Auna Verticalo SE Retro Turntable Review

The Auna Verticalo SE Retro Turntable is a vertical all-in-one record player aimed at buyers who want their vinyl to be seen as well as heard. It combines an upright platter, built-in speakers, DAB+/FM radio, Bluetooth, USB playback, AUX input and a headphone socket in a compact retro-style cabinet.

This review refers to the DAB version associated with Auna item number 10034590, rather than the closely related non-DAB Verticalo SE model. Its strongest appeal is as a decorative, space-saving music centre for casual listening, small rooms and gift buying.

It is not positioned like a conventional hi-fi turntable with a known cartridge specification, adjustable tracking force and separate speakers. Buyers looking after valuable records or building a serious vinyl system should treat it as a lifestyle player rather than a long-term upgrade platform.

The Verticalo SE DAB is built around its upright record display, with a wood-finish cabinet, fabric front and LCD control area. The vertical platter makes coloured vinyl and picture discs especially visible during playback, while also reducing the shelf depth required compared with many horizontal all-in-one players.

Because the disc plays vertically, it is secured with a magnetic record puck. This is an essential part of the design rather than a cosmetic accessory, as it holds the record against the spindle and platter while it rotates.

Controls are spread across the front panel and rear, including mode, scan, preset, alarm, sleep, volume and tuning functions, plus a rear power switch and speed control. The manual-backed dimensions are approximately 35 x 38.5 x 25 cm, with a weight of around 3.2 kg, so it is compact enough for a bedroom, study or shelf.

Construction should be viewed in all-in-one music-centre terms. No reliable specification was verified for the platter material, tonearm material, cartridge type, tracking force range or anti-skate adjustment, which limits how confidently it can be assessed as a component turntable.

The headline feature is the vertical platter, supported by three playback speeds: 33 1/3, 45 and 78 rpm. The 78 rpm setting broadens nominal compatibility, but a suitable shellac 78 stylus was not verified, so valuable 78s should not be played without confirming stylus suitability.

The built-in speakers mean the unit can play records, radio and connected sources without a separate amplifier. DAB+ and FM radio are also central to this version, with station scanning and up to 20 presets available in DAB or FM mode.

Bluetooth is included, but the safest supported use is wireless playback from a phone or other Bluetooth source into the Auna unit. Some official wording implies broader Bluetooth speaker or headphone connection, but that direction is not consistently documented, so buyers should confirm it with the exact seller if it matters.

USB is clearly supported for MP3 playback, while vinyl-to-computer MP3 recording is a less certain claim and should be checked before purchase. The 3.5 mm AUX input, headphone output, clock, dual alarms, sleep timer and auto-stop function make it more of a compact retro music centre than a single-purpose turntable.

Setup is relatively simple, provided the vertical record system is handled carefully. Place the unit on a stable, flat surface, connect the supplied power supply, switch on at the rear and use the front standby and mode controls to choose the desired source.

For vinyl, the key extra step is fitting the record securely with the magnetic adapter before selecting 33 1/3, 45 or 78 rpm. The stylus guard and tonearm lock need to be dealt with before playback, and records should be kept clean and flat to reduce the chance of vertical-tracking problems.

Radio and Bluetooth use are broadly conventional, with scan, tune, preset and pairing controls available from the front panel. One practical limitation is that the manual states time and alarm settings are cleared if the unit is unplugged from the wall socket.

Day-to-day operation is designed to be straightforward: choose PHONO mode, secure the record with the magnetic puck, select the correct speed and lower the tonearm using the cue lever. The manual states that the tonearm stops automatically at the end of a record, which is useful if the player is used casually around the home.

There is no verified speed-accuracy or wow-and-flutter specification, so performance expectations should be kept realistic. Owner feedback includes praise for simple operation, but also some reports of wobble, skipping or instability, particularly where records are dusty, warped or less suited to vertical playback.

The radio and Bluetooth functions make the unit more flexible than a basic record player. DAB/FM scanning, presets, alarm options and a sleep timer suit bedroom or study use, while the auto power-off function helps reduce energy use after a period with no audio signal.

Connectivity is practical but limited. The verified wired output is a 3.5 mm headphone or earphone jack, and RCA line outputs were not confirmed for this exact model, so buyers planning to connect it to a separate hi-fi system should proceed cautiously.

The Verticalo SE DAB is best judged as a convenience-led all-in-one player rather than a hi-fi source. Its compact cabinet and integrated speakers are likely to limit bass depth, stereo spread and overall refinement compared with a conventional turntable feeding separate powered speakers or an amplifier.

Because the cartridge type, stylus model, tracking force and anti-skate specification were not reliably established, it is difficult to recommend it for demanding vinyl playback or record-care confidence. More serious users will usually be better served by a standard horizontal deck with a known cartridge and adjustable setup.

For casual listening, background music, radio and occasional records, the built-in speakers may be sufficient for many buyers. However, owner feedback is mixed, with recurring criticism of bass weight, loudness and tonearm or stylus quality from more demanding listeners.

The headphone socket may provide a simple way to listen privately or feed compatible external equipment, but it should not be assumed to behave like a fixed line output. Anyone wanting a clear upgrade path should consider a turntable with documented line outputs and separate speakers from the start.