Victrola Revolution Go Review (We Tested This Portable Record Player)

Victrola Revolution Go Review

The cool people at Victrola did me an amazing solid. They hooked me up with their Revolution Go portable record player before it hits the physical and virtual store shelves.

Let me tell you, I was skeptical at first. A portable record player? I didn’t know if it would meet the highest quality and standards that I’m used to from a company like Victrola.

After spending a month testing its portability, the Bluetooth speaker, the battery life, the headphone jack, the Vinyl Stream™ technology – I’ll tell you more later, and other great features, I have to admit that I’m really impressed with this portable record player.

Keep reading to find out the truth about what I learned as I tested this product. By the time you’re done, you’ll know if this portable record player passes muster or not.

At a Glance…


What we like
: 12 hours of battery life, easy to carry around

What we don’t like: 15% restocking fee when purchased directly from Victrola

Standout Features

  • External RCA jacks
  • Illuminated knob with voice confirmation
  • 1/8-inch headphone jack
  • 6.5 pounds – lightweight
  • Audio Technica 3600LA moving magnetic cartridge

My Verdict:

I have to tell you that I’m very impressed with the Victrola Revolution Go portable record player. I’m loving the fact that I can bring this record player to a picnic, a backyard party, the office, or anywhere else and listen to my favorite records at any time.

I do not need to plug it into a wall outlet because it has a built-in rechargeable battery that lasts for 12 hours when it’s fully charged. And even better, it has a 3-speed turntable, a phenomenal Audio Technica magnetic cartridge (needle,) and Vinyl Stream™ technology, which lets me pair the record player with external Bluetooth speakers.

Who is the Victrola Revolution Go Best Suited To?

Under the top cover of the Victrola Revolution Go

In truth, I’d like to say that the Revolution Go is best suited to everyone, but this isn’t necessarily the case. People who may want to think about getting one include:

  • Record collectors – do you love listening to music on vinyl? Do you have an amazing record collection at home or the office? Now you can bring it wherever you go and listen to them on a portable record player.
  • Voracious vinyl lovers – do you love the sound of music when it plays on a vinyl record? If you love the old world feel and style of a crackling record, you’ll definitely appreciate the Victrola Revolution Go because you can bring it with you wherever you go.
  • Technology dunces – do you consider yourself a dunce when it comes to technology? Don’t worry if that’s the case because this record player is really easy to use. If you could play records in the past, then you’ll have no trouble playing them in the present on the Revolution Go.

If portability is low on your priority list then you may want to take a look at the Victrola Eastwood Hybrid record player that a got my hands on and did a full review of.

Features & Benefits

Unpacking Victrola Revolution Go record player

Vinyl Stream™ Technology

I’ve mentioned this technology a few times already, but I haven’t fully explained it yet, so now is the time.

What is it?

For all intents and purposes, this tech makes it possible to connect to your portable record player and stream the audio into an external Bluetooth speaker.

Pretty neat, right?

I don’t know about you, but I definitely like having this option. Occasionally, I host larger parties, so I’ll connect this record player to multiple Bluetooth speakers so everybody can hear the music no matter where they happen to be during the party.

Trust me when I tell you that this tech is really awesome and you’ll appreciate the easy and quick Bluetooth Speaker connectivity.

Retractable Handle & Detachable Guitar Strap

Victrola Revolution Go Record player
Image Credit – Victrola

These features are all about portability. Depending on the length of my trip, I’ll either slide out the retractable handle and carry it in my hand if I’m only going a short distance. Or, if I’m going to be carrying the portable record player for a while, I will attach the detachable guitar strap and carry it across my shoulders.

Having multiple options for carrying this record player is important in my opinion. Sometimes, you’ll only need to carry the record player a short distance and the handle will suffice. Other times, you may have to walk a half a mile from the beach parking lot to the beach and back, and having this handy strap will make it that much easier.

Rechargeable Battery

Victrola Revolution Go record player

It wouldn’t be possible to have an amazing experience with a portable record player unless it had an effective rechargeable battery. Having a record player run on AA batteries or D batteries was really expensive because the batteries would die in a few hours and it would cost a lot of money to replace them.

Thankfully, those days are over my friends. The rechargeable battery in this portable record player is powerful to say the least. Charge it fully before leaving your home and you can listen to this record player for 12 hours straight before the rechargeable battery runs dry.

