IKEA made one of the greatest equipment contributions to vinyl collecting (whether unwittingly or not) when they introduced the Expedit, later the Kallax bookcase systems. Too bad they didn't hit it out of the park with their initial turntable offering. You are right, there are WAY more viable choices out there. Hopefully they will refine this product and improve it. There is simply no excuse for a wobbly platter at that price point.
my guess is, since this is a limited time only offer from ikea, its just an attempt at a "future collectors item" cult object. nothing more, nothing less. were all collectors here, so we understand ;D personally i dont think its fun enough to take up space at home, but im not really an ikea collector either. Maybe its worth it for someone in the future. they are already sold out in sweden at all ikea's and are up for sale second hand at our version of ebay for double the price. thats why this was born.
And suddenly, my "lowly" Pioneer PL-300 seems like a vintage Rolex... because of it's quartz accuracy, and truly smooth operation. And all had at the price of a Casio, with all the pleasing sound of playing with one!😉
Just a recommendation for the phone measurements, they are usually fairly accurate in my experience, but what i do is put a 45rpm adapter on the spindle and set my phone centered on that. That puts the weight fully on the middle bearing and always an equal distance from the center which prevents any wow deviation in the measurement. As for that turntable I feel like IKEA could do great if they just worked with someone like project or rega and made a designer plinth with the premium parts, and sold it at a premium, with options like a budget fluance table out there this turntable seems to have no place in the market imo.
There is at least one similarity between a product marketed by REGA and this Ikea product. The cartridge! The bottom of the line REGA cartridge, the Carbon, is exactly the same as the Audio Technica 3600 mounted on this turntable.
When measuring wow and flutter with the app it's preferable to put something like a cylinder, like maybe a roll of tape centered on the platter and then the phone resting on the top and centered, the phone placed like that will shift the weight unevenly and will affect negatively the results.
My old Philips 437 I bought in 1978 has a plastic case but it does have suspension and it does have an aluminium platter. The platter weight is what gives a better wow and flutter performance due to the flywheel effect. That was one of the cheapest turntables on the market at the time but still sounds good.
Those are good quality turntables from late 70's and early 80's can't ever compared to new crap like that Ikea turntable. I have similar Rotel direct drive turntable from early 80s. The parts they use for new turntables are not the same quality anymore, motors etc. Even the plastic was better quality in the old times, heavier and when you "knock" it, it feels sturdy.
Have been using this turntable for a few months now, I like the simplicity of it being a manual. Also, the small footprint allows me to place it on top of my record rack nicely.
It is way too expensive for what it is. You are far better off with the much cheaper Audio Technica AT-LP60x which features a metal platter and a better build. The IKEA turntable would be a good $90 turntable but pretty disappointing at that price point. The AT-LP60x actually performs well.
IKEA is not a turntable manufacturer nor is it a Kitchen specialist etc.... Same goes for Aldi, Lidl, and other supermarkets names . We are far from real record players. Today we have junk professionnals thinking they're good . Since in fact no .....Can people even compare three types of records listening ? No 1) The causal listener who listens a few records like Beatles, Jazz, Classical music which usualy needs a different material as hi-fi and speakers . 2) we have the pretenders ones and low quality music that shouldn't be on records at all . 3) the dj materials for those in nightclubs and other stuff with Disco , Electronic music and so on Many people seem to not understand what real passion is to listen to records today . Sadly the revival is a big farce same goes for fashion ( clothes ) etc... My biggest question is why always buying "new" instead to go in second hand stores during the weekends ...really ..
Hi have no vinyl and turntable and I still enjoy your info regarding all kinds of audio gear. That says a lot. You rock my friend. God bless you and your channel wishing you a great week ahead.
randomly clicked on the video to see what this Ikea record player is about without any extensive knowledge on the matter, and I was not disappointed, not to technical and any technical terms were explained so that a novice, like myself could easily understand. Keep up the good work! will definitely be checking your videos when before buying a record player
Thank you for sharing your opinions on this. I was considering one for a Christmas gift for my son but now I have seen this will be getting him the Audio Technica 60 instead.
I love the full description. I laughed every time you hoisted it like a feather. Let's call this thing what it is....a piece of crap. $200? IKEA can KMFA. This thing arrived just in time to ruin Christmas, as well as any record that touches it. One of my favorite parts... 8:22 With only a plastic plinth and lack of any vibration isolation other than tiny silicone feet, you might have to get 30 yards of speaker wire and position the speakers way over at your neighbors house. 😆🤣 For any prospective TT buyer... Rather than waste $200 and then have to spend another $200+ a year later, just save up at least $400 and then go shopping for a TT. You'll be much happier and you'll have for years. People should only give this IKEA TT as a gift to someone they absolutely hate....Or as the Grinch would say, "LOATHE !"
I just picked up a factory refurbished audio technica lp120x for $280 and it works beautifully. Hopefully people realize they have an infinite amount of better options for around the same price point.
Good review, Frank. I thought the record was warped when you were playing it! I think the best first table for someone is either the AT LP120 if they have to have something new or with a preamp, or having a friend who knows turntables help them find one at a local thrift store or Craigslist. Cheers, Tom
Yikes, for that price I think my Numark tt200 cost about $200 (15 years ago). The ikea unit should have been designed to compete with the suitcase/travel crosley stuff, which come with a speaker, I think. OBEGRANSAD seems to translate into "Unlimited."
His wow and flutter test (8:49) needed a control as a benchmark which he could have easily done by also measuring it on his main turntable…this would have minimised the inaccuracies of his measuring equipment (smartphone & app). Additionally, if his main turntable is of sufficient quality then its wow and flutter would be public information and high quality gear (by definition) should measure close to the published figures. Thus by doing a bit of maths he could calibrate his phone/app combo and have presented more accurate figures for the Ikea record player.
The Insignia turntable from Best Buy is way ahead of this one for the price of 129.99. It has speed control, Anti skate adjust and tonearm weight adjustment. It has a metal platter and dust cover plus Bluetooth. Mine sounds great!
