So, to conclude: - Yeah they're pretty bad for a record player, if you're looking to buy one you should probably avoid it - That said, they're affordable and good for beginners who don't want to make a huge investment - They aren't going to ruin your records. Audiophiles are exaggerating.
Audiophiles: Don't buy this. Its crap. Also audiophiles: You need to buy this $1000 rock and put it on top of your speaker amplifier to get rid of interference.
@@scatteredfrog Hah! I have all my albums on 120 ips tape. It's a higher speed than the masters, but it really unlocks the danceability of my reel-to-reel's power cable. Neil Young himself blessed it, and it sounds even better; I won't tell you how much THAT cost!
A real audiophile would slam two rocks together at the perfect frequencies to open a portal to another reality where recording technologies were better
These replies make me feel so much better haha. I just got one as a gift and everybody is saying they suck. So I was like low key freaking out because I thought I had my tia waste her money on something that didn’t work! Thank you for calming me down haha
Yeah, there's too much of that going about. I'm a bit of a hi-fi snob, but I try to educate people and help them make good buying decisions instead of ending up with something they'll be disappointed with. I hate going to someone's house and hearing a poor quality system. It grates on my nerves something awful. I want my friends to have the best they can afford so we can all enjoy it together.
Snobbery in Audio is rampant. I'm not big into vinyl, but I own synthesizers and oh boy, synthesizer snobs are something quite spectacular. They don't care about personal preference or quality, they only care about showing off how much money they have. Behringer recently released a clone of the Mini Moog Model D simply called the "Behringer Model D". All discrete components and some ICs to aid reliability, and it sounds perfect and only costs £300, but synth snobs will INSIST that the recreation Mini Moog from Moog themselves is the only truly good sounding Model D, and it costs an eye watering £3400. Badge and brand snobbery at its finest.
I know it's not a great turntable, but in my opinion if it's all a kid can afford and gets them interested in vinyl there's nothing wrong with it. Everyone has to start somewhere. Then you advance. In the beginning you saw Kremer bashing the crosley. He has a 90 thousand dollar turntable with a 30 thousand dollar tone arm. I'd like to ask him what his first f'n turntable was. He's probably embarrassed to say.
To be fair, kids getting these record players are getting vinyl made for this player, newer thicker more durable material. If you get into classics, invest into a better turntable. But by the time you really get into it, you’ll learn to get a newer one
That, I can agree, I spent money on a turntable and the shebang but I really don't get the time for playing records or cds On the other hand: I've invested lots of money in headphone hifi systems that work with my computer for daily playback enjoyment. My last setup is schiit yggdrasil, jotunheim, and a hifiman susvara headphone. This has led me to the end of my audiophile journey.
you literally eased my anxiety so much. i received one for christmas and after watching videos on it i had a break down. after watching this i feel so much better. thank you!
I started of with one of these ( not this exact model ), and i have to say that: 1. Its amazing if you want to save some money and cant afford an expensive one 2. It doesn't damage the vinyls Its not the best ofc! But if you just wanna enjoy some music this way now and then, i think it will get the job done!
Thank you so much for this video. My family has always been poor and when I got married 3 years ago, my parents got me a Crosley “Musican Entertainment Center.” I cried because I knew what they paid for it and was so grateful for them getting me such a sweet gift, when they were already helping so much with my (cheap-as-possible but still-expensive-for-us) wedding to begin with. About 6 months after me using my record player, I kept seeing so much negativity about it and people telling me that what I had was crap and was ruining my records (which was very upsetting because many of them were my grandfathers and I want to take care of them). I was heartbroken and felt guilty. I still feel a little bad because I had no idea I was supposed to change my stylus until seeing this, so I hope I haven’t caused any insane damage to my records. But thanks for putting my mind at ease even at all. I really appreciate it. Hopefully one day I can afford to upgrade.
no need to worry I have a very similar style record player and it works fine I play my grandfathers records on it and they are fine after 10 years being played on one as for the stylus im sure you didn't do any harm after all it was intended for records changing them is mainly for increasing sound quality and to help stop skipping they should have a rated set of hours before they recommend changing them you can get 50 hours from a ruby stylus and about 500-1000 hours from a diamond stylus. in summation enjoy your record player have fun and cast out that worry all is well and most importantly of all enjoy the music! :) cheers.
Records will be damaged when you play them, no matter what kind of stylus you use, so don't worry too much, it'll probably be around 10000 plays until the record starts losing it's quality:)
If your careful with your records they will be fine,the stylus should be pyramid shaped when it looks rounded it needs replacing , take no notice of Hi Do Snobs
Here's why Crosley turntables are so popular: they're cheap, almost entirely set up out of the box, and thus are seen as a good setup for beginners. I don't get why so many audiophiles hate them, because IMO, it's better for people to listen to vinyl on a cheap setup than not have one at all.
They destroy records way prematurely due to e.g. super-high tracking force. Not really a prob for shitty records, but painful to even consider for anything remotely rare or collectible.
Princess Ophelia ok. I understand if you have valuable vinyl and your a collector. But I’m sure my 14yr old granddaughter doesn’t care for that at the moment, she enjoys her Taylor Swift Vinyl on them for now. I’m not buying some kid a $500 or more record player. You’re only comparing/opinionated it from the Vinyl snubb point of view.
Exactly, got myself one after gathering a collection of records and having a total of 4 dead record players, all bought second hand, 1st one needed a belt but i didnt have a collection at the time and tossed it (also a crossley), second one also needed a belt and i broke the only one i had, 3rd one had a bad motor, used the crossley motor in it, which works but can only get one speed and its not correct (gonna need to order the correct part), 4th one had a seized motor and was a pain to take apart (had to remove entire bottom of device, all circuit boards to get to it (1970's sears?). finally broke down and got a crossley as it was the only NEW device that i could by locally and record players started to get more rare at goodwills around me. it works, i have it hooked to an external speaker system and sounds ok, will upgrade the stylus/cartridge as thats not too expensive. Besides if i really want good quality music i can always play my 30GB of MP3's, just sometimes its nice playing with physical media, especially when you have the awsome album covers you can display
No, the one that won't ruin your records. Instant gratification syndrome at work here. SAVE for a QUALITY used turntable. There are MILLIONS available and $200 for a turntable and $150 cartridge won't grind-up your albums. I have rock-and-roll LP's I bought new a half-Century ago with NO scratches, pops, or clicks including the crummy ATCO pressings of the Rolling Stones. Hmm...how'd THAT happen???
@@Walkercolt1 I think that depends on how serious you are about the hobby. your saying a $350 device is going to be better then a $80 and well yea that's obvious. But on the other hand if you don't have a lot of money and aren't sure how much you want to commit, or your a more casual fan of records and you do bring them out to play every so often but you still use more modern means for your daily use then it's not that bad either. Just like with any hobby once you start to get into it more it's worth upgrading from the most basic version. But saying you have to start with a high priced system just leads to a barrier of entry that is going to keep people out.
@@CrossRoadsOfTime Nowadays vinyl is getting pretty expensive so if you aren't willing to spend that on the turntable I don't know why you'd wanna spend 30-40+ on some of the new pressings I've seen for every album you want to own
@@IrateWizrd yea but that's getting them new and in pristine condition, which is also not likely to be something a person who's just starting out and doesn't have a lot of money to throw at this will be getting a lot of anyways. there's still plenty of cheap used records out there. now of course they aren't going to be near as nice as the new pressings, but those are also for the more serious collectors that have the money for that.
Just bought this yesterday to play my dads records. He passed last week. It is good enough for me to listen to a couple of records when I miss my dad. Thanks for the review
Thanks for doing an honest review on this turntable and not just trashing it like everyone else does. 2 years ago I only had like 5 records because I had just started buying them and my aunt got me this Crosley record player as a gift. I was so excited to have a record player and I thought it was so cool. Then I realized how much hate this thing gets. People act like your records are going to get completely destroyed from using it. I used it for 2 years and never had a problem. It works fine, and if you're a beginner it's a great affordable option. I just got an upgrade but I'm keeping this record player as a backup.
They said Crosley is responsible for vinyl comeback because in 1990s while most people starts throwing away their record player Crosley starts making portable record players which are meant to attract teenagers.
finally someone who remembers just how disposable record players were at one point. I remember people would go buy a nice used unit use it until the stylus wore out then toss it away and get another one that was always a heart breaker for me and the records the mountains of good music you could aquire for as cheap as 15 cents an album and most people were giving away their vinyl and shellac records.
Yep! I grew up during the transition from Vinyl to CD, we wanted perfect sound...now us old people want killer vinyl sound and can afford it. I love what Crosley has done! Vinyl sound and the FUN of buying records!
Thank you so much for this. I bought a Crosley last year after getting a few boxes of old records from my grandparents who had planned on just donating them all. I knew nothing at all about turntables, but the Crosley was affordable and visually appealing so I rolled with it. It's kind of disheartening to see so many holier-than-thou people on RUclips who act like they'd rather smash their entire collection to pieces than play them on a Crosley. I plan on upgrading once my wallet permits (I'm a broke college student, so it might be a while), but this turntable introduced me to a whole new hobby world that I can't wait to embrace more seriously. Thanks for assuring me I'm not a horrible person.
I got my record player from my cousin cause he didn't use it anymore. I got some records from relatives too. Ask around your family and you'll probably find one
@I can't talk I can't enunciate How strange, when my friends & I were turning 17, we were looking at -ditching- sidelining our turntables and all going out buying CD players instead !
Based on your review, I asked Crosley why I didn’t have extra diamond styli in my box. You must have been lucky, as they told me they do not include extra styli with the Cruiser Deluxe. However, Crosley was nice enough to send me one via Priority Mail. Their customer service is top notch.
The unit reviewed is not a BAD turntable. It rotates at a constant speed, has a motor with good torque, does not have audible wow or flutter. It can be paused/stopped without lifting the tone arm. Connect the turntable to a good audio system by way of the line outputs and you will be surprised. The questions to be looked into with this model are quality control and durability, which the reviewer did not cover.
I think the topic deserves it. It's all too easy to pull a VinylEyezz and just go for cheap laughs and a meme or two, but that stuff does a bad job of informing anyone about anything.
Music is supposed to be fun, and I'm doing the best I can on a limited budget and, if this is all I can afford them this will do for now.And no one should judge anybody for what they can or can't afford. Thank you sir for not making fun of it giving a fair shot.
Why?! Just buy a second hand 70's or 80's TT for a fraction of the price, a cheap second hand amp with a phono stage and it will be light years ahead of this Crosley junk.
I live out of the us where buying stuff online is impossible in my house and usually doesn’t ship to where I live This is the only one I was able to find in a range of what I can afford and the only which I can find in a store so I’m trying to see if it’s worth the money In the currency where I live it’s 630dhs (1 dollar is 3.67 dhs)
I think the reason a lot of audiophiles trip out over entry level TTs is because most of the time you can find a nice vintage table in the used market for a similar price. To each their own, but there’s definitely a learning curve to using vintage TTs for someone who’s barely spinning their first record
@@willdoering4854 I got a tesla turntable for free and there are a lot of them for only around 40-50eur here. Many of them even have an integrated amplifier and radio like mine (tesla dominant 1039A)
Bang on. Get a good vintage one, slap a new cartridge on it, and just like that you've got a way better experience. Spent a total of $2 on a turntable, $40 on speakers, $10 ish on a receiver, and $45 on a new cartridge. Only thing I bought new was the cartridge. Takes a lot more time than a one-time purchase since it's a game of chance whether or not you find those things or not, but the experience is way better for the price. The Crosley, imo, *only* has a place as a tool people use to connect deeper with their music without spending a lot of money or putting any thought into it. If they want better sound quality, they're certainly not making the right decision.
yea but none of them are portable :( I've looked on the vintage market, but they'll all require me to get a proper big table and a proper set of speakers/possibly pre-amps, and I need something that can go on the train under my arm. Genuinely open for suggestions if someone knows something better than this thing.
