What a pleasant, refreshing surprise this video is. Not just that the record player isn't quite as bad as we all thought but most importantly the total lack of the usual snobbery associated with the record player/ community videos. When I was a kid I had a battery powered Alba record player, now that's a low start but it went everywhere with me and grew my love of records. There are bargains sometimes, I got a cheap nasty looking iPod dock around 15 years ago still sounds fantastic today, you'd take one look at it and throw it in the bin but I use it every day.
Well.....no, not exactly. 1) You have to protect your records 2) You don't experience Hi-Fi audio on a "system" like this 3) These fall apart because they are sold for 33.00 which means they only cost 15 dollars to make!
I have something like this record player in my home. I feel as though something like this is good for people that don’t have a huge collection or don’t have the money to buy really expensive quality equipment. I enjoy it for what it is.
Actually it about what you would had gotten as a kid 50 or 60 years ago that wasn't an high end system. Kids didn't care, they just wanted to hear the music.
When I was a child in the late sixties early seventies, my older brother had a "record player", similar to this, it was white, for listening to his 45 collection. It was fully automatic and you could stack the records for consecutive playback. When he was at school, I was maybe four or five years old, I would sneak into his room and play 45's. Great tunes, great labels, Colgems, Motown, Capitol, Parrot. He had the "Whole Lotta Love" single on Atlantic. At four years old, I thought the instrumental break in "Whole Lotta Love" was supposed to be a dog and a train. Hmm? 50 years later and I'm still sneaking off and listening to records. :)
That was fun! My daughter's are 42 years old and one of them still has the Mickey Mouse portable record player I bought them when they were 6 years old. They grow up fast!
My mom got me this for Christmas, I AM SO SO GRATEFUL although I think she thinks I want one for the trend, instead of me just genuinely wanting to start collecting records (Im 14 so I don’t blame her for thinking I want one for the trend)
I love how happy she was when you said she can have it for her room! Truthfully that's what its all about! If she gets into records and collecting, etc, then she will most likely graduate to something better in the future. But for the price, etc, the quality is great for children or average listeners getting into/back into vinyl. Fantastic video!
I have one of those that I take with me when my wife and I go out of town for a day or two and go record shopping. Plug it in at the motel and listen to the records I pick up. One or two times on this record player won't hurt anything.
The look on your daughter’s face when you tell her she can have it is fantastic! I hate the “Crosley” hating nonsense in some of the Vinyl community. I hate to break it to these idiots, the modern vinyl revival does not happen without all the cheap players that came on the market over the last decade or so. Someone has to be buying the albums and the audiophiles alone will not support the now large variations of music available on records again. I personally don’t use a cheap player, but praise Crosley and all the clones for helping to bring the joy of Vinyl back to the world!
That look on her face when you said she could have it... That's what this is all about isn't it? Worth all the 44 bucks you paid for it. ❤️ She can just play with it without you having to worry she'll break it. And that's the best way she can enjoy it, not having to worry she'll do it wrong. So for kids, there's no better option than this type of player IMO.
My son picked up one of these bookshelf players at my local record store with his birthday money and he loves it. So I do think they serve their purpose of getting people, especially kids in the hobby that can't afford an expensive player. I'm not really worried about his records getting destroyed.
"I'm going to be in my room playing Christmas tones". 😆 So cute. All of ya did a great job on your video. Great job girls. Have fun with the record player. Tell Dad to take you shopping for records now.👍 - Frank I enjoyed your video better then mine. Great job. I forgot to do the rpm test and Bluetooth. Oh well.
Knowing your love of vinyl, I was kind of surprised that your girls had never worked a record player on their own....And now they have an interest to share with you! They cAn collect from those budget bins below the ones you are shopping in! I truly cherish the records my Dad passed on to me and the hours we spent listening to records together- whether it was the Doors on his turntable or Rubber Ducky on my Fisher Price player, those memories are priceless. Well done, Daddy-O! Best line of the vid was when she said she would be in her room listening to records. Torch passed!!!
Hi Beth, than you for your comment. I love your story about listening to records with you dad. I'm glad my kids finally got to get hands on with a record player (I had been hesitant to let them use one of mine). This Victrola is perfect for them. I love that last line in the vid as well. So sweet! Cheers Frank
The little girls reaction was just adorable and seeing her get excited for her own turntable was cute and then seeing her search for a record to listen to made it even more funny
Just look at their faces, when they played their first disc....absolutely priceless!!! My only gripe when people say "don't buy a suitcase player, just spend a few extra bucks and get an entry-level turntable" is that you then have to buy the turntable, plus a pre-amp, amp and speakers too! That's not a few more bucks, that's a LOT more money than a suitcase player! And if you're just testing the waters to see if you like the vinyl hobby, surely that's a much more sensible method.
Thank you Carlos. I had the first part of this video pretty much plotted out, but I had no idea how to wrap things up. On a whim, I invited the girls to try the record player out, and I'm glad I did. Cheers! Frank
"I'm gonna be in my room playing Christmas tunes." - the feeling of satisfaction and contentment. This video always gives me a treasured good family vibe whenever I watch it.
Aw!!! That really was too cool. I was 7 years old,, once upon a time. But I did grow up with records,, knew how they worked, and how to play one. That was the age, I got my first record player. A VERY “kids” record player. So, to watch these two check this out, was so adorable.
My first record player was a General Electric. I played it in 1969-1970. It had speeds of 16, 33, 45, 78 and N for neutral, where you could play your records backwards through the speaker amplified.
It seems that "ultimate audiophile" has often taken over listening to music at the expense of listening for fun & enjoyment at a price point many may be unable to afford. Leaving those who cannot afford to put out big dollars to suffer criticism for buying the Victrolas & such when they just want to enter the hobby or return to spinning their beloved vinyl from "back in the day". Frank... thanks for this episode as it was great to see your girls embrace the suitcase spinner with the equal enthusiasm of my 86 year old mother for the same one I bought her for her birthday last week. There's room for all... just sayin' :)
funny thing. I bought a victrola, think I paid 40 for it, something like that. Anyways, im no kid (so I def wanna make that known to some posters) and it does what I need it to do, any vinyls I purchase is because I enjoy them and as long as they sound good, don't skip its fine by me. I don't need (exaggerated price) a $400 set up. I don't dj. I don't play at high volumes. After all, we buy vinyls because we love music and I agree 100% with you the whole "ultimate audiophile" has kind of discouraged the casual listener from getting into it. If I wanted "perfection" I'd stick with cds. :)
Hi Frank! A quick way to improve the sound on this turntable (other than external speakers) is to replace the sapphire stylus with a diamond one. They are available.
It would probably benfit from getting a weight reduction on the stylus too. If its not adjustable, you could stick a penny (or two) to the weighted end of the swingarm.
