We were caught off guard by the sleek, upscale nature of the Carbon turntable Victrola introduced at CEDIA Expo 2022. Since Denver-based Innovative Technology acquired the rights to the iconic 120-year-old trademark in 2016, the company has largely focused on inexpensive record players sold in dozens of retailers, including places like Costco, Kohl’s, and Bed Bath & Beyond. But the Carbon is different. It’s a serious turntable that doubles as a wireless source device for Sonos systems, hence the Sonos-Certified designation. S&V editor Mark Henninger even singled it out as one of his 12 Editor’s Picks at CEDIA.

The new Victrola Stream Onyx turntable is slated to ship in late February and, starting tomorrow (January 7), will be available for pre-order on victrola.com and Amazon for $600, $200 less than the Carbon.

Victrola CEO Scott Hagen says the difference between the two models lies mainly in a “few alterations in the materials and finish.” The tables look almost identical except the Onyx is fitted with an aluminum tonearm and Audio-Technica VM95E moving-magnet phono cartridge instead of a carbon-fiber tonearm and the higher performing Ortofon 2M Red cartridge used in the Carbon, also a moving-magnet design.

Both are two-speed belt-drive tables with a removable headshell and a built-in phono preamp with RCA outputs but the Carbon’s base combines metal with veneered MDF and boasts an elegant silver faceplate whereas the Onyx has an all-black MDF base.

As with the Carbon, the Victrola Stream app (iOS and Android) integrates the Onyx into a Sonos wireless system with the turntable’s illuminated control knob providing centralized volume control for an entire Sonos system. For more information, visit victrola.com.