@@ResidentialGondola One thing most of the knockers miss - OK, two - is the robustness and portability. Sure, some may say it's robust because it's grotty and chunky. But I suspect even a record newbie could bring one of these into the room and have it up and running in 30-60 seconds, whereas _any_ of the alternatives, at least a couple of minutes, probably more. And for just a fun introduction to records - to compare with their MP3 player (with its equally small, probably mono, speaker) - that's important. If they get "into" records, they can move to something fancier (and needing more care) later. (And I'm not a vinyl-is-better anyway. I consider early CDs probably the best, at least at consumber level; I would only use a record player for something unavailable otherwise - or, occasionally, for the nostalgia. Though I would use my linear-tracking deck, especially if transcribing to digital [probably not if just doing it for nostalgia].) As this clip shows, even the Crosley cruiser won't rapidly _damage_ records.
i Have to laugh at the early example of a review: "Kids will buy this cruddy player and hate" vinyl as a whole? HA! As a kid in the 60s, I owned a piece of crap Sears portable, likely worse than the Cros. . It did nothing to dim my enthusiasm for vinyl.
I don’t know if those 300 dollar players really do sound better than the cheap stuff. I do know that even the cheap stuff definetly sounds much better than digital.
Hey Allan. In 1973 I got a JC Penney record player for christmas. I was 15. Then I bought some kind of record player at 18 that had a built in 8-track player, oh year nothing like hearing the track change in the middle of Stairway To Heaven, then 1 with a 8 track recorder before I was finally around guys in the barracks in the air force with the good stuff. I gave away all my 8 tracks. Then I bought my 1st technics tt, kenwood receiver and speakers. I was 19. So I just kept moving up in quality. My love for vinyl never stopped. But I wonder about the kids getting those suitcase crosleys. And will they be turned off on the price for records? At my local shop the good used records are $ 10 bucks. They grade them pretty good. I bought a $5 dollar lp early 80's lp terrible. If the streamers won't buy music I wonder if these kids will. I guess as long as they buy decently clean used vs new 180 grams.
Kids will listen to garbage. And I'm not insulting their musical tastes, but any point since music has been available to the masses, young people usually go for what's cheap and convenient, even if the sound quality is inferior. And they'll be happy with it until they can afford better.
Very good review. I never thought the Crosley Cruiser was an audiophile's dream, but I thought the fear-mongering reviews were a bit much. Certainly no worse than the Sears Silvertone portable stereo phonograph I had from the '60s. That lasted many years and did not chew up my records, either.
Fun note: If you ever lose one of those clips which was holding down the platter, you can get a replacement easily at a car parts store. I couldn't find one at any hardware store, but Autozone had 'em!
Thank you for not just bashing it though. I swear I'm a newbie and I feel attacked for being cheap and just wanting to listen to my stuff in peace. I'm not destroying anything it's just some $20 vinyl I don't want to be attacked.
Cara The point is that it’s your money and nobody else’s business. Most of us can’t afford a $1000 turntable and have to use what’s affordable to us. I hope you are still listening to and enjoying your records. ✌️
@@kat1158 Yeah, I would recommend the same as you. I'm a high schooler interested in playing records just for fun (I'm no audiophile) and I got my AT-LP60 for $70 refurbished from an authorized seller with a replacement stylus. Super excited and a really good deal!
@@brandonmonson2147 I'm about to go into high school this fall and so far collecting records has been fun and it is a good budget turntable for teenagers that don't have 300 dollars to spend on a turntable
I'm thinking of getting into vinyl myself. I can see why someone who isn't a hardcore audiophile would get one of these (Easy to find in stores, low price) but I'm going to stay away from Crosley and find something else that suits what I want.
At the end of the day, a turntable must spin at a consistent speed, be free from rumble and hum and have a respectable tracking weight. Everything else is bells and whistles but adds to the experience. Not everyone can afford a Bentley on a Toyota budget. Easy enough to upgrade the cartridge. I don't believe this was ever intended to be a high end or even mid level turntable but a fun way to play records. It's still a quantum leap ahead of my first unit some 60 years ago.
my mother got one of these as a gift for my father and I had been avoiding this video in fear to hear it was horrible and wound ruin my father's dear old records, I'm glad to see from the comments alone this isn't the case. Either way he is no tech guru and he is happy to hear his songs "in the crisp original quality"
I ordered one of these, came today. I thought it'd be good as a starter record player but after seeing so many negative reviews I got paranoid. I'm going to try it with your very balanced review in mind, people should watch this before buying rather then seeing the audiophile reviews.
@@arandomfromtheinternet105 Ive had their limited ed Velvet Green one for three years and I love it. Ignore the negative reviews - this is a great beginning turntable and after three years of playing my favourite LP's (Zero 7, Lone etc), I haven't had any issues, scratches or damage.
My history professor once told us "you'll find early on in life that most so-called 'experts' tend to be morons". He's totally right, it's only the select few who know that few issues are just back and white that are true experts, and sadly those ones tend to opt for silence more often than not.
2 years ago I researched record players because I really wanted one for Christmas and knew well that suitcase record players were bad, but for Christmas I got a suitcase record player (not crosley) and I was happy with it. It wasn’t until now, 2 years later, that I decided to start looking at this stuff again and all I’ve been hearing was bad stuff again. Due to the lack of knowledge for suitcase record players, I didn’t use the needle protector and I’m assuming that absolutely was the reason that my needle recently broke but I find this to be a positive thing because I can now replace it with a better needle. Thank you so much for this video because it has informed me and made me feel so much better than the approximately 40 other videos I have watched.
I've been interested in getting into vinyl and such, but I didn't exactly know where to start. My first thought was to buy a Crosley as it was the first turntable that came to mind due to its popularity, but after some digging around on the internet, it seemed to be considered the butt of the joke everywhere around. This is the first review I've come across that actually went in depth about the record player and it was super helpful and informative! I loved your message at the end of the video, it was really kind. This comment is getting longer and longer, oops. By the way, the title intermissions with the music were my favourite parts! I'm definitely going to check out the alternatives you suggested, thank you so much for this video!
Very interesting review, I like it especially when you said at end: Don't think of it as a audiophile record player, but as a cheap little toy for kids. Absolute gold.
not a fan of the cruiser would never allow for my personal collection to be played on one at all, i've always have told people that it's just a expensive toy.
I had an old Victrola a while back that was on the same level as a Crosley, and while I'm sad I sold it, I still think I'd like to upgrade to a better record player. Both Victrola & Crosley have recently released record players (both stationary & portable) that use Audio Technica cartridges, which is pretty good. I also like pitch control & speed adjustments being on top of the player with everything else so I can adjust it on the fly. But yeah, this video is great. Gave me a lot of info I didn't know about.
Nice to see a well balanced and more importantly and objective review with actual measurements. From what you found, I don't think that this is any worse than the sort of record player that was around when I was a kid in the 60s. I'm a bit of an audiophile, albeit using mostly 1970s equipment and only a fool would think that this sort of product was aimed at me; it's obviously for someone wanting to have a bit of fun without taking it too seriously. The only problem with this is that LPs are no longer "fun" priced.The tracking weight is interesting at getting on for 6gm; my SME 3009 arm has a Shure V15iii cartridge installed and it tracks at 1.25gm, BUT, the stylus is absolutely minute in order to keep its mass down. Inevitably, the actual contact area of my stylus will be tiny compared to that fitted to the Crosley so it is entirely possible that the actual contact pressure generated by my stylus may be higher.
for real? i have one and i hear so many terrible h things from people saying it will ruin my records that i’m so scared :( your comment kinda gave me hope
I've had my Victrola record player for almost a month now, Never has given me any problems with any of my albums like "Stick Season", Or "DAMN.", Never has given me any problems and i have had my record player since June 25th.
I had one for 6 or so years and it worked wonderfully. Never really had any issues with it destroying my records and the built-in speakers carried the sound well and filled a room without sounding cruddy, and that’s all i needed really. And, it’s ability to neatly fold in to a suitcase for storage was a big plus, since i didn’t really have space to keep it out all the time.
It really sounds like records as a format were a terrible fit for what you needed at the time. You were trying to fill a room with a system that is poorly made, tinny, inconvenient and plays discs that take up a huge amount of space when you don’t have space. You do you, but unless you already had a huge record collection you wanted to be able to play (not enjoy, just play), this makes no sense to me.
The speakers are laughable dude. Sure maybe it doesn’t ruin your vinyl but you can’t honestly tell me you were satisfied with those speakers. That’s embarassing
@@dimwitted-fooldude as a kid i was satisfied with my cheap ass radio playing 30 year old kassette tapes When its fine for him its fine for him If you feel the need to talk down on people because they have lower standards in their personal entertainment you should feel more embarrassed for yourself than them honestly
Man, VWestlife, this has to be one of your finest videos yet. Accurate, fact-based, and with hands-on demonstrations of the issues put out in the community. You've really outdone yourself! I hope this video reaches 6-figure views or more. Well done!
I think that's what annoys me the most about the Crosley hate and what so many of the audiophiles blab about. People act like vinyls are as flimsy as flowers. I got into vinyl because it is such a sturdy, strong way of storing music. I have a lot of paranoia about everything being digital, because in a second it can all be gone, but as long as I have my Jensen and the record, I will always be able to listen to the music on that record. Even if I listen to it a hundred times, it warbles, warps, crackles, goes at unsteady speeds, the music is still there. People need to take care of vinyls, but it's not like they'll crack in half if you use the wrong stylus. P.S. thank you for crediting the videos you used! i see too many people not even extend that much courtesy.
You are exactly right. I wanted to get into Vinyl casually but all the youtube professionals suggested setups that were $300 and up, because if you went cheaper than that you would have a shitty player that would mess up your records(according to them) I wouldn’t put that much money into something I would just listen to for a few hours on the weekend, so I got a cheap victrola very similar to the crosley in the video and it plays just fine and I haven’t seen or heard any damage to my records so far.
Kids listen to music on their phone speakers and we used to listen to music on our portable radios so I don't get all fuss about this product when you consider who it's aimed at. Seems quite a flexible and cheerful little product.
Our portable stereos used to be Sony Walkmans though, and they were made in an era when manufacturers were obsessed with quality sound and engineering.
Carl Richards Exactly! I don’t get why all these people are hating on them constantly. They should be considering their target market and realize they are pretty perfect for that market. These audiophile types shouldn’t even bother mentioning a player like this, they aren’t marketed towards them at all. They sound about as good as anything could with those tiny speakers but the whole thing is really quite versatile with headphone jacks and rca outputs. I do think they really missed the boat with making the Bluetooth an input. They should have made it Bluetooth out so you could listen to it through BT headphones or wirelessly hook it up to a home theater or something.
Depends... if people are using it on brand new vinyl reissues... good luck to them. If a load of cashed up hipster douchebags use the Crosley on first pressings they've picked up on Ebay? They may as well melt the vinyl to fashion a bowl.
I'm 5 years late, but thank you for making this video! I was given a similar turntable about 4 years ago (I already collected records by then, and had been using my parents' more expensive turntable prior) but recently seeing the hellish reviews scared me out of playing my records on it for a while (they're mostly first presses from the 60s, so I didn't want to damage them). This was super informative for me as someone who doesn't meddle much with the technical stuff beyond the basics!! I'm hoping to get a better table when I can afford one, but for now I can be at peace with my cruiser
I had one when I was little that was even more of a toy than that. They used to sell 45s with children's songs and fairy tales and stuff on them, and that's what we used it for.
I have never in my life gave a damn about records so I have no idea why this video was recommended to me. I watched it anyway and I have to say this is by far the most educational thing I've ever watched. Didn't get bored once. Even though I don't know anything about records, this was the most peaceful video I've ever watched on yt.