@@MarmiteTheDog actually ceramic carts need to track at that 5g force to produve what sound they get lightening them would make the sound more dull due to how that cart operates
Sapphire or diamond stylus ain't going to make a like of difference on this piece of shit. It'll sound like an old wind-up acoustic gramophone with either type of stylus. Frank, sorry to tell you but you've just flushed 44 dollars(Canadian) down the toilet!
I'm a 52-year-old dinosaur and when I was your daughter's age I had to beg to use the family's record player under supervision. This often limited how long my mother was willing to put up with my taste in music and how I treated both the records and the record player. Then back in the early 90's I bought my daughter a personal CD player which she loved but not quite the same. Your daughter will get the chance to learn not just how to appreciate her records but how to take care of a small collection of her own. Mp3 players and CD players are not as delicate to care for but sometimes that also makes us learn to appreciate them even more.
When I first got into vinyls I had one of these. I connected to my mini bose speaker and bypassed the built-in speakers. I thought it sounded pretty good. Keep spinin those vinyls Frank the Tank
Super to see how excited the girls were about the record player. Your record budget just doubled! 😂😂 She will have her own channel in no time! Great video!
I got this record player for Christmas last year, as my other one broke a month or two before Christmas. I read reviews on Amazon, and people said theirs caught fire, and they broke very easily. Mine worked for about 7 months, and started to slow down. It stopped spinning completely last month. Pissed me off a lot. And the worst part, I told my parents, and I think they got me another one of the same for this Christmas. Hopefully getting some new wax though too🤘🤘🔥🔥
THANK YOU! I've been telling folks for awhile that these are absolutely perfect for kids to learn how to spin records. My first turntable was very similar to the one in your video and it WAS sold geared towards children. It was fully manual and played all four speeds with a flipper stylus for 78's. It had a mini speaker that was located just to the right of the platter that was covered by the record if it was any bigger than 7". I ruined many records learning the art of handling and caring for the format 🙂
There is a technique to measure the tracking force of that turntable even the weighing scale said "Full". When you placed that metal at 7:03 and it reads 5 grams, while the reading is 5 grams press the zero and it reads zero while that metal is still there then remove that metal and this time it reads -5 grams then measure the tracking force of that turntable. Any number should be added by 5 grams. For example, if the reading is 1.2 grams plus 5 grams so the tracking force is 6.2 grams.
Frank, you did exactly the right thing. I have given out three cheap turntables now as 18th birthday presents to daughters of colleagues/friends of my kids. It's the kind of thing that fits well into a college dorm room, and I was fed up of reading about how record collecting is a hobby for middle aged men. It's not meant to be a great audiophile experience, it's just something to get you started, and at that age you're going to be looking through dollar bins and charity shops for beat up copies of things anyway. The VWestlife video puts this very well. There is a trick with that scale where you can recalibrate it so that 5 grams is zero, by the way. Great video!
14:40 My very first turntable was a Yorx all-in-one stereo unit with a turntable, AM/FM receiver, double cassette deck, and detached "tower" speakers for $200 in 1980's dollars. I'd NEVER buy anything made by Yorx (or Candle) ever again, but it served its purpose and I enjoyed countless hours playing the 20 or 30 LP's I owned at the time (mostly movie soundtracks) as well as recorded the LP's onto cassettes which I played on my Sony Walkman at school or on road trips. Ah, nostalgia... :)
TorontoJon I had a Yorx mini boom box as a kid that I absolutely loved. It had removable speakers, an aux input, and the cassette recorder was removable as a Walkman style portable. All things considered, the sound was okay. At 13 it was a pretty sweet Christmas present.
@@danieldaniels7571 That's great, Daniel, and I definitely remember that particular Yorx mini boombox model with the removable cassette player; a brilliant idea actually. If only Sony had thought of something like that with an attachable/detachable Walkman as part of a Sony boombox. :)
You've just proved it's a great way to get kids into records. Best to learn to use a cheap one so better care can be taken of the more expensive ones later on. I used my mum's 80s All-in-one Midi hifi. I think they were easier as they had automated tonearms for speed and size.
I got this record player as a gift and have really enjoyed it. I have used this to play records at parties and picnics. Easy to travel with I added some external speakers and sound is greatly improved and also updated the stylus. I have not noticed any damage to my records at all and love the ease of use. Great video and love your channel. Glad I found you \m/
Got my first record plays when I was 9 years old. My grandparents got it for me for Christmas of 1981. And my uncle got me my first 4 albums. I post a photo of it on you Facebook page for this video.
My brother's grandmother (we have different dads) gave me an old portable turntable from Sears. I remember it was a sky blue color, came with ok speakers and it was probably from like 1968. She gave me Hotter Than Hell & some album by Mountain to go with it. This was given to me in 1983 maybe when I was 8. When I moved in with my uncle in 1984, he gave me duplicate copies of Willie & The Poorboys & Cosmo' Factory as well as the Beverly Hills Cop OST (we've discussed this previously). Anyhow, was it the same sound quality as his Technics 1200? Of course not! However, I just thought it was cool to play records in my room and at 8 or 9 years old...who cares, right? Fast forward to 2018, got a Pioneer PL-990 for my son (he's 13 now) from OfferUp for $25USD. He runs it thru his desktop computer via a RCA to 3.5mm cable. He has 71 albums btw...hehe This year, my youngest daughter (she's 12) asked for a turntable for Christmas. Because she's using a laptop, had to go a different route. I found the following for $42USD Kenwood KD-492F Turntable ($12 on OfferUp) Denon AVR-3805 ($20 at Deseret Industries Thrift Shop) Technics SB-X10 Bookshelf style speakers ($10 from LetGo) She's also a HUGE fan of Panic! At The Disco & Lady Gaga so I'll probably pick her up a copy of each of their albums to get her started. Great...now I'll need 5 jobs to feed the vinyl addiction...worth it tho...hehe As for giving your daughter that Victrola... I think that's awesome! Like you said, if they dig it...that's what counts! Glad to see parents my age keeping vinyl alive with their kids. And you're doing it proper by calling records...well...records, not "vinyls". If my daughter specifically asked for an all-in-one player, I'd totally get it for her. I only got her the setup I mentioned because she wanted something similar to her brother.
My first record player was a Zenith player my Dad purchased at the Goodwill. IT WAS AWESOME!! He purchased it 1960.,great little radio too. To this day i do not know where it went. Wish i still had it.
My first one was a mid 70s? Montgomery ward airline portable suitcase turntable. It's still around here somewhere but rarely gets attention. I now use an ION profile pro turntable.
They’re certainly not audiophile Record Players, but as you pointed out and showed, they are perfect for kids! As a young boy I had a small suitcase style player at my Grandparent’s house. My Mom had given me a copy of Deep Purple’s “Who Do You Think We Are?” And I’d ride my Rocking Horse over and over to “Rat Bat Blue”. Then it was Elvis Presley, then finally KISS.. I loved that player and those albums. All these years later, I bought my Son a Victrola that’s several levels up from this one along with the reissue of “Dark Side of the Moon” and now he loves his albums and he’s darn near 25! Great Video and I really enjoy your channel! Big John
Cool kids. I believe your assessment was very honest. As a 10 year old I listened to my first 45 on a cheap record player… I thought it was the coolest thing ever.
