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Last week I reviewed the JBL Authentics 500 bluetooth speaker which has a small body but offers quite powerful audio. It is a speaker that targets those who have a small space. Today I am reviewing the JBL Spinner BT which is a disc player for generation Z.
SPECIFICATION AND DESIGN
JBL Spinner BT
Types of turntables
DC Belt Drive Motor
Audio Output 1x RCA
Qualcomm aptX Codec
Audio Technica AT3600L cartridge
Virtual assistant support Yes
Touchpad None
Bluetooth Bluetooth 5.2
AUX Audio Jack Yes
NFC None
Selling Price RM 3299
The last time I used a record player was probably in 1995. My father had a record player that was bought in 1980. Because at that time compact discs were more popular, it was difficult to be a replacement for the cartridge needles making the records that were played not clear.
As has been reported , lately the interest in black discs has increased again, especially among Gen Z. All digital products are labeled as not "cool" and analog products are experiencing a new era of renaissance. As a Gen X who is quite old, seeing an old product become the desire of a new generation is something quite strange. Cassettes and vinyl do not offer ease of use when compared to music streaming services.
The body of the Spinner BT is made of plastic material that covers the MDF wood frame with the spinning plate made of aluminum. A large JBL logo with a metallic finish dominates the front.
The player's arm is also made of aluminum while the transparent cover and rotary speed control buttons are made of plastic. Finally, the turntable pad is made of felt material to prevent the surface of the black plate from being scratched.
On the back there is a bluetooth tethering button, pre amp, activates auto-rotating mode, power button and two-headed RCA output for wired connection.
In terms of design it maintains the classic retro elements that can also be seen on the Authentics 500. This is because both products are produced to be used in pairs. Therefore the design should be compatible. I don't know much about modem black plate designs. As far as I know the design is neat and doesn't look too old fashioned or too modern.
USAGE
The BT Spinner installation process is quite complex but not complicated. A piece of instruction paper provided provides clear instructions in the form of pictograms. The body, turntable, felt, player arm, player needle cartridge, counterweight and cover all need to be assembled one by one. The time taken to install all these components is slower compared to the time it took me to install the JBL Bar 1000 soundbar years ago.
Each component of our black plate feels more sensitive. Aluminum arms for example need to be balanced first manually with the given weights. Then the Audio Technica AT3600L cartridge needs to be installed carefully to avoid damage. Haven't played anything yet Spinner BT has been working hard for us.
After installing the bluetooth tethering process is the same as on other products. You must say why turntables support bluetooth. Analog audio from turntables is now converted to digital which will result in reduced quality. But the fact is that JBL meets the needs of the younger generation who still want to switch players to bluetooth accessories. It also has a built-in phono preamp to amplify the audio first before connecting to external speakers. With this there is no need to spend extra money to buy a separate phono preamp like some other turntables on the market.
There is an RCA connection but no 6.35mm or 3.5mm audio jack. This I feel is not wise because I really want to listen to the turntable directly to a pair of wired earphones. No need to wait to tether to BT audio accessories or additional external speakers.
Usage is easy. Just put the black plate on the spinning plate. As soon as the player's arm is raised, the plate will spin. Then use the lever to lower the cartridge needle to the surface of the black plate. Support for playing platters at 33 or 45 RPM is included.
AUDIO QUALITY
I begin this review with a disclaimer. At the age of 45 I have to admit my hearing is not as good as when I was a young teenager. I've been told over and over again that audio from vinyl is better than CD and therefore better than all streaming platforms. To test this claim I bought the album A Rush of Blood To The Head by Coldplay and Purple by Stone Temple Pilots.
These two albums were purchased because I have them on CD and have been listening to them for decades. Any differences in audio between vinyl, CD and Apple Music formats I can distinguish more easily.
The first thing I noticed when playing Clocks from Spinner BT was that the audio from the piano sounded clearer compared to the CD. The bass also provides a deeper rumble compared to what I hear on Apple Music. The audio stage also sounds more open and natural.
When paired with a pair of earphones that support aptX, the audio difference with a physical connection to the speaker is not that noticeable. But I say this from the point of view of a four-decade-old human who no longer has the keen hearing of a teenage human.
It provides an audio experience that is truly different from CDs and even streaming music. Overall the audio produced through the BT Spinner does not disappoint.
IN THE BOX
In every purchase, you will receive the following.
1 x JBL Spinner BT
1 x Turntable
1 x Player arm.
1 x Weight
1 x Felt lining cloth
1 x Player needle cartridge
1 x Transparent cover
2 x Transparent shutter hinges
1 x Power cable
1 x RCA Cable
CONCLUSION
The JBL BT Spinner is an easy-to-use record player with the modern feature of bluetooth connectivity. It manages to provide an evergreen classic design with modern features that most modern users need.
As JBL's first turntable, there isn't much negative I can say except for the lack of output for wired headphones. At a price of RM3299 it is not an affordable product. The fact is that this black plate hobby is not for people who don't have money. Just for this review I spent over RM500 for three albums. When was the last time you bought a physical album up to three figures?
This is the first turntable that has ever entered the lab and I have to admit I am starting from scratch here Not so sure what the other options are on the market and whether my experience with the Spinner is the best or not. All I know is it doesn't disappoint.
But I have to say just one thing. After decades of getting used to digital music that's easier to play, cheaper and doesn't require it to be flipped for Side B, I can say it's too late to tinker with the world of vinyl records.
Pro
Excellent installation instructions for inexperienced sailors.
Easy tethering to bluetooth accessories.
Built-in phone preamp.
Classic design but still present with the features of modern needs.
The audio is really satisfying.
Cons
No 3.5mm or 6.5mm connections
The price is quite expensive