Check out Techmoan sometime. He does loads of videos about obscure forgotten music and video formats you'll never even set eyes on in real life (like the vinyl records with movies on them), but they're still fascinating.
I have an expensive audio system at home with a high quality turntable. However, I started out with a cheap portable turntable like this and a few records I got from a garage sale. Was it a good turntable? Hell no. Do I regret buying it? No. Had it not been for that turntable at the price I paid I never would have gotten into vinyl. Also, I still have a cheap all in one turntable like this - I keep it at work so I can listen to records while I work. For work I wasn't going to spend much money - other people damaging it, or stealing it. (and I already own a good system at home. These turntables are not the best - but for beginners and those wanting portability they are worth a go.
I recently bought a similar Crosley record player. I had come across my old records from the ,70’s and ‘80’s and wanted to listen to them again. I wanted something that would sit on my night table, that could plug over the ear head phones into, and relax on my bed listening to music. My Crosley is perfect for this, and the sound through my $50 headphones is great! I like it so much I started buying records again. Junior Wells, Buddy Guy, Otis Rush, BB King, Eric Clapton and many more now help me relax at home. I enjoy my Crosley and I’m not bothered by the negative Nancy’s.
I loved the argument against the tracking force claims, I always figured that old turntables must've had a tracking force as heavy as the Crosley Cruiser, but I had no idea that records were literally built to withstand a high tracking force. Great research.
Questhero101 I know from a records point of view 6 grams and above can be a heavy force but it does sound silly saying that 6 grams is a heavy force! 😂
Awesome review. This was my first turntable and while it was definitely super cheap, it was good enough to motivate me to become a vinyl fan. After a few months of use it started to have a few issues but nothing too serious. No need to hate those who own one.
Rafael Soto yeah, sometimes folks underestimate the importance of entry-level gear in developing a market. While I wouldn’t recommend the cruiser as a first model for someone, I’m not going to insist they start with a model costing several hundred dollars either.
I got one in 2013 when I was 12. Now I'm almost 17 and I still have and enjoy my crosley. The only problems I've ever had with it are occasional skipping (which I fixed by taping a dime and a penny on top of the needle. The speakers aren't that great but I fixed that by just plugging into the headphone jack a pair of cheap speakers and now it sounds alot better. My records aren't damaged or ruined in any way. Sure I would like to get a better turntable sometime but a crosley isn't actually that bad. I'd really like to get an Audio Technica soon tho
I don't hate the People who buy this garbage. I hate What they buy and Why they buy it. They owe it to themselves to Become Informed First, Before they spend their money. But too many people are in a hurry and Don't Want To Think, so they take the fastest, easiest route... to Disaster.
I got one of these used cheap and got just because I wanted to play with it. I have to say it's an ok little turntable. Better than the Soundesign I owned the 70s. Is it anywhere near as good as my vintage JVC LA11? Of course not. But it wasn't meant to be, it was meant to be an affordable entry level turntable and it does that better well.
Thank you so much for this! I'm only a very casual enjoyer of vinyl, with all of my vinyls costing below $5 (most around the 50 cent mark) I had an old turntable that stopped working and finally just decided to get a Crosley Cruiser to replace it. Reading all of the horror stories from audiophiles online really terrified me (and of course I didn't come across them until two days after throwing out the box) but I feel much better about it now. When I have more space I'll likely upgrade to a bigger and nicer table, but the cruiser works well in my tiny apartment for now.
You are exactly who the Crosley is meant for. Only a casual listener and the owner of crappy vinyl. No worries! My Bob Dylan “Freewheelin’” is a half speed master from the original master tape so…. NO FREAKIN WAY!!!
Thanks for the informative, in depth, and fact based video. Don't have a crosley, but feel a lot better knowing it doesn't garble records or newcomers who got one won't ruin a record if I give them a record as a gift. Must say it handling daft punk was impressive.
i have a large vinyl collection and while i dont think these are great i also dont think its great the amount of vinyl snobbery there is your records will not burst into flames not every has 1000 bucks for stereo equipment
I agree audiophiles will bash what I have then say oh but get one of these it's much better ummm where the hell am i supposed to conjure up $1000 on a $200 a month budget.
You can buy good second hand hifi gear dead cheap. I have 1980s KEF speakers that cost me nearly 3 weeks wages back then. You can find the same ones on ebay for less than £50 now.
I have a vintage Technics turntable (SL-D2) from the early eighties. I coupled it with a new VM-95e headshell, cartridge, and stylus. Sounds good to me!
I've never owned a record player and I was so excited to find one of these in a Goodwill for 18 dollars the other day - i'm not a hobbyist so I wasn't aware of the quality issues. I appreciate the video, thanks man.
2 years later it’s worth 9 dollars at Goodwill. Bought mine 2 days ago. 😊
6 лет назад+213
Most important point is that this cheap little toy turntable has helped people on listening to their old and classic records again. Of course after some time and - if you are really enjoying vinyl records - you can move to something better later. Great and educational video. Congrats!
You hit the nail on the head. As they say, you get what you pay for. That said, it's not as bad as people make it out to be. In fact, for really scratched 45s, it's probably better as the relatively high tracking force will keep the needle from jumping out of the groove as much, and the limited bandwidth of the speakers should filter out some of the surface noise. For those records, it can be fun to use. Great video.
As a means of trying vinyl, listening to those tinny toyish speakers isn't exactly something that would make one develope a passion for records, though...
very much agreed. but as someone who recently wanted to get into vinyl listening, the price of a good turntable was certainly a bit steep for me.1 i did eventually find what seems to be a decent older unit at a yard sale though, but yard sale and thrift store shopping isnt for everyone, unfortunately.
TRN Classic Gaming & Tech luckily I still have a good old fashioned independent music shop they sell old players from the 30s to modern day. So fairly easy to get a decent player.
Thanks for such an unbiased analysis! I’d love to hear a comparison between a digital capture from the line output of one of these vs something higher end.
I really want to enter the vinyl world, but I feel very intimidated lol. I’ve wanted a Crosley for a while now because I’m your basic 18 year old white girl, but I’m starting to watch all of the videos bashing them. I honestly feel attacked haha. My thing is that I don’t want to spend a lot of money on speakers and amplifiers and preamplifiers and whatever else I need. I’ve been intrigued by the Crosley’s because they’re cheap and you don’t necessarily need to buy anything else to play records. I just want to be able to play records without spending a million dollars on everything.
It's a fun hobby if you're casual about it and don't expect to brag about your collection. Crossley is a perfectly fine brand, and have extremely great turntables if money is no issue. But they also sell cheap ones like this, which you probably should avoid. What I'd do is find an old Receiver that works, and get a cheapish Turntable $20-30 more. Course I'm not really part of the audiophile community, I just like having a big box that plays music, so take my word worth a grain of sand.
Brielle don't let all the conflicting info out there get you down! Nothing wrong with getting something like this for now. You can always upgrade later if you find that you really enjoy records! Just be aware that there really is a difference in sound quality between this and something a little nicer! (and I confess, I have both!) Wishing you a lot of happy moments with music on vinyl! :)
I mean it's mildly understandable for me why someone would buy one of these record players but, I'm 18 too and I started buying vynil with my brother for a year now as we got the LP-120 for last year's Christmas, what I'd recommend? Save some money, it's not necessary to buy one a new one, since for 20 dollars more than a Crosley would cost you'd find a better product with counterweight and more types of adjustments, I entered the vynil for the sound, it's just incredible to hear how different it is than regular quality mp3's and yes at first you kinda like how cool it looks like to see the record but, a very huge amount of them are black PVC so it's seeing the same thing over and over, the looks wouldn't impress in some time, but inviting your friends just to listen to music it's always priceless, this hobby is expensive and imo more delicate than it should, but if you really want it you'll get a lot of fun getting your collection bigger.
Thank you for this review! I get anxious watching reviews for these turntables for obvious reasons haha. I bought a used Crosley Cruiser and was very excited for it! It was a blue little suitcase and I just thought it was the coolest thing ever haha. But after looking up information about records and record players, I saw what a terrible reputation these players had and it worried me quite a bit. I have my favorite records and I've listened to them dozens of times with no problems (I did go out and buy better speakers though), but I constantly worry in the back of my mind that one day they're gonna wear out because this player is known for "ruining records". I've had my player for a month now but I'm still just as happy with it as I was when I bought it. I plan on upgrading someday when I get the money, but for now, I'm happy with it! I get to listen to old and new records and discover music I've never heard before because of it! This review made me feel a lot better about owning it and putting my records on it, so thank you very much!
Are you sure you can't see or better hear any damage on your records. I WAS about to buy a crosley cruiser, then looked up a few reviews just for my final conclusion on whether buying it or not and was shocked... I really really don't want my records to get ruined... Idk how y'all feel about this but I just can't afford rebuying 40$ records all the time just because my player is trash... but I also cannot really afford more than the cruiser... so please be honest with me, do you really hear no difference? (And what needle do you have?)
@@minakllnr I've only had the player for about three months, but I'm fairly happy with it and haven't noticed any deterioration in my records. I have a couple newer records that weren't exactly cheap, so I understand your concern, but I've listened to them countless times, and they still sound and look just as good as when I bought them. The only thing I'd recommend doing right away is to buy some better speakers if you don't already have some of your own. The speakers on the crosley are absolutely the worst thing about the player. Just buy a good needle, clean the records before you play then, and have some nice speakers connected and if will sound pretty good and it wont ruin your records.
I'm so glad that I found this review! I don't have a Crosley, but my sweet husband bought me the very similar in styling and mechanics Victrola version for Christmas from a big box retailer. It reminded me so much of the Fisher Price children's record player that you showed at the end that I used to listen to for HOURS as a child in the 80's. (I still have it and it still works, but it needs a new stylus that I don't know how to replace or where to buy replacements.) Those 45's are actually the first things I played on it! I've been so worried that it would damage my records, both old and new, that I haven't it used it much. I'll eventually upgrade to a better turntable when I can afford one, but it's nice to know that until then, I'm not killing my beloved LPs any worse than I did as a kid, LOL!
Thank you so much for this. I hadn’t heard much about how bad crosley was until I ended up with one. People started telling me how it’s going to eat my records but I can’t afford one from the record store right now and I already have albums I’ve been waiting to play for weeks. I didn’t realize the stylus that comes with it was the equivalent to a plastic toothpick😅 and I WAS going to return it even though I was so happy just to have something to play my records. I’m going to get some new styluses and a speaker to hold off while I save for an upgrade. Thank you so much for actually doing an in depth review that wasn’t just belittling owners of the cruiser and giving honest feedback.
This is an impressively in depth video, good job! Glad to hear the Crosley isn't as bad as some say as it's such a nice portable form factor. Perhaps it wouldn't be too difficult to modify the unit and put in better speakers and amplifier.
If the budget had run to some slightly better speakers, it'd make the Cruiser an entirely decent introduction to records. The first turntable I had was actually a BSR changer built into a Sears all-in-one stereo system. It's long gone, but the records are still here and still play just fine, despite what a ten year old put some of them through. :-)
the real deal breaker is that the thing tries to be in a compact form, yet it doesn't have a battery and you need a goddamn cable to connect it to a pair of good speakers
Thank you for including everything I could need to know. I had man questions throughout this 30 minute video and they were all answered by the end. Thank you very much for being so knowledgable and sharing what you know with the public. Including still-cheap, better quality options at the end was what got me. Thank you very very much.
Loved this video. Straight to the point. Recently became a huge fan of your channel as I got into Cassette stuff, and I'm really glad you take an actual practical look at these kind of budget oriented equipment instead of one that is straight criticism with no nuance.
Whoever works at companies that make these types of things, put Bluetooth out not in. Nothing but the cheapest devices with Bluetooth would be upgraded by using these speakers.
VWestlife That's one thing that could've been more explicit in this video. Good trolling otherwise 👍, jk. Really though, if this thing had Bluetooth out, I'd actually consider one for a portable 78 player.