I got one, but I play it through an actual sound system rather than their own speakers. I'm sure I'll upgrade as this hobby is starting to grow more serious, but these old records sound great. Didn't know it was Bluetooth.
This was a fun video. As I own three Crosley’s, I agree they are not nearly as bad as those who have never listened to one say they are. And with a few tweaks and quasi mods, they can be made to sound pretty good. I’ve listened to a brand new Coltrane pressing on one with a true diamond stylus, and with the sound run through into a receiver, it did sound pretty good. What no one seems to recognize is that despite the heavy tracking force, these all use a conical stylus. The geometry of a conical is more gentle than that of an elliptical. While the Internet gets hung up on this simplistic philosophy of players “carving up” vinyl grooves, nothing could be further from the truth. But the best way to ensure halfway decent playback is to swap out the cartridge that comes with these players with one that has a diamond stylus with a metal cantilever. They are a little more expensive, but offer better performance, and will last longer than the sapphire type. But thank you for shattering some myths. I hope your daughter enjoys her new record player!
To Arthur yes u are 100% right the two crosleys I got for my daughters ,I replaced the stylus with a diamond stylus improved sound and it does not skip like it used to ,and to those people who say that it carves up the record ,the ceramic cartridges always track high between 5to 6 grams ,i have tested one of my daughters albums on my system it sounds just as good or better cause my system obviously is my system w/equalizer ,amp &good speakers but it does not sound degraded. JRo
I enjoyed when you gave the TT to your daughter-she loved it-and now she can play her records and others she gets!You started her out on the music hobby!
I have a Victrola VVX. It only plays 78 RPM but has pitch control. Mine does not have power either. It takes a bit of work to operate with the amount of cranking but volume control is accomplished by opening and closing the doors in front of the horn.
Loved this video!!! The way their eyes lit up when the needle dropped! My 13 year old niece wants a turntable for Christmas and I think I’ll get her this one!! 👍
To the question "wtf are vinyls?" Those are things that are installed on the floor, similar to laminate floor panels, but made out of PVC (aka. vinyl).
My first turntable was a Tele-tone turntable. I remember when I broke it by jamming a headphone jack through one of the speaker holes thinking I could listen on headphones! I was 3 or 4 at the time. I have never been without a turntable since then.
My first turntable was back in 2012, it was a wooden vintage style Jensen record player, now I've got a big heavy wooden 6 in 1 Victrola record player with cd, cassette, AM & FM radio & bluetooth. It actually sounds fantastic with nice big great sounding speakers.
If the scales peak at 5.00grms, it might only be tracking at 5.1 or 5.2, which isn't totally horrible. I had a Marantz TT5005 a few years ago that had a preset VTF of 4.6grms and it didn't ruin any of my records.
Good point Gavin. After all this time, I have yet to see someone show a record that has been ruined by a record player with a tracking force in that range. My friend measured the tracking force on a similar Victrola, and it was a hair shy of 6 g. Enough to wear out a record a bit quicker, I think, but it would take considerable plays. Frank
Im surprised no one is manufacturing a half way decent all in one record player these days. Someone like cambridge audio should give this a go to retail for around £100-150
Super daughters. Loved their excitement. My first Turntable was a £50.00 plastic Fidelity Turntable with plastic speakers attached by bellwire width cable. It was purchased June 1979. It sounded okay. It was also fine with a pair of Sony headphones at a cost of £10.00. My mate thought it sounded tinny, but I liked it. I had it for 3.5 years and had a Amdstrad all in one system in a cabinet after that. My current turntable is a Linn Basik which cost £250.00 including the tonearm in 1993. The cartridge was a extra £50.00. A few years ago people were buying the turntable second hand for £250.00 because of the quality of the tonearm.
I'm curious if there isn't an adjustment for VTF on there, even if it's a screw to turn or spring to stretch to a tighter tension ('way old school, I know...)...
Awesome video! And the moment at the end reminded me of when my niece asked me about my record player. She went on to liking Ludwig Van Beethoven. Technically, my first turntable was a Crosley Cruiser. I bought one after a crowdfunding campaign for my favorite artist. Curiosity in listening to the vinyl version brought me to buying more records, and eventually buying a slightly more powerful version (the AV model.) Much like yourself, I grew up listening to vinyl records, and them being a common item, so while I could try to buy a top of the line setup (good luck while living in a big city,) I want to keep that feeling I had growing up alive. That, and a modern setup would clash against my old style dining room. Fun fact: a cheap turntable did not ruin my Blackstar by David Bowie album. Tripping while holding it did. I hope you found some humor in that one.
Great video. I'll always maintain that these are great options for kids. I bought my little brother in law the Victrola Modern, a small step up from this with a full size platter and separate speakers. He loves it. If he's a little rough with it and snaps the stylus they are only like $2-3 to replace. It's a perfect gateway to the hobby and I look forward to passing down some of my equipment to him when he outgrows this beginner unit.
Great video frank. Just to put away all the haters of cheap tourntables. The best one is the one you can afford. The important thing is to get into listening and collecting music. Just look the face of your doughter when she got it.
I love this line: "The best one is the one you can afford." I'm going to borrow that at some point in the future, if you don't mind, because it is absolutely true. Frank
Indeed I am. I always try to make most of our time, because soon enough they will have better things to do then hang out with their old man. Cheers Frank
Hi Frank, I have no clue what age your daughters are but, I love the smile on their faces. I got my first recordplayer at the age off 6 back in '65. My gosh I felt like a king and remember I had allso a big smile smile then. Since then it became a huge hobby collecting 45's and some Lp's. Then when the CD was launched in 1983 I bought my first CD player which I still own and so now and then use. Think you can see it on 1 off the pictures I've send you a while ago. The ReVoX B225. I've did some modifications to it and it still sounds amazing. Offcourse I've made one big misstake, I sold most of my records then I kept around 400 and now I do buy so now and then a record I really like and want. Greetings from the Netherlans.
I was gonna get one of these but I ended up getting an Audio Techinca LP60. My dad told me I should get the audio techinca, so I bought it. I dont get the hate for these things. My cousin has the union jack one, I like it.
Thinking of Victrola turntables made these days, I have an original hand-crank table top RCA Victrola turntable made between 1900 and 1920 that plays 78's of course and it's a thing of beauty; a wonderful antique that plays 78's with a lot more gusto and room-filling sound than modern Victrola's and a great conversation piece. One of these days, I'll have to make some TH-cam videos of it playing old jazz or classical 78's. :)
Granted i always refused to ever touch one of these for a while but eventually ended up getting one of these and found out they are silly fun when you see them as what they are. A cheap little toy that still somehow works and plays a record. I gotta admire how cheap and simple they are put together and how much you could actually modify them to make them actually a bit better. Sure, they are miles away from being Hi-Fi. But i do have a soft spot for plastic toys like these. And i am sure these things actually help making vinyl even more popular because kids outthere see the for cheap money, try them out and see if Vinyl is something for them, at overseeable costs without wasting too much on something they might not like. I know for sure if they try it out they soon want more. More control over the speeds, more control over the sound and just more quality.