And then there's the fact that's it's going to get covered in dust having no cover. The rest of your assessment was exactly what I was expecting to hear. Awesome reviewing
I just think it's about getting new users into vinyl and if that brings more people to appreciate it than that means vinyl will stay around alot longer and not fade out to newer technology or get the younger generation into appreciating the art work sleeve, sound etc... as experienced vinyl lovers we take it for what it is, something we wouldn't buy because we know the difference between great and yep not so great. Hell when I purchased my first vinyl and system I didn't know the difference but it made me love it so.... it is was it is, bringing it back into fashion to those inexperienced... vinyl 🤘
Even though I have no interest in the IKEA turntable, I enjoyed watching your video. I agree, there are many turntables that are better values, including the Audio Technica LP60.
9:10 - May I suggest placing the cellphone right in the center of the platter, using a roll of insulation tape to raise it above the spindle. The WF might improve... or maybe not.
@@Channel33RPM That's certainly the case with my direct-drive deck. Any off-center load causes the PLL regulator to hunt up and down. The thing has a five-kilogram rotor, and yet it is too sensitive to anything off-center.
Great Video Frank. After seeing Just Audio take it apart. I though it was junk to start with. And now what you said confirms it for me. Save your money and get something better.
Hey Frank, would’ve been interesting if you did that speed test with your personal turntables you have…. Just to get a comparison… Love the vids Frank … cheers 🍺
I bought Philips FP 146 couple of years back. Just because it was linear tracker and really cheap. It was an awful piece of crap from mid 80's, very cheaply made plastic turntable that really had no redeeming features whatsoever. Just a hair above those all in one Amstrads etc... That had wov and flutter measure of 0,26. Tells something how bad these modern ones are. My main turntable is Sony PS-LX 55 II and that, with same phone test, showed 0,07
About the high wow reading. Other people have touched on it, but the weight of the phone COMBINED with the warp of the platter are what's making the reading artificially high. The motor is constantly driving your phone uphill and downhill. You can see how the speed is always higher in the same spot. As others have correctly pointed out, if you could have the phone in the middle, these forces wouldn't be as strong. But, if the platter weren't warped your wow reading wouldn't be anywhere near as bad. Also, if you are going to leave the phone the way you have it, you really need to make sure your record player is on a perfectly level surface.
Is it possible to implement a better wow&flutter measurement protocol? You can buy Timecode records easily, Serato compatible ones and such, DJ technology. Is there software to measure wow and flutter from audio output of those that you can capture? If there isn't I might just implement it? Because I don't think it's fair to weigh down turntables with a 220g phone laying on one side. The mechanism can behave either better because more weight or worse because unbalanced than with a real record, so even comparative measurements are going to not be very conclusive. Maybe at least give it a counterweight though that can cause its own issues.
As a teenager in the 80s, I had my fair share of affordable record players, some stand alone and some in cabinet systems from the likes of brands like Hitachi, Sanyo, pioneer etc. Basically average consumer quality of that time. I also grew up playing records from the age of 2 really . In the end I'd say that if your amp is of good quality and your speakers too, a mid quality turn table should easily suffice. Expect, wow, grit, noise, wobble, dust and general dirt.....the way music sounded before digital perfection came along. Having said that, I'd rather have my mp3 collection any day now, far less baggage.
I think as far as the quality and build goes, it might be a decent turntable for a kid, or someone just getting into the hobby. My only gripe is the price tag. From everything I have seen and heard, I feel like it should be around the $100 mark. At its current price point, I just feel there are better options out there for the same price or just a little more. As always, great video!
You definitely can find a better turntable for about the same price. AT-LP60X costs about $150 and the quality is better. It’s a nice beginner turntable for someone getting into vinyl. Plus the holidays aren’t far away and most likely it will be discounted during Black Friday, cyber Monday, and Christmas.
A word misspelled. The pick-up arm is *ALUMINIUM!* That's *AL-YOU-MINI-UM!* Al as in Capone, You as in "not me!' Mini as in the popular British car of the 1960s, and Um, as in Ummmmmmmmmmmm!
When messuring the flutter n such with that phone app, did hou think about the phone weihht compared to a vinyl disc? If the motor is tuned for certain weights and set to use as little energy as possible it could be a problem. A direct driven turntable could make a better result too depending Not complaining. Just thinking. I am not sure I would use that player. Am used to Technics SL-1200 since my DJ dsys. Hehe. I know audiiphiles will rinkle their noses towards that too, bit Its more than good enough for norma listening. Cheers!
Yeah... as I said it the video, the reading is likely not accurate or shouldn't be taken to seriously (or something like that...I can't recall the words I used)
So it rotates at a rate of 33 1/3 Revolutions per Monkee... er... minute? 😉 Since it doesn't have automatic needle return, does that mean it can play the inner groove at the end of Sgt. Pepper? Does it at least include an adapter so you can play 45's?
I got it because it was a AT platform I was familiar with... but after a week the band started spinning way too fast and could not be slowed down. I returned it. It sounded good when it worked.
I went to Ikea tonight and saw this for the first time. I literally thought it was a prop just sitting on the shelf. Even when I picked it up I though it was just for show. The only thing that tipped me off was the price tag attached to it lol.
I suspect that there's the potential to really grow the hobby through the IKEA player. The AT gives you more bang for your buck, but perhaps more casual shoppers are likely to come across the IKEA player and pick one up for its simplicity.
The 70's was the era of great turntables design and innovation, in 50 years, we mostly lost the skills to build a turntable. This does not only apply to turntables.
Seems to me that we have the benefit of strong, lightweight materials like carbon fiber and titanium that were absent from most '70's designs for tonearms along with computer design aids. There were interesting ideas that came along earlier, but some of them didn't seem to lead to a better product (e.g. tangential tracking). With companies all over Europe & North America building record spinners, we have a lot of design talent out there today.
@@michaelscalisi4316 Cheaply built yes, maybe 5 $ max to produce yet incredibly expensive to purchase when you see the junk you are getting. Bet you the card box box is worth more.
Yup. I'll keep my Kenwood direct drive and my Technics belt drive from the 70s. Hell, even my 1960s Garrard RC-210 is better than this silly Ikea thing. I'm not sure about powered speakers...I want to be able to adjust bass and treble, and since I've not looked at any, I don't know if there are any with that ability. So, I'll keep my PROJECT/one and Kenwood 70s receivers.
Yep we cant make decent record players anymore the skills have indeed been lost like so many other things. We cant even remember how we got to the moon and therefore have no idea how and when we could ever get back.
Hello from southern Alberta (love the Big Rock Grasshopper poster). A trick that has often been accomplished is to fill hollow plastic plinths with plastercene or electrical "ductseal". The duckseal is available for not much money at home improvement stores of your choice or an electric supply store.
