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Anything but old-fashioned: turntables are hip and can also be used in a contemporary way with a wireless module
Photo: Gerd Blank
Clearly, streaming services like Spotify set the tone when listening to music.
Still, records are doing well.
Last year even more vinyl records were sold than CDs.
There is also no shortage of new turntable models.
But for many music lovers, it is not enough to play their records in the conventional way.
You want to use the convenience of modern playback devices, enjoy music over Bluetooth speakers and wireless headphones, not just in front of the stereo system.
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Audio purists are now getting stress pimples on their necks, after all, digital transmission changes the analog sound.
But not every music lover has perfect hearing - which can be seen in the great success of small speakers.
The flair of a record is often more important than the sound.
Accordingly, it does not always have to be the optimal cable connection if you want to listen to your old or new favorite discs or radio plays.
Of course, it is best if you have a choice and the Bluetooth connection is just one of several options.
The wireless transmission of vinyl sound definitely has one advantage: the turntable can be placed decoratively in the room and does not need a fixed location.
It should only stand securely and free of vibrations so that the needle does not bounce with the beat when you pass the player.
For this test I built up a few current models and thus heard my way through my record collection, sometimes with and sometimes without cables.
Products at a glance
Dual DT 230 BT (RRP 139 euros)
Fully automatic turntable with a system from Audio Technica
Pro-Ject Audio Systems T1 BT (RRP 369 euros)
Minimalistic turntable with a system from Ortofon
Sonoro Platinum (RRP 599 euros)
Noble record player with USB connection and an Ortofon system
Crosley Voyager (80 euros)
retro record player in a case with speakers and Bluetooth reception
Reloop Spin (220 euros)
DJ turntable with battery operation and memory function for your own mixes
That's how we tested
Processing:
How well is the player processed?
Setup and operation:
How quickly is the turntable ready to go and how does it sound?
Price-performance:
Is it worth the purchase?
Dual DT 230 BT
Icon: enlarge Photo: Gerd Blank
The Dual brand is something of a challenge cup; there have been different owners in recent years.
Nonetheless, when the big box with the big Dual logo arrived, I remembered the record player that I had received for confirmation.
It was around 40 years ago - and yet I still associate many wonderful musical experiences with him.
I remember exactly how I played the Beatles' white album and the Emerson, Lake & Palmer live album on it.
Newer discs are now being added to the DT 230 BT, because modern technology deserves a modern soundtrack.
The design of the lightweight turntable looks like it came straight from the early eighties.
The feel is more reminiscent of a toy than a high-end device.
Can you really trust this player with your vinyl treasures?
Well then, a test is a test.
The assembly is done quickly: When putting the turntable on, the drive belt must be correctly placed over the spool, which is not a major challenge.
The tonearm is adjusted at the factory, so you can start right away.
The built-in phono preamplifier is practical, so you can plug the Dual into amplifiers that do not have a phono input.
Active speakers can also be connected directly.
But this is about the wireless connection.
After pressing the Bluetooth switch, the turntable goes into pairing mode.
As soon as a receiver in the vicinity searches for a Bluetooth source, the connection is established automatically.
Now the disc comes on the plate.
The DT 230 BT is a fully automatic turntable, pressing the start button sets the turntable in motion and guides the AT 3600 magnetic pickup system from Audio Technica to the beginning of the record.
As soon as the run-out groove is reached, the tonearm is automatically moved to its starting position and the platter stops.
Sometimes I forget that cheap hardware can produce decent results.
The Dual even scores with the option of using the high-resolution aptx standard to digitally transmit the analog sound of the record via Bluetooth.
Overall, it is not enough for the very big ear cinema, but the result is very good for home use.
After all, in this quality level you don't hear any difference between a cable connection and a Bluetooth connection.
Conclusion
You can see that the turntable is cheap, but the sound is okay.
If you are just looking for a decent player for your old record collection, you can lend an ear to the Dual.
Pro-Ject Audio Systems T1 BT
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Where Dual relies on retro design, Pro-Ject wants to score with minimalism: The T1 BT has done without any frills.
Only when it comes to colors is there a choice between black, white and wood.
The flat turntable is so simple that it is easy to underestimate it.
But that would be a mistake, because the chassis contains everything you need for fine vinyl enjoyment.
The glass platter is placed on a smaller plate, which in turn is driven by a belt.
That, in turn, has to be shifted by hand to change the speed.
This is a bit cumbersome because you have to remove the glass plate for it.
The rest of the setup is simple, because the tonearm with the Ortofon system was adjusted at the factory.
If you don't trust this setting or want to install a new system, an easy-to-use adjustment aid is included.
The power button is on the left, the Bluetooth switch is on the right.
Nothing works automatically here, listening to music has a lot to do with manual labor.
The operation of the thin lifting arm is a bit fiddly.
The tonearm must be carefully guided over the desired location on the record and then gently lowered.
When the needle reaches the end of the outlet groove, the turntable continues to rotate and the tonearm has to be brought to the rest position by hand.
The sound is clear, differentiated and yet not too cool.
The sound is also very pleasant wirelessly, there are no dropouts - provided the distance between the transmitter and receiver is not too great.
During the test with good Bluetooth headphones, I sometimes heard a very faint humming sound in the background in quiet passages.
However, the noise did not disturb the music.
Conclusion
The attractively priced T1 is an eye-catcher from a purely visual point of view.
