Should You Buy An Electronic Turntable? I Ditched My Bluetooth Speaker For One And Didn't Regret It

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• The Victrola Harmony turntable strategy is disposable for $299 successful nan colors Natural, Walnut, and Black.
• This strategy includes a full-size turntable, 2 bookshelf speakers, and an A-T ATN3600L cartridge, each awesome components for beginners.
• At its $300 value constituent ($100 up from its debut successful Jan.), group consenting to walk this benignant of money whitethorn beryllium fresh for a much precocious system.

If you've ever considered "getting into audio," hole to walk a mates of 100 (if not thousands) dollars connected your gear, whether it beryllium headphones, amps, digital-to-analog converters, aliases beingness media for illustration CDs, cassette tapes, and vinyl records.

One point that ever rings true, nary matter your preferred audio medium, is that you'll brushwood proposal that wholly dumps connected your favourite devices. It's a rite of passage. If vinyl is your jam, and you want an easy, simple, fully-kitted turntable strategy to statesman building your collection, nan Victrola Harmony is simply a bully spot to start.

Also: Everything you request for a vinyl setup: The champion turntables, speakers, and more

You don't request to effort to find a vintage strategy that needs immoderate fixing up astatine a flea marketplace 4 hours away. It's OK to want an easy-to-use grounds subordinate pinch integer features and a cool design. Sometimes, tech is conscionable fun, and nan Harmony is very fun. Here's why.

Beginning pinch design, nan Harmony strategy blends classical creation pinch modern integer features. It has textbook mid-century creation elements characterized by minimalism, a operation of wooden, plastic, and metallic materials, and earthy wood-colored tones. 

Also: The champion speakers for vinyl successful 2025: Expert recommended

The turntable strategy includes a full-sized turntable pinch matching bookshelf speakers. The cartridge is an Audio-Technica ATN3600L, and it has a integrative particulate cover. There are RCA ports for connecting to different speakers and a 3.5mm jack for headphones aliases different compatible speakers.

The turntable is larger than nan brand's compact all-in-one turntables, but moreover if you're debased connected space, a mini guidelines tin clasp nan turntable, bookshelf speakers, and a fewer records and incorporate them successful a mini information of a room.

For integer fans, nan Harmony is equipped pinch Bluetooth connectivity to watercourse euphony from your instrumentality to nan Harmony. Additionally, Victrola's VinylStream exertion allows nan reverse: you tin watercourse your records from nan Harmony to your Bluetooth speakers aliases headphones.

I group up nan Harmony successful my agency and spun nan top medium of each time, Michael Jackson's "Thriller." It sounded great; location is simply a important upgrade successful sound pinch Victrola's outer speakers compared to its all-in-one aliases suitcase turntables pinch built-in speakers. 

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Listening successful stereo pinch dedicated left/right speakers is simply a awesome measurement to bask vinyl, and you tin switch retired Victrola's packaged speakers if you person different brace you prefer. I don't person thing antagonistic to opportunity astir Victrola's included speakers; nan ATN3600L cartridge promises smooth, balanced listening, and it translates good done nan speakers.

Behind nan cloth that covers nan speakers' grille, Victrola says each speaker has a dedicated subwoofer, tweeter, and a larboard successful nan backmost for enhanced low-frequency response. 

Also: I'm taking my favourite portable vinyl subordinate connected each my summertime trips

The ATN3600L cartridge is comparatively inexpensive and well-received, making it a coagulated action for introduction aliases mid-level vinyl enthusiasts connected a budget. It's easy and affordable to replace, and successful cleanable conditions, it tin supply astir 400 hours of playback.

The speakers get very loud, large capable that I could perceive nan euphony passim my full house. Even astatine large volumes, nan speakers weren't overwhelmed by nan accrued bass. If you person a mini statement aliases gathering astatine your house, nan Harmony tin beryllium a connection portion and an entertainer, ensuring everyone successful nan location tin perceive nan music.

Jada Jones/ZDNET

The Harmony's integer features are very easy to use. You tin clasp down nan power/volume knob to toggle betwixt vinyl, VinylStream, Bluetooth, and aux modes, and it was easy to brace pinch my iPhone. 

ZDNET's buying advice

The Victrola Harmony is simply a stylish, easy-to-navigate turntable strategy that blends mid-century analog elements pinch up-to-date integer streaming features. It's a coagulated action for group who aren't fresh aliases capable to put heavy successful a much broad system. It doesn't return overmuch to get nan Harmony going, and its mid-century creation makes for a bully portion of decor. 

With bookshelf speakers arsenic mini but mighty arsenic nan Harmony's, coupled pinch nan turntable's Bluetooth capabilities, this strategy is awesome for playing nan soundtrack to your societal gatherings. 

I will statement that erstwhile nan Harmony debuted successful Jan. astatine CES 2025, nan going value was $199, which is an fantabulous value for nan package. Now, astatine launch, nan Harmony retails for $299. If you're fresh for thing much precocious astatine this value point, you whitethorn for illustration thing for illustration nan Audio Technica AT-LP3XBT