I run this over with a car! Crosley Cruiser Deluxe Review! Record-ology!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ต.ค. 2024
- The time has finally come - I have got my hands on the dreaded Crosley Cruiser Deluxe Junko-matic! The stuff of legend! Watch this video to learn everything wrong with this - the WORST RECORD PLAYER ever made! PLUS stay tuned to see me run over this with a car!
Everything YOU need to know about the belt driven turntable!
Still want one lol??? Click here; amzn.to/315E5Mj or these first gen ones are going for only 35-45 if you are seriously considering one still amzn.to/2MZ5U5r
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Check out the 'about' tab for full disclosures and info. Thank you for watching! Immanuel. See you in the comments! :) 40 40 40
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I certainly don’t think Cruisers are great on their own, but for me, it was definitely good for something. My first turntable ever about 3 years ago was a cruiser and after playing around with it, I knew I wanted something better, but it was a great introduction into the hobby. I got a better, component-style Crosley turntable and kept upgrading about every two months through buying/returning and eventually trading in turntables at a local record shop. A couple years, 7 turntables and a growing collection 300 records later, I have a clean old Technics SL-2000 in my living room and a Gemini XL DD50 in my room. I gave my component Crosley to my pal a year ago and he started his record collection. Fun video!
Thanks!
Excellent welcome to the club!
I think crosley cruiser are great for beginners but you should at some point get a audio tecnica LP 60 or LP 120
Exactly! The Crosly Cruiser might be the "best" suitcase all-in-one solution out there. But, there's a german saying: "In the world of the blind, the one-eyed is king." Suitcase turntables are a bad way to listen to vinyl records in the first place. I saw a lot of comments of people in their 50s, saying that when they were young, they also only had a crappy all-in-one turntable but they still enjoyed the music. Well, news flash, this was back when vinyl records were the ONLY way you could listen to your own music!!! Today, we're listening to vinyl for entirely different reasons. Hence, a decent player is the most important thing to get the best experience out of this hobby!!
@@itxofficial8281 German saying? I believe it is probably some old Latin saying because it is also said in a lot of other European countries... Non German speaking
Not when you can pick up an AT LP-60 on Offerup for 40-50 bucks.
They're fine if someone just uses them to bang around worn out goodwill records or dad's old collection that's already noisy as hell from decades of poor storage
It's when people buy them and proceed to also buy 100s of dollars of new pressings, including limited edition stuff that costs more the player to bang up on it. The minute I started getting serious until vinyl I got an LP60, a used receiver, and some Micca speakers.
I have a Crosley turntable, which was a gift long ago, I loved it a lot, however, after upgrating to the LP60X, I must say, I never touched it again. It's basically rotting away in a shelf. Still, for someone who's just using vynil for the first time, Crosley is not that bad
I honestly prefer this channel and facts stated by you than Vinyl Eyezz's view on this record player
Thank you....
Yeah record eyezz is so bias towards high end stuff like not everyone has thousands to just waste. I have 2 vintage setups and I never spent 100 on any of the units I just found deals on facebook and stuff and one setup has sansui sp3500 I got for 65 bucks so I think people need to encourage them to get into the hobby with whatever they can afford then after a year help them find some items. I started out a year ago with a victrola all in one, now I have a Yamaha yp-b4 and technics sl-23 and a realistic sta-52 along with a Yamaha EQ-32 and a technics receiver so all I did was enjoy what I had then found some stuff I could afford and never spent over 100 on one unit
Definitely agree with that
@@bradygiltz5160 An Audio-Technica LP120 does not cost thousands. Around 250£/$/€ on Amazon.
When this 56 year old guy got into the "hobby" at 3 years old, I had a "close-n-play" to play my records. That thing used a thick sewing needle and a plastic cone for sound! At around 5 I graduated to playing records on a battery-operated player that looked like an ultra cheap version of that one you ran over only with bright blue-n-red plastic. At about 9 I purchased a Montgomery Wards "all-in-one" stereo that at least had a stroboscope for the turntable but still used those needles that you had to screw in with a flat-head screw driver and had sapphire tips. It wasn't until I was in my teens that I was able to purchase a BSR McDonald turntable and a Pioneer receiver to go with used from a neighbor after saving up for a year or so. The BSR wasn't the best but it also wasn't one of those cheap multi-play "rejectors". The platter weighed about 25 pounds and it had a properly counter-weighted tonearm. The cartridge was exchangeable with a proprietary shell clip and it came with an ADC K8E if I recall. Eventually I was able to replace that with a JCPenney MCS (Technics) "6502" turntable and a Shure Type V cartridge in my early 20's. I now have thousands of dollars in my stereo equipment and play vinyl with a Technics SL-1200 with an Ortofon cartridge. I say all of this because I still have most of the records I played on that original "close-n-play" all the way up the line. Some of my real early ones are scratched and damaged due to the sewing needle of course, but just about every record I purchased after 9 years old still plays well and I still occasionally listen to. We all start somewhere, and from what I can see, the Crosley compares to and maybe a little bit better than my Wards player. Seems like a perfect place to start!
