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Vinyl enthusiasts, are you here? I’ve got something interesting for you: a detailed review of the Qlearsoul SoulBox S1 turntable. I only recently became the happy owner of this device, and I’m eager to share my impressions. So if you’re thinking about upgrading your setup or buying your first turntable, be sure to read to the end. This might just be the model you’ve been looking for.
Read also: All audio equipment reviews on RN
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Qlearsoul SoulBox S1 Specifications and Price
- Drive type: belt drive
- Speeds: 33⅓ and 45 rpm
- Tonearm: 10-inch S-shaped
- Cartridge: Audio-Technica AT3600L, MM
- Cartridge frequency response: 20 Hz–20 kHz
- Cartridge output voltage: 2.5 mV
- Tracking force: 3.5 g
- Anti-skating: adjustable
- Phono preamp: built-in, switchable (Phono/Line)
- Bluetooth: version 5.0
- Outputs: RCA (Phono/Line Out), speaker outputs
- Speakers: 2 external passive bookshelf speakers
- Drivers: 4-inch woofer, 4 Ω, 30 W + 1-inch tweeter, 8 Ω, 10 W
- Signal-to-noise ratio: 75 dB
- Construction: MDF and metal
- Additional features: auto-stop; auto power-off
- Turntable dimensions: 41.5 × 34.0 × 14.0 cm
- Speaker dimensions: 16.2 × 15.8 × 24.8 cm each
- Package weight: 9.55 kg
- Power supply: 100–240 V AC input, 15 V DC / 2.4 A output
- Power consumption: 36 W
- Price: $225
What’s Included in the Box
The turntable arrived in a fairly large black box. Everything is packed extremely well, so there’s no need to worry about anything inside getting damaged during transit.
The box contains two compact bookshelf speakers, the turntable itself, a dust cover, a felt platter mat, a tonearm counterweight, a 45 RPM adapter, the belt, all the necessary cables, the user manual, and a warranty card.
And the best part is that you won’t need to buy a separate amplifier or phono preamp, since the latter is already built into the Qlearsoul SoulBox S1. In short, you’re getting a lot for your money, and that’s hard not to appreciate. All that’s left is to put everything together, connect it, and enjoy your favorite music. But we’ll get to the setup a little later. First, let’s talk about the design, because it really deserves some attention.
Design and Build Quality
I’ll be honest: the turntable’s appearance was far from the least important factor in my decision to buy it. For me, good sound wasn’t the only consideration – it was also important that the system fit naturally into my interior. After all, a vinyl turntable has always been associated with classic design, and I wanted that vintage feel. In this case, the wood-effect finish on both the turntable and speakers adds a particularly nice vibe.
The body is made from quality MDF and metal. The top panel has a clean, understated look. The platter itself deserves special mention. It’s made of metal and weighs around 1.2 kg. For a turntable in this class, that’s a pretty substantial figure, if you ask me. A felt platter mat sits on top, with the record placed directly on it.
The tonearm is a 10-inch S-shaped design with adjustable counterweight and anti-skating. The latter was a pleasant surprise for me, since many turntables simply don’t offer it. Extra points to the manufacturer for that.
Right next to it are two small controls: one adjusts the volume, while the other switches between operating modes – vinyl playback (33/45 RPM) and Bluetooth.
Turning the unit over reveals a metal block underneath which the “brains” of the turntable are hidden, along with four rubber feet. I was a little disappointed to see that the feet aren’t adjustable. So, before setting up your beloved Qlearsoul SoulBox S1, it’s worth choosing a perfectly level surface in advance, as this is particularly important for a turntable. The reason is simple: any noticeable tilt of the base can negatively affect the tonearm and record during playback.
A transparent dust cover fits on top, keeping the turntable protected from dust while it’s sitting idle. It also looks very stylish, and, even better, it doesn’t stop me from admiring the piece of equipment that has already become part of my interior.
Now, let’s talk about the speakers. They’re also made from wood-effect MDF and feature removable speaker grilles with Qlearsoul logos. The speakers have a clean, I’d even say retro, design that perfectly complements the turntable.
A Few Words About the Connections
Let’s move on to a few other details that are no less important. As you’ve probably guessed, all the connections are located on the rear panel of the turntable. Here’s what you’ll find:
- DC IN 15V – connector for the included power adapter
- RCA L/R – stereo output for connecting the speakers
- PHONO/LINE OUT switch – controls the built-in phono preamp
- Speaker terminals – for connecting the speakers
- Power switch
The speakers are much simpler. There are spring terminals on the back for connecting the speaker cables.
Qlearsoul SoulBox S1 Setup
You won’t run into any problems with the setup, as everything is as simple and intuitive as it gets. First, install the sub-platter, fit the drive belt, place the main platter on top, add the felt mat, and install the tonearm counterweight (the detailed instructions walk you through every step, so you won’t miss anything). After that, all that’s left is to connect the speakers.
Overall, setting up the system shouldn’t take more than 10–15 minutes.
Getting the tracking force dialed in, however, takes a little more patience. For the Audio-Technica AT3600L cartridge, the manufacturer recommends a tracking force of 3.5 g. The anti-skating should be set to the same value. I got it right on about the fourth attempt, but that’s probably just down to my lack of experience.
How Does the Qlearsoul SoulBox S1 Sound?
And now, finally, we get to the whole point of this exercise – the sheer joy of listening to music.
The included AT3600L cartridge delivers a fairly warm and smooth sound. Vocals feel rich and natural, while acoustic instruments are easy to distinguish and don’t get lost in the mix. The highs aren’t overly aggressive, and there’s plenty of bass for enjoying your favorite records across a range of genres. Overall, the speakers deliver impressively good sound for their size. They’re more than enough for a small room. After that, you’ll be limited only by the thickness of your wallet and the size of your listening space.
That said, you shouldn’t expect true audiophile-level detail from the AT3600L. It does a solid job for what it is, but upgrading to a more expensive cartridge would help the turntable reveal a little more character and nuance.
Additional Features I Liked
Let me tell you about a few features that I particularly liked:
Bluetooth connectivity. The Qlearsoul SoulBox S1 can connect via Bluetooth to a smartphone, tablet, or computer for music playback. So, when needed, you can use the turntable as a regular audio system for streaming music from YouTube Music, Spotify, and other services. I also use it as an audio system for my TV when watching movies. The SoulBox S1 speakers sound MUCH better than the built-in TV speakers.
Automatic stop and power-off. Three minutes after the record finishes playing, the turntable automatically stops the platter from spinning. This helps protect the stylus from unnecessary wear. On top of that, the turntable automatically powers off completely after 20 minutes of inactivity.
Conclusion
In my opinion, the Qlearsoul SoulBox S1 is an excellent option for anyone taking their first step into the wonderful world of vinyl. It’s more than enough to immerse yourself in the atmosphere, put on some great music with a glass of your favorite drink, occasionally enjoy that unmistakable vinyl crackle, and, generally speaking, just treat yourself.
So, if you’re looking for a good turntable without spending a fortune, the Qlearsoul SoulBox S1 is an excellent choice. Personally, I’m absolutely thrilled with it.
Where to buy Qlearsoul SoulBox S1