I think vinyl needs a pre-amp to convert the industry standard RIAA equalisation that is used to optimise audio due to the limitations of vinyl grooves.
Thanks Frank. I think you are too kind for this ‘record player’. Like someone stated earlier, it looks like a prop you find everywhere in Ikea that suddenly actually works… One thing about the wow and flutter: i think you should have placed your phone right in the middle of the platter. Because all is lightweight on the Ikea, due to the momentum and centrifugal forces caused by the phone on the side of the platter, i guess you get misreadings… I’m afraid Ikea was a bit hasty jumping on the vinylhype wagon and came with this… A missed chance.
How the Swedish letters Å Ä and Ö sonds like-ish. Å= say the word english word "All" . Ä= Say the word "Air" . Ö= say the word "Fur". Those word have the sounds of the Swedish letters-ish....
@@Channel33RPM Beautiful - thanks. I've been wanting something like it and thought I'd have to go out and buy one, so I really appreciate this. Thanks again.
I wonder, and would love to see a video of this, but how "hackable" is this turn table? as in, how easy would it be to fix/improve what it has. Maybe changing both the cartridge and weights, maybe "deactivate" the preamp with a cable bypass? Maybe changing the plater for a solider/leveled one? Many of the IKEA furniture is hackable on the DIY community, and this player looks "simple" enough??? I dont know, would love to hear your opinion on this or anyone's.
Leave it in the box, at the store, and get yourself a decent turntable--like a Pioneer PL-300--and have it serviced & prepped by a qualified tech. It'll be worth more than even these "entry-level" belt-drive jobs in the long run... trust me!😉
Geez. For a hundred bucks more you can get a Fluance RT-81 (I have the RT-85 and a Technics SL 1200 MK II) and it’s definitely worth the xtra 100. This IKEA is best suited for spin art. I’m not trying to be an audio snob, but I can’t stand manufacturers making garbage like this to sell to newbies who don’t know any better just to make a buck. And charging that amount for a 50 buck turntable. Shame on IKEA. Oh, great review as usual.
Find a used Dual 505-2, the best example of an excellent entry level quality turntable worth using. Use a wide range of cartridge choices you want, not just their Ortofon carts like many other Duals. This table has brass main bearing (in which the platter thrust pad sits in a well). The spindle is the other end of that thrust pad. The sub or main table is made of metal. The platter is aluminum. The tonearm bearing can be tightened with over torqueing it for friction free movement, with having play or movement in the arm bearing. You can find this table in the used market for $100 USD no problem, maybe less. It blows away an turntable that retails for $350-$500 USD or less. So, in this case, buy used and you won't trouble finding one since Dual probably produced this since discontinued model by the truck loads. So again, do not waste your time trying to buy a new turntable unless your willing to spend at least $500 USD.
I want to get into vinyl, my dad had a large collection I want to try, mostly Vladimir Vysotsky. He also had a soviet made vega turntable and amp, but I probably won't see them ever. I'd go for the Audiotechnica unit at least it looks more like the one my dad had.
$200 CDN for a plastic IKEA turntable? That's just maddening and you're right, Frank, that judging by the photos, it looked like the turntable had a wooden plinth or medium density fiberboard plinth, so that plastic plinth as well as a plastic platter are just ridiculous. Add to that how the RCA jacks are on the side of the unit instead of behind and things are not shaping up well even before giving it a listen. Thanks for your honest review, Frank, and keep on spinning.
I agree with you - the RCA jacks on the side would be an immediate no from me. That's just like - huh? Aesthetically that just looks bad, which is not like IKEA. IMO you'd be much better off saving a little more and buying something better like the AT or a Fluance.
Say what you want but the kernugstrig on that player is pretty good quality as well as the bjorgenflurgen. I will say however that the kruduk and nergendok need a little work
Yeah... even my old Pioneer PL-300 came with one, and it was 2nd-hand for $20! And performs far-better than all these late-model "entry-level" belt-drive jobs, too!
Thanks! This review was very useful. I'm a newbie and this told me what I need to know. I was curious about the IKEA turntable. But I'll probably be buying the Audio Technica lp60x or the lp60usb.
Wow, never expected Ikea to make one. Makes you think vinyl is making a bigger come back than I thought. Good thing I still have my dad's Technics player.
i´m using today a 76 technics direct drive full automatic in what concerns to play options, like repeat till 6 times and play and stop also automatic but a mechanical system that doesn´t make interferencies with the output sound but i have also more 4 turntables some ofered to me and already sold my two sl-1200mkII i used for 35 years for 500€ with two concord stylus from ortrofon and the original cartridges and stylus from technics professional range, when wanting to sell them it was considered not a good turntable, audiophiles would laugh if i told them that they had good sound, today it´s a must have ,this audiophile thing changes a lot each decade or less, that´s why i having 3 systems in my home working and also in my home ofice i have shelfs all over the room covered in a piece of cloth i asked a woman to make them so they could cover interelly the shelfs filled with all types of compone nts that i gathered all my life, a year ago i counted how many cassette decks i owned and i had 43 decks but sold some for a lot of money and today only have 27 ,the nakamichi ones i sold them for a lot of money this all restored and working perfectelly, some colect stamps or coins ,i colect hi-fi components
@@flipdry i own since new a SL-3310(colour ash) that came with a very good sounding cartridge from technics but substitution needles are very bad today ,a third of the size badly shaped ,i looked for a ,at least good sounding as the original and bought a grado gold prestige III, it sounds perfect ,all mechanical functions are working perfect ,only opened the box in 2017/8 ,better than most of the turntables sold by project i´ve seen ,the 2m red is not even half the quality of it´s original cartridge and i heard a pro-ject turntable from a friend of mine but between the TT itself and the cartridge and stylys 14.000€´s were spent there, i prefer my old technics, pioneer´s and thorens turntables everyday
Thinking about the weight or lack of weight thing.... how does it compare to the old classic Close-N-Play unit? 🤔 Can you weigh them both if you have both?