Jaysen Martin I love the sound of those adc carts... still using one in my den stereo ,,,it’s a bsr... and the quality and ease of use those turntables offer is amazing,,, and considering it was made in 1978... and still runs like a top...lol... I love them
The 1200 really has its reputation for a reason, I'm gonna get an mk5 at some point
If it gets people started buying vinyl that's a good thing.
Exactly!
My first record player was a bsr portable i found on the street. I now have a Panasonic technics with a sansui receiver that belonged to my dad.
Got me to buy a $30 one, happy with it
9:34-13:00 These words are exactly what makes you my favorite record channel. You are the person the vinyl community needs most. The reason I'm into vinyl is because, when I was younger, my grandparents bought me a Jensen jta-220 and a handful of some of their old records they didn't need. Now this record player, it's not a suitcase one or anything like that. But I'm sure it's not audiophile approved. I liked it because it was simple and easy (it's all in one), had decent sound quality and has an AM/FM radio on it. I still use it to this day. Unfortunately there are a some pretentious audiophiles who love to talk trash about younger vinyl enthusiasts. "Ew, they're not holding it correctly" "ew they don't have this [so and so $1000 massive stereo system / system that uses multiple parts] and it makes a lot of younger vinyl enthusiasts say "it's so complicated to do things right, I don't like this hobby anymore" and that's really sad. I (and a lot of other people) don't want a stereo system. I'm a very simple and minimalist person, I just like to have what I need, and also don't want to live in a massive house for a long time or anything like that, and so that Jensen is perfect. I have literally been talked trash to by older vinyl people because I don't want a stereo system.
Thank you!
@TJS I have never understood that mentality what works for one person won’t work for everyone. My first record player was a yard sale 80s mini stereo, then a new one I got had the mini stereo and a separate record player. My last record player was an Emerson Heritage all in one that I just sold to a friend because I decided since I haven’t played a CD in at least 5 years I wanted to get a really nice record player so I’m in the middle slowly buying the components I have decided on. Enjoy your record player and let others enjoy theirs
Not all of us have the money to buy the very expensive audio gear. The sky is the limit on what can be spent for the extreme high end stereo receivers, speakers, turntables, CD players and other hi-fi components. I own several hundred dollars of audio gear myself. The components are good but still entry level. Good enough for me. I'm not seeking any bragging rights. Buy what you can afford.
This type of positive videos really make quarantine more enjoyable
Glad to hear that!
As bad as these turntables are, they’re also responsible for getting me into records haha. I went from a Crosley, to a cheap Sony, to an at-lp120, to finally a technics 1200, Crosley started the passion for me!
I would never be spinning on a Technics 1200 if Crosley didn’t pave the way and introduce me to vinyl. No one is gonna drop $2000 on a hifi system to see if they’re into something or not
Exactly - you got it! This kid gets it!
Also, when I call them bad, I’m referring to the older cruiser models that used a ceramic cart, they can be a little extra rough on your records, but they come out hot enough to be played though line level inputs without a pre amp, so there’s a good reason they use them
yep, you could have saved a lot of money starting with a slightly better turntable!
Awesome video! Fact is fact! My dual tracks at 4,5g and my Phillips at 5g. No damage yet(20+ years of use). You are on point with everything, let others live and enjoy descovering something new! Great stuff with the car too😂
Thank you!
or is it that you haven't noticed the slight wear over the years since it's been so gradual
Thank you for making a video like this. I'm tired of people spreading so many lies and misunderstandings about Crosley.
Agreed thank you!
@@Recordology I agree too 👍🏻
Thank you so much for this video! I got this as a gift and went online to see what other people thought. All my happiness and joy of finally getting a record player was immediately gone as everyone said how horrible it is. I’m so glad to see this video as it’s made me a excited again to listen on it :)
You are so welcome!
It doesn't matter what anyone else says. If you like it, you like it. 👍
Playing records isn't about the sound quality anyway. Digital can sound a lot better for a lot less money than a decent record player setup.
Playing records is about owning a tactile piece of music. Enjoying the big artwork on the sleeves. Putting the deliberate effort in to play it. Listening to half of the album in one go, and then deciding if you want to hear the other half. It all makes listening to music a lot more conscious, instead of just having it playing as wallpaper.
And you can do that exactly the same on any record player.
