pros and cons

Pros

• Elevated design
• Punchy, deep bass
• Plenty digital and analog connectivity

Cons

• Recessed upper-mids
• Limited separation

more buying choices

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Building a vinyl system can be a major task: you’ll need a turntable and bookshelf speakers, and if they’re analog, you’ll also need a preamp, maybe an amp, too. Then, you’ll need records and a place to store them. Vinyl can be a demanding and space-consuming hobby.

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Many people are low on space for several reasons, but an all-in-one suitcase turntable isn’t an option for someone with a sophisticated ear. A soundbase like the Victrola Soundstage can help you build your vinyl system up rather than out, without compromising sound quality. 

It’s quite impressive

The Victrola Soundstage sits underneath your turntable. The Soundstage was made with Victrola’s Wave and Automatic turntables in mind, but as long as your turntable has a preamp or you have an external one, it’ll work with the Soundstage.

The Soundstage’s sound profile leans warm, with a greater emphasis on low and lower-mid frequencies. You end up with a very punchy, deep bass response with minimal distortion, making hip-hop and pop tracks highly enjoyable, whether you’re listening passively at low levels or having a maxed-out volume jam session. 

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I spun BTS’s “Arirang” album and enjoyed the high-energy A-sides, while the slower, more relaxed B-sides offered just as much bass with a little recession in the upper range. Upper-mids get a little lost, but vocals aren’t drowned out by bass.

This emphasis on low frequencies, with slight damping at higher frequencies, is a combination of the analog medium and the Soundstage’s tuning. You’ll get more of the smaller details in a higher-resolution digital format, but the Soundstage’s texture and bass reproduction make for an enjoyable listen.

However, the grainy, textured vinyl sound comes through well in BTS’s “no. 29” and “Swim,” which have much quieter moments. In short, I’d describe the Soundstage’s sound as similar to that of a warm, bass-forward smart speaker that can replicate vinyl’s texture. So, if you like the auditory feel of vinyl, the Soundstage still preserves it, despite its digital prowess. 

I also spun Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” and the Soundstage shone so much more. I’d like to attribute it to the analog recording methods of the 1980s, compared with the highly digitized methods used on albums in the late 2020s. Even with “Thriller,” the Soundstage’s upper-mids were still recessed, but it had much more color and a more present midrange. 

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The Soundstage’s bass response is a lesson in physics. It uses force-opposing diaphragms to reduce vibrations, thereby avoiding record scratching or cabin shaking. You can feel most of the Soundstage’s vibrations underneath it, where the subwoofer resides. The Soundstage’s feet keep it from making direct contact with your table or stand, giving the air room to disperse. 

As a result, the Soundstage makes the age-old rule of not placing your speakers on the same surface as your turntable null and void.

So many ways to connect

There are RCA, optical, Sub-out, and USB-C inputs on deck for connecting external devices, and Bluetooth and Auracast are available for digital connections. Victrola’s Auracast is open, meaning you can connect the Soundstage to non-Victrola devices that are Auracast-compatible. 

The Soundstage serves as an Auracast transmitter and receiver, enhancing its digital versatility. However, receiver mode only works when connected with other Victrola speakers. So, you can spin a record and put the Soundstage in broadcast mode with the included remote or by double-pressing its knob, and connect to compatible headphones or speakers. Or, you can start a broadcast from your compatible phone, and Victrola speakers can easily join.

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Though the Soundstage’s Auracast role might sound like a bummer, it does make sense. If you’re streaming music on your phone, you can create a whole-home speaker setup via Auracast, and the Soundstage can join the broadcast.

You can also take a trip to the pre-soundbar era, and use the Soundstage as a soundbase for your TV via an optical connection. The Soundstage’s USB-C ports can connect to a PC to act as speakers, or you can plug in a USB-C drive with audio files.

Don’t forget the objective

You’ll find that powered bookshelf speakers can deliver more separation and imaging, but they likely won’t deliver the punchy bass you can feel in your chest that makes you want to get up and dance. The Soundstage does.

If you don’t have the space for the several components that can make up a vinyl setup, the Soundstage solves your problem without the tinny, hollow, and downright unfun sound of a suitcase record player. 

ZDNET’s buying advice

If versatility is what you’re after, you’ll find that the Victrola Soundstage excels at it. For beginners with minimal space looking to upgrade their setup, the Soundstage is certainly an improvement over low-quality speakers or an all-in-one suitcase record player. With so many analog and digital connection methods, you can squeeze a lot of use out of the Soundstage.

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If you’re a more seasoned vinyl enthusiast, you’ll enjoy the Soundstage’s compact frame, especially if you’re looking to build a second (or third) vinyl setup away from your main one. It will be bassier than your balanced, audiophile-grade speakers, but it is very fun, and sometimes that’s what matters more.