Ikea is primarily a furniture manufacturer and retailer with a "lifestyle " image. This is part of that "out of the box " lifestyle. When they first opened in the UK, their furniture was good quality, mostly solid timber or wood veneer with strong metal constructional parts. This meant you got good quality at a good price point. Now, quite a lot of the products are plastic foil coated with plastic constructional pieces, which is neither good for quality, longevity, or for the planet in terms of initial production or recycling. Part of their ethos has gone in terms of being planet friendly. This record player may be a step up from a Crossley etc, but still retains that throw away feel at way too high a price point especially when you have to add on a tenner for the power supply plug! I'd still recommend going second hand. My Pro-Ject Debut III was the same price 2nd hand a few years ago and for me it's great. I've upgraded the stylus to an OM10 recently, which is what I could afford. Looking on the market, there are some good deals to be had.
If IKEA had included a power adapter it would need to meet various regulations. Skipping the power supply means it can just ship without it having to pass tests or meet regulations. Also they already have products available in every region that have been tested…..the usb chargers. It’s easier for them and let’s be honest, it’s an extra few bucks profit from that adapter.
Considering how good Ikea are at making wood products, the plastic is quite surprising. Also, the matching size of the platter and the base made me think they would come in a smaller box and stacked.
If this is a serious question; The 2M black is a very mediocre cart for the money, I would honestly prefer this AT3600L, definitely at this price range. But the issue is that if indeed you can't adjust the tracking force, installing another cart is not a feasible option.
Not a word about how well the IKEA player reproduces music, how the stylus tracked or if there was audible distortion, which might be an important consideration. That said, I was expecting some assembly necessary but relieved that it wasn't.
I am both a woodworker and a vinyl fan. To me this is no surprise - Ikea's furniture does look nice from a distance, but up close their use of vinyl over particle board leads to heavy furniture with poor strength. But it's cheap. The turntable seems to be much the same. BTW, I have both a U-Turn Audio and a Pro-ject DC carbon, and love them both.
Regarding the power supply, or really USB charger, not being included. That is the standard in Europe now for everything and I can't remember if it's January 1st 2023 or 2024 that it will be illegal to sell a USB changer bundled with a different product like a mobile phone for example in Europe (more specifically the EU) due to EU regulations on reducing electronic waste.
Please people...spend a little more money and leave this turntable in the Ikea store. it's like a dummy but then with moving parts. Nice video by the way
When I saw the images I swore it was an aluminium case. At the end of the day you get what you pay for and it might well be the perfect intro to vinyl for someone. Horses for courses. Great review Frank!
When introduced, my Pioneer PL-300 was considered "lowly" because of it's plastic plinth... but it still out-performs the "entry-level" new belt-drive jobs on the market. And for less money, too!
IKEA made one of the greatest equipment contributions to vinyl collecting (whether unwittingly or not) when they introduced the Expedit, later the Kallax bookcase systems. Too bad they didn't hit it out of the park with their initial turntable offering. You are right, there are WAY more viable choices out there. Hopefully they will refine this product and improve it. There is simply no excuse for a wobbly platter at that price point.
I have all my stuff on the Kallax system. I need just one more cube for my Heathkit mono set up.
Don't forget the Gladsax frames.
I'm not a vinyl fan... but WHO BUYS turntable from Ikea? However good it is... it is just a hipsters toy...
my guess is, since this is a limited time only offer from ikea, its just an attempt at a "future collectors item" cult object. nothing more, nothing less. were all collectors here, so we understand ;D personally i dont think its fun enough to take up space at home, but im not really an ikea collector either. Maybe its worth it for someone in the future. they are already sold out in sweden at all ikea's and are up for sale second hand at our version of ebay for double the price. thats why this was born.
Ladies and gentlemen, we have officially arrived to PEAK VINYL! Thanks Frank for taking one for the VC!
And suddenly, my "lowly" Pioneer PL-300 seems like a vintage Rolex... because of it's quartz accuracy, and truly smooth operation. And all had at the price of a Casio, with all the pleasing sound of playing with one!😉
Sometimes, you gotta be the guy :)
@@pancudowny I'm looking at my two mid-80's Technics p-mount tables with a renewed sense of respect.
Just a recommendation for the phone measurements, they are usually fairly accurate in my experience, but what i do is put a 45rpm adapter on the spindle and set my phone centered on that. That puts the weight fully on the middle bearing and always an equal distance from the center which prevents any wow deviation in the measurement. As for that turntable I feel like IKEA could do great if they just worked with someone like project or rega and made a designer plinth with the premium parts, and sold it at a premium, with options like a budget fluance table out there this turntable seems to have no place in the market imo.
There is at least one similarity between a product marketed by REGA and this Ikea product. The cartridge! The bottom of the line REGA cartridge, the Carbon, is exactly the same as the Audio Technica 3600 mounted on this turntable.
@@leyland9999 Except the Rega is three times the price :D.
When measuring wow and flutter with the app it's preferable to put something like a cylinder, like maybe a roll of tape centered on the platter and then the phone resting on the top and centered, the phone placed like that will shift the weight unevenly and will affect negatively the results.
My old Philips 437 I bought in 1978 has a plastic case but it does have suspension and it does have an aluminium platter. The platter weight is what gives a better wow and flutter performance due to the flywheel effect. That was one of the cheapest turntables on the market at the time but still sounds good.
Those are good quality turntables from late 70's and early 80's can't ever compared to new crap like that Ikea turntable. I have similar Rotel direct drive turntable from early 80s. The parts they use for new turntables are not the same quality anymore, motors etc. Even the plastic was better quality in the old times, heavier and when you "knock" it, it feels sturdy.
Have been using this turntable for a few months now, I like the simplicity of it being a manual. Also, the small footprint allows me to place it on top of my record rack nicely.
It is way too expensive for what it is. You are far better off with the much cheaper Audio Technica AT-LP60x which features a metal platter and a better build. The IKEA turntable would be a good $90 turntable but pretty disappointing at that price point. The AT-LP60x actually performs well.
IKEA is not a turntable manufacturer nor is it a Kitchen specialist etc.... Same goes for Aldi, Lidl, and other supermarkets names .
We are far from real record players. Today we have junk professionnals thinking they're good . Since in fact no .....Can people even compare three types of records listening ? No
1) The causal listener who listens a few records like Beatles, Jazz, Classical music which usualy needs a different material as hi-fi and speakers .
2) we have the pretenders ones and low quality music that shouldn't be on records at all .
3) the dj materials for those in nightclubs and other stuff with Disco , Electronic music and so on
Many people seem to not understand what real passion is to listen to records today .
Sadly the revival is a big farce same goes for fashion ( clothes ) etc...
My biggest question is why always buying "new" instead to go in second hand stores during the weekends ...really ..
Audio Technica AT-LP60x is more expensive bro..
@@defiraphi IKEA doesn’t manufacture these.
Why not buy a cheap MP3 or CD player instead. Much more convenient and way better quality.
@@nomen.nescio bro..
Hi have no vinyl and turntable and I still enjoy your info regarding all kinds of audio gear. That says a lot. You rock my friend. God bless you and your channel wishing you a great week ahead.
Thanks Tino.
randomly clicked on the video to see what this Ikea record player is about without any extensive knowledge on the matter, and I was not disappointed, not to technical and any technical terms were explained so that a novice, like myself could easily understand. Keep up the good work! will definitely be checking your videos when before buying a record player
Thanks man!
Glad to see you back Frank you must be feeling better bro
Thanks Rod. Luckily, I recorded this vid last Sunday before the stupid COVID. Hopefully I'll be good to go with something new next week!
@@Channel33RPM I kind of figured that Frank!
Thank you for sharing your opinions on this. I was considering one for a Christmas gift for my son but now I have seen this will be getting him the Audio Technica 60 instead.
I love the full description. I laughed every time you hoisted it like a feather. Let's call this thing what it is....a piece of crap. $200? IKEA can KMFA. This thing arrived just in time to ruin Christmas, as well as any record that touches it. One of my favorite parts... 8:22 With only a plastic plinth and lack of any vibration isolation other than tiny silicone feet, you might have to get 30 yards of speaker wire and position the speakers way over at your neighbors house. 😆🤣 For any prospective TT buyer... Rather than waste $200 and then have to spend another $200+ a year later, just save up at least $400 and then go shopping for a TT. You'll be much happier and you'll have for years. People should only give this IKEA TT as a gift to someone they absolutely hate....Or as the Grinch would say, "LOATHE !"
Exactly: avoid at all costs. IKEA should be ashamed of that. But the industry never knows any shame.
I just picked up a factory refurbished audio technica lp120x for $280 and it works beautifully. Hopefully people realize they have an infinite amount of better options for around the same price point.
It's a hunk o junk. Thanks for taking one for the team Frank. Ya hoser ! Take off ! 😎👍
Good review, Frank. I thought the record was warped when you were playing it! I think the best first table for someone is either the AT LP120 if they have to have something new or with a preamp, or having a friend who knows turntables help them find one at a local thrift store or Craigslist.
Cheers, Tom
Yikes, for that price I think my Numark tt200 cost about $200 (15 years ago). The ikea unit should have been designed to compete with the suitcase/travel crosley stuff, which come with a speaker, I think. OBEGRANSAD seems to translate into "Unlimited."
His wow and flutter test (8:49) needed a control as a benchmark which he could have easily done by also measuring it on his main turntable…this would have minimised the inaccuracies of his measuring equipment (smartphone & app).
Additionally, if his main turntable is of sufficient quality then its wow and flutter would be public information and high quality gear (by definition) should measure close to the published figures. Thus by doing a bit of maths he could calibrate his phone/app combo and have presented more accurate figures for the Ikea record player.
The Insignia turntable from Best Buy is way ahead of this one for the price of 129.99. It has speed control, Anti skate adjust and tonearm weight adjustment. It has a metal platter and dust cover plus Bluetooth. Mine sounds great!
Belt-driven or direct drive?
@@jimmyMNSTR_911 Belt drive
And then there's the fact that's it's going to get covered in dust having no cover. The rest of your assessment was exactly what I was expecting to hear. Awesome reviewing
I just think it's about getting new users into vinyl and if that brings more people to appreciate it than that means vinyl will stay around alot longer and not fade out to newer technology or get the younger generation into appreciating the art work sleeve, sound etc... as experienced vinyl lovers we take it for what it is, something we wouldn't buy because we know the difference between great and yep not so great. Hell when I purchased my first vinyl and system I didn't know the difference but it made me love it so.... it is was it is, bringing it back into fashion to those inexperienced... vinyl 🤘
Even though I have no interest in the IKEA turntable, I enjoyed watching your video. I agree, there are many turntables that are better values, including the Audio Technica LP60.
Thanks Steve.
The LP60 isn't a value, at $150 it's a ripoff. There's many a used direct drive Technics deck out there for less money.
Still got my technics turntables (2) I bought in the 80’s and the revox I inherited, so happy with them.
9:10 - May I suggest placing the cellphone right in the center of the platter, using a roll of insulation tape to raise it above the spindle. The WF might improve... or maybe not.
May be worth a shot!
@@Channel33RPM That's certainly the case with my direct-drive deck. Any off-center load causes the PLL regulator to hunt up and down. The thing has a five-kilogram rotor, and yet it is too sensitive to anything off-center.
Great Video Frank. After seeing Just Audio take it apart. I though it was junk to start with. And now what you said confirms it for me. Save your money and get something better.
Hey Frank, would’ve been interesting if you did that speed test with your personal turntables you have…. Just to get a comparison…
Love the vids Frank … cheers 🍺
I bought Philips FP 146 couple of years back. Just because it was linear tracker and really cheap. It was an awful piece of crap from mid 80's, very cheaply made plastic turntable that really had no redeeming features whatsoever. Just a hair above those all in one Amstrads etc...
That had wov and flutter measure of 0,26. Tells something how bad these modern ones are.
My main turntable is Sony PS-LX 55 II and that, with same phone test, showed 0,07
About the high wow reading. Other people have touched on it, but the weight of the phone COMBINED with the warp of the platter are what's making the reading artificially high. The motor is constantly driving your phone uphill and downhill. You can see how the speed is always higher in the same spot. As others have correctly pointed out, if you could have the phone in the middle, these forces wouldn't be as strong. But, if the platter weren't warped your wow reading wouldn't be anywhere near as bad. Also, if you are going to leave the phone the way you have it, you really need to make sure your record player is on a perfectly level surface.
Good tips. Thanks!
Is it possible to implement a better wow&flutter measurement protocol? You can buy Timecode records easily, Serato compatible ones and such, DJ technology. Is there software to measure wow and flutter from audio output of those that you can capture? If there isn't I might just implement it? Because I don't think it's fair to weigh down turntables with a 220g phone laying on one side. The mechanism can behave either better because more weight or worse because unbalanced than with a real record, so even comparative measurements are going to not be very conclusive. Maybe at least give it a counterweight though that can cause its own issues.