I'm not a fan of these suit case players (unless your using for 78rpms) but these are perfect starter units. This myth that they will kill lps is complete garbage. The orginal specifications for the 33 1/3 in the late 40s was 9 grams. That's right anything UNDER 9 grams is safe. the issue comes from a damaged needle.
Lastly, some of the older equipment that is so beloved tracks well OVER 6 grams.
Thank you - nailed it!
Those records your referring to are probably mono ones. Stereo records are designed to be tracked at no more than 6 grams
Hogstuff you’re wrong! What Recordology said is very correct!
Loved the video, people looking to reinforce there hate for the player will be surprised by the sudden positives. I've now actually gone out and got a crossley as a second player to take to friends and family houses.(they dont have turntables)
Awesome!
Grateful to see the Hulk side of Mr. Recordology hahahaha
Cruiser was what got me into it, now thinking of upgrading my audio technica atlp60 to an atlp120
Keep in mind that "Crosley" today has NO connection with the original brand that went bust in the mid 50s. Crosley was once a very well-known brand and even made cars at one point. However, they did not have a quality reputation after WW2 and lost sales to other brands. The expansion into TVs came late and was not a big hit. By 1956 they went bust. With the brand abandoned it would pop up on novelty items during the 60s. (Emerson also used the dead DuMont brand on some items.) In the late 70s a marketing outfit started making multiple items using the brand and eventually laid claim to it. Their early offerings were "replica" "antique" radios. These could also be found under other names too. In the late 90s they added record players to their replicas (having already added cassette players). This evolved into stand-alone phonos as the demand for record players grew in the new century. I would not say that they ruined the name but they never improved its image either.
When AVCO discontinued the Crosley Radio brand in '56 the entity was vacant until Modern Marketing purchased exclusive use of the Crosley Radio brand in 1984. As you may know, Innovative Technology owns The Victrola brand and CWD owns Electrohome and Fluance. The success of the Crosley Cruiser specifically has created a market in which significant R&D is plausible by the likes of Audio Technica, and Kickstarter initiatives such as U-Turn, etc. It has also made purchasing new vinyl in your local neighborhood Walmart and Target a reality. Don't underestimate the value that Crosley has in the current vinyl ecosystem. And finally don't forget that Crosley for some time has had a full range of products beginning with Cruisers and going all the was up to premium offerings such as the C10 and C20. Thank you for writing and commenting!
Don’t forget that Powel Crosley owned the Cincinnati Reds and was the first one to light up a ball park and hosted the first night game in 1935.
similar to what happened to GE at some point, Westinghouse, Magnavox, RCA, Emerson and Zenith
I've got an old 1962 Magnavox suitcase player with built-in speakers. Tracks as light as 2 grams. Gentle on records and has awesome stereo sound!
Awesome!
Oh neat. It's interesting how portable players have been around for awhile.
I’ve got one connected to a sound bar and it’s fun to play with😎🍕🍺
:)
Dang my man. You come out with a video saying that the Crosley Cruiser and the like aren't so bad a couple of years ago, and now this! Huh.
After watching the video: Ah yes that's what I thought. Thank you for your trickery. It was quite nice! Good video.
Thank you for making this video. I am new to the Vinyl collecting world, I love collecting and spinning em. My roommate got my first record and player for my birthday last year. I heard bad things about the Crosley Record players often found myself thinking man I got a piece of junk but hearing you debunk these lies and praise it for helping revive the vinyl fan base has made me happy and feel safe. 😎🤘 Keep making these videos.
This is exactly what happened to me ❤😊
I feel much better about my Crosley now thank you for this :)
You bet!
Thank you so much
I was gonna buy me one but other channels like vinyl eyezz make me feel bad about it and you calm me down about wanting one
I got one of those and it doesn't mess up my records
the only thing that's bad about these are some vinyl do skip I'm guessing because it's to heavy or something idk but when it works it works and sounds amazing
Thank you for making this! I think there's a bit of elitism in the hobby that's a bit self-defeating. While I have a bit better turntable than these, my niece has a Cruiser and she loves listening to her Kiss albums on it. It gets her actively engaged in the listening experience and she becomes familiar with the artists' body of work.
What is Your Opinion on Victrola Suitcase Players cause if there not bad i was thinking of getting one
I think they were very good actually… Had one for years
Honestly nothing wrong with these players. If you can’t spend more then go for one of these and joy your records. The snobs will always try to put people down. Ignore them. They have nothing better to do.
I recently brought down from our storage my vynil collection (which ranges from records from the '50s to the late 80's) and my daughters were marveled by how 'cool' they sound. Yes, I still have my complete stereo system from the late '90s (the record player I have, a Realistic LAB-430, I bought it in 1985 actually).
Awesome! I hope you all have fun with that treasure! Enjoy!
Thanks.