Great video. The fact that it actually plays a record for a price around $60 is kind of impressive. They really take the molded plastic design experience to a whole new level. I would never buy one, but I can appreciate the effort that went into designing something for that price range.
Vinyleyezz vids aren’t bad, but they are a bit too, I guess, “accessible.” He kinda talks to the audience like they’re idiots. Not quite as in depth. Spends a lot more time putting nice colorful text on the screen to help the drooling plebeians follow along than going in depth. (I don’t think anyone is a drooling plebeian. Just describing the vibe from the videos).
Vinyleyezz is more of a youtube minimalist that makes true youtube for anyone coming across the channel. This guy takes a bit less money, but makes more hobbyist specific videos.
I feel like half the time vinyl eyeez is just regurgitating what he's already heard everyone else say I mean come on the guy thought that Oreo record player actually changed songs according to how much of a bite of cookie you took that and when he had to figure something out on his own he couldnt even be bothered to read the instructions.
As someone who got a black and red Cruiser as a late birthday gift back in 2021, I loved using it, even if it wasn't the best. I do plan to upgrade to a vintage Technics when I get a job and make the money to get one, but I had fun with it and didn't mind its shortcomings when I had it.
The wait is worth it if you can pounce on a nice second hand system. Took me a few years of waiting for my Technis SL-D2 to pop up, and I love the thing.
@@KingBlonde agreed, I rather save up the money to get something nicer and will last a long time rather than something cheap and would just fail on me.
Vinyl records are expensive. If you’re going to spend money on those, invest in a good player. Especially if you don’t want your vinyl ruined by a cheap one.
Really glad you made this review. I watched the other guys video in the beginning about “Don’t but a Crosley!” Dude sounds like a pushover. I feel much better about getting this to start my collection as a Jazz musician(drummer). Interesting to hear what Elvin Jones The Impulse Years will sound like on Vinyl when I receive mine. Awesome video, thank you!
There sure is enough Cork-Sniffing in the record community, now isn't there? We've had cheap-o turntables for years... but now all of a sudden they are on the hate list. Personally, my choice is to rehab some older 70's decks by Sony, Pioneer, Fisher... back when heavy duty turntables were a thing. For my half deaf mother who just wants to play her old albums twice a year, a luxury player isn't needed. Personally, I would prefer to have a higher and deck, but it's a matter of HOW someone actually appreciates music. Some want in depth sonic detail.... others just want to dance.
I'm happy with mine. Have it for a little more than 3 years and no records got fucked up. But the speakers are shit, so I use it with good speakers, and it's fine!
An unbiased yet critical review based on actual testing and facts with a truthful and rational conclusion. I love how, at the same time, you blow all those fake elitist "audiophiles" off their high horses while debunking a lot of the irrational hate for the product without giving any undeserved credit and still manage to keep being critical. Right now, I use a pretty decent $250+ hi-fi turntable with a cartridge that did cost the same as the turntable itself. You know what got me back into listening to records in the first place? A cheap and cheaply built turntable much like the crosley. Except being affordable, these devices offer the opportunity to try out the hobby with the least regrets possible. It's like starting to learn how to play a guitar. You don't buy a $1000+ model if you're not sure yet whether you'll want to go on with it in 4 or 8 weeks or not. You start with something way cheaper, something that makes quitting in case you don't like it less painful.
I used to have one , bought it when i was 15 and used it til 18. I loved it. It was cheap enough for me to be able to buy it, it looked pretty (which is so important for a 15 year old girl lol), and it worked. allowed me to gingerly start my collection without issues. I have a much better set up now, but am a 28 year old working full time who can afford it. I say go ahead kids, if you want one, it's fine!
GeoNeilUK I'm a thrift store regular and a sucker for vintage electronics so I'd absolutely go for an old machine over one of these, but audio quality isn't necessarily better. The limiting factor with these things is really their poor speakers.
Thing is you're probably more likely to get the 1980s Midi Hifis nowadays, the old music centres (and especially the stereograms which are a record deck and a radio and amp in a wooden Ottotman-style cabinet) are just cooler!
I have no shame in admitting that I don't have the best turntable in the world at the moment, but I'm perfectly ok with that. In terms of the turntable I have, it's the ION Max LP. Not the worst sounding turntable in the world, but with it being hooked up to some nice Edifier speakers, it actually sounds pretty decent with both old and new vinyl. Of course, it should go without saying that it's nothing that's going to blow you away though like a decent quality turntable from Audio Technica or other brands. But it gets the job done.
saxman112 I have an ION, too, but mine is the Profile Pro model and I have it hooked up to a Peavy bass amp. I listen to punk though so sound quality isn't extremely important and it gets the job done!
I just got this for Christmas and am very appreciative. It's a nice little start into the hobby and I'm now no longer worried about putting my Ghost records on it and having them ruined. One day I'll upgrade :)
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
Spot on - excellent job.
Techmoan, if VWestlife saw this, he’d thank you.
Techmoan!! The hell are you doing here (not complaining at all!)?
Can I even watch a video about retro hifi without running into you? :-)
@Techmoan Are you here to sing along to Daft Punk?
We're up all night to get lucky
We're up all night to get lucky
We're up all night to get lucky
We're up all night to get lucky
So, to conclude:
- Yeah they're pretty bad for a record player, if you're looking to buy one you should probably avoid it
- That said, they're affordable and good for beginners who don't want to make a huge investment
- They aren't going to ruin your records. Audiophiles are exaggerating.
Definitely not the greatest that is for certain. Nobody said it better than you
get the lp60x its literally cheaper and so so much better
@@bellafrancis2963 I agree with you I got the lp60x for Christmas and I have been nothing but satisfied
@@hunterrepko5635 same it’s literally so good
@@coldheart1806 how much is it?
Audiophiles: Don't buy this. Its crap.
Also audiophiles: You need to buy this $1000 rock and put it on top of your speaker amplifier to get rid of interference.
A REAL audiophile wouldn't listen to records. A real audiophile would settle for no less than reel-to-reel, 15 IPS or faster.
@@scatteredfrog true
They listen to there expensive hardware !
@@scatteredfrog Hah! I have all my albums on 120 ips tape. It's a higher speed than the masters, but it really unlocks the danceability of my reel-to-reel's power cable. Neil Young himself blessed it, and it sounds even better; I won't tell you how much THAT cost!
A real audiophile would slam two rocks together at the perfect frequencies to open a portal to another reality where recording technologies were better
I love how you gave the facts and didn’t just tell people not to buy it. It’s great for beginners, no one needs to be shamed for owning one
dear rafa yes I had one of these and I liked how nice it was before I went to buy a nicer one to now if I wanted to get into it.
i think its great to start simple ya know? i personally don’t need a fancy turntable bc i just do it for fun and can’t really tell the differenxe
I have a crossley executive, it's just basically a revision of the cruiser, got it for $100
Dane Hartsough oh i think i got the same one but for 99$ on urban outfitters
These replies make me feel so much better haha. I just got one as a gift and everybody is saying they suck. So I was like low key freaking out because I thought I had my tia waste her money on something that didn’t work! Thank you for calming me down haha
1:15 “This is a stupid hobby why did I get into this?” Omg that’s literally me two seconds into doing anything new
So quirky and relatable
You mean 1:12?
I love your message of not belittling people who have these. That snobbish behaviour only drives people away. Thanks for the in-depth review
Yeah, there's too much of that going about. I'm a bit of a hi-fi snob, but I try to educate people and help them make good buying decisions instead of ending up with something they'll be disappointed with. I hate going to someone's house and hearing a poor quality system. It grates on my nerves something awful. I want my friends to have the best they can afford so we can all enjoy it together.
Alexandro Collings so people who have a much different taste in music than you should not buy records/record players? Get the "Fook" outta here lad 😂
Snobbery in Audio is rampant. I'm not big into vinyl, but I own synthesizers and oh boy, synthesizer snobs are something quite spectacular. They don't care about personal preference or quality, they only care about showing off how much money they have. Behringer recently released a clone of the Mini Moog Model D simply called the "Behringer Model D". All discrete components and some ICs to aid reliability, and it sounds perfect and only costs £300, but synth snobs will INSIST that the recreation Mini Moog from Moog themselves is the only truly good sounding Model D, and it costs an eye watering £3400. Badge and brand snobbery at its finest.
Alexandro Collings You could try worrying about yourself and I️ think you’d be less enraged by what other people are doing lol.
benanderson89 Check a synth guy from Finland called: Kebu. He is amazing. Has a couple of albums out already and touring.
I know it's not a great turntable, but in my opinion if it's all a kid can afford and gets them interested in vinyl there's nothing wrong with it. Everyone has to start somewhere. Then you advance. In the beginning you saw Kremer bashing the crosley. He has a 90 thousand dollar turntable with a 30 thousand dollar tone arm. I'd like to ask him what his first f'n turntable was. He's probably embarrassed to say.
Yea lmao
To be fair, kids getting these record players are getting vinyl made for this player, newer thicker more durable material. If you get into classics, invest into a better turntable. But by the time you really get into it, you’ll learn to get a newer one
NO! THIS IS A DISCOURAGING PRODUCT. IT RUINS A PERSONS MOMENTUM WHEN STARTING THE HOBBY. ITS A SCAM PRODUCT.
@@williamkline6450 they really arent. new stuff is pricy. old stuff is also pricy. rereleases are low quality. you buy crap turn table, you lose/lose.
@@jessecreature8035 yeah but a kid that just likes records isn’t gonna pay $200 plus for just a decent record player
" It sounds drunken. That's probably more Don Ho's fault than Crosley's fault."
You have no idea how much I laughed.
Love you videos.
Thanks.
That's where the pitch knob comes in to change the speed. If it works right otherwise.
Try The Horse by Cliff Nobles. That record sounds “drunken “ I think the record was not drilled correctly in the center hole.
same here... 😂
thank you for this actually honest review, people who are just getting into vinyl should not have to spend $200 for a hobby they may not enjoy.
That, I can agree, I spent money on a turntable and the shebang but I really don't get the time for playing records or cds
On the other hand: I've invested lots of money in headphone hifi systems that work with my computer for daily playback enjoyment.
My last setup is schiit yggdrasil, jotunheim, and a hifiman susvara headphone. This has led me to the end of my audiophile journey.
@@jordala then who cares where I comment?
hmm?
you literally eased my anxiety so much. i received one for christmas and after watching videos on it i had a break down. after watching this i feel so much better. thank you!
break down lol why
@@superice1234 i mean honestly if someone got me a Crosley I'd probably break down after realizing it damages my LPs faster too.
Does it still work? I'm trying to buy one...
@@Sophia-mh8iy if you want a cheap record player go with the AT-LP60
@@jorgetello3961 I just bought a record player at the guitar palace and it works pretty good. Thank you for the info!
It's midnight and I'm watching a review of a record player...
Y4123 me too
I'm watching this at 3am. Hahahah
Y4123 ey, me too.
Same
It's 2:30am and I gotta get up for work in the morning. Yet here I am.
I started of with one of these ( not this exact model ), and i have to say that:
1. Its amazing if you want to save some money and cant afford an expensive one
2. It doesn't damage the vinyls
Its not the best ofc! But if you just wanna enjoy some music this way now and then, i think it will get the job done!
Thank you so much for this video. My family has always been poor and when I got married 3 years ago, my parents got me a Crosley “Musican Entertainment Center.” I cried because I knew what they paid for it and was so grateful for them getting me such a sweet gift, when they were already helping so much with my (cheap-as-possible but still-expensive-for-us) wedding to begin with.
About 6 months after me using my record player, I kept seeing so much negativity about it and people telling me that what I had was crap and was ruining my records (which was very upsetting because many of them were my grandfathers and I want to take care of them). I was heartbroken and felt guilty.
