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Victrola’s new Bluetooth speaker makes a robust displaying, providing spectacular sound high quality in a small package deal, good for hanging out in your desk close to your Mac.
Victrola, recognized for its reasonably priced fashionable turntables, has lastly damaged into the world of Bluetooth audio system. We’re excited to take a look at the Music Edition 2, a tabletop speaker with ample battery life and built-in wi-fi charging.
Victrola Music Version 2 – Design
The Music Version 2 boasts a contemporary design that we really feel would match into most houses. As well as, we preferred how the geometric sample on the entrance offers a little bit of visible curiosity with out feeling too gaudy.
The steel exterior additionally makes it really feel extra substantial than many different transportable audio system we have tried out. It has an IP67 ranking, that means that it is secure to take it poolside or to the seashore.
The ME2 that we obtained is a modern, matte black, but it surely additionally is available in silver.
In it for the long term
Victrola says that the Music Version 2 can stand up to twenty hours of playtime earlier than it must be recharged. Nonetheless, we received nearly 19 hours at 50% quantity earlier than the speaker shut down. Shut sufficient.
If performed at a decrease quantity, you should still have the ability to get the 20 hours marketed.
The speaker costs by way of USB-C, and from empty, we discovered that it took a little bit over 4 and a half hours to cost absolutely.
However the Victrola Music Version 2 is greater than a tabletop speaker — it is also a handy Qi charging pad. We examined it with our iPhone and a skinny TPU case, and it labored with no points. Nonetheless, when examined with a thicker case, it was hit-or-miss if we might get it to cost.
In fact, utilizing it as a charging pad will drain its inner battery sooner, but it surely’s nonetheless a pleasant characteristic to have. We expect that this characteristic makes it a superb dorm room or studio house accent.
Victrola Music Version 2 – Sound high quality and efficiency
The Victrola Music Version 2 options Bluetooth 5.0, which makes it simple to pair with smartphones, tablets, computer systems, or different Bluetooth-enabled audio units. We had no concern connecting it to any machine we threw at it. It doesn’t characteristic AirPlay.
It additionally has a line-in, which suggests you possibly can join it to a legacy machine or liberate a Bluetooth slot in your Mac should you so select.
It even performs MP3s from USB-C flash drives, which is a useful trick should you’re going tenting and do not need to drain your telephone battery enjoying music.
When it got here time to check the sound, we had been stunned by how full it sounded. It is received a stunning quantity of bass for a tabletop speaker.
The midrange additionally sounded good, and we’re happy to report that the high-end is crisp and appears to carry its personal regardless of the quantity. There was no distortion, even on the highest quantity.
Talking of quantity it will probably get surprisingly loud. It averaged about 78 decibels at most quantity from three toes away throughout our testing, which appeared an acceptable distance for a desktop speaker. A couple of instances, the speaker might common a little bit over 80 decibels, however this closely is dependent upon what you are listening to.
This can be a bit decrease than the HomePod mini and rather a lot decrease than the HomePod.
As a result of it is a single speaker, the soundstage is not significantly sturdy. Nonetheless, you possibly can pair two audio system collectively for true stereo sound at midway between what pair of HomePod mini or authentic HomePods would price.
General
The Victrola Music Version 2 is a superb choice when house is at a premium. You may simply tuck it away on a desktop, a bookshelf, or a kitchen counter. As we might talked about earlier than, it could make a improbable speaker for a dorm room, a studio house, or a small speaker for a house workplace.

The speaker costs by way of USB-C and in addition options an audio-in port to connect with legacy units
Whereas it isn’t going to switch a high-end, multi-speaker sound system for audiophiles, for individuals who desire a small all-purpose speaker with just a few further advantages, the Music Version 2 is a stable alternative.
If you would like a smaller speaker, Victrola additionally has the Music Edition 1, which is half the dimensions of the ME2, has a 12-hour battery life, and no wi-fi charging capabilities, and prices $99.99.
Professionals of the Victrola Music Version 2
- Glossy design
- Stable development
- Wi-fi charging pad
- Respectable bass for its dimension
- Glorious high-end readability
Cons of the Victrola Music Version 2
The place to purchase the Victrola Music Version 2
The Victrola Music Version 2 retails for $199 and might be bought on the following retailers: