The retro charm of vinyl and the latest technology come together perfectly in this JBL turntable

X (EDIZIONES/Portaltic)

Retro is in fashion and JBL has been able to take advantage of this trend to perfectly combine the 'vintage' magic of vinyl with technology in its JBL Spinner BT Bluetooth turntable, which arrived in Spain at the end of last year for 399.99 euros under the promise of getting those old records back and playing them without compromising audio quality. We wanted to put it to the test and we are going to tell you our impressions.

Before entering into technical aspects, it is important to understand the company's strategy, which positions itself intelligently in a growing sector, offering a very careful aesthetic (one of the aspects that the user profile of retro record players values ​​most) and a Much higher quality than the suitcase-type players that have become popular in recent years, which are closer to a 'decorative toy' than an audio device. All this without the price skyrocketing, making it a very interesting option for a wide audience.

Thanks to aptX HD encoding it ensures that the authentic sound of this format is not compromised, and can be easily paired with portable speakers, sound bars and headphones via Bluetooth. We can tell you that the charm of taking a vinyl out of its box, seeing how the needle comes into contact with the record and hearing how the music begins to be played wirelessly is a wonderful experience. Taking old vinyl out of the storage room and sharing it with family (those who used it daily in the past and those who have never seen one at home) is something unique.

EASY START-UP AND HIGH FIDELITY SOUND

For those who are not used to this type of device, facing the 'installation' of a turntable may seem like a challenge, but JBL has made it very easy. The steps are as follows: place the plate and belt around the motor pulley, install the headstock and counterweight and follow the brand's simple instructions so that the tonearm is calibrated. In just 15 minutes the first song will be playing.

On the back of the turntable is the button panel. It is logical that the connection of the cables is located in this place so that they are hidden, but -however- there are buttons that from our point of view should be more accessible, such as the Bluetooth connection to pair the turntable with the speaker. , or the automatic start and pause, which allows the needle to be raised when the record has finished. These buttons are usually attached to the wall and are inconvenient to access. A point to improve.

For a wired connection, the turntable features an analog output with an interchangeable moving magnet phono stage perfect for use with traditional component audio systems or active speaker systems. In any case, what stands out is its Bluetooth option, which works perfectly with JBL's own speaker or other mid-high range speakers that accept the aptX HD format (which supports high definition audio up to 24 bits/48 kHz). ). We put it to the test with a Sonos Era 300 speaker and the experience was perfect.

AN ELEGANT DESIGN AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

As we mentioned at the beginning, the design is another of the strong points of the JBL Spinner BT turntable. In both the Black & Orange and Black & Gold versions (which is the one we have tested), this device becomes another element of decoration in the home. An excellent choice for both those nostalgic for this type of product and for young people looking to give a vintage touch to their home, recovering the magic of vinyl and the analog world at the time of the reign of Spotify and the digital format.

The JBL Spinner BT plays records in perfect time at 33 1/3 rpm for LPs and 45 rpm for EPs and singles, the speeds are locked with a sensor to ensure perfect pitch from the belt-driven aluminum platter. Users only need to choose between 33 and 45 rpm on the front two photons before moving the needle. The toner features a high-quality Audio Technica moving magnet cartridge pre-installed in a removable head for easy replacement and updating.

We must not forget that, although the reproduction through the speaker is perfect, with great detail and nuances, vinyl – especially the older ones – usually give off a slight sound or vibration from the turntable itself, which for some users can be be annoying when listening at low volumes. With the dust cover lowered, those 'treble' are mitigated, which also disappear completely when listening with headphones. After all, this return to analogue has small 'buts'.

In any case, and to conclude, we think it is a highly recommended investment. Return to enjoy the experience of choosing, playing and feeling music as in the past, being much more aware of the entire process in an era marked by immediacy. We find the price competitive, although we must not forget that a Bluetooth speaker must be added to the record player to match.