Until now, turntables could only be connected to the Sonos system in a roundabout way.
The new Stream Carbon and Stream Onyx models from Victrola close this gap: They can be easily, quickly and wirelessly connected to one or more Sonos speakers.
I took a closer look at the two devices and reveal whether they are worth buying.
Solid turntable for Sonos
The Victrola Stream is a solid turntable with good components and simple operation.
As with most devices, the turntable is driven by a belt. The usual two speeds of 33 ⅓ and 45 revolutions per minute are available.
The device is a so-called semi-automatic turntable: as soon as you remove the tonearm from the holder and place it on the record, the turntable starts to rotate.
As soon as the pickup reaches the end of the record, the turntable stops automatically. This prevents the familiar cracking noises in a continuous loop.
The turntable does not have a classic, transparent protective cover but a dust cover that is simply placed on top. This takes some getting used to visually.
Difference: Stream Carbon vs Stream Onyx
The Victrola Stream is currently available in two versions: Stream Carbon and Stream Onyx. Technically, both devices are basically identical.
The only differences are in the materials used and, accordingly, the price.
The housing of both versions is made of coated MDF – i.e. wood fiberboard.
The pickup of the more expensive Stream Carbon is made of carbon. This makes it lighter and transmits fewer unwanted vibrations.
The Stream Carbon also has other components made of metal: the front panel, the volume control, the base of the tonearm and other small parts.
In the cheaper Onyx model, these components are made of black plastic.
Another difference is the different cartridges: The Stream Carbon comes with an Ortofon 2M Red, which costs around 100 euros individually and delivers slightly better sound quality.
The Onyx has an Audio-Technica pickup (AT-VM95E) which costs around 50 euros individually.
Volume control with LED
Almost all functions of the Sonos turntable are set using the large volume control.
The border lights up in different colors and indicates the respective mode:
White: Turntable is running and/or is set as a Sonos source.
Flashing white: Turntable is starting
Flashing orange: Connection problem with Sonos system
Flashing red: Reset to factory settings
Flashing green: Establishing connection or software update
Various functions can be activated by pressing and holding the volume control:
Press and hold (1 second): Start or stop Sonos playback
Press and hold (1 second) if turntable is switched off: Switch on the device
Press and hold (5 seconds): Switch off the device (not recommended)
Press and hold (10 seconds): Reset to factory settings
Turn: Volume of the Sonos speaker or Sonos group
All LED notifications can be deactivated in the Victrola app.
Setting up Victrola Stream with Sonos
The Victrola app for Apple or Android is required to set up the turntable. A Sonos speaker or a group or room can be defined as the default device.
The Autoplay option can also be activated there: As soon as you play a record, playback starts on the standard speaker.
The turntable is not yet displayed as a separate source in the Sonos app. Perhaps this will be changed with a future update of the Victrola Stream – or the Sonos app.
Connections
Both models of the Victrola Stream have identical connections at the rear: In addition to the power connection, there are two RCA sockets and a LAN connection.
The LAN connection can be used as an alternative to the WLAN connection and may provide a more stable connection in rooms with a poor signal.
In my test, however, the WIFI connection worked perfectly and without dropouts.
The turntable can be connected to the line-in input of a standard amplifier or receiver via the RCA connections. Two modes can be selected in the Victrola app:
RCA Mode – Use the Victrola Stream app to change the RCA Output Mode
Simultaneous: The RCA output runs in parallel with Sonos playback. A possible delay of a few milliseconds can be adjusted in the app.
Switching: The cinch output is switched off as soon as music is played via Sonos. You can switch between Cinch and Sonos by pressing the volume control for 1 second.
Conclusion: Good device for Sonos fans
There is no question that the Victrola Stream is a solid turntable with high-quality workmanship and good components. The two versions not only offer two quality levels but also two good design options.
Thanks to the “Works With Sonos” stamp, the device can finally be officially and wirelessly integrated into the Sonos system.
Even though Sonos has been cooperating with turntable manufacturers such as Pro-Ject for some time, the detour via a cable can now be avoided.
Of course, the sound quality always depends on the sound carrier – in this case the record – but it is at a very high level.
So far, we have only deducted points for the detour via the very rudimentary Victrola app during setup. The design of the dust cover is certainly a matter of taste, but unfortunately it doesn’t meet mine.
Lars Grudzinski has been working as a sound and lighting technician since the 90s, was a DJ for electronic music, has a large collection of vintage speakers, and has been working for various radio stations in Germany for 20 years. At home, he enjoys high-quality home theater products such as soundbars and projectors and has installed an extensive Sonos system in his own home.