My first record player was a Juliette all-in-one turntable with 3 speeds, along with an AM/FM radio. I played it so much that the rubber platen cover grew worn on the ends. Small and compact. I took it everywhere.
One cool aspect for these is that you can "rig" a battery power pack and use camping! My daughter bought me a Popsky and a couple of albums for Christmas 2020 and it is great for the portability side! Every tool has a use, sometimes you just have to find it!
My first record player was a Sears 3-speed suitcase record player with a picture of (allegedly) The Beatles on the inside lid i got for my 7th birthday. I played it so much the first day that I burned the motor out! It was replaced with a Lionel (!) suticase player - plastic, 4-speeds and reversable needle. Played that thing forever, too.
The first TT I had was a large red upright all in one that had a light show in its base-never worked.The record player was an all metal Alliance or Gen Industries TT mechanism connected to one tube amp and a 6X9 speaker sounded pretty good for a kiddie record player-this was back in the fifties.
I was given one that didn't work. The belt fell off the drive, and the limit switch that contacts the tone arm for auto shut off needed adjustment. Re-installing belt was easy, and limit switch was adjusted by tightening a screw. I didn't check to see if there was a trim pot to adjust the motor speed.
I'm a 38 year old kid, so this is for me! Really, though... it will be my first turntable and I'm quite excited for it. Admittedly, a large part of me is excited because there is one with a retro map design. With my limited price range at the moment added to the fact that I'm an absolute beginner, I think this one will work great. We also live in an apartment so I don't want/need a big sound.
Your girls are adorable. I have a Crosley suitcase player that I used to use in my office until I fixed the Mitsubishi. Plugged into a receiver with decent speakers it sounds just fine. The weight is a little bit of a worry, but like others have said, a few plays on a record isn't going to do much to them. As long as it isn't your main system and putting hours of playtime on your albums, you shouldn't need to worry.
Thank you Brian. I agree. While these are not great record players, it is silly to think it is capable of destroying a record after a few listens. Yet, this is a commonly held belief. Hell, back in the day, I used to tape quarters to my tone arm, so the record would stop skipping. I hate to think about the tracking force on that sucker, haha. Cheers Frank
This man said it best... this is a product geared for kids! There is a lot of hate for these record players on the internet, but all that matters is that it gets younger people into vinyl.
Way to get ur kids into it! My 7 yr old could care less. He also tries dancing yet stomping by my turntable n it skips...but ur doing much better on your end. These tables are for the novelty.but in reality not worth the price but some ppl don't care, they spend 50 bucks, buy 3 albums, and forget about it
That was so much fun. I received a Sears Silvertone for Christmas 1966. It was supposed to be a portable. Not very. It had a drop down turntable. I played the dickens out of that record player. Fifty years later I'm what you could call an audiophile. Just the least thing wrong and I go ballistic. I wish that the old days were back again so I could just play a record, enjoy it and put the next record on. Ah, well...
You know how it feels when your systems is working perfectly, no pesky static electricity to spoil your fun. You put a record on that you've listened to dozens of times before, be it Sarah Vaughan or Johannes Brahms or Steely Dan, and you find something in it that you haven't discovered before. Something new. Something fresh. Something that makes you feel differently. Yes, I go ballistic sometimes, but it's all worth it for just those experiences.
My mom got my brother and i these for christmas probably a few years ago when i firsr was exploring psych music and the grateful dead, i like the look of the suitcase but i moved into my grandparents to help take care of them for covid found my papas technics turntable and receiver, all i use the suitcase for is when we have smoke sessions in my backyard if i cant crank the music to loud at night
I love how excited she is to get her first turntable
I just ordered my daughter her 1st record for Christmas.
Well buy to him a lp 60 but dont buy that victrola (in my perspective)
those two need their own blooper reel.(they are soo adorable together.)
Too bad it’s a piece of garbage
That reaction it's adorable, that's the power of music 🎶
What a pleasant, refreshing surprise this video is. Not just that the record player isn't quite as bad as we all thought but most importantly the total lack of the usual snobbery associated with the record player/ community videos.
When I was a kid I had a battery powered Alba record player, now that's a low start but it went everywhere with me and grew my love of records.
There are bargains sometimes, I got a cheap nasty looking iPod dock around 15 years ago still sounds fantastic today, you'd take one look at it and throw it in the bin but I use it every day.
All that matters is that YOU like your turntable. ❤️
Well.....no, not exactly.
1) You have to protect your records
2) You don't experience Hi-Fi audio on a "system" like this
3) These fall apart because they are sold for 33.00 which means they only cost 15 dollars to make!
None of that matters. What matters is that you like your audio quality, you’re happy with it, and snobs like you take the fun out of playing records.
I agree totally!!
@@fancycuber3154 Well said...I am tired of the brainwashed snobs too.
@@Apollo_Blaze well if you wanna ruin your records ok....
I have something like this record player in my home. I feel as though something like this is good for people that don’t have a huge collection or don’t have the money to buy really expensive quality equipment. I enjoy it for what it is.
Actually it about what you would had gotten as a kid 50 or 60 years ago that wasn't an high end system. Kids didn't care, they just wanted to hear the music.
Yes, exactly!
So it really is vintage
Not all kids, i am 13, but i care about sound and atmosphere!
@@sharkybuddy5192 ME TO IM 13 and I ask for a 260 record player and I think I am going to get it
But, at least the tables of the past were made to last.
When I was a child in the late sixties early seventies, my older brother had a "record player", similar to this, it was white, for listening to his 45 collection. It was fully automatic and you could stack the records for consecutive playback. When he was at school, I was maybe four or five years old, I would sneak into his room and play 45's. Great tunes, great labels, Colgems, Motown, Capitol, Parrot. He had the "Whole Lotta Love" single on Atlantic. At four years old, I thought the instrumental break in "Whole Lotta Love" was supposed to be a dog and a train. Hmm? 50 years later and I'm still sneaking off and listening to records. :)
That was fun! My daughter's are 42 years old and one of them still has the Mickey Mouse portable record player I bought them when they were 6 years old. They grow up fast!
My mom got me this for Christmas, I AM SO SO GRATEFUL although I think she thinks I want one for the trend, instead of me just genuinely wanting to start collecting records (Im 14 so I don’t blame her for thinking I want one for the trend)
Welcome to the world of vinyl!
Thats cool! After four months, how is it?
Welcome in the world of records... But please be careful this hobby is a real money grave xD
This was such a cute video. I loved her reaction to realizing the record player was going in her room!!!!
