Victrola and Audio Technica are two popular brands in the audio world. They are good choice for anyone who is looking for an entry-level turntable. Being someone who has personally tried and tested Victrola vs audio technica himself, both are good at playing vinyl records.
They both have some similarities, such as they can play all sizes of records at different speeds, such as 33, 45 and 78 RPM, work on belt-drive mechanisms and can be connected to external speakers.
However, the two record players have differences in how they’re made, how good they sound, what features they have, and how long they last. These differences help us decide which one is better, and that’s what we’ll talk about today.
Here is a quick difference between the two brands:
| Victrola | Audio Technica | |
| Audio Quality | Decent | Excellent |
| Ease of Use | Can right away play records | Need external speakers |
| Speed | 33 1/3, 45 and 78 RPM | 33 1/3, 45 and 78 RPM |
| Built-in speakers | Yes | No |
| Build Quality | Average | Excellent |
| Wireless Connectivity | Yes | Yes |
| AUX Connectivity | Yes | Yes |
| RCA Connectivity | Yes | Yes |
| Tracking Force | 5-6 grams | 1.8 to 2.2 grams |
| Adjustable Counterweight | No | Yes |
| Starts at (price) | 50 USD | 149 USD |
| Target Audience | Casual Listeners | Audiophiles |
About Victrola Turntables
Victrola is an audio company that started in 1906 and has record players and turntables in its product line. They are famous for producing suitcase record players that are affordable and come with the ease of playing vinyl records right away. Due to their cost and ease of use, they are the first choice of casual listeners who are seeking budget-friendly options.
Pros of victrola
No external components needed
One of the benefits of a Victrola record player is it doesn’t need any external components such as a pre-amp, amplifier or external speakers like the turntables from the other brands do. It gives you the freedom to play the vinyl records right away.
Affordable price
The victrola’s are more affordable as compared to the other turntables available in the market. They cost as cheap as 50 USD, and this makes them the perfect choice for a casual listener or someone who is just starting with vinyl records.
Works as a Bluetooth speaker
You have heard about record players and turntables that give you the feature to connect wireless speakers and headphones. But in the case of Victrola, you have something different. You have the option to connect your smartphone or laptop to the record player and use it as a Bluetooth speaker. Isn’t it cool?
Cons of victrola
Cheap components used
Because of the affordable price, most of the components in the record player are made up of less durable plastic. Apart from that the sapphire stylus used in the budget models easily wears out in 40 to 50 hours of usage.
Average sound quality
If you are going to use the internal speakers of victrola, you need to compromise with the sound quality as sometimes it may sound boxy. It’s still fine if you are a casual listener, but if you are an audiophile, you would seriously want something that sounds better.
Can damage your records
Due to the excess tracking force (between 5 to 6 grams), no option to manage counterweight and the low-quality stylus, there are chances that Victrola may damage your records in the long run. My advice is if you have a personal treasure of record collection, don’t play them on Victrola or even if you have to make sure the stylus is not worn out.
As a bonus, here is a guide for you to take good care of your stylus.
About Audio Technica Turntables
Audio Technica is a popular audio brand from Japan that has a wide range of products, including turntables, headphones and microphones. Its products are known for their top-notch build quality, excellent sound quality and durability. This makes this brand the first choice of vinyl enthusiasts, audiophiles and DJs around the world.
Pros of Audio Technica
Great sound quality
The best thing about the audio technica turntable is that it provides you with the best sound experience, and the cherry on top is that you can further enhance it with the choice of your speakers.
Bluetooth connectivity
Certain models from audio technica turntables such as AT-LP3XBT and AT-LP120XBT-USB come with the feature of wireless connectivity. This gives you the freedom to enjoy your music without the pain of connecting the wires.
Here is a guide to connect audio technica to wireless devices.
Excellent build quality
Excellent quality of components is used while making audio technica turntables. The audio technica turntables come with a diamond stylus that is more durable and lasts between 200 to 1000 hours.
Customization
Due to the option of customization in audio technica with a better set of external speakers and amplifiers, it has become the first of the enthusiasts.
Value for money
The turntables from the AT brand are more value for money as they don’t damage your precious record collection over time. The components are of good quality, and there are fewer chances of them wearing out easily.
Cons of Audio Technica
Need external speakers
With audio technica turntables you need external speakers to hear sound out of your vinyl. This is a big disadvantage for people who don’t want to purchase any additional devices or are on a budget.
Price
Some of the turntable models from Audio Technica can be expensive compared to entry-level turntables and record players from other brands. This can be a big disadvantage for budget-conscious customers who are looking for an affordable option.
Victrola vs audio technica: Detailed comparison
Audio quality
When it comes to the sound, audio technica provides a much better sound experience than any Victrola record player ever could. It is because of the high-quality components used such as the stylus and cartridge and the ability to connect high-end external speakers.
Ease of use
If we talk about ease of use, the Victrola record player has an edge over audio technica because of its built-in speakers and ease of plug and play. You can right away play the vinyl records on a Victrola whereas on any audio technica turntable, you need external speakers or to hear music.
Tonearm
Due to the high-quality components used audio technica has a much better and balanced tonearm. Whereas if we talk about the victrola, the tonearm is light and flimsy. This is a problem because if the tonearm is not balanced correctly, it would be difficult for needle to track grooves properly.
Tracking force
The suitcase record players like Victrola are known to exert very high downward tracking force while playing records that are somewhere between 5 to 6 grams. Adding to that, you don’t even have the option to adjust the downward tracking force because of the absence of an adjustable counterweight at the back of the tonearm. In comparison, the downward tracking force in audio technica turntables is ways less, 1.8 to 2.2 grams and can further be adjusted with the counterweight.
Build quality
Most of the components in Victrola record players are made up of plastic, which makes them less durable and sturdy. Audio Technica is known to build turntables by using aluminum and steel as the materials for components that make them durable and long-lasting.
Built-in speakers
Victrola record players come with built-in speakers that make them a complete audio package. On the other hand, audio technica needs external speakers to generate sound.
However, this also has a disadvantage, as built-in speakers cannot compete with the sound quality of a top-notch external speaker.
Price
The record players from Victrola are quite affordable and start from 50 USD, whereas turntables from Audio Technica start at 149 USD.
Target Audience
Victrola record players are preferred by casual listeners who want a simple, plug-and-play solution, while audio technica is the first choice of audiophiles and DJs who prioritize performance and quality.
Which is better for you?
Well, it all comes down to the budget and features you want. If you are a casual listener or just starting up with your record collection journey and want something on a budget that gives you the ease of plug and play, then Victrola Record Players can be a good choice for you.
But if you are a vinyl enthusiast, want something of great quality and don’t want to compromise with the audio quality, then turntables from Audio Technica are the best option for you.
My opinion:
If budget is not a constraint, the Audio Technica AT-LP60XBT turntable is a smart choice. It is fully automatic, has an aluminum platter, and comes with built-in Bluetooth, making it better value for money in the long run compared to any Victrola record players.
Final beat
Both brands have great record player and turntables that attracts a specific audience. For the people who are just starting up, Victoria is a good choice. For the audiophiles who cannot compromise with quality and want something customizable, Audio Technica is the one.
After going through this comparison, do let me know in the comments which one you would prefer for yourself.
