A fantastic and groovy new record player
I’m sitting in the living room, listening to the Jackson 5 on a 45 RPM vinyl record. No this is not the 1970s. But the music is taking me back to that era, for sure. This is 2023, and I’m using the Victrola Re-Spin, a new compact and lightweight sustainable bluetooth suitcase record player that looks like it’s from back in the day.
I have to say that the sound from it is pretty spectacular compared to what I expected. But first, know that setting it up is as simple as it gets. Pull it out of the box, connect the power cord and plug it in, remove the stylus dust cover, and start playing records. The Re-Spin is made of 25 percent recycled plastic (its packaging material is 100 percent recyclable) and features a built-in custom-tuned Bluetooth speaker and bass radiator enclosure, with 3x the bass of a standard suitcase record player. And that definitely comes through loud and very clear (like seriously, zero distortion no matter how high you adjust the volume).
The machine works in three ways. You can do what I did, and just put on a record – no it doesn’t have an elevated arm that holds and drops more records automatically when the current one’s finished, like the model I had back in the 1970s – and the music plays through the speaker. Or alternatively, you can send the music to an external bluetooth speaker. The third way is you can stream outside music in through the Re-Spin’s speakers. I did the latter, trying out the YouTube Music version of whichever record I had just played, to see the difference in quality. Honestly, it was great both ways. I’m not much of an audiophile, so take my words with a grain of salt. But it was fun, regardless.
Another nice touch is that the Re-Spin’s detachable cover can hold up to five LP covers, which makes for a nice display in a den or man cave. In its marketing material, Victrola says the speaker enclosure is custom-tuned, the built-in bass radiator delivers increased bass response, its Vinyl Safe technology incorporates anti-vibration bushings to prevent skipping and scratching, and there’s a port to insert headphones. Its 3-speed belt accommodates 33, 45 and 78 RPM records. And the 5.09-pound device is 12.83″ x 12.09″ x 4.53″.
I have a collection of about 50 records from the 1970s and 1980s, although at some point I must’ve given away a stack of albums I also owned. And it’s been a pleasure going back and listening to them with the Re-Spin. I forgot how record players emit a different sound, with clicks and crackling from the grooves coming through. It really does trigger all sorts of memories from my childhood.
And even if you don’t own a record, the Re-Spin has a great throwback look to it. So you can place it in a den or wherever, and use it as a simple bluetooth speaker. It sells for $100.