I love how happy she was when you said she can have it for her room! Truthfully that's what its all about! If she gets into records and collecting, etc, then she will most likely graduate to something better in the future. But for the price, etc, the quality is great for children or average listeners getting into/back into vinyl. Fantastic video!
I have one of those that I take with me when my wife and I go out of town for a day or two and go record shopping. Plug it in at the motel and listen to the records I pick up. One or two times on this record player won't hurt anything.
I do the same thing. You're exactly right. It doesn't hurt the records at all.
That’s what you think
John Bliss sure it won’t
I've bought more records with damage straight out of the jacket brand new than this little victrola has ruined.
How’s the audio quality?
The look on your daughter’s face when you tell her she can have it is fantastic! I hate the “Crosley” hating nonsense in some of the Vinyl community. I hate to break it to these idiots, the modern vinyl revival does not happen without all the cheap players that came on the market over the last decade or so. Someone has to be buying the albums and the audiophiles alone will not support the now large variations of music available on records again. I personally don’t use a cheap player, but praise Crosley and all the clones for helping to bring the joy of Vinyl back to the world!
Amen brother!
That look on her face when you said she could have it... That's what this is all about isn't it? Worth all the 44 bucks you paid for it. ❤️
She can just play with it without you having to worry she'll break it. And that's the best way she can enjoy it, not having to worry she'll do it wrong. So for kids, there's no better option than this type of player IMO.
My son picked up one of these bookshelf players at my local record store with his birthday money and he loves it. So I do think they serve their purpose of getting people, especially kids in the hobby that can't afford an expensive player. I'm not really worried about his records getting destroyed.
"I'm going to be in my room playing Christmas tones". 😆 So cute. All of ya did a great job on your video. Great job girls. Have fun with the record player. Tell Dad to take you shopping for records now.👍
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Frank I enjoyed your video better then mine. Great job. I forgot to do the rpm test and Bluetooth. Oh well.
You vid was great Mark! I watched it from beginning to end!
Knowing your love of vinyl, I was kind of surprised that your girls had never worked a record player on their own....And now they have an interest to share with you! They cAn collect from those budget bins below the ones you are shopping in! I truly cherish the records my Dad passed on to me and the hours we spent listening to records together- whether it was the Doors on his turntable or Rubber Ducky on my Fisher Price player, those memories are priceless. Well done, Daddy-O! Best line of the vid was when she said she would be in her room listening to records. Torch passed!!!
Hi Beth, than you for your comment. I love your story about listening to records with you dad. I'm glad my kids finally got to get hands on with a record player (I had been hesitant to let them use one of mine). This Victrola is perfect for them. I love that last line in the vid as well. So sweet!
Cheers
Frank
Probably no worse than the ones on my compact JcPenney stereo as a kid back in the 80s.
It isnt tbh same mechism
The little girls reaction was just adorable and seeing her get excited for her own turntable was cute and then seeing her search for a record to listen to made it even more funny
Just look at their faces, when they played their first disc....absolutely priceless!!!
My only gripe when people say "don't buy a suitcase player, just spend a few extra bucks and get an entry-level turntable" is that you then have to buy the turntable, plus a pre-amp, amp and speakers too! That's not a few more bucks, that's a LOT more money than a suitcase player! And if you're just testing the waters to see if you like the vinyl hobby, surely that's a much more sensible method.
I love the girls reaction to her new record player, thats what these things are for!
I agree.
That video went a totally different direction than I expected, and it was great! So cool to see your kids discovering the magic of music.
Thank you Carlos. I had the first part of this video pretty much plotted out, but I had no idea how to wrap things up. On a whim, I invited the girls to try the record player out, and I'm glad I did. Cheers!
Frank
Your kids are great and I loved the reaction when you gave her the turntable.
Thank you Michael. I loved the reaction as well. Priceless!
Frank
Your girls are absolutely adorable. I'm thinking about getting one for my granddaughter now.
@G-Funk 1 Yes. She's 5 years old. At $33.00, a perfect starter vinyl player.
Thanks Tony. It's a great record player for kids. I recommend it.
Cheers
Frank
@The Slaughtered Lamb I know you’re from 1 year ago, but that was funny as hell.
Hahahaha I’m 13 and I used to have that player(not the best but good starting point) I have the AT Lp 120 now(much better)
"I'm gonna be in my room playing Christmas tunes." - the feeling of satisfaction and contentment. This video always gives me a treasured good family vibe whenever I watch it.
Thanks David.
Aw!!! That really was too cool. I was 7 years old,, once upon a time. But I did grow up with records,, knew how they worked, and how to play one. That was the age, I got my first record player. A VERY “kids” record player. So, to watch these two check this out, was so adorable.
My first record player was a General Electric. I played it in 1969-1970. It had speeds of 16, 33, 45, 78 and N for neutral, where you could play your records backwards through the speaker amplified.
It seems that "ultimate audiophile" has often taken over listening to music at the expense of listening for fun & enjoyment at a price point many may be unable to afford. Leaving those who cannot afford to put out big dollars to suffer criticism for buying the Victrolas & such when they just want to enter the hobby or return to spinning their beloved vinyl from "back in the day". Frank... thanks for this episode as it was great to see your girls embrace the suitcase spinner with the equal enthusiasm of my 86 year old mother for the same one I bought her for her birthday last week. There's room for all... just sayin' :)
funny thing. I bought a victrola, think I paid 40 for it, something like that. Anyways, im no kid (so I def wanna make that known to some posters) and it does what I need it to do, any vinyls I purchase is because I enjoy them and as long as they sound good, don't skip its fine by me. I don't need (exaggerated price) a $400 set up. I don't dj. I don't play at high volumes.
After all, we buy vinyls because we love music and I agree 100% with you the whole "ultimate audiophile" has kind of discouraged the casual listener from getting into it. If I wanted "perfection" I'd stick with cds. :)
@@twalchusky79 Ed Zackery Ted😀
How cute! You definetely caputured a life changing moment on video....sound like you have a new vinyl collecter in your family
Hi Frank! A quick way to improve the sound on this turntable (other than external speakers) is to replace the sapphire stylus with a diamond one. They are available.
Like in this video: m.th-cam.com/video/EBbprKEsExM/w-d-xo.html
John Bliss Exactly!
It would probably benfit from getting a weight reduction on the stylus too. If its not adjustable, you could stick a penny (or two) to the weighted end of the swingarm.
@@MarmiteTheDog actually ceramic carts need to track at that 5g force to produve what sound they get lightening them would make the sound more dull due to how that cart operates
Sapphire or diamond stylus ain't going to make a like of difference on this piece of shit. It'll sound like an old wind-up acoustic gramophone with either type of stylus. Frank, sorry to tell you but you've just flushed 44 dollars(Canadian) down the toilet!