Internal Bluetooth Stereo Speaker

Even though the Vinyl Stream™ technology makes it easy to hook up external Bluetooth speakers, they are actually unnecessary if you plan on sitting quietly at home while listening to your favorite records without a large group in tow.

How so?

The built-in Bluetooth stereo speaker is loud, clear, and perfectly suited to creating remarkable record player listening experiences for individuals and small groups. The audio pumps out of this speaker at very respectable and high decibel levels. Trust me when I say you will not be disappointed with this built-in Bluetooth stereo speaker in the least.

Limitations

Playing a record on the Victrola Revolution Go record player

Trouble Connecting to Other Bluetooth Devices

Unfortunately, some people tend to have a tough time connecting their Revolution Go record player to other Bluetooth devices. I can say with absolute certainty that this didn’t happen to me. I connected it to my phone and an external Bluetooth speaker and the connection process was easy and smooth both times.

But weird things happen to people when Bluetooth is involved and these things aren’t always fun or exciting. Some people have older Bluetooth devices that have a difficult time connecting. Other people just can’t seem to make a connection no matter how hard they try.

This can happen. It does happen. And it may happen to you. I’m not saying it will and I’m not saying it won’t, but please know that the possibility does exist.

Victrola’s Return Policy

Although I appreciate Victrola’s 30-day moneyback guarantee on all product purchases from their website, I am not a big fan of their restocking fee.

Yup, if you return a product purchased through their website at Victrola.com, they will hit you with a 15% restocking fee, which is calculated based on the price of the product.

As an example, if you purchase a $200 product on their website and return it within the 30-day moneyback guarantee window, you’ll have to pay for the return shipping and you’ll also pay an additional $30 restocking fee based on the 15% deduction.

They must have their reasons I guess, but I’m not a big fan of this tactic. I’d rather buy it from a third-party vendor like one of the big online retailers instead.

Popular Questions

How Long Will The Rechargeable Battery Last If It’s Fully Charged?

Out of every possible question, I feel this is the most important one since it’s impossible to use the record player once the battery dies. You need to know how long it’s going to last so you can plan accordingly.
I’m happy to say that when I originally received this product (remember that I got it early) Victrola hadn’t finished testing the battery yet. At the time, they thought the battery would only last for eight hours before it ran out.
Guess what? They completed testing on the battery a few days before I received the product – it was in transit – and sent me an email update. They said that their battery testing was complete, and they learned that their rechargeable battery actually lasts up to 12 hours.
I’ve since received the Revolution Go and I can happily confirm that you will get a solid 12 hours of battery life as long as the battery is fully charged before you begin using the portable record player.

How Difficult Is It to Carry the Victrola Revolution Go Portable Record Player?

I can only speak for myself, but I personally do not have any trouble carrying this portable record player wherever I need to bring it. I am 5’11” tall and weigh 300 pounds, so I’m not exactly a little guy by any stretch of the imagination.
But still…
This portable record player has a handy detachable guitar strap that you can connect to the record player and simply throw it over your shoulder. It’s only 6 ½ pounds, so it’s very lightweight and pretty easy to carry.
The one caveat I’ll mention is that for a smaller person, the record player might be a little bit on the bulkier side. So, it may be slightly awkward when carrying it using the shoulder strap. You can always use the retractable handle instead, which might be more manageable since you’re holding it in your hand.

Is It Easy to Remove The Removable Lid?

Personally, I didn’t have any trouble removing the removable lid. It’s very easy to detach and it’s a really cool additional feature that I didn’t expect.
The removable lid doubles as a vinyl stand. It actually holds as many as five records.
You can remove the lid and place it next to your portable record player and conveniently place five records in the vinyl stand. This will make it easy to keep track of your records while you’re on the go.

Experience Portable Record Playing Convenience with The Victrola Revolution Go!

The Victrola Revolution Go is truly an exciting and innovative idea. It’s something that I’ve wanted for a very long time and this company definitely delivered.

Do you love listening to vinyl records? Bring this portable record player with you the next time you’re going to a backyard party, the beach, a hike in the woods or bring it along the next time you decide to climb a mountain. You can bring your portable record player with you wherever you need to go and you’ll never be without your favorite songs again.

Further Reading: