I’m PCMag’s executive editor of reviews, steering our coverage to make sure we're testing the products you're interested in buying and telling you whether they're worth it. I've been here for more than 10 years. I previously managed the consumer electronics reviews team, and before that I covered mobile, smart home, and wearable technology for PCMag and Gigaom.
The PVTTBT8 from Pyle Audio is a portable record player and Bluetooth speaker that can convert your vinyl to MP3s, but sound quality isn't its strong suit.
Compared with the nonexistent footprint of streaming audio, a physical 12-inch record is about the furthest you can get. Yet while services like Spotify continue to flourish and Bluetooth speakers fly off store shelves, vinyl seems to be enjoying something of a renaissance as well. The PVTTBT8 from Pyle Audio can be seen as the result of both these trends. It's a vintage-looking turntable, but it's also a Bluetooth speaker . It has a portable design with a rechargeable battery, and can even convert your records to MP3s. For $109.99, it's a good deal if you're looking to pick up your first record player, but it disappoints as a Bluetooth speaker.
Design and Features If you're a fan of retro styling, you'll find a lot to like about the PVTTBT8 ($102.49 at Amazon)(Opens in a new window) . From the outside it looks like an old leather briefcase that would feel equally at home in a dorm room or on a Wes Anderson movie set. I was sent the black model to review, though it also comes in brown or orange. No matter the color, there's a silver-colored metal handle on top, along with three buckles that keep the speakers and lid in place when traveling. There are eight rubbery legs on the bottom of the record player that help it stable, and give the illusion that it's slightly afloat.
The PVTTBT8 measures 4.3 by 17.3 by 10.8 inches (HWD) and weighs 10.5 pounds. I'm hesitant to compare this directly with other portable Bluetooth speakers, because at this price range, most of the speakers you'll find are the type that are small enough to fit in a pocket or bag. The PVTTBT8 is indeed portable, but chances are it's going to live in a dedicated place in your home. That said, the unit does feature a rechargeable battery, so you can use it without it needing to be plugged in. It only lasts for up to three hours, though, so you'll still want to make sure there's a power source handy.
When you unlatch the buckles, the lid lifts up 90 degrees and 11-inch-wide speaker panels fold out on either side. A turntable platter sits in the middle, slightly skewed to the left, while all of your controls can be found in the lower right corner, much like a standard turntable. Unlike a standard turntable, however, here you can twist the dial to toggle between line in, phono, and Bluetooth modes. Below that is a Volume knob, and below that is a row of colored LEDs that indicate power, charging, and Bluetooth status. Everything is clearly labeled, and you won't have any trouble figuring out what to do here, even if you've never used a record player before.
On the back of the unit you'll find a 3.5mm line in jack, as well as an RCA output for hooking the PVTTBT8 up to your home stereo system. Next to that is a speed selection switch (which toggles between 33 and 45 RPM), as well as a DC power port. Finally, you get a USB jack, which allows you to record vinyl to your PC.
See How We Test Speakers
Included with the turntable is a mini CD with Audacity, which is a free, lightweight program for editing and recording audio. Instructions are provided in the manual, but recording a track is as simple as firing up Audacity, connecting the record player to your computer using the included USB cord, dropping the (replaceable) needle on the record, and pressing record. Audacity gives you a wealth of options for what you can do with the finished track, but it's easy to simply export it as an MP3.
Performance I tested the PVTTBT8 using a relatively new copy of the Vince Guaraldi Trio's "A Charlie Brown Christmas" LP. To play a record, all you have to do is set the machine to Phono and switch the power on for the plate to start spinning.
I was able to detect the familiar vinyl warmth through each of the system's three-watt speakers, but in general sound quality definitely leaves something to be desired. Bass is not the PVTTBT8's strong suit, so for a jazz recording like this, the music can sound disappointingly flat. The speakers are still listenable, and about on par with other portable turntables in this price range. The bigger problem is that this doesn't transfer well to a good Bluetooth listening experience.
To pair the turntable via Bluetooth, all you have to do is switch the top dial to BT, then locate the system on the device you wish to connect. Volume is controlled independently of the connected device, so I found it easiest to turn volume all the way up on the turntable, then control the level remotely using my connected phone.
I was happy to find that on tracks with intense sub-bass content, like The Knife's "Silent Shout," the PVTTBT8 doesn't distort, even at top volume. On the other hand, you really don't get much in the way of bass response, no matter what volume you're listening at. This made the bass notes on the Bill Evans Trio's "Polka Dots and Moonbeams" practically inaudible.
On tracks with less of an emphasis on low end, like Real Estate's "Beach Comber," the system does a decent job of highlighting the high mids. But on tracks like Radiohead's "Paranoid Android," things can start to sound tinny, without enough bass to provide a sense of depth and warmth.
Luckily, you can still hook the PVTTBT8 up to external speakers via the RCA output jack, which makes for a greatly improved experience when listening to records (provided you're using capable speakers). But as a Bluetooth speaker, the PVTTBT8 is easily bested by other options in its price range.
Conclusions While the Pyle PVTTBT8 turntable manages to bring vinyl and Bluetooth together, I wouldn't buy it for use as a Bluetooth speaker. In this price range, you'll get far better audio performance from the slightly more expensive Bose SoundLink Color ($115.99 at Amazon)(Opens in a new window) , which offers more powerful sound with a nice wallop of bass. And if you're looking to save some money, even the less expensive Logitech X300 ($59.99 at Amazon)(Opens in a new window) provides richer, fuller sound. But if you're looking to get into vinyl, and you either have a set of external speakers or you don't mind just-average sound quality, the Pyle PVTTBT8 is a well-designed, affordable place to start.
The PVTTBT8 from Pyle Audio is a portable record player and Bluetooth speaker that can convert your vinyl to MP3s, but sound quality isn't its strong suit.
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I’m PCMag’s executive editor of reviews, steering our coverage to make sure we're testing the products you're interested in buying and telling you whether they're worth it. I've been here for more than 10 years. I previously managed the consumer electronics reviews team, and before that I covered mobile, smart home, and wearable technology for PCMag and Gigaom.
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