The LP60 is still the undefeated champ of new budget tables.
As a teenager in the 80s, I had my fair share of affordable record players, some stand alone and some in cabinet systems from the likes of brands like Hitachi, Sanyo, pioneer etc. Basically average consumer quality of that time.
I also grew up playing records from the age of 2 really .
In the end I'd say that if your amp is of good quality and your speakers too, a mid quality turn table should easily suffice.
Expect, wow, grit, noise, wobble, dust and general dirt.....the way music sounded before digital perfection came along.
Having said that, I'd rather have my mp3 collection any day now, far less baggage.
I think as far as the quality and build goes, it might be a decent turntable for a kid, or someone just getting into the hobby. My only gripe is the price tag. From everything I have seen and heard, I feel like it should be around the $100 mark. At its current price point, I just feel there are better options out there for the same price or just a little more. As always, great video!
These are good point, Stacey - I agree with you.
You definitely can find a better turntable for about the same price. AT-LP60X costs about $150 and the quality is better. It’s a nice beginner turntable for someone getting into vinyl. Plus the holidays aren’t far away and most likely it will be discounted during Black Friday, cyber Monday, and Christmas.
The quality of the tonearm is paramount. Also, it comes with a cartridge that retails around $40 if memory serves.
Those are my thoughts exactly. Even for a kid, if you can get one of better quality for the same or lesser price, get the kid something better. :)
@@DavidB-rx3km it’s all relative. I’ve always felt that if you’re happy with what you’re hearing, then you’re doing it right.
A word misspelled. The pick-up arm is *ALUMINIUM!* That's *AL-YOU-MINI-UM!* Al as in Capone, You as in "not me!' Mini as in the popular British car of the 1960s, and Um, as in Ummmmmmmmmmmm!
OKAY, **KAREN!!**
Have speed watched the video now and It's not not very good and wouldn't recommend to anyone. Thanks for the unboxing and review👍
When messuring the flutter n such with that phone app, did hou think about the phone weihht compared to a vinyl disc?
If the motor is tuned for certain weights and set to use as little energy as possible it could be a problem. A direct driven turntable could make a better result too depending
Not complaining. Just thinking.
I am not sure I would use that player. Am used to Technics SL-1200 since my DJ dsys. Hehe. I know audiiphiles will rinkle their noses towards that too, bit Its more than good enough for norma listening.
Cheers!
Yeah... as I said it the video, the reading is likely not accurate or shouldn't be taken to seriously (or something like that...I can't recall the words I used)
Does it give you hardware and instructions to attach it to the wall so it doesn't fall over and injure you or your family, forcing you to sue IKEA?
I'm guessing it's awful without watching the video😆
thats a no brainer lol...
@@705johnnyboy exactly👍
Of course it is. Who buys a record player in 2022. Outdated technology.
@@nomen.nescio 🤣🤣
@@nomen.nescio records have higher sales than cds
So it rotates at a rate of 33 1/3 Revolutions per Monkee... er... minute? 😉 Since it doesn't have automatic needle return, does that mean it can play the inner groove at the end of Sgt. Pepper? Does it at least include an adapter so you can play 45's?
Thanks for the review Frank. But for the same price i would probably recommend the Fluance RT80 which I'm currently using (and enjoying)
I got it because it was a AT platform I was familiar with... but after a week the band started spinning way too fast and could not be slowed down. I returned it. It sounded good when it worked.
Great review brother
I heart the insignia record player from bestbuy is quite solid. Could you do a review on that as well?
How does the new players like this IKEA stand against old turntables? I got my Pioneer PL-514x for $30 and I really like it, needed new belt tho.
I went to Ikea tonight and saw this for the first time. I literally thought it was a prop just sitting on the shelf. Even when I picked it up I though it was just for show. The only thing that tipped me off was the price tag attached to it lol.
That's funny - I can easily see how someone could think it's a prop. Cardboard boxes weigh more than this thing.
I suspect that there's the potential to really grow the hobby through the IKEA player. The AT gives you more bang for your buck, but perhaps more casual shoppers are likely to come across the IKEA player and pick one up for its simplicity.
The 70's was the era of great turntables design and innovation, in 50 years, we mostly lost the skills to build a turntable. This does not only apply to turntables.
Seems to me that we have the benefit of strong, lightweight materials like carbon fiber and titanium that were absent from most '70's designs for tonearms along with computer design aids. There were interesting ideas that came along earlier, but some of them didn't seem to lead to a better product (e.g. tangential tracking). With companies all over Europe & North America building record spinners, we have a lot of design talent out there today.
There are plenty of great turntables still on the market. Those 70's tables may be solid, but they were not cheap. This table is cheap.
@@michaelscalisi4316 Cheaply built yes, maybe 5 $ max to produce yet incredibly expensive to purchase when you see the junk you are getting. Bet you the card box box is worth more.
Yup. I'll keep my Kenwood direct drive and my Technics belt drive from the 70s. Hell, even my 1960s Garrard RC-210 is better than this silly Ikea thing. I'm not sure about powered speakers...I want to be able to adjust bass and treble, and since I've not looked at any, I don't know if there are any with that ability. So, I'll keep my PROJECT/one and Kenwood 70s receivers.
Yep we cant make decent record players anymore the skills have indeed been lost like so many other things. We cant even remember how we got to the moon and therefore have no idea how and when we could ever get back.
Hello from southern Alberta (love the Big Rock Grasshopper poster). A trick that has often been accomplished is to fill hollow plastic plinths with plastercene or electrical "ductseal". The duckseal is available for not much money at home improvement stores of your choice or an electric supply store.
Good tip. Now to grab a Grasshopper!
I think vinyl needs a pre-amp to convert the industry standard RIAA equalisation that is used to optimise audio due to the limitations of vinyl grooves.
Thanks Frank. I think you are too kind for this ‘record player’. Like someone stated earlier, it looks like a prop you find everywhere in Ikea that suddenly actually works… One thing about the wow and flutter: i think you should have placed your phone right in the middle of the platter. Because all is lightweight on the Ikea, due to the momentum and centrifugal forces caused by the phone on the side of the platter, i guess you get misreadings… I’m afraid Ikea was a bit hasty jumping on the vinylhype wagon and came with this… A missed chance.
Is it possible all those issues are due to the weight of the phone being on the unit - and not centered at that.
Hey there , Frank ! Good review. I suppose Michael Myers up in the corner agrees , based on the look on his face/mask, hahaha.