I still feel a little bad because I had no idea I was supposed to change my stylus until seeing this, so I hope I haven’t caused any insane damage to my records.
But thanks for putting my mind at ease even at all. I really appreciate it. Hopefully one day I can afford to upgrade.
no need to worry I have a very similar style record player and it works fine I play my grandfathers records on it and they are fine after 10 years being played on one as for the stylus im sure you didn't do any harm after all it was intended for records changing them is mainly for increasing sound quality and to help stop skipping they should have a rated set of hours before they recommend changing them you can get 50 hours from a ruby stylus and about 500-1000 hours from a diamond stylus. in summation enjoy your record player have fun and cast out that worry all is well and most importantly of all enjoy the music! :) cheers.
Really, as long as you kept them clean and stored them as best you could, you'll probably be fine
Records will be damaged when you play them, no matter what kind of stylus you use, so don't worry too much, it'll probably be around 10000 plays until the record starts losing it's quality:)
If your careful with your records they will be fine,the stylus should be pyramid shaped when it looks rounded it needs replacing , take no notice of Hi Do Snobs
HI FI*
Here's why Crosley turntables are so popular: they're cheap, almost entirely set up out of the box, and thus are seen as a good setup for beginners. I don't get why so many audiophiles hate them, because IMO, it's better for people to listen to vinyl on a cheap setup than not have one at all.
An Intellectual Idiot yeah that’s a common characteristic in some of them but what can you do a 60 bucks and they are a decent player 🤷♀️
HotWax93 there is nothing wrong with them.
They destroy records way prematurely due to e.g. super-high tracking force. Not really a prob for shitty records, but painful to even consider for anything remotely rare or collectible.
Princess Ophelia ok. I understand if you have valuable vinyl and your a collector. But I’m sure my 14yr old granddaughter doesn’t care for that at the moment, she enjoys her Taylor Swift Vinyl on them for now. I’m not buying some kid a $500 or more record player. You’re only comparing/opinionated it from the Vinyl snubb point of view.
@@val13c59 It only costs £99 for something like an LP60X instead of a £65 Crosley though, you don't need a Planar 3
Do you wanna know which is the best turntable you can get? THE ONE YOU CAN AFFORD
Exactly, got myself one after gathering a collection of records and having a total of 4 dead record players, all bought second hand, 1st one needed a belt but i didnt have a collection at the time and tossed it (also a crossley), second one also needed a belt and i broke the only one i had, 3rd one had a bad motor, used the crossley motor in it, which works but can only get one speed and its not correct (gonna need to order the correct part), 4th one had a seized motor and was a pain to take apart (had to remove entire bottom of device, all circuit boards to get to it (1970's sears?). finally broke down and got a crossley as it was the only NEW device that i could by locally and record players started to get more rare at goodwills around me.
it works, i have it hooked to an external speaker system and sounds ok, will upgrade the stylus/cartridge as thats not too expensive. Besides if i really want good quality music i can always play my 30GB of MP3's, just sometimes its nice playing with physical media, especially when you have the awsome album covers you can display
No, the one that won't ruin your records. Instant gratification syndrome at work here. SAVE for a QUALITY used turntable. There are MILLIONS available and $200 for a turntable and $150 cartridge won't grind-up your albums. I have rock-and-roll LP's I bought new a half-Century ago with NO scratches, pops, or clicks including the crummy ATCO pressings of the Rolling Stones. Hmm...how'd THAT happen???
@@Walkercolt1 I think that depends on how serious you are about the hobby. your saying a $350 device is going to be better then a $80 and well yea that's obvious. But on the other hand if you don't have a lot of money and aren't sure how much you want to commit, or your a more casual fan of records and you do bring them out to play every so often but you still use more modern means for your daily use then it's not that bad either. Just like with any hobby once you start to get into it more it's worth upgrading from the most basic version. But saying you have to start with a high priced system just leads to a barrier of entry that is going to keep people out.
@@CrossRoadsOfTime Nowadays vinyl is getting pretty expensive so if you aren't willing to spend that on the turntable I don't know why you'd wanna spend 30-40+ on some of the new pressings I've seen for every album you want to own
@@IrateWizrd yea but that's getting them new and in pristine condition, which is also not likely to be something a person who's just starting out and doesn't have a lot of money to throw at this will be getting a lot of anyways. there's still plenty of cheap used records out there. now of course they aren't going to be near as nice as the new pressings, but those are also for the more serious collectors that have the money for that.
Just bought this yesterday to play my dads records. He passed last week. It is good enough for me to listen to a couple of records when I miss my dad. Thanks for the review
Thanks for doing an honest review on this turntable and not just trashing it like everyone else does. 2 years ago I only had like 5 records because I had just started buying them and my aunt got me this Crosley record player as a gift. I was so excited to have a record player and I thought it was so cool. Then I realized how much hate this thing gets. People act like your records are going to get completely destroyed from using it. I used it for 2 years and never had a problem. It works fine, and if you're a beginner it's a great affordable option. I just got an upgrade but I'm keeping this record player as a backup.
Thank u I just bought one of these today from Walmart with the little money I saved up but all I see is people saying bad things about it thanks u
Well you won't hear anything bad from us on this page, enjoy it Kay. We love a Croz.
Look up tracking force and you will see why this is TRASH!
@@garyglenn3654 chill😂why u mad at an object let us be
Record shredder! LOL
They said Crosley is responsible for vinyl comeback because in 1990s while most people starts throwing away their record player Crosley starts making portable record players which are meant to attract teenagers.
The 90s were a great time to collect vinyl. No one was into it.
finally someone who remembers just how disposable record players were at one point. I remember people would go buy a nice used unit use it until the stylus wore out then toss it away and get another one that was always a heart breaker for me and the records the mountains of good music you could aquire for as cheap as 15 cents an album and most people were giving away their vinyl and shellac records.
Yep! I grew up during the transition from Vinyl to CD, we wanted perfect sound...now us old people want killer vinyl sound and can afford it. I love what Crosley has done! Vinyl sound and the FUN of buying records!
@@TheHSIHP You could get 70s and 80s hifi gear almost for free. It was the age of 5.1 and home theatre and nobody wanted 2 channel stuff.
Hipsters saved the vinyl industry
Thank you so much for this. I bought a Crosley last year after getting a few boxes of old records from my grandparents who had planned on just donating them all. I knew nothing at all about turntables, but the Crosley was affordable and visually appealing so I rolled with it. It's kind of disheartening to see so many holier-than-thou people on RUclips who act like they'd rather smash their entire collection to pieces than play them on a Crosley. I plan on upgrading once my wallet permits (I'm a broke college student, so it might be a while), but this turntable introduced me to a whole new hobby world that I can't wait to embrace more seriously. Thanks for assuring me I'm not a horrible person.
You might be able to find a nice vintage turntable that just needs some TLC for a good affordable price.
@bad dog Be pateint, there's still going to be people who don't know what they are looking at and just want to get rid of the things.
I got my record player from my cousin cause he didn't use it anymore. I got some records from relatives too. Ask around your family and you'll probably find one
Yes! I ordered mine yesterday, then saw all the videos about it and felt like an idiot
For $90, you can buy an Audio-Technica LP60X, which is a far FAR better turntable from an actual brand
Dude I’m 18, I don’t have thousands of dollars for a professional one, it’s cute, portable and honestly I’m not mad about the music
I can't talk I can't enunciate you couldve bought an audio technicha lp60 for 10 dollars more and 10x the quality lol good luck destroying ur records
Why buy one if you don’t care about the music?
Then there you go, good old Croz.
Keep playing your records on this trash. You DESTROY the record EVERY time you play it.
@I can't talk I can't enunciate
How strange, when my friends & I were turning 17, we were looking at -ditching- sidelining our turntables and all going out buying CD players instead !
Based on your review, I asked Crosley why I didn’t have extra diamond styli in my box. You must have been lucky, as they told me they do not include extra styli with the Cruiser Deluxe. However, Crosley was nice enough to send me one via Priority Mail. Their customer service is top notch.
How did you contact them? And do you think you can give me the contact info because my didnt come with one either?
Johnathan Castillo 1-866-CROSLEY
Johnathan Castillo 8662767539
Their product is trash.
Gary Glenn Thanks, the stuff I own by them is great, Look forward to seeing your videos soon.
I love how in depth you went with this
Someone had to. It's not a great turntable, but at least now people know the facts of why it's not a great turntable without all the bs.
The unit reviewed is not a BAD turntable. It rotates at a constant speed, has a motor with good torque, does not have audible wow or flutter. It can be paused/stopped without lifting the tone arm. Connect the turntable to a good audio system by way of the line outputs and you will be surprised. The questions to be looked into with this model are quality control and durability, which the reviewer did not cover.
I think the topic deserves it. It's all too easy to pull a VinylEyezz and just go for cheap laughs and a meme or two, but that stuff does a bad job of informing anyone about anything.
@@twhuning6352 thanks, i care most about durability, of course i would connect a different audio speakers to it.
Music is supposed to be fun, and I'm doing the best I can on a limited budget and, if this is all I can afford them this will do for now.And no one should judge anybody for what they can or can't afford. Thank you sir for not making fun of it giving a fair shot.
Hopefully ur continuing this hobby, this was my first turntable and now I’m looking at getting an rt85
We need more people like you that actually show the tests they did. It gives the viewer a feeling of safety. Really appreciate your efforts man!
I’ve played one record like 20 time on my Crosley, it’s fine,
Then there you go. Don't know what all the fuss is about, do you Scarlett? Go Scarl, enjoy your Croz!
Because youll never get to hear what the "fine" sound is. If it doesnt get worse then its still the worst.
Skylark Mobile Legends it sounds exactly like my phone...
@@scarlettadkins9311 that's the problem. Analog sound is not supposed to sound exactly like a digital one.
Scarlett Adkins that’s not a good thing, it should sound as good as an reel to reel or cd
People:
Is the crosley cruiser bad?
VWestLife:
Well yes, but actually no.
I learned a lot watching this. This video ought to be the first one vinyl newbies watch.
Need to!
Why?! Just buy a second hand 70's or 80's TT for a fraction of the price, a cheap second hand amp with a phono stage and it will be light years ahead of this Crosley junk.
Im a vinyl newbie and the 1st vid i watched was Amoeba's how to care for your vinly vid. Now i will learn from this one
I live out of the us where buying stuff online is impossible in my house and usually doesn’t ship to where I live
This is the only one I was able to find in a range of what I can afford and the only which I can find in a store so I’m trying to see if it’s worth the money
In the currency where I live it’s 630dhs
(1 dollar is 3.67 dhs)
It was for me 😂
I think the reason a lot of audiophiles trip out over entry level TTs is because most of the time you can find a nice vintage table in the used market for a similar price. To each their own, but there’s definitely a learning curve to using vintage TTs for someone who’s barely spinning their first record
@@willdoering4854 I got a tesla turntable for free and there are a lot of them for only around 40-50eur here. Many of them even have an integrated amplifier and radio like mine (tesla dominant 1039A)
Bang on.
Get a good vintage one, slap a new cartridge on it, and just like that you've got a way better experience. Spent a total of $2 on a turntable, $40 on speakers, $10 ish on a receiver, and $45 on a new cartridge. Only thing I bought new was the cartridge. Takes a lot more time than a one-time purchase since it's a game of chance whether or not you find those things or not, but the experience is way better for the price.
The Crosley, imo, *only* has a place as a tool people use to connect deeper with their music without spending a lot of money or putting any thought into it. If they want better sound quality, they're certainly not making the right decision.
In the US it's unlikely you'll find a vintage anything for as cheap. And a lot of people don't live near vintage stores.
yea but none of them are portable :( I've looked on the vintage market, but they'll all require me to get a proper big table and a proper set of speakers/possibly pre-amps, and I need something that can go on the train under my arm. Genuinely open for suggestions if someone knows something better than this thing.