I'm a 52-year-old dinosaur and when I was your daughter's age I had to beg to use the family's record player under supervision. This often limited how long my mother was willing to put up with my taste in music and how I treated both the records and the record player. Then back in the early 90's I bought my daughter a personal CD player which she loved but not quite the same. Your daughter will get the chance to learn not just how to appreciate her records but how to take care of a small collection of her own. Mp3 players and CD players are not as delicate to care for but sometimes that also makes us learn to appreciate them even more.
When I first got into vinyls I had one of these. I connected to my mini bose speaker and bypassed the built-in speakers. I thought it sounded pretty good. Keep spinin those vinyls Frank the Tank
Super to see how excited the girls were about the record player. Your record budget just doubled! 😂😂 She will have her own channel in no time! Great video!
The next generation has to start somewhere. I don’t hate on people as others do for using these standalone Record players.
I got this record player for Christmas last year, as my other one broke a month or two before Christmas. I read reviews on Amazon, and people said theirs caught fire, and they broke very easily. Mine worked for about 7 months, and started to slow down. It stopped spinning completely last month. Pissed me off a lot. And the worst part, I told my parents, and I think they got me another one of the same for this Christmas. Hopefully getting some new wax though too🤘🤘🔥🔥
THANK YOU! I've been telling folks for awhile that these are absolutely perfect for kids to learn how to spin records. My first turntable was very similar to the one in your video and it WAS sold geared towards children. It was fully manual and played all four speeds with a flipper stylus for 78's. It had a mini speaker that was located just to the right of the platter that was covered by the record if it was any bigger than 7". I ruined many records learning the art of handling and caring for the format 🙂
Love the comment Terry. We all have to learn somehow.
Cheers
Frank
There is a technique to measure the tracking force of that turntable even the weighing scale said "Full". When you placed that metal at 7:03 and it reads 5 grams, while the reading is 5 grams press the zero and it reads zero while that metal is still there then remove that metal and this time it reads -5 grams then measure the tracking force of that turntable. Any number should be added by 5 grams. For example, if the reading is 1.2 grams plus 5 grams so the tracking force is 6.2 grams.
Frank, you did exactly the right thing. I have given out three cheap turntables now as 18th birthday presents to daughters of colleagues/friends of my kids. It's the kind of thing that fits well into a college dorm room, and I was fed up of reading about how record collecting is a hobby for middle aged men. It's not meant to be a great audiophile experience, it's just something to get you started, and at that age you're going to be looking through dollar bins and charity shops for beat up copies of things anyway. The VWestlife video puts this very well. There is a trick with that scale where you can recalibrate it so that 5 grams is zero, by the way. Great video!
Awesome Gavin! Glad to hear others are passing the torch on to the younger generation. I will look up ways to mod the turntable.
Frank
14:40 My very first turntable was a Yorx all-in-one stereo unit with a turntable, AM/FM receiver, double cassette deck, and detached "tower" speakers for $200 in 1980's dollars. I'd NEVER buy anything made by Yorx (or Candle) ever again, but it served its purpose and I enjoyed countless hours playing the 20 or 30 LP's I owned at the time (mostly movie soundtracks) as well as recorded the LP's onto cassettes which I played on my Sony Walkman at school or on road trips. Ah, nostalgia... :)
TorontoJon I had a Yorx mini boom box as a kid that I absolutely loved. It had removable speakers, an aux input, and the cassette recorder was removable as a Walkman style portable. All things considered, the sound was okay. At 13 it was a pretty sweet Christmas present.
@@danieldaniels7571 That's great, Daniel, and I definitely remember that particular Yorx mini boombox model with the removable cassette player; a brilliant idea actually. If only Sony had thought of something like that with an attachable/detachable Walkman as part of a Sony boombox. :)
You've just proved it's a great way to get kids into records. Best to learn to use a cheap one so better care can be taken of the more expensive ones later on. I used my mum's 80s All-in-one Midi hifi. I think they were easier as they had automated tonearms for speed and size.
I got this record player as a gift and have really enjoyed it. I have used this to play records at parties and picnics. Easy to travel with I added some external speakers and sound is greatly improved and also updated the stylus. I have not noticed any damage to my records at all and love the ease of use. Great video and love your channel. Glad I found you \m/
What stylus did you update to?
Got my first record plays when I was 9 years old. My grandparents got it for me for Christmas of 1981. And my uncle got me my first 4 albums. I post a photo of it on you Facebook page for this video.
*player
$33 worth of smiles from your kid is worth every penny . She was so excited . Love her reaction. Cool dad
My brother's grandmother (we have different dads) gave me an old portable turntable from Sears. I remember it was a sky blue color, came with ok speakers and it was probably from like 1968. She gave me Hotter Than Hell & some album by Mountain to go with it. This was given to me in 1983 maybe when I was 8. When I moved in with my uncle in 1984, he gave me duplicate copies of Willie & The Poorboys & Cosmo' Factory as well as the Beverly Hills Cop OST (we've discussed this previously). Anyhow, was it the same sound quality as his Technics 1200? Of course not! However, I just thought it was cool to play records in my room and at 8 or 9 years old...who cares, right?
Fast forward to 2018, got a Pioneer PL-990 for my son (he's 13 now) from OfferUp for $25USD. He runs it thru his desktop computer via a RCA to 3.5mm cable. He has 71 albums btw...hehe
This year, my youngest daughter (she's 12) asked for a turntable for Christmas. Because she's using a laptop, had to go a different route.
I found the following for $42USD
Kenwood KD-492F Turntable ($12 on OfferUp)
Denon AVR-3805 ($20 at Deseret Industries Thrift Shop)
Technics SB-X10 Bookshelf style speakers ($10 from LetGo)
She's also a HUGE fan of Panic! At The Disco & Lady Gaga so I'll probably pick her up a copy of each of their albums to get her started. Great...now I'll need 5 jobs to feed the vinyl addiction...worth it tho...hehe
As for giving your daughter that Victrola...
I think that's awesome! Like you said, if they dig it...that's what counts! Glad to see parents my age keeping vinyl alive with their kids. And you're doing it proper by calling records...well...records, not "vinyls". If my daughter specifically asked for an all-in-one player, I'd totally get it for her. I only got her the setup I mentioned because she wanted something similar to her brother.
My first record player was a Zenith player my Dad purchased at the Goodwill. IT WAS AWESOME!! He purchased it 1960.,great little radio too.
To this day i do not know where it went. Wish i still had it.
My first one was a mid 70s? Montgomery ward airline portable suitcase turntable. It's still around here somewhere but rarely gets attention. I now use an ION profile pro turntable.
They’re certainly not audiophile Record Players, but as you pointed out and showed, they are perfect for kids! As a young boy I had a small suitcase style player at my Grandparent’s house. My Mom had given me a copy of Deep Purple’s “Who Do You Think We Are?” And I’d ride my Rocking Horse over and over to “Rat Bat Blue”. Then it was Elvis Presley, then finally KISS.. I loved that player and those albums. All these years later, I bought my Son a Victrola that’s several levels up from this one along with the reissue of “Dark Side of the Moon” and now he loves his albums and he’s darn near 25!
