wi-fi or ethernet
- Mud cowl might be extra practical, simpler to make use of
Ranking: 3 out of 5
The score would have been larger if this product had been $50 to $100 cheaper and had fewer connection points. Nonetheless, we did like Stream Onyx higher than the Stream Carbon for the financial savings.
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