@@ResidentialGondola One thing most of the knockers miss - OK, two - is the robustness and portability. Sure, some may say it's robust because it's grotty and chunky. But I suspect even a record newbie could bring one of these into the room and have it up and running in 30-60 seconds, whereas _any_ of the alternatives, at least a couple of minutes, probably more. And for just a fun introduction to records - to compare with their MP3 player (with its equally small, probably mono, speaker) - that's important. If they get "into" records, they can move to something fancier (and needing more care) later.
(And I'm not a vinyl-is-better anyway. I consider early CDs probably the best, at least at consumber level; I would only use a record player for something unavailable otherwise - or, occasionally, for the nostalgia. Though I would use my linear-tracking deck, especially if transcribing to digital [probably not if just doing it for nostalgia].) As this clip shows, even the Crosley cruiser won't rapidly _damage_ records.
i Have to laugh at the early example of a review: "Kids will buy this cruddy player and hate" vinyl as a whole? HA! As a kid in the 60s, I owned a piece of crap Sears portable, likely worse than the Cros. . It did nothing to dim my enthusiasm for vinyl.
How do the records that you played on them sound now though?
Back then not many other options besides records like today. 8-tracks they were not so great.
I don’t know if those 300 dollar players really do sound better than the cheap stuff. I do know that even the cheap stuff definetly sounds much better than digital.
Hey Allan. In 1973 I got a JC Penney record player for christmas. I was 15. Then I bought some kind of record player at 18 that had a built in 8-track player, oh year nothing like hearing the track change in the middle of Stairway To Heaven, then 1 with a 8 track recorder before I was finally around guys in the barracks in the air force with the good stuff. I gave away all my 8 tracks. Then I bought my 1st technics tt, kenwood receiver and speakers. I was 19. So I just kept moving up in quality. My love for vinyl never stopped. But I wonder about the kids getting those suitcase crosleys. And will they be turned off on the price for records? At my local shop the good used records are $ 10 bucks. They grade them pretty good. I bought a $5 dollar lp early 80's lp terrible. If the streamers won't buy music I wonder if these kids will. I guess as long as they buy decently clean used vs new 180 grams.
Kids will listen to garbage. And I'm not insulting their musical tastes, but any point since music has been available to the masses, young people usually go for what's cheap and convenient, even if the sound quality is inferior. And they'll be happy with it until they can afford better.
Very good review. I never thought the Crosley Cruiser was an audiophile's dream, but I thought the fear-mongering reviews were a bit much. Certainly no worse than the Sears Silvertone portable stereo phonograph I had from the '60s. That lasted many years and did not chew up my records, either.
I don't even have an interest in records but I like your voice so I keep coming back just to listen to you talk.
Thanks!
Fun note: If you ever lose one of those clips which was holding down the platter, you can get a replacement easily at a car parts store. I couldn't find one at any hardware store, but Autozone had 'em!
I love going to auto zone. I'm not even a car guy it's just nice
he red the spanish part of the box with an italian accent lmao
You could say that he blue it
@@tyrshand8180: It's Spanish, not Portuguese - I know the language.
@@teadm You're right enough, thanks
They’re basically the same language.
He does live in Jersey. I have family there. Lots of Guidos, or should I say Fredos. lol. (Apologies to Chris Cuomo if I triggered him)
Thank you for not just bashing it though. I swear I'm a newbie and I feel attacked for being cheap and just wanting to listen to my stuff in peace. I'm not destroying anything it's just some $20 vinyl I don't want to be attacked.
Cara The point is that it’s your money and nobody else’s business. Most of us can’t afford a $1000 turntable and have to use what’s affordable to us. I hope you are still listening to and enjoying your records. ✌️
You should get an audiotechnica lp-60 it's a really good starter turntable and can find it as low as 80 bucks on amazon
@@kat1158 Yeah, I would recommend the same as you. I'm a high schooler interested in playing records just for fun (I'm no audiophile) and I got my AT-LP60 for $70 refurbished from an authorized seller with a replacement stylus. Super excited and a really good deal!
@@brandonmonson2147 I'm about to go into high school this fall and so far collecting records has been fun and it is a good budget turntable for teenagers that don't have 300 dollars to spend on a turntable
I'm thinking of getting into vinyl myself. I can see why someone who isn't a hardcore audiophile would get one of these (Easy to find in stores, low price) but I'm going to stay away from Crosley and find something else that suits what I want.
At the end of the day, a turntable must spin at a consistent speed, be free from rumble and hum and have a respectable tracking weight. Everything else is bells and whistles but adds to the experience. Not everyone can afford a Bentley on a Toyota budget. Easy enough to upgrade the cartridge. I don't believe this was ever intended to be a high end or even mid level turntable but a fun way to play records. It's still a quantum leap ahead of my first unit some 60 years ago.
my mother got one of these as a gift for my father and I had been avoiding this video in fear to hear it was horrible and wound ruin my father's dear old records, I'm glad to see from the comments alone this isn't the case. Either way he is no tech guru and he is happy to hear his songs "in the crisp original quality"
I ordered one of these, came today. I thought it'd be good as a starter record player but after seeing so many negative reviews I got paranoid. I'm going to try it with your very balanced review in mind, people should watch this before buying rather then seeing the audiophile reviews.
Charlie Wright 11 months later what happened is it decent?
@@arandomfromtheinternet105 Ive had their limited ed Velvet Green one for three years and I love it. Ignore the negative reviews - this is a great beginning turntable and after three years of playing my favourite LP's (Zero 7, Lone etc), I haven't had any issues, scratches or damage.
@@jamesharris7003 did you replace the needle with a diamond stylus or just leave the record player the way it came?
Let me spit facts: Elitists Ruin Everything.
love him or hate him, hes spitting straight facts
My history professor once told us "you'll find early on in life that most so-called 'experts' tend to be morons". He's totally right, it's only the select few who know that few issues are just back and white that are true experts, and sadly those ones tend to opt for silence more often than not.
These are perfectly fine, Experts just like their expensive stuff more and bash on cheaper items that do just fine.
That’s why fan reviews on rotten tomatoes >>>>> critic reviews
I mean, the technics lp120 is pretty nice at $220
you eased my anxiety of ruining my records fully, thank you so much for being dead honest
I can't thank you enough for actually testing the rumors that flood internet forums related to these things!
2 years ago I researched record players because I really wanted one for Christmas and knew well that suitcase record players were bad, but for Christmas I got a suitcase record player (not crosley) and I was happy with it. It wasn’t until now, 2 years later, that I decided to start looking at this stuff again and all I’ve been hearing was bad stuff again. Due to the lack of knowledge for suitcase record players, I didn’t use the needle protector and I’m assuming that absolutely was the reason that my needle recently broke but I find this to be a positive thing because I can now replace it with a better needle. Thank you so much for this video because it has informed me and made me feel so much better than the approximately 40 other videos I have watched.
I've been interested in getting into vinyl and such, but I didn't exactly know where to start. My first thought was to buy a Crosley as it was the first turntable that came to mind due to its popularity, but after some digging around on the internet, it seemed to be considered the butt of the joke everywhere around. This is the first review I've come across that actually went in depth about the record player and it was super helpful and informative! I loved your message at the end of the video, it was really kind. This comment is getting longer and longer, oops. By the way, the title intermissions with the music were my favourite parts! I'm definitely going to check out the alternatives you suggested, thank you so much for this video!
Very interesting review, I like it especially when you said at end: Don't think of it as a audiophile record player, but as a cheap little toy for kids. Absolute gold.
not a fan of the cruiser would never allow for my personal collection to be played on one at all, i've always have told people that it's just a expensive toy.
I had an old Victrola a while back that was on the same level as a Crosley, and while I'm sad I sold it, I still think I'd like to upgrade to a better record player. Both Victrola & Crosley have recently released record players (both stationary & portable) that use Audio Technica cartridges, which is pretty good. I also like pitch control & speed adjustments being on top of the player with everything else so I can adjust it on the fly. But yeah, this video is great. Gave me a lot of info I didn't know about.
Didnt expect you to be here
Which is the better brand?
how's the channel going?
@@shaneheffernan they are the same exact thing, just with a change of skin
I love my Crosley! It's cheep, and the sound quality isn't great, but its a good fit for me! Thanks for standing up for folks like me!
Not at all. We stand up for all things Croz.
Nice to see a well balanced and more importantly and objective review with actual measurements. From what you found, I don't think that this is any worse than the sort of record player that was around when I was a kid in the 60s. I'm a bit of an audiophile, albeit using mostly 1970s equipment and only a fool would think that this sort of product was aimed at me; it's obviously for someone wanting to have a bit of fun without taking it too seriously. The only problem with this is that LPs are no longer "fun" priced.The tracking weight is interesting at getting on for 6gm; my SME 3009 arm has a Shure V15iii cartridge installed and it tracks at 1.25gm, BUT, the stylus is absolutely minute in order to keep its mass down. Inevitably, the actual contact area of my stylus will be tiny compared to that fitted to the Crosley so it is entirely possible that the actual contact pressure generated by my stylus may be higher.
canon cs100
Woot for 1970’s equipment I have a old HH Scott turntable that was built in 1973 such if my research is correct was a medium high range product
Roger King い
I’ve had mine for 5 years and I’ve never had a problem with it! I really like mine
for real? i have one and i hear so many terrible h things from people saying it will ruin my records that i’m so scared :( your comment kinda gave me hope
@@stormiezxo8148 Just follow what this video says and you should be fine
@@stormiezxo8148 destroying records is usually only because of user error, if you use it correctly you should be fine.
I've had my Victrola record player for almost a month now, Never has given me any problems with any of my albums like "Stick Season", Or "DAMN.", Never has given me any problems and i have had my record player since June 25th.
I had one for 6 or so years and it worked wonderfully. Never really had any issues with it destroying my records and the built-in speakers carried the sound well and filled a room without sounding cruddy, and that’s all i needed really.
And, it’s ability to neatly fold in to a suitcase for storage was a big plus, since i didn’t really have space to keep it out all the time.
It really sounds like records as a format were a terrible fit for what you needed at the time. You were trying to fill a room with a system that is poorly made, tinny, inconvenient and plays discs that take up a huge amount of space when you don’t have space. You do you, but unless you already had a huge record collection you wanted to be able to play (not enjoy, just play), this makes no sense to me.
@@ChrisStoneinatornerd
The speakers are laughable dude. Sure maybe it doesn’t ruin your vinyl but you can’t honestly tell me you were satisfied with those speakers. That’s embarassing
@@dimwitted-fooldude as a kid i was satisfied with my cheap ass radio playing 30 year old kassette tapes
When its fine for him its fine for him
If you feel the need to talk down on people because they have lower standards in their personal entertainment you should feel more embarrassed for yourself than them honestly
Man, VWestlife, this has to be one of your finest videos yet. Accurate, fact-based, and with hands-on demonstrations of the issues put out in the community. You've really outdone yourself! I hope this video reaches 6-figure views or more. Well done!
I think that's what annoys me the most about the Crosley hate and what so many of the audiophiles blab about. People act like vinyls are as flimsy as flowers. I got into vinyl because it is such a sturdy, strong way of storing music. I have a lot of paranoia about everything being digital, because in a second it can all be gone, but as long as I have my Jensen and the record, I will always be able to listen to the music on that record. Even if I listen to it a hundred times, it warbles, warps, crackles, goes at unsteady speeds, the music is still there. People need to take care of vinyls, but it's not like they'll crack in half if you use the wrong stylus.
P.S. thank you for crediting the videos you used! i see too many people not even extend that much courtesy.
You are exactly right. I wanted to get into Vinyl casually but all the youtube professionals suggested setups that were $300 and up, because if you went cheaper than that you would have a shitty player that would mess up your records(according to them) I wouldn’t put that much money into something I would just listen to for a few hours on the weekend, so I got a cheap victrola very similar to the crosley in the video and it plays just fine and I haven’t seen or heard any damage to my records so far.