Great Video and I really enjoy your channel!
Big John
That's awesome. Thanks for sharing your story, Big John.
Frank
Cool kids. I believe your assessment was very honest.
As a 10 year old I listened to my first 45 on a cheap record player… I thought it was the coolest thing ever.
I got one, but I play it through an actual sound system rather than their own speakers. I'm sure I'll upgrade as this hobby is starting to grow more serious, but these old records sound great. Didn't know it was Bluetooth.
Actually hooked one to a Bastian sound bar with the RCA and it sounded decent.
Every product has its client.
Just as excited as I was the first time I put that Beastie Boys record on. And so fitting for their first Mmmm.... drop!!!
This was a fun video. As I own three Crosley’s, I agree they are not nearly as bad as those who have never listened to one say they are. And with a few tweaks and quasi mods, they can be made to sound pretty good. I’ve listened to a brand new Coltrane pressing on one with a true diamond stylus, and with the sound run through into a receiver, it did sound pretty good. What no one seems to recognize is that despite the heavy tracking force, these all use a conical stylus. The geometry of a conical is more gentle than that of an elliptical. While the Internet gets hung up on this simplistic philosophy of players “carving up” vinyl grooves, nothing could be further from the truth. But the best way to ensure halfway decent playback is to swap out the cartridge that comes with these players with one that has a diamond stylus with a metal cantilever. They are a little more expensive, but offer better performance, and will last longer than the sapphire type. But thank you for shattering some myths. I hope your daughter enjoys her new record player!
To Arthur yes u are 100% right the two crosleys I got for my daughters ,I replaced the stylus with a diamond stylus improved sound and it does not skip like it used to ,and to those people who say that it carves up the record ,the ceramic cartridges always track high between 5to 6 grams ,i have tested one of my daughters albums on my system it sounds just as good or better cause my system obviously is my system w/equalizer ,amp &good speakers but it does not sound degraded. JRo
It was pretty cool to see their excitement when the record started to play.
I enjoyed when you gave the TT to your daughter-she loved it-and now she can play her records and others she gets!You started her out on the music hobby!
Thanks!
You had me at your "WTF are VINYLS?" t-shirt ❤️❤️❤️. All you kiddies out there, they're called records, NOT VINYLS!
Stinky Whizzletooth ok boomer
@@gaiadearcangelis8306 do you expect likes?
Stinky Whizzletooth
ok boomer
@@venicegallardo8917 Ok zoomer.
Ok boomer
I have a Victrola VVX. It only plays 78 RPM but has pitch control. Mine does not have power either. It takes a bit of work to operate with the amount of cranking but volume control is accomplished by opening and closing the doors in front of the horn.
Loved this video!!! The way their eyes lit up when the needle dropped! My 13 year old niece wants a turntable for Christmas and I think I’ll get her this one!! 👍
My friend who was 19 at the time had the same reaction vinyl as he's a mp3 guy ...😀
To the question "wtf are vinyls?"
Those are things that are installed on the floor, similar to laminate floor panels, but made out of PVC (aka. vinyl).
My first turntable was a Tele-tone turntable. I remember when I broke it by jamming a headphone jack through one of the speaker holes thinking I could listen on headphones! I was 3 or 4 at the time. I have never been without a turntable since then.
great video. I have a 5 month old daughter and I always think about the day I introduce her to records! appreciate seeing this.
My first turntable was back in 2012, it was a wooden vintage style Jensen record player, now I've got a big heavy wooden 6 in 1 Victrola record player with cd, cassette, AM & FM radio & bluetooth. It actually sounds fantastic with nice big great sounding speakers.
If the scales peak at 5.00grms, it might only be tracking at 5.1 or 5.2, which isn't totally horrible.
I had a Marantz TT5005 a few years ago that had a preset VTF of 4.6grms and it didn't ruin any of my records.
Good point Gavin. After all this time, I have yet to see someone show a record that has been ruined by a record player with a tracking force in that range. My friend measured the tracking force on a similar Victrola, and it was a hair shy of 6 g. Enough to wear out a record a bit quicker, I think, but it would take considerable plays.
Frank
Im surprised no one is manufacturing a half way decent all in one record player these days. Someone like cambridge audio should give this a go to retail for around £100-150
The kids looked like they were having fun, which was awesome! Great video.
Cheers, Tom
Thanks Tom!
I love Ellie's reaction to you giving it to her.
Aaahhh the wonder of the first time playing a record...
Those eyes of the little one...precious!
Nice job Dad!
Super daughters. Loved their excitement. My first Turntable was a £50.00 plastic Fidelity Turntable with plastic speakers attached by bellwire width cable. It was purchased June 1979. It sounded okay. It was also fine with a pair of Sony headphones at a cost of £10.00. My mate thought it sounded tinny, but I liked it. I had it for 3.5 years and had a Amdstrad all in one system in a cabinet after that. My current turntable is a Linn Basik which cost £250.00 including the tonearm in 1993. The cartridge was a extra £50.00. A few years ago people were buying the turntable second hand for £250.00 because of the quality of the tonearm.
I feel kind of sorry for the little girl who didn’t get anything. I hope she didn’t feel too left out.
Those cartridges track heavy, but they usually track at their recommended weight, so it isn't a major worry. It's a kids toy or a starter turntable.
I'm curious if there isn't an adjustment for VTF on there, even if it's a screw to turn or spring to stretch to a tighter tension ('way old school, I know...)...
Awesome video. They are a cheap way to get started and maybe just great decoration. Love you’re girl’s reactions
Thank you so much
Awesome video! And the moment at the end reminded me of when my niece asked me about my record player. She went on to liking Ludwig Van Beethoven.
Technically, my first turntable was a Crosley Cruiser. I bought one after a crowdfunding campaign for my favorite artist. Curiosity in listening to the vinyl version brought me to buying more records, and eventually buying a slightly more powerful version (the AV model.) Much like yourself, I grew up listening to vinyl records, and them being a common item, so while I could try to buy a top of the line setup (good luck while living in a big city,) I want to keep that feeling I had growing up alive. That, and a modern setup would clash against my old style dining room.
Fun fact: a cheap turntable did not ruin my Blackstar by David Bowie album. Tripping while holding it did. I hope you found some humor in that one.
LOL, sorry to hear about the fate of your Blackstar...
Great video. I'll always maintain that these are great options for kids. I bought my little brother in law the Victrola Modern, a small step up from this with a full size platter and separate speakers. He loves it. If he's a little rough with it and snaps the stylus they are only like $2-3 to replace. It's a perfect gateway to the hobby and I look forward to passing down some of my equipment to him when he outgrows this beginner unit.
Great video frank. Just to put away all the haters of cheap tourntables. The best one is the one you can afford. The important thing is to get into listening and collecting music. Just look the face of your doughter when she got it.