The cumbersome change in speed is a bit annoying, but the Pro-Ject can convince technologically and sonically.
Sonoro Palatinum
Icon: enlarge Photo: Gerd Blank
How important turntables are again can be seen from the fact that more and more audio companies have at least one model in their range.
Like Sonoro, actually known for smart mini-systems and networked radios.
With the Platinum, the company has added a turntable to its range that should also meet high sound requirements.
But let's start with the design: With its angular and aseptic appearance, the Sonoro could be an eye-catcher in agencies and medical practices - if you were to listen to records there.
There is a choice of three colors: black and white in high gloss, as well as a matt gray.
The style matches Sonoro's other audio equipment.
When setting up, simple instructions will help you tare the weight and tonearm with the Ortofon system.
The massive platter is driven by a belt that has to be carefully pulled over the drive roller.
In contrast to the Pro-Ject, the speed of the turntable is selected with a rotary control.
Now only the cable has to be connected to an amplifier or directly to active speakers.
The Bluetooth connection is established quickly and reliably.
The sound is great: the needle glides gently along the groove and produces a balanced sound.
It also sounds wonderful and direct via Bluetooth headphones.
The converter, which is responsible for the transfer of the analog to digital tones, does an excellent job.
Conclusion
The Platinum would be a great turntable even without the Bluetooth function: The sound is good and can easily keep up with the sound of high-priced turntables from established brands.
In the automotive sector one would speak of an upper middle class.
The design is appealing, but also a little discouraged.
The wireless connection to headphones or speakers is a welcome extra.
Two that can do a little more
All in all, it is a practical extension when turntables transmit vinyl sound via Bluetooth.
However, the technology also has disadvantages.
Since the turntables, for example, do not have a volume control, at least the headphones or active speakers that are connected to them should have them.
In addition, Bluetooth is not the perfect wireless solution: Apple's HomePods and most Sonos speakers, for example, cannot be addressed via it.
In order to be independent of a receiver, a headphone connection for cable headphones would be useful.
By the way, owners of old turntables do not have to do without Bluetooth, since many external phono preamplifiers can now also send Bluetooth sound signals - for example the Phono Box from Pro-Ject.
But a Bluetooth connection is not a one-way street for turntables either, it can do a lot more.
That's why I tested two players that can not only send music via the wireless connection, but also receive it.
Crosley Voyager
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For a few years now, the Crosley company has been packing turntables in small suitcases.
The devices are available in many different colors and sizes.
The black Voyager landed on my table.
It is clear at first glance: the technology is not as spectacular as the optics.
The material of the case looks cheap, when opening it I discover pressure points on the inside of the tonearm.
The turntable is made of plastic, the tonearm sits quite unstably in its holder.
You don't have to set up the turntable in a complicated way: unpack, plug in the power cable and off you go.
However, it scares me a little to put my good records on it.
And rightly so: The needle stays safely on track, but the sound from the tiny built-in speakers is terrible.
It sounds like a can phone.
I still give the device a chance and plug headphones into the corresponding output, turn the volume a little and listen - a sound that I would never want to hear again.
At least not when I want to hear my favorite music.
Above all, there is a lack of dynamism.
The sound is very pale, which is mainly due to the cheap pickup and the cheap speakers.
When I connect my smartphone via Bluetooth, transfer music from there to the suitcase and listen to it through wired headphones, the sound is very good.
No wonder, because in principle the songs are simply passed through.
Without headphones, however, is not usable at all due to the sound.
The only way to improve the sound is to connect active speakers, but that would lose the joke of this turntable.
Conclusion
The Crosley record player is a real eye-catcher - to be listened to.
You can safely use it for old panes from the flea market.
For example, if you find a box with slightly scratched singles from jukeboxes, the suitcase gives you that complete retro feeling.
And in children's rooms it is a nice playback station for old radio plays on vinyl.
However, if you value good sound, you should lock the case - and throw away the key.
Reloop spin
Icon: enlarge Photo: Gerd Blank
The Spin from Reloop is a real DJ suitcase.
The design looks futuristic.
The term tool case would also fit, after all, the spin is supposed to help aspiring record artists with their work.
A gray turntable is hidden under the domed plastic lid, which looks way too small for large discs.
The pre-assembled tonearm rests on a small plastic mandrel, the platter is the size of a single.
But above all you can see switches, controls and rotary knobs.
It seems playful, but I would rather call the Spin a mobile musical instrument.
Because even if the turntable can of course play its own discs - and even in a surprisingly decent quality - it is primarily used to train scratch skills.
The spin comes with a single with loops that you can use for exactly that.
And now the Bluetooth connection comes into play.
If a smartphone is connected, its music is transferred to the device and can be expanded to create your own mix with scratch sounds.
The result of this mixture can be recorded on a USB stick or computer.
The Spin is also supplied with power via USB - or by battery, which makes it a companion for picnics or camping.
The sound from the built-in speaker is mediocre, however.
It gets better if you connect boxes by cable or use headphones.
Unfortunately, wireless boxes do not work because Bluetooth is only used for sound reception.
Conclusion
The Spin is a cool turntable for mobile DJs.
The plastic look almost looks like a toy.
Never mind, because it is actually a pleasure to play with.
I wouldn't play my favorite records on it, but it is wonderfully suitable for a few old party hits.
The scratch function is fun, but more of a gag than a useful feature.
But the battery operation offers great added value.
A fun device - unfortunately relatively expensive.
Icon: The mirror
