CoolGeek VS-01 Vinyl Record Player: Listen to the Past, Slow Down Life
Have you noticed that under the influence of the retro trend, vinyl records, which had gradually faded from our daily lives, are now making a comeback and gaining new vitality? As a symbol of past decades' music culture, vinyl records brought immense joy and emotional connection to people. Some younger individuals might not fully understand why anyone would go through such a complex process just to listen to music. However, for many older generations, vinyl is as precious to them as film cameras are to photography enthusiasts. It holds a deep sentimental value because, in an era dominated by technology, it offers something rare—a sense of warmth and the ritualistic experience that is often missing from modern life.
CoolGeek—a brand that brings pure music to life, awakening cherished memories—has recently introduced its newly designed VS-01 vinyl record player. This player artfully combines vintage nostalgia with modern innovation, satisfying your love for vinyl records while also functioning as a high-quality Bluetooth speaker for music enjoyment. Moreover, it serves as a stylish home decor piece, instantly enhancing the sophistication of any room. I was fortunate enough to get my hands on this exciting new product right away, and I’m eager to share my experience with you. Music and vinyl enthusiasts, let’s take a closer look!
Before diving into the actual experience, let’s start with an unboxing showcase. The packaging is quite substantial, weighing around 10kg, so you can definitely feel the heft when handling it. From the packaging, you can already get a glimpse of the CoolGeek VS-01 vinyl record player's design, which features a creative structural layout. Doesn't it seem much more visually striking than traditional horizontal turntables?
The packaging is divided into two compartments. The upper layer contains the accessories and the turntable, while the lower layer houses the record player itself. Let’s take everything out one by one and give you a closer look at each component.
The record player features an integrated design, but it does require some light assembly before use. Don’t worry, though—it’s extremely straightforward. Simply follow the instructions in the manual, and you’ll have it set up in no time. No technical expertise needed!
The accessories included are a belt, stylus pressure weight, Grease lubricant, power adapter, power cable, and a user manual. These components ensure smooth setup and operation of the record player, providing everything you need to get started right out of the box.
Before installation, let's familiarize ourselves with some of the turntable’s structure and operational functions. The image shows the mounting bracket for the platter. At the top is the spindle where the platter is secured, and below it is the pulley, which is responsible for driving the platter's rotation using the belt. This mechanism is essential for the smooth operation of the record player.
At the front of the record player, you’ll notice a retro-style metal grille. Its wide, horizontal design ensures clear, immersive sound quality. On the left side is the tonearm assembly, featuring an all-in-one design that requires no adjustments—just install the stylus pressure weight, and you’re ready to go. I’ll explain how to do that shortly.
On the right side, you’ll find the power/volume control and mode switch knob. Press and hold for 3 seconds to enter LP mode, press once to pause, press twice to switch to Bluetooth mode, and press three times to toggle to LP Bluetooth transmission mode. Yes, you read that right! The CoolGeek VS-01 vinyl record player comes with built-in high-quality speakers, but it also supports external wireless Bluetooth speakers, giving you an even more elevated listening experience.
Additionally, when adjusting the various functional modes on the CoolGeek VS-01 vinyl record player, the turntable not only emits corresponding sound prompts, but the knob also provides different background colors to indicate the current status. This feature makes it very intuitive and easy to understand at a glance.
Here’s a look at the back of the CoolGeek VS-01 vinyl record player.
On the left side, you'll find three vintage-style toggle switches. These switches are for the power, mute, and speed selection (33.3/45 RPM) settings. Below these switches, from left to right, are the input ports: the power input and the LINE OUT, which is commonly referred to as the RCA output. This setup allows for seamless connectivity to audio systems or speakers, enhancing your listening experience.
The bottom of the CoolGeek VS-01 vinyl record player is equipped with a 30W 4-inch bass driver and a bass reflex port. Alongside this, there are two 5W 2-inch mid-range and tweeter units at the front, creating a complete 2.1 speaker system. This configuration ensures a balanced sound across all frequencies, delivering a powerful and immersive listening experience. I’ll provide a detailed evaluation of the audio quality in the experience section later on.
The elevated anti-vibration feet are equipped with soft silicone pads at the front. These features effectively absorb vibrations while minimizing interference with the vinyl playback. This design ensures a cleaner sound, allowing you to enjoy your records without unwanted noise or distortion.
For installation, start by attaching the belt to the acrylic platter, as shown in the image above. This step is crucial, as the belt will drive the rotation of the platter when the turntable is in use.
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Next, insert the platter spindle into the spindle base. Make sure to leave about 2 centimeters of space to facilitate hanging the belt onto the pulley. Once you have done that, simply loop the belt around the pulley, and you’re all set!
