Qlearsoul ONE-S Review

Qlearsoul ONE-S is an all-in-one Bluetooth record player with built-in speakers, a belt-drive turntable section and an Audio-Technica AT-3600L moving-magnet cartridge. It is aimed at listeners who want vinyl playback without immediately buying separate speakers, an amplifier or a hi-fi rack.

Its natural home is a bedroom, office, small living space or rented room where compactness and convenience matter. The ONE-S sits above very basic suitcase-style players in concept, but it should still be viewed as a lifestyle record player rather than a purist separates turntable.

The model name is worth noting because the ONE-S is not the same as Qlearsoul’s ONE-Q. The ONE-S adds Bluetooth output and treble/bass tone control, and it is listed with Bluetooth 5.3 input and output.

The Qlearsoul ONE-S has a vintage-inspired wood-grain look with fabric detailing and aluminium-style trim. Its furniture-like appearance is a major part of the appeal, especially for buyers who want a record player that can sit visibly in a room rather than look like hi-fi separates.

The plinth is described as MDF by Qlearsoul, while retailer material information refers to wood, plastic and metal. The deck includes a full-size platter, felt mat, hinged dust cover, integrated controls and a four-speaker cabinet, making it more substantial than the small mechanisms commonly found in suitcase-style players.

There is useful isolation between the turntable section and the speaker cabinet, using spring and rubber elements to help reduce feedback from the built-in speakers. This is an important design choice for an all-in-one unit, because the speakers and cartridge operate in the same enclosure.

Construction is still built to a lifestyle brief rather than a fully adjustable hi-fi brief. The straight tonearm uses a standard-style cartridge arrangement and damped cueing, but there is no anti-skate adjustment, and some plastic parts are part of the tonearm and lid assembly.

The headline feature is the integrated four-speaker system, made up of two woofers and two tweeters according to Qlearsoul’s specification. This means the ONE-S can play records straight out of the box once assembled, without separate powered speakers or an amplifier.

Bluetooth is unusually flexible for this type of product because it works both ways. Bluetooth input lets a phone, tablet or computer play through the built-in speakers, while Bluetooth output allows vinyl playback to be sent to compatible Bluetooth headphones or speakers.

The built-in phono preamp and switchable PHONO/LINE RCA output give the ONE-S a useful route into external systems. You can use the line output with powered speakers or an amplifier line input, or use the phono setting with a suitable external phono stage or amplifier phono input.

The supplied Audio-Technica AT-3600L cartridge is a positive sign compared with the very basic ceramic cartridges fitted to many cheap record players. Treble and bass controls, DSP processing, auto-stop and auto power-off add day-to-day convenience, although they do not turn the unit into a fully automatic turntable.

Setup is more involved than opening a suitcase player, but it remains beginner-friendly. The user needs to fit the platter and belt, place the mat, attach the lid, connect power and set the counterweight to the factory pre-set 3.5g position shown in the quick-start guidance.

Daily operation is straightforward once assembled. Select the correct speed, unlock and cue the arm, use the 45 RPM adapter when needed, and return and lock the tonearm after playing.

Bluetooth input is selected via the mode control and paired from the source device. Bluetooth output uses the 33/45 Bluetooth output modes and searches for a compatible receiving device, so pairing should be easiest when only the intended headphones or speaker are in pairing mode.

In everyday use, the ONE-S is designed to be simple rather than highly adjustable. It supports 33 1/3 and 45 RPM records, with no supported evidence for 78 RPM playback, and 45 RPM singles use the supplied adapter.

The belt-drive layout and full-size platter are sensible choices for a record player at this level. However, the available evidence does not provide independent speed measurements, and motor speed adjustment is not presented as a normal user-accessible control.

Auto-stop helps prevent the platter from running indefinitely after a side finishes, and auto power-off after inactivity is useful for casual use. The tonearm still needs to be cued and returned by the user, so this is not a fully automatic record player.

Connectivity is one of the ONE-S’s strongest practical areas. The trade-off is that Bluetooth output pairing is described as automatic, which may be less convenient in homes with several nearby Bluetooth headphones, speakers or soundbars in pairing mode.

The ONE-S should be judged by the limits and advantages of its design. The AT-3600L moving-magnet cartridge, full-size platter and isolated turntable section give it a more credible vinyl foundation than many low-cost suitcase players.

The built-in speakers are convenient, but they are also close together in a compact shared cabinet. That limits stereo spread, deep bass and high-volume composure compared with a pair of separate powered speakers placed properly in the room.

For casual listening in smaller spaces, the four-speaker system and tone controls are likely to be the main attraction. The treble and bass adjustment gives some flexibility for room placement and taste, but it should be seen as broad tuning rather than precision sound tailoring.

Using the RCA output into better external speakers should offer a clearer upgrade path than relying permanently on the internal speakers. Bluetooth output is useful for private listening, but it is a convenience feature rather than the highest-fidelity way to hear records.