As long as your cleaning them the only thing to worry about is warping which can happen regardless of the player.
Bella records. Not vinyls. Vinyl is the material. Lol.
It's PVC. Water pipes made out of it can last for many decades.
@@ddanny3108 vinyl without the s is their name too.
Kids listen to music on their phone speakers and we used to listen to music on our portable radios so I don't get all fuss about this product when you consider who it's aimed at. Seems quite a flexible and cheerful little product.
Our portable stereos used to be Sony Walkmans though, and they were made in an era when manufacturers were obsessed with quality sound and engineering.
Carl Richards Exactly! I don’t get why all these people are hating on them constantly. They should be considering their target market and realize they are pretty perfect for that market. These audiophile types shouldn’t even bother mentioning a player like this, they aren’t marketed towards them at all. They sound about as good as anything could with those tiny speakers but the whole thing is really quite versatile with headphone jacks and rca outputs. I do think they really missed the boat with making the Bluetooth an input. They should have made it Bluetooth out so you could listen to it through BT headphones or wirelessly hook it up to a home theater or something.
Depends... if people are using it on brand new vinyl reissues... good luck to them. If a load of cashed up hipster douchebags use the Crosley on first pressings they've picked up on Ebay? They may as well melt the vinyl to fashion a bowl.
@@mcearl8073 The Cruiser has good line outs, so why dick around with BT, BT is shit, putting digital crap between the TT and speakers
I'm 5 years late, but thank you for making this video! I was given a similar turntable about 4 years ago (I already collected records by then, and had been using my parents' more expensive turntable prior) but recently seeing the hellish reviews scared me out of playing my records on it for a while (they're mostly first presses from the 60s, so I didn't want to damage them). This was super informative for me as someone who doesn't meddle much with the technical stuff beyond the basics!! I'm hoping to get a better table when I can afford one, but for now I can be at peace with my cruiser
woah woah woah... now i want a video on the fisher price record player!
tbh I'm curious as well haha
As am I!!!!
I'm subbing in hopes to see that review soon. Please VWestlife.
I had one when I was little that was even more of a toy than that. They used to sell 45s with children's songs and fairy tales and stuff on them, and that's what we used it for.
Mohamad Nazry Bin Noordin what's ironic is that was my first record player, and I came here to see if the crosely was safe to buy.
I have never in my life gave a damn about records so I have no idea why this video was recommended to me. I watched it anyway and I have to say this is by far the most educational thing I've ever watched. Didn't get bored once. Even though I don't know anything about records, this was the most peaceful video I've ever watched on yt.
Alexandria Malinowski same hahah
Check out Techmoan sometime. He does loads of videos about obscure forgotten music and video formats you'll never even set eyes on in real life (like the vinyl records with movies on them), but they're still fascinating.
I think part of it is his voice, he reminds me of Bob Ross, I can just listen to his voice all day!
Why comment, IF it doesn't matter to you. Ridiculous
@@michaelmartin9022 haha! You mean a laserdisc?
I have an expensive audio system at home with a high quality turntable. However, I started out with a cheap portable turntable like this and a few records I got from a garage sale. Was it a good turntable? Hell no. Do I regret buying it? No. Had it not been for that turntable at the price I paid I never would have gotten into vinyl. Also, I still have a cheap all in one turntable like this - I keep it at work so I can listen to records while I work. For work I wasn't going to spend much money - other people damaging it, or stealing it. (and I already own a good system at home. These turntables are not the best - but for beginners and those wanting portability they are worth a go.
I recently bought a similar Crosley record player. I had come across my old records from the ,70’s and ‘80’s and wanted to listen to them again. I wanted something that would sit on my night table, that could plug over the ear head phones into, and relax on my bed listening to music. My Crosley is perfect for this, and the sound through my $50 headphones is great! I like it so much I started buying records again. Junior Wells, Buddy Guy, Otis Rush, BB King, Eric Clapton and many more now help me relax at home. I enjoy my Crosley and I’m not bothered by the negative Nancy’s.
I loved the argument against the tracking force claims, I always figured that old turntables must've had a tracking force as heavy as the Crosley Cruiser, but I had no idea that records were literally built to withstand a high tracking force. Great research.
Questhero101 I know from a records point of view 6 grams and above can be a heavy force but it does sound silly saying that 6 grams is a heavy force! 😂
"That's Don Ho sober" That made me chuckle a bit. Lol
Awesome review. This was my first turntable and while it was definitely super cheap, it was good enough to motivate me to become a vinyl fan. After a few months of use it started to have a few issues but nothing too serious. No need to hate those who own one.
Rafael Soto yeah, sometimes folks underestimate the importance of entry-level gear in developing a market. While I wouldn’t recommend the cruiser as a first model for someone, I’m not going to insist they start with a model costing several hundred dollars either.
I got one in 2013 when I was 12. Now I'm almost 17 and I still have and enjoy my crosley. The only problems I've ever had with it are occasional skipping (which I fixed by taping a dime and a penny on top of the needle. The speakers aren't that great but I fixed that by just plugging into the headphone jack a pair of cheap speakers and now it sounds alot better. My records aren't damaged or ruined in any way. Sure I would like to get a better turntable sometime but a crosley isn't actually that bad. I'd really like to get an Audio Technica soon tho
I don't hate the People who buy this garbage. I hate What they buy and Why they buy it.
They owe it to themselves to Become Informed First, Before they spend their money.
But too many people are in a hurry and Don't Want To Think,
so they take the fastest, easiest route... to Disaster.
I got one of these used cheap and got just because I wanted to play with it. I have to say it's an ok little turntable. Better than the Soundesign I owned the 70s. Is it anywhere near as good as my vintage JVC LA11? Of course not. But it wasn't meant to be, it was meant to be an affordable entry level turntable and it does that better well.
I agree 100%. It's been Many years since I have owned a turntable. I thought I would get this one or the 1byone brand and give it a try again.
Thank you so much for this! I'm only a very casual enjoyer of vinyl, with all of my vinyls costing below $5 (most around the 50 cent mark) I had an old turntable that stopped working and finally just decided to get a Crosley Cruiser to replace it. Reading all of the horror stories from audiophiles online really terrified me (and of course I didn't come across them until two days after throwing out the box) but I feel much better about it now. When I have more space I'll likely upgrade to a bigger and nicer table, but the cruiser works well in my tiny apartment for now.
Mine range from $20 to $100+, are you finding good deals on used records where you live or something
@@gavynbrandt presumably used ones from charity shops. I have a few that only cost about 25p each
You are exactly who the Crosley is meant for. Only a casual listener and the owner of crappy vinyl. No worries! My Bob Dylan “Freewheelin’” is a half speed master from the original master tape so…. NO FREAKIN WAY!!!
@@gavynbrandtCharity shops, mate, charity shops. Some of my favourites are ones I've bought for 50p at a charity shop
Thanks for the informative, in depth, and fact based video. Don't have a crosley, but feel a lot better knowing it doesn't garble records or newcomers who got one won't ruin a record if I give them a record as a gift. Must say it handling daft punk was impressive.
i have a large vinyl collection and while i dont think these are great i also dont think its great the amount of vinyl snobbery there is your records will not burst into flames not every has 1000 bucks for stereo equipment
You don't need $1000. With a little luck, research and patience you can get a sweet vintage system for way less. Mine cost $350.
I agree audiophiles will bash what I have then say oh but get one of these it's much better ummm where the hell am i supposed to conjure up $1000 on a $200 a month budget.
You can buy good second hand hifi gear dead cheap. I have 1980s KEF speakers that cost me nearly 3 weeks wages back then. You can find the same ones on ebay for less than £50 now.
I just won a Technics SL-3 for $80 counting shipping
I have a vintage Technics turntable (SL-D2) from the early eighties. I coupled it with a new VM-95e headshell, cartridge, and stylus. Sounds good to me!
This is one of the only in depth videos on RUclips talking realistically about Crosley turn tables.
I've never owned a record player and I was so excited to find one of these in a Goodwill for 18 dollars the other day - i'm not a hobbyist so I wasn't aware of the quality issues. I appreciate the video, thanks man.
But for $18? That's a great price!
2 years later it’s worth 9 dollars at Goodwill. Bought mine 2 days ago. 😊
Most important point is that this cheap little toy turntable has helped people on listening to their old and classic records again. Of course after some time and - if you are really enjoying vinyl records - you can move to something better later. Great and educational video. Congrats!
It's not a "toy" if it actually works. Don't be a prick.
@@Maria-yv7sq It may as well be a toy, its mostly made of cheap plastic.
Helped to destroy them, too
@@DawkinsFan Cheap plastic and made in China, don't forget.
@@LennWeltmeister everything is made in China now.
You hit the nail on the head. As they say, you get what you pay for. That said, it's not as bad as people make it out to be. In fact, for really scratched 45s, it's probably better as the relatively high tracking force will keep the needle from jumping out of the groove as much, and the limited bandwidth of the speakers should filter out some of the surface noise. For those records, it can be fun to use. Great video.
They're fine for scratched 45'S, yes, and Victrola records. For decent, even good-ish, sound, they fall way short.
At least it lets people try vinyl at a relatively cheap price.
As a means of trying vinyl, listening to those tinny toyish speakers isn't exactly something that would make one develope a passion for records, though...
very much agreed. but as someone who recently wanted to get into vinyl listening, the price of a good turntable was certainly a bit steep for me.1 i did eventually find what seems to be a decent older unit at a yard sale though, but yard sale and thrift store shopping isnt for everyone, unfortunately.
TRN Classic Gaming & Tech Cheap, plastic, terrible tracking, chinese made. Will destroy all records
Or you can go to this magical website called www.ebay.com
TRN Classic Gaming & Tech luckily I still have a good old fashioned independent music shop they sell old players from the 30s to modern day. So fairly easy to get a decent player.
Thanks for such an unbiased analysis! I’d love to hear a comparison between a digital capture from the line output of one of these vs something higher end.
I really want to enter the vinyl world, but I feel very intimidated lol. I’ve wanted a Crosley for a while now because I’m your basic 18 year old white girl, but I’m starting to watch all of the videos bashing them. I honestly feel attacked haha. My thing is that I don’t want to spend a lot of money on speakers and amplifiers and preamplifiers and whatever else I need. I’ve been intrigued by the Crosley’s because they’re cheap and you don’t necessarily need to buy anything else to play records. I just want to be able to play records without spending a million dollars on everything.
Vinyl is an expensive hobby. Just like music gear and production.
Brielle also go with the ATLP-60 over crosley, it has a much lower tracking weight and is only 30-50 dollars more
It's a fun hobby if you're casual about it and don't expect to brag about your collection. Crossley is a perfectly fine brand, and have extremely great turntables if money is no issue. But they also sell cheap ones like this, which you probably should avoid. What I'd do is find an old Receiver that works, and get a cheapish Turntable $20-30 more. Course I'm not really part of the audiophile community, I just like having a big box that plays music, so take my word worth a grain of sand.
Brielle don't let all the conflicting info out there get you down! Nothing wrong with getting something like this for now. You can always upgrade later if you find that you really enjoy records! Just be aware that there really is a difference in sound quality between this and something a little nicer! (and I confess, I have both!)
Wishing you a lot of happy moments with music on vinyl! :)
I mean it's mildly understandable for me why someone would buy one of these record players but, I'm 18 too and I started buying vynil with my brother for a year now as we got the LP-120 for last year's Christmas, what I'd recommend? Save some money, it's not necessary to buy one a new one, since for 20 dollars more than a Crosley would cost you'd find a better product with counterweight and more types of adjustments, I entered the vynil for the sound, it's just incredible to hear how different it is than regular quality mp3's and yes at first you kinda like how cool it looks like to see the record but, a very huge amount of them are black PVC so it's seeing the same thing over and over, the looks wouldn't impress in some time, but inviting your friends just to listen to music it's always priceless, this hobby is expensive and imo more delicate than it should, but if you really want it you'll get a lot of fun getting your collection bigger.
