Victrola has introduced the Wave, a turntable that plays vinyl through both wired and Bluetooth connections.
The Wave is Victrola’s latest effort aimed at the hybrid turntable market that lets listeners choose between a traditional wired setup with speakers or Bluetooth stream to headphones or wireless speakers based on the set-up they prefer.
An adjustable counterweight lets owners fine-tune tracking force on the tonearm, a feature not seen too often on entry-level turntables which favour the convenience of fixed arms, implying that this turntable is aimed at those who have gone past beginner vinyl status. The cartridge included is the Ortofon OM 5E.
Alongside that level of control, speed selection covers 33.3 and 45RPM, giving the Wave the range to handle both full-length LPs and shorter singles.
A removable dust cover completes the design aspect, shielding the platter and stylus from dust when the turntable sits idle. Wireless performance covers aptX Bluetooth with aptX HD and aptX Adaptive. It also means that those with Android devices will get access to higher quality wireless sound over iOS.
Auracast Bluetooth also features, allowing the Victrola Wave to tap into and broadcast signals to share with compatible Bluetooth speakers and headphones. You can connect the turntable to Victrola’s own Tempo speakers over Bluetooth, which are available in the same Walnut finish as the vinyl player.
Victrola has built much of its recent line-up around accessible, retro-styled turntables aimed at listeners returning to vinyl after years spent away from physical formats and dedicated home listening equipment.
The Wave extends that positioning into a category that has grown as more listeners pair turntables with wireless speakers and headphones rather than dedicated stereo systems and separate amplifiers.
But the inclusion of the adjustable counterweight makes the case that this turntable is covering both convenience and performance; and for someone who is looking to step up from a beginner turntable, the Wave could be another step on their vinyl journey without sacrificing wireless convenience.
The Victrola Wave is available now, priced at £349 / $499 / €399. There’ll also be a limited-edition collaboration with Third Man Records in the US, with the turntable finished in the label’s signature yellow and black colours with exclusive branding and a custom slipmat.
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