Haha yes! But damn Michael also kept causing my camera to go out of focus.
@@Channel33RPM : hahaha , that’s so funny !
How the Swedish letters Å Ä and Ö sonds like-ish. Å= say the word english word "All" . Ä= Say the word "Air" . Ö= say the word "Fur". Those word have the sounds of the Swedish letters-ish....
What's the app you used for speed measurement?
This one >>> play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.AM.AM.RPMSpeed&hl=en_CA&gl=US
@@Channel33RPM Beautiful - thanks. I've been wanting something like it and thought I'd have to go out and buy one, so I really appreciate this. Thanks again.
@@Channel33RPM I've just installed it. I like the name of it - RPM Speed and Wow. It reminds me of "vinyl gear and MORE"
I wonder, and would love to see a video of this, but how "hackable" is this turn table? as in, how easy would it be to fix/improve what it has. Maybe changing both the cartridge and weights, maybe "deactivate" the preamp with a cable bypass? Maybe changing the plater for a solider/leveled one? Many of the IKEA furniture is hackable on the DIY community, and this player looks "simple" enough??? I dont know, would love to hear your opinion on this or anyone's.
The biggest problem is the plastic platter. There's no point spending money on an upgraded cartridge for a toy turntable.
Maybe if you could get one for $25, then yeah, you could dink around with it; but not at $199. Better to buy a quality one for that price.
Where's the cover? How do you stop it getting dusty?
Leave it in the box, at the store, and get yourself a decent turntable--like a Pioneer PL-300--and have it serviced & prepped by a qualified tech. It'll be worth more than even these "entry-level" belt-drive jobs in the long run... trust me!😉
Geez. For a hundred bucks more you can get a Fluance RT-81 (I have the RT-85 and a Technics SL 1200 MK II) and it’s definitely worth the xtra 100. This IKEA is best suited for spin art. I’m not trying to be an audio snob, but I can’t stand manufacturers making garbage like this to sell to newbies who don’t know any better just to make a buck. And charging that amount for a 50 buck turntable. Shame on IKEA. Oh, great review as usual.
FRANNNNK! great 2 have you back
Thanks! Luckily, I did this vid before the COVID, but hope to have something new for next weekend.
I have a audio Technica lp3 witch has a tone arm you can adjust for 50. Morei I'd get the one I got and it feel well built when lifted
Does this TT have a dust cover of some sort ? In a house with young kids and cats, the stylus is not going to last very long !
Enjoyed this review Frank! Happy Halloween!
Thanks, you too!
Were the turntable instructions in IKEA hieroglyphics as usual? :)
Ya
Yes.
@@Channel33RPM, hahaha! Oh, man. Come on, IKEA. Give us a break. :)
Find a used Dual 505-2, the best example of an excellent entry level quality turntable worth using. Use a wide range of cartridge choices you want, not just their Ortofon carts like many other Duals. This table has brass main bearing (in which the platter thrust pad sits in a well). The spindle is the other end of that thrust pad. The sub or main table is made of metal. The platter is aluminum. The tonearm bearing can be tightened with over torqueing it for friction free movement, with having play or movement in the arm bearing. You can find this table in the used market for $100 USD no problem, maybe less. It blows away an turntable that retails for $350-$500 USD or less. So, in this case, buy used and you won't trouble finding one since Dual probably produced this since discontinued model by the truck loads. So again, do not waste your time trying to buy a new turntable unless your willing to spend at least $500 USD.
I want to get into vinyl, my dad had a large collection I want to try, mostly Vladimir Vysotsky.
He also had a soviet made vega turntable and amp, but I probably won't see them ever.
I'd go for the Audiotechnica unit at least it looks more like the one my dad had.
Amazing that its hitting such a consistent RPM in spite of the hughe imbalance you put there! ;)
Oh yeah, didn't think of that.
Why is the body so small that the platter hangs over the edges? And no dust cover? So just get it all full of dust?
Why did they not put in an USB A-D converter in it, so you could play it thru one’s pc?
Did you try using a shifting power supply for less wow? The one in the video seems really cheap.
Can I have a drink? Crown, splash of water with one ice cube please.
$200 CDN for a plastic IKEA turntable? That's just maddening and you're right, Frank, that judging by the photos, it looked like the turntable had a wooden plinth or medium density fiberboard plinth, so that plastic plinth as well as a plastic platter are just ridiculous. Add to that how the RCA jacks are on the side of the unit instead of behind and things are not shaping up well even before giving it a listen.
Thanks for your honest review, Frank, and keep on spinning.
I agree with you - the RCA jacks on the side would be an immediate no from me. That's just like - huh? Aesthetically that just looks bad, which is not like IKEA. IMO you'd be much better off saving a little more and buying something better like the AT or a Fluance.
Just visited IKEA today and saw they were clearing stock. They had a shelf of them for $99.
An elliptical nude ATN 3652 E stylus improves the sound quality of an AT3600L cartridge a lot. 😉
Performancewise, how does this compare to the Swedish meatballs?
This thing is no better than the old BSR I bought my mom, to use with her collection... only this thing is belt-drive!
Not as tasty.
Say what you want but the kernugstrig on that player is pretty good quality as well as the bjorgenflurgen. I will say however that the kruduk and nergendok need a little work
:)
VURTDEFURK you talking about...?!😆
If no dust cover its a immediate no go😁
Yeah... even my old Pioneer PL-300 came with one, and it was 2nd-hand for $20! And performs far-better than all these late-model "entry-level" belt-drive jobs, too!
Some expensive tables don’t have dust covers. This is a piece of junk. Who buys this ?
@@ralex3697 I know but still wouldn't want one👍
The first thing I remove when I want to listen to records properly , is the dust cover. It's just a resonance catching wobbly piece of plastic.
Thanks! This review was very useful. I'm a newbie and this told me what I need to know. I was curious about the IKEA turntable. But I'll probably be buying the Audio Technica lp60x or the lp60usb.