Thank you for this review! I get anxious watching reviews for these turntables for obvious reasons haha.
I bought a used Crosley Cruiser and was very excited for it! It was a blue little suitcase and I just thought it was the coolest thing ever haha. But after looking up information about records and record players, I saw what a terrible reputation these players had and it worried me quite a bit. I have my favorite records and I've listened to them dozens of times with no problems (I did go out and buy better speakers though), but I constantly worry in the back of my mind that one day they're gonna wear out because this player is known for "ruining records". I've had my player for a month now but I'm still just as happy with it as I was when I bought it.
I plan on upgrading someday when I get the money, but for now, I'm happy with it! I get to listen to old and new records and discover music I've never heard before because of it! This review made me feel a lot better about owning it and putting my records on it, so thank you very much!
Are you sure you can't see or better hear any damage on your records. I WAS about to buy a crosley cruiser, then looked up a few reviews just for my final conclusion on whether buying it or not and was shocked... I really really don't want my records to get ruined... Idk how y'all feel about this but I just can't afford rebuying 40$ records all the time just because my player is trash... but I also cannot really afford more than the cruiser... so please be honest with me, do you really hear no difference? (And what needle do you have?)
@@minakllnr I've only had the player for about three months, but I'm fairly happy with it and haven't noticed any deterioration in my records. I have a couple newer records that weren't exactly cheap, so I understand your concern, but I've listened to them countless times, and they still sound and look just as good as when I bought them. The only thing I'd recommend doing right away is to buy some better speakers if you don't already have some of your own. The speakers on the crosley are absolutely the worst thing about the player.
Just buy a good needle, clean the records before you play then, and have some nice speakers connected and if will sound pretty good and it wont ruin your records.
Does is still do good today?
@@addyqt5567 Yup! I haven't used it in a couple weeks as I need a new needle, but no issues have come up since owning it.
Hey there! It’s been about a year since you made this comment. How is the crosley cruiser doing now?
I'm so glad that I found this review! I don't have a Crosley, but my sweet husband bought me the very similar in styling and mechanics Victrola version for Christmas from a big box retailer. It reminded me so much of the Fisher Price children's record player that you showed at the end that I used to listen to for HOURS as a child in the 80's. (I still have it and it still works, but it needs a new stylus that I don't know how to replace or where to buy replacements.) Those 45's are actually the first things I played on it! I've been so worried that it would damage my records, both old and new, that I haven't it used it much. I'll eventually upgrade to a better turntable when I can afford one, but it's nice to know that until then, I'm not killing my beloved LPs any worse than I did as a kid, LOL!
Thank you so much for this. I hadn’t heard much about how bad crosley was until I ended up with one. People started telling me how it’s going to eat my records but I can’t afford one from the record store right now and I already have albums I’ve been waiting to play for weeks. I didn’t realize the stylus that comes with it was the equivalent to a plastic toothpick😅 and I WAS going to return it even though I was so happy just to have something to play my records. I’m going to get some new styluses and a speaker to hold off while I save for an upgrade. Thank you so much for actually doing an in depth review that wasn’t just belittling owners of the cruiser and giving honest feedback.
This is an impressively in depth video, good job! Glad to hear the Crosley isn't as bad as some say as it's such a nice portable form factor. Perhaps it wouldn't be too difficult to modify the unit and put in better speakers and amplifier.
If the budget had run to some slightly better speakers, it'd make the Cruiser an entirely decent introduction to records.
The first turntable I had was actually a BSR changer built into a Sears all-in-one stereo system. It's long gone, but the records are still here and still play just fine, despite what a ten year old put some of them through. :-)
They really couldn't give that thing good bass, it would feedback, the needle being inches from the speaker.
My brother had a suitcase record player where the lid split in to two speakers. Sounded pretty good and would eliminate the rubbing issue too.
no it wouldnt..these things are almost toys..they are a cartoon.
the real deal breaker is that the thing tries to be in a compact form, yet it doesn't have a battery and you need a goddamn cable to connect it to a pair of good speakers
How long until we see mp3 players with fake spinning vinyl & arm?
Thank you for including everything I could need to know. I had man questions throughout this 30 minute video and they were all answered by the end. Thank you very much for being so knowledgable and sharing what you know with the public. Including still-cheap, better quality options at the end was what got me. Thank you very very much.
Loved this video. Straight to the point. Recently became a huge fan of your channel as I got into Cassette stuff, and I'm really glad you take an actual practical look at these kind of budget oriented equipment instead of one that is straight criticism with no nuance.
Whoever works at companies that make these types of things, put Bluetooth out not in. Nothing but the cheapest devices with Bluetooth would be upgraded by using these speakers.
Wait! I thought is was bluetooth out? Is it not?
A few cheap turntables have Bluetooth output, like the ION Air LP and AT-LP60-BT. But not this one. The Crusier's Bluetooth is input only.
VWestlife That's one thing that could've been more explicit in this video. Good trolling otherwise 👍, jk. Really though, if this thing had Bluetooth out, I'd actually consider one for a portable 78 player.
I did specifically mention in the video that the Bluetooth is input only.
Yep they got me I thought I could play my old records on my home theater or headphones via Bluetooth.
Great video. The fact that it actually plays a record for a price around $60 is kind of impressive. They really take the molded plastic design experience to a whole new level. I would never buy one, but I can appreciate the effort that went into designing something for that price range.
"According to Michael Fremer I've only got 4 more plays." ooh I love a good name drop ♥
I loved every second of this video! You also made some great points. And I really enjoyed the take-away thing you did at the end there. Nice work!
I feel this video is more in depth then vinyl eyeez video. So kudos to you for this.
Vinyleyezz vids aren’t bad, but they are a bit too, I guess, “accessible.” He kinda talks to the audience like they’re idiots. Not quite as in depth. Spends a lot more time putting nice colorful text on the screen to help the drooling plebeians follow along than going in depth. (I don’t think anyone is a drooling plebeian. Just describing the vibe from the videos).
Some of his videos are good (the useful technical ones), but I feel he's a bit too obnoxious. I like chill youtubers like Vwestlife, Druaga1, etc.
The dude is so awkward
Vinyleyezz is more of a youtube minimalist that makes true youtube for anyone coming across the channel. This guy takes a bit less money, but makes more hobbyist specific videos.
I feel like half the time vinyl eyeez is just regurgitating what he's already heard everyone else say I mean come on the guy thought that Oreo record player actually changed songs according to how much of a bite of cookie you took that and when he had to figure something out on his own he couldnt even be bothered to read the instructions.
this review is the only decent review on crosleys that ive seen. good job man.
Incredibly well put together video, every one into vinyl should watch this all the way through
As someone who got a black and red Cruiser as a late birthday gift back in 2021, I loved using it, even if it wasn't the best. I do plan to upgrade to a vintage Technics when I get a job and make the money to get one, but I had fun with it and didn't mind its shortcomings when I had it.
Thank you for your in-depth and objective reviews and observations you make. Great channel and great humor!
"...that's Don Ho sober..."
man you kill me.
thumbs up as always!
not everyone can afford/wants to spend hundreds of dollars on a turntable. i hate snobs, just let ppl live their life smh
The wait is worth it if you can pounce on a nice second hand system. Took me a few years of waiting for my Technis SL-D2 to pop up, and I love the thing.
Don't have to arrow yourself in the knee just because "you don't like snobs". You can still make an informed decision :)
@@KingBlonde agreed, I rather save up the money to get something nicer and will last a long time rather than something cheap and would just fail on me.
Vinyl records are expensive. If you’re going to spend money on those, invest in a good player. Especially if you don’t want your vinyl ruined by a cheap one.
Aww, you bought a piece of garbage Crosley didn't you?
What a well put-together review this is. I barely noticed the time fly
I'm still using an old portable fidelity I got for Christmas 1979. So this looks really good lol
Really glad you made this review. I watched the other guys video in the beginning about “Don’t but a Crosley!” Dude sounds like a pushover. I feel much better about getting this to start my collection as a Jazz musician(drummer). Interesting to hear what Elvin Jones The Impulse Years will sound like on Vinyl when I receive mine.
Awesome video, thank you!
What did it sound like?
@@mrnutz7762 probably like crap since its a Crosley toy lol
There sure is enough Cork-Sniffing in the record community, now isn't there? We've had cheap-o turntables for years... but now all of a sudden they are on the hate list. Personally, my choice is to rehab some older 70's decks by Sony, Pioneer, Fisher... back when heavy duty turntables were a thing. For my half deaf mother who just wants to play her old albums twice a year, a luxury player isn't needed. Personally, I would prefer to have a higher and deck, but it's a matter of HOW someone actually appreciates music. Some want in depth sonic detail.... others just want to dance.
The production value here is much appreciated.
The beginning really had me cracking up.
I'm happy with mine. Have it for a little more than 3 years and no records got fucked up.
But the speakers are shit, so I use it with good speakers, and it's fine!
Foqs what speakers are you using? Thanks :)
What speaker are u using?
This was so helpful!! My little sister wants one and I didn't know where to begin!!
An unbiased yet critical review based on actual testing and facts with a truthful and rational conclusion. I love how, at the same time, you blow all those fake elitist "audiophiles" off their high horses while debunking a lot of the irrational hate for the product without giving any undeserved credit and still manage to keep being critical.
Right now, I use a pretty decent $250+ hi-fi turntable with a cartridge that did cost the same as the turntable itself. You know what got me back into listening to records in the first place? A cheap and cheaply built turntable much like the crosley. Except being affordable, these devices offer the opportunity to try out the hobby with the least regrets possible.
It's like starting to learn how to play a guitar. You don't buy a $1000+ model if you're not sure yet whether you'll want to go on with it in 4 or 8 weeks or not. You start with something way cheaper, something that makes quitting in case you don't like it less painful.
I used to have one , bought it when i was 15 and used it til 18. I loved it. It was cheap enough for me to be able to buy it, it looked pretty (which is so important for a 15 year old girl lol), and it worked. allowed me to gingerly start my collection without issues. I have a much better set up now, but am a 28 year old working full time who can afford it. I say go ahead kids, if you want one, it's fine!
Excellent video!
They are what they are, a cheap turntable to take to the beach cottage or ski cabin on vacation. No more no less
But if you could find a 1970s vintage music centre on Gumtree, would you recommend that over the Crosley?
What about a 1960s vintage stereogram?
GeoNeilUK I'm a thrift store regular and a sucker for vintage electronics so I'd absolutely go for an old machine over one of these, but audio quality isn't necessarily better. The limiting factor with these things is really their poor speakers.
Thing is you're probably more likely to get the 1980s Midi Hifis nowadays, the old music centres (and especially the stereograms which are a record deck and a radio and amp in a wooden Ottotman-style cabinet) are just cooler!
I have no shame in admitting that I don't have the best turntable in the world at the moment, but I'm perfectly ok with that. In terms of the turntable I have, it's the ION Max LP. Not the worst sounding turntable in the world, but with it being hooked up to some nice Edifier speakers, it actually sounds pretty decent with both old and new vinyl. Of course, it should go without saying that it's nothing that's going to blow you away though like a decent quality turntable from Audio Technica or other brands. But it gets the job done.
saxman112 I have an ION, too, but mine is the Profile Pro model and I have it hooked up to a Peavy bass amp. I listen to punk though so sound quality isn't extremely important and it gets the job done!
I have exactly the same bundle of speakers and the same turntable. works and sounds very good, I am pleased with it
I have the same Ion model and I love it
Good for you. So nice you look out for ordinary people who have trouble just making ends meet.
I just got this for Christmas and am very appreciative. It's a nice little start into the hobby and I'm now no longer worried about putting my Ghost records on it and having them ruined. One day I'll upgrade :)