Next, take the stylus pressure weight and screw it into the bottom of the tonearm. Make sure to tighten it securely to ensure proper tracking and performance during playback.
Here’s what it looks like once everything is assembled. I must say, the quality of the CoolGeek VS-01 vinyl record player is truly impressive. The all-metal tonearm base has been precision CNC machined and polished, paired with a carbon fiber tonearm, perfectly embodying the essence of high-end sophistication. It’s definitely a standout piece that deserves a thumbs-up!
The cartridge is the soul of the entire system and plays a crucial role in determining the sound quality of vinyl records. So, what is the best type of cartridge? Here’s a brief overview of the three main types:
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Moving Coil (MC) Cartridges: Highly favored by audiophiles, these are commonly found in high-end and top-tier models. Theoretically, they can directly reflect the vibrations of the record grooves, resulting in a richer and more detailed sound. However, they have a lower output voltage, necessitating a phono preamp or step-up transformer. It's also important to ensure proper impedance and capacitance matching with the system.
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Moving Magnet (MM) Cartridges: In this type, the stylus transmits vibrations to a magnet, which then interacts with a coil. They are lighter, have larger coils, and offer excellent tracking ability.
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Moving Iron (MI) Cartridges: This can be seen as a variation of moving magnet cartridges. In this design, the magnet is positioned near the stylus, which is connected to a piece of iron. When vibrations occur, they create a magnetic field with the nearby magnet and coil. The advantages and disadvantages are similar to those of moving magnet cartridges, but they excel in tracking performance.
Each cartridge type has its unique strengths and weaknesses, so the best choice depends on your listening preferences and system compatibility.
The CoolGeek VS-01 vinyl record player is equipped with a professional moving magnet cartridge from Ortofon, a renowned Danish brand. The tracking force of the cartridge is set between 1.7 and 2.1 grams. Thanks to the use of extremely hard diamond material for the stylus, it not only boasts a lifespan of over 1,000 hours but also effectively reduces wear on the records.
Everything is set! I removed the record weight and placed on the "Mozart Effect 3" piano tracks, ready to indulge in a musical feast.
As we all know, vinyl records got their name from their traditional black color. However, thanks to the use of different materials and techniques, modern records now come in virtually every color imaginable—even transparent or splatter designs. Vinyl can be light and refreshing, or bold and full of character. For example, this Mozart record is a striking red. These unique combinations can create a whole new kind of magic, offering a visual treat alongside the auditory experience. This is perhaps another one of vinyl's undeniable charms.
Mozart is often regarded as the founder of the piano concerto, with his compositions holding a pivotal position in contemporary music as well as throughout the entire history of musical development. His work has left a profound and lasting impact on future generations.
This vinyl record features the following pieces:
Side A includes the Piano Concerto No. 9 in E-flat Major, known as the Jeunehomme Concerto, with its first movement being an Allegro in D major, followed by the Piano Concerto No. 26 in D Major, known as the Coronation Concerto, also starting with an Allegro.
Side B features the Piano Concerto No. 10 in E-flat Major for Two Pianos, with its first movement marked Allegro, as well as the Piano Concerto No. 24 in C Minor, which opens with an Allegro.
I would like to share my personal impressions of the CoolGeek VS-01 vinyl record player. The sound quality is quite impressive; aside from the characteristic crackle of vinyl, the highs are clear, the mids are full and distinct, and the overall soundstage provides a nice sense of immersion. While the bass benefits from some sound wave energy, its depth isn't particularly pronounced. Overall, the performance is satisfactory, especially considering that vinyl is more about the emotion and ritual of listening than just pure sound quality.
The turntable's dynamic balance system performs well, exhibiting minimal wobble during playback. I was able to listen to the entire record without any noticeable stuttering or skipping. Overall, the playback experience was smooth and uninterrupted.
I’ve used quite a few brands of turntables in the past, and a common issue is that the platter continues to spin after playback ends. However, the CoolGeek VS-01 vinyl record player features a semi-automatic playback system that automatically stops once the record is finished. This not only effectively protects the stylus from wear but also reduces potential damage to the record itself. This design deserves high praise—absolutely commendable!
While technology continues to transform the way we consume music, many listeners remain captivated by vinyl records. What has driven the resurgence of this ancient medium? Personally, I believe vinyl music offers significant advantages, not only due to its ritualistic playback process but also because of the nostalgia it evokes.
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As a modern digital product, the CoolGeek VS-01 vinyl record player caters to sentimental enthusiasts, aesthetics lovers, and audio aficionados alike. It meets the demands of digital audio while also allowing for wired or wireless connections to external speakers, providing even more high-end listening options. I highly recommend it to everyone!
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