My only gripe is that the platter sicks off the main box. Whyyyyyyyy just make one that holds the platter all the way
Wow, never expected Ikea to make one. Makes you think vinyl is making a bigger come back than I thought. Good thing I still have my dad's Technics player.
i´m using today a 76 technics direct drive full automatic in what concerns to play options, like repeat till 6 times and play and stop also automatic but a mechanical system that doesn´t make interferencies with the output sound but i have also more 4 turntables some ofered to me and already sold my two sl-1200mkII i used for 35 years for 500€ with two concord stylus from ortrofon and the original cartridges and stylus from technics professional range, when wanting to sell them it was considered not a good turntable, audiophiles would laugh if i told them that they had good sound, today it´s a must have ,this audiophile thing changes a lot each decade or less, that´s why i having 3 systems in my home working and also in my home ofice i have shelfs all over the room covered in a piece of cloth i asked a woman to make them so they could cover interelly the shelfs filled with all types of compone nts that i gathered all my life, a year ago i counted how many cassette decks i owned and i had 43 decks but sold some for a lot of money and today only have 27 ,the nakamichi ones i sold them for a lot of money this all restored and working perfectelly, some colect stamps or coins ,i colect hi-fi components
Nice! I have a Technics SL-3300 I snagged for $30 in 2014. I use a Shure M44-7 on it and can't complain :)
@@flipdry i own since new a SL-3310(colour ash) that came with a very good sounding cartridge from technics but substitution needles are very bad today ,a third of the size badly shaped ,i looked for a ,at least good sounding as the original and bought a grado gold prestige III, it sounds perfect ,all mechanical functions are working perfect ,only opened the box in 2017/8 ,better than most of the turntables sold by project i´ve seen ,the 2m red is not even half the quality of it´s original cartridge and i heard a pro-ject turntable from a friend of mine but between the TT itself and the cartridge and stylys 14.000€´s were spent there, i prefer my old technics, pioneer´s and thorens turntables everyday
Ugh. I'll stick with my atlp 60xbt that I got as a backup.
i dont like how the power and output jacks are on the side of the case. That makes hiding the wires harder.
Thinking about the weight or lack of weight thing.... how does it compare to the old classic Close-N-Play unit? 🤔 Can you weigh them both if you have both?
I will follow up comparing it to a Victrola all in one.
I think the AT-LP60X, at $149 is the best turntable for someone just starting in vinyl. This IKEA appears poor value for the price.
This is the kind of turntable my parents would have bought me when I was six years old.
This thing is no better than the old BSR I bought my mom, to use with her collection... only this thing is belt-drive!
Yes - but for less than $199 (or whatever your local currency is).
@@Channel33RPM surprised no assembly was required given that it’s from IKEA
what does it sound like through the Peavey 6505MH?
Obegränsad translates to “unlimited or without boundaries” in Swedish. If anyone wondered.
Thank you for this test. I was quite close to getting one, now not so much.👍
No problem 👍
Fantastic review, thank you for this one.
Ikea is primarily a furniture manufacturer and retailer with a "lifestyle " image. This is part of that "out of the box " lifestyle. When they first opened in the UK, their furniture was good quality, mostly solid timber or wood veneer with strong metal constructional parts. This meant you got good quality at a good price point. Now, quite a lot of the products are plastic foil coated with plastic constructional pieces, which is neither good for quality, longevity, or for the planet in terms of initial production or recycling. Part of their ethos has gone in terms of being planet friendly. This record player may be a step up from a Crossley etc, but still retains that throw away feel at way too high a price point especially when you have to add on a tenner for the power supply plug! I'd still recommend going second hand. My Pro-Ject Debut III was the same price 2nd hand a few years ago and for me it's great. I've upgraded the stylus to an OM10 recently, which is what I could afford. Looking on the market, there are some good deals to be had.
If IKEA had included a power adapter it would need to meet various regulations. Skipping the power supply means it can just ship without it having to pass tests or meet regulations. Also they already have products available in every region that have been tested…..the usb chargers. It’s easier for them and let’s be honest, it’s an extra few bucks profit from that adapter.
Considering how good Ikea are at making wood products, the plastic is quite surprising. Also, the matching size of the platter and the base made me think they would come in a smaller box and stacked.
Did you remove the rubber band around the cartridge?
Did you watch the video?
Any information about where it´s made? Is it from China like so many products nowadays? I´m a bit sceptical in that department.
China.
@@Channel33RPM Thought so, thx.
Would changing the cartridge to an Ortofon Black produce a better sound? :)
🤣
If this is a serious question; The 2M black is a very mediocre cart for the money, I would honestly prefer this AT3600L, definitely at this price range.
But the issue is that if indeed you can't adjust the tracking force, installing another cart is not a feasible option.
Not a word about how well the IKEA player reproduces music, how the stylus tracked or if there was audible distortion, which might be an important consideration. That said, I was expecting some assembly necessary but relieved that it wasn't.
I am both a woodworker and a vinyl fan. To me this is no surprise - Ikea's furniture does look nice from a distance, but up close their use of vinyl over particle board leads to heavy furniture with poor strength. But it's cheap. The turntable seems to be much the same. BTW, I have both a U-Turn Audio and a Pro-ject DC carbon, and love them both.
I have a lot of real wood stuff (yes, often laminated, but not particle boards) from IKEA
Regarding the power supply, or really USB charger, not being included. That is the standard in Europe now for everything and I can't remember if it's January 1st 2023 or 2024 that it will be illegal to sell a USB changer bundled with a different product like a mobile phone for example in Europe (more specifically the EU) due to EU regulations on reducing electronic waste.
Why cant i buy it in Australia? Is not releasing here
Please people...spend a little more money and leave this turntable in the Ikea store. it's like a dummy but then with moving parts.
Nice video by the way
Which app do you use to measure the speed?
I’m gonna be lynched for this on this channel but considering their deep partnership with Sonos, I find it disappointing this doesn’t have AirPlay
Can you update the video with a tape roll?
Rega P1 or IKEA thingy? Can't decide 🤪
ikea is yet to sell them in Australia, after seeing the video, I kinda see why not and here I was kinda hoping for a cassette deck follow up
When I saw the images I swore it was an aluminium case. At the end of the day you get what you pay for and it might well be the perfect intro to vinyl for someone. Horses for courses. Great review Frank!
Absolutely - if it gets someone into vinyl, then that is a good thing. That said, I do think this record player is overpriced.
When introduced, my Pioneer PL-300 was considered "lowly" because of it's plastic plinth... but it still out-performs the "entry-level" new belt-drive jobs on the market. And for less money, too!
@@Channel33RPM For this price a secondhand turntable is more recommended if you want something to have for now and the future.
I had assumed it would be MDF like all the other IKEA things. Weird.