I love this line: "The best one is the one you can afford." I'm going to borrow that at some point in the future, if you don't mind, because it is absolutely true.
Frank
@@Channel33RPM of course i don't mind. Keep on spinning... on any record player you can...
You are doubly blessed! Cherish them while you have them....the time goes by so fast. Nice informative video.
Indeed I am. I always try to make most of our time, because soon enough they will have better things to do then hang out with their old man.
Cheers
Frank
What a great and honest review. Too many people absolutely bash low end products but they serve their purpose.
Hi Frank, I have no clue what age your daughters are but, I love the smile on their faces. I got my first recordplayer at the age off 6 back in '65. My gosh I felt like a king and remember I had allso a big smile smile then. Since then it became a huge hobby collecting 45's and some Lp's. Then when the CD was launched in 1983 I bought my first CD player which I still own and so now and then use. Think you can see it on 1 off the pictures I've send you a while ago. The ReVoX B225. I've did some modifications to it and it still sounds amazing.
Offcourse I've made one big misstake, I sold most of my records then I kept around 400 and now I do buy so now and then a record I really like and want. Greetings from the Netherlans.
I was gonna get one of these but I ended up getting an Audio Techinca LP60. My dad told me I should get the audio techinca, so I bought it. I dont get the hate for these things. My cousin has the union jack one, I like it.
I've never thought of that but it is essentially a perfect toy version of a record player to get your kids started
Kids-it’s perfect for your Taylor Swift record!
Thinking of Victrola turntables made these days, I have an original hand-crank table top RCA Victrola turntable made between 1900 and 1920 that plays 78's of course and it's a thing of beauty; a wonderful antique that plays 78's with a lot more gusto and room-filling sound than modern Victrola's and a great conversation piece. One of these days, I'll have to make some TH-cam videos of it playing old jazz or classical 78's. :)
Definitely worth the time watching this just for the first experience of Playing and owning a turn table. Cool stuff. Rock on
Love the girls excitement and smiles!
Well, that was adorable. Her reaction when you offered her the record player was priceless.
Love your videos, Frank. Wholesome and positive.
Glad you like them!
Granted i always refused to ever touch one of these for a while but eventually ended up getting one of these and found out they are silly fun when you see them as what they are. A cheap little toy that still somehow works and plays a record. I gotta admire how cheap and simple they are put together and how much you could actually modify them to make them actually a bit better. Sure, they are miles away from being Hi-Fi. But i do have a soft spot for plastic toys like these. And i am sure these things actually help making vinyl even more popular because kids outthere see the for cheap money, try them out and see if Vinyl is something for them, at overseeable costs without wasting too much on something they might not like. I know for sure if they try it out they soon want more. More control over the speeds, more control over the sound and just more quality.
My first record player was a Juliette all-in-one turntable with 3 speeds, along with an AM/FM radio. I played it so much that the rubber platen cover grew worn on the ends. Small and compact. I took it everywhere.
One cool aspect for these is that you can "rig" a battery power pack and use camping! My daughter bought me a Popsky and a couple of albums for Christmas 2020 and it is great for the portability side! Every tool has a use, sometimes you just have to find it!
This is very first one I got. I want to learn a bit & i'll upgrade later! ..Thx for the vid!
Nice that it found good home. My first was Dual CS 620Q, I think from 1983. And I’m still using it.
mr. Finglish (Bäd English Recs)
Thanks for doing that for everyone, Frank. Also you made your daughter very happy today.
My first record player was a Sears 3-speed suitcase record player with a picture of (allegedly) The Beatles on the inside lid i got for my 7th birthday. I played it so much the first day that I burned the motor out! It was replaced with a Lionel (!) suticase player - plastic, 4-speeds and reversable needle. Played that thing forever, too.
It's a journey, for sure. We all start somewhere. Back in the day, as a kid, I had some cheap players, but loved them.
Frank
The first TT I had was a large red upright all in one that had a light show in its base-never worked.The record player was an all metal Alliance or Gen Industries TT mechanism connected to one tube amp and a 6X9 speaker sounded pretty good for a kiddie record player-this was back in the fifties.
I was given one that didn't work. The belt fell off the drive, and the limit switch that contacts the tone arm for auto shut off needed adjustment. Re-installing belt was easy, and limit switch was adjusted by tightening a screw. I didn't check to see if there was a trim pot to adjust the motor speed.
I'm a 38 year old kid, so this is for me! Really, though... it will be my first turntable and I'm quite excited for it. Admittedly, a large part of me is excited because there is one with a retro map design. With my limited price range at the moment added to the fact that I'm an absolute beginner, I think this one will work great. We also live in an apartment so I don't want/need a big sound.
William Cooper how did it work out? Would you recommend? 👀
Your girls are adorable. I have a Crosley suitcase player that I used to use in my office until I fixed the Mitsubishi. Plugged into a receiver with decent speakers it sounds just fine. The weight is a little bit of a worry, but like others have said, a few plays on a record isn't going to do much to them. As long as it isn't your main system and putting hours of playtime on your albums, you shouldn't need to worry.
Thank you Brian. I agree. While these are not great record players, it is silly to think it is capable of destroying a record after a few listens. Yet, this is a commonly held belief. Hell, back in the day, I used to tape quarters to my tone arm, so the record would stop skipping. I hate to think about the tracking force on that sucker, haha.
Cheers
Frank
This man said it best... this is a product geared for kids! There is a lot of hate for these record players on the internet, but all that matters is that it gets younger people into vinyl.
I agree Warren
Frank
Sir, thanks for showing
your daughters how
to operate a record player.
Way to get ur kids into it!
My 7 yr old could care less. He also tries dancing yet stomping by my turntable n it skips...but ur doing much better on your end.
These tables are for the novelty.but in reality not worth the price but some ppl don't care, they spend 50 bucks, buy 3 albums, and forget about it
Couldn’t
That was so much fun. I received a Sears Silvertone for Christmas 1966. It was supposed to be a portable. Not very. It had a drop down turntable. I played the dickens out of that record player. Fifty years later I'm what you could call an audiophile. Just the least thing wrong and I go ballistic. I wish that the old days were back again so I could just play a record, enjoy it and put the next record on. Ah, well...
You know how it feels when your systems is working perfectly, no pesky static electricity to spoil your fun. You put a record on that you've listened to dozens of times before, be it Sarah Vaughan or Johannes Brahms or Steely Dan, and you find something in it that you haven't discovered before. Something new. Something fresh. Something that makes you feel differently. Yes, I go ballistic sometimes, but it's all worth it for just those experiences.
My mom got my brother and i these for christmas probably a few years ago when i firsr was exploring psych music and the grateful dead, i like the look of the suitcase but i moved into my grandparents to help take care of them for covid found my papas technics turntable and receiver, all i use the suitcase for is when we have smoke sessions in my backyard if i cant crank the music to loud at night