Pros
- Very easy to learn and use
- Versatile with multiple wireless and wired play options
- Very affordable
- Compact and lightweight
Cons
- Not hifi quality sound
- Missing a carry handle
- Record speed switch labels are tough to read
Teens are obsessed with retro tech from, as they like to call it, the “1900s.” It started with younger Millennials who never grew up with vinyl. Maybe they recall their grandparents having one of those record player things in the basement that spun those big discs when they went to visit. It continued with Gen Z, and is now a marvel to Gen Alpha who have likely only ever seen vinyl in movies.
Record players come in varying flavours. There are premium models for audiophiles, and mid-level models for those on a tighter budget looking to reignite their love of vinyl. There are also entry options for the younger, cash-strapped generation. What’s especially great about the Victrola Journey Glow Bluetooth Record Player is that it combines the best of two worlds: retro media playback with modern technology. You can play vinyl records, but you can also use it as a Bluetooth speaker. There’s much more you can do with it as well that makes this audio device a perfect gift for a teen or young adult who wants to know what all the fuss is about with vinyl.
About the Victrola Journey Glow
The Victrola Journey Glow, available through Erikson Consumer for just $150, is a record player housed in a lightweight, easily transportable suitcase design. There are two latches on either side that secure it closed. Open it up and there’s a platter, needle, 45rpm adapter, and buttons and knobs on the side.
These buttons control the mode. There’s phono for playing records, Bluetooth for streaming from a mobile device and Bluetooth Out or (as Victrola calls it, Vinylstream) for streaming audio from a record to outside speakers or headphones. There’s also Line In and Line Out for sending the audio to a separate speaker or other devices.
Additionally, it has front lighting, controlled using the GLOWRGB button. You can cycle through different colours, have it pulse to the music, strobe, or do any number of cool effects.
Victrola Journey Glow Review
The Victrola Journey Glow is downright adorable, a perfect gift to unwrap for a teen, young adult, senior, or any vinyl lover in between.
Unboxing and Setup
The suitcase securely latches on either side to keep the platter protected. Open it up, and you’re greeted with a compact record player that can play 33, 45, and 78rpm records.
On the right side are all the controls you’ll need while the front perimeter illuminates with RGB lighting, providing ambient effects. Plug the cable into the back and the adapter into a power source, and you’re ready to go. All it’s missing is a carry handle, though it’s lightweight enough to carry two handed.
Familiarizing yourself with the retro-style knobs, switches, and buttons, will take just a few minutes. It’s simple to figure out on your own or scan the included manual and you’ll be up to speed in no time.
Music playback
As noted, you can play music a few different ways from the record player, which functions as a portable Bluetooth speaker as well.
Playing Records
I first threw on a record. Don’t forget to remove the little plastic cover over the tip of the needle before you get started. Switch the mode knob to Phono and choose the right speed (you might need a flashlight to read the numbers). Add the adapter if you’re using a 45rpm record. Move the needle, sit back, relax, and listen. Turn the power knob to control volume. I would recommend flicking auto stop to the “on” position so the record automatically stops once done instead of continuing to spin.
It sounds instantly nostalgic, the lovely crackle of the record reminding you of listening back in the ’80s. It’s not especially loud. But the volume is perfect for background music during a dinner party, workday, or quiet reading. It’s wonderful for ambiance, but don’t expect to use this player for parties when you want the music to be front and centre.
Using Bluetooth
Turn the knob to Bluetooth and the record player will show up in the Bluetooth menu of a nearby device. I connected my iPhone 17 Pro and listened to tracks from Apple Music through the unit’s built-in stereo speakers. Use your connected device to control volume: the volume knob in this mode, even when turned to max, isn’t very loud.
It sounds decent enough for background tunes. This isn’t going to rival a dedicated portable speaker but it’s a play of convenience. Share your music with a roommate or dormmate, for example, or play tunes while you cook dinner or sit in your home office.
Vinylstream Bluetooth Out
Vinylstream is Victrola’s term for Bluetooth Out, allowing you to wirelessly connect a separate audio source, like speakers or headphones, to listen to the record through it. Turn the knob to Bluetooth Out and the light will flash blue to confirm that it’s in pairing mode. Turn on Bluetooth pairing from your audio device and the spinning record should begin to play. I tried this with various devices, including a Sonos Move portable Bluetooth speaker and Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 headphones. It works flawlessly, connecting immediately as the audio shifts. Again, the quality isn’t fantastic. But it’s convenient to be able to play records, connect a portable speaker, and listen in different rooms as you move around the house.
What About the Lighting?
Lighting is controlled using the GLOWRGB button. Press the button to turn the front perimeter lighting on or off. Double press it to cycle through different light modes. These includes multicolour, solid colour, and pulsing in tune to the music. Choose from one of six solid colours or multicolour to display them in rotation. There are different music pulse colour modes as well: transition, racetrack, strobe, snake, whitefall, and chase. It’s a fun and dynamic way to enhance the listening experience that the younger generation especially will love.
What Else to Know About the Victrola Journey Glow
Along with connecting the record player to a pair of wireless headphones to listen to vinyl privately, you can also plug in a pair of wired headphones using the headphone jack. Additionally, there’s a Line Out port on the back if you want to get louder, more pronounced audio through connection to powered speakers. It’s also worth noting that you will need to replace the stylus on the needle after every 300 hours of listening or so.
Should You Get the Victrola Journey Glow?
Those of the younger generation will love the Victrola Journey Glow record player, including teens and young adults experiencing vinyl for the first time. They’ll love frequenting local record shops and flipping through records to find gems. Having a cool record player for their bedroom, dorm, or small apartment will impress friends, too. It’s ultra versatile since it functions as a Bluetooth speaker as well and for private listening via wired or wireless headphones. It’s incredibly affordable. And while it won’t rival premium systems in terms of sound quality, the Victrola Journey Glow is ideal for those who value convenience above all else.
Those of the older generation who recall growing up with records, whether it was their own or their parents or grandparents, will love getting reacquainted with them as well. If they’re still holding onto an old vinyl collection, this is a simple and affordable way to encourage them to grab them from the attic, dust them off, and start playing again. They can relive their favourite albums, reading the jackets, and reminiscing about fond moments from their youth that each song reminds them of. If they later decide they truly want to get back into vinyl, they can upgrade to a more premium unit in the future.
The Victrola Journey Glow isn’t a hifi player. But it’s a convenient one. It’s incredibly easy to set up and use, even for technophobic grandparents. It’s portable and lightweight, so kids can bring it to a friend’s house, or a college student can grab it and bring to their friend’s dorm for study time. Take it from the kids’ bedroom to the basement, to the dining room, or wherever you want to spin records with ease. It’s a perfect starter record player that balances retro desires with modern music needs.
The Victrola Journey Glow record player is available through Erikson Consumer for $150.