Victrola adds new wireless options to its Sonos-compatible turntables.
High-tech turntables are integrating Bluetooth, UPnP, and streaming features through Roon. Victrola's selection comes after a challenging year for Sonos.
Owners of Victrola's high-end turntables, which are compatible with Sonos and were released in recent years, will benefit from a new update that will expand their versatility. The company announced that all of its Sonos-compatible vinyl turntables will now support Bluetooth, Universal Plug and Play (UPnP), and high-fidelity streaming through Roon. This update will significantly enhance the streaming capabilities of the Stream Carbon, Pearl, and Onyx models. Meanwhile, the ultra-premium Sapphire turntable, which already includes these features, has received the update automatically, reflected in the app, where previously only a default Sonos speaker could be selected.
While this is good news for those who have invested between $600 and $1,500 in a high-tech turntable, it is worth noting that many are questioning why these devices did not have such capabilities since their launch, despite having the necessary hardware. While the company positions this update as a natural step to help vinyl enthusiasts, it can also be observed that Sonos's problematic situation over the past year may have influenced the decision to activate these functionalities now.
A significant failure in a Sonos app update in May triggered a series of issues that included mass layoffs and the departure of its CEO and product director in January. Although Victrola had introduced more affordable versions of the same turntables without Sonos compatibility months before the company's troubles began, it is plausible that they had reservations about the future of Sonos and chose to reactivate the wireless capabilities of the compatible models.
Scott Hagen from Victrola commented on this update: "This advancement is an important step in our mission to combine the warmth of vinyl with the convenience of modern wireless audio. Victrola Stream turntables have been the top choice for Sonos users, and now we are extending that effortless streaming experience to more audio ecosystems. Vinyl enthusiasts can thus enjoy premium wireless flexibility without compromising on quality."
