Listening to music requires some sense of ritual, CoolGeek VS01 vinyl record player review

When you think of vinyl turntables, what comes to mind? Elegance? Nostalgia? A sense of ritual?

I believe it's all of these. As the needle follows the spinning record, sound emerges from its tip - it's like physically feeling the passage of time. The music from vinyl is so captivating, so immersive. It's only when you experience it firsthand that you realize: 'So this is another way to listen to songs?

As the needle descends and the platter begins its hypnotic rotation, you surrender to the album's natural progression - no track-skipping distractions, just pure musical immersion. This ritual connects us to sound recording's very origins: from Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville's 1857 phonautograph prototype capturing sound waves as visual patterns, through the vinyl revolution of the 1950s that democratized music, to today's analog renaissance.
What digital streaming can't replicate is the physicality of this experience. Each rotation becomes a tangible conversation across centuries - the mechanical poetry of Scott's invention evolving into modern turntable engineering, yet retaining that irreplaceable human connection to music's physical soul.

The heart wants what it wants - every time vintage turntables appeared in films, that nostalgic itch grew unbearable. After weeks of research, I landed on the CoolGeek VS01. This beauty nails the retro-modern sweet spot: sleek looks that'd make Don Draper do a double-take, HiFi sound that reveals new layers in old records, plus Bluetooth for when I'm feeling 21st-century lazy. Turns out, embracing analog doesn't mean abandoning convenience - this machine lets you time-travel through music without getting stuck in the past.

The CoolGeek VS01 arrives in modular components with smart packaging. Setup is refreshingly simple:

1. Belt installation - Loop the drive belt around the platter

2. Cartridge mounting - Snap the pre-adjusted cartridge into the tonearm

3. Motor alignment - Secure the belt to the motor spindle

4. Counterweight setup - Screw on the calibrated counterweight

The entire assembly flows like vinyl on a turntable - no tools required, no confusing steps. You'll be spinning records in 15 minutes flat, with the satisfaction of having personally "activated" your analog music machine.

Once assembled, the CoolGeek VS01 turntable effortlessly elevates my living room's vibe just by being there. Some call it serendipity - I call it instant retro chic.

The CoolGeek VS01 turntable is a photographer's dream - every angle effortlessly camera-ready. Its artisanal blend of hand-stitched leather and retro ribbed metal creates visual alchemy: contemporary craftsmanship meets industrial nostalgia. The textural contrast between supple hide and cold-forged grille work makes your eyes dance across its surfaces, while the whole ensemble shouts 'design statement' without uttering a word.

The metal grille has a multi-function knob on the right side. Here's how it works:

• Press and hold: Turn power on/off

• Double click: Switch between modes (Vinyl/Bluetooth/Line Out/LP Bluetooth transmitter)

• Turn left/right: Adjust volume

• Quick press: Play or pause

This single knob controls all main operations. The design keeps the look clean while making daily use simple - whether playing records or connecting to Bluetooth speakers, everything works smoothly with just this one control.

When you plug in the turntable, the knob illuminates, immediately creating a retro-chic atmosphere.

Even the hidden components like the CoolGeek VS01's platter bearing and belt drive pulley use full copper construction. This durable, wear-resistant material choice maintains mechanical precision while adding subtle premium texture - proving no design element gets compromised, even in unseen areas.

After all the setup, plug in the turntable and play a record to start enjoying the music.

The ritual begins: place the record, position the stylus, lower the tonearm. When needle meets groove, music breathes to life. In that moment, you're not just listening - you're physically measuring time through spinning vinyl. Each rotation reveals the music's tangible length, the record's visible surface becoming a living timeline of the song's duration.

Hearing familiar songs from the turntable feels surprisingly fresh - a stark contrast to smartphone streaming. As the needle glides toward the record's center and music fills the room through the speakers, you experience sound in 3D: watching the mechanics, feeling the vibrations, hearing the warmth. This is what depth in audio truly means.

The CoolGeek VS01 Vertical Turntable doesn't just play vinyl records. With three simple modes:

• Bluetooth mode: Pair your phone as a wireless speaker

• Line-in mode: Connect CD players, TVs, or gaming consoles

• Vinyl mode: Classic record spinning

This versatility means whether you're streaming Spotify, watching movies, or spinning vintage LPs, one device covers all your audio needs - perfect for households where retro lovers and tech fans coexist.

The CoolGeek VS01 delivers on all fronts: great looks, professional sound quality, and versatile features. The satisfaction of using it is hard to describe - you have to experience it. Considering its performance, the price tag feels completely justified for any music lover.