Sorry for my english... But the thing about the eliptical stylus is completly wrong. It has more contact surface than a spherical stylus, so the force is spread at a wider surface. So a eliptical stylus, driven with 1.5 g tracking force will protect your records 10x more than a spherical with 5g. Its a fact.
Interesting.....
Anyone else impressed by how solid the plinth was on that record player?
IKR
@@Recordology what was it before you crushed it?
I was shocked - could use that thing as a jack stand.
A bad record player lol
Even through the line-out to the larger speakers, it didn't sound very good to my ears. Very lacking in the bass department, causing a rather harsh, tinny sound.
Nice vid, but it's a bit more complicated. Garrard, Voice of Music, Collaro(Magnavox) do not destroy records, and in fact, top of the line Zenith, had a floating cartridge design that tracked at 2grams and rivaled, or sounded just as good as magnetic. In some cases, even tracking better than magnetic. They have a very very detailed sound. The base on Zenith was Voice of Music, but they also built some in house changers that are were considered some of the best for ceramic cartridges, and most highly sought after. These were actually belt driven.
My 1966 Ward's Airline changer tracks at about 3 grams.
The brands mentioned, if adjusted properly, record wear is almost non existent.
The outlier is BSR/Monarch. These changers WILL destroy records, it has to do with the tracking angle and weight. This is the problem these Croselys have. Play a record on one of these, then take it to a true high fi turntable like a Technics SL1200. You'll hear it. Do the same with a Garrard or Collaro, the record will be fine. The tracking angle remains the same through the entire stack on the better brands.
8:42 I still think it sounds awful, very harsh with no bass at all, although it's mainly because of the ceramic cartridge, not because of Crosley quality. But i agree that it can be a good way to introduce people to vinyl, as long as they don't use it to play records that are more expensive than the turntable, and by time they replace it with a decent machine.
Upgrade with a diamond and metal cantilever stylus and the sound improves considerably.
Then why is vinyl eyezz saying *DONT BUY CROSLEY CRUISERS BECAUSE THEY WILL DAMAGE YOUR RECORDS*? So is he lying or what im confused with the tracking force
There is a lot of misinformation about suitcase players and Crosley's in particular. But simple testing confirms that do damage is done....5 or 6 grams of tracking force isnt going to ruin anything. They may wear faster than another type of turntable but they are actually ideal for certain situations that require low compliance and heavier tracking. Additionally, the Cruiser is the only TT that Crosley sells that doesnt have either an Audio Technica or Ortofon magnetic cart.
Record-ology can you find me a unique crosley turntable on amazon or a website that uses € cause i can’t find them.. 😩 thank you!
@@Recordology tests prove after 50-100 plays the surface noise increases. Also some distortion is noticeable on certain parts of the music. I would think not only the heavier tracking weight but the cheaply designed tonearm would cause more wear to the groove walls when it doesn't track as smoothly, lightly or accurately as a better quality turntable. I know most record players of the past weren't very good quality. Probably why even after cleaning some records and they don't look scratched at all why I hear a lot of surface noise and occasional distortion and muddiness on some old records. Some records from the 80's still sound like new. Probably haven't been played much or on a decent turntable. A lot of people taped their records then and only played the tape. I would have no idea what some records have been played on unless they were part of mine or someone I knows original collection. Some people looked after their records but played them on poor quality equipment.
16:00 'Some of it even audio grade vinyl' ... what a relief ;)
Fantastic..I broke my rule and watched this while away on holiday. !!! Pleased to see nothing on that turntable caused you to get a puncture..that would have been the ultimate kick,..loved the way you did this video...all the best..cheers..ade
Thank you! I know, I thought about the possibility of a puncture....I removed most of the screws prior. :)
@@Recordology Ha Ha...a wise move sir !!
Two things-you should have mentioned that these inexpensive players are a lot easier on old 78’s than the older players as long as you replace the stylus that comes with them with a flip over stylus that has a dedicated 2-3 mil needle. Also, in your opinion is there any difference in sound quality through the built in speakers between the Crosley and the Victrola?
Good points.... although different products - I would say both units perform similar.
I bought a Crosley to play my The Wanderer Vinyl by Donna Summer and it's thanks to you that I continued because most of the other people i saw is scaring me off to buy an expensive ass vinyl 😭
Like omg im still a student why are you urging me to buy a 1000$ setup!!!
Tricky bastard you are 👏 though wouldn’t this be considered clickbait?
No clickbait! I ran it over!
Thank God for Crosley, so I can buy my overpriced new vinyl LPs at Wal-Mart now!
Having to drive 2 hours into the city, just so I could buy new LPs at Sound Garden for $12.98 each, was SO TERRIBLE back in the day! 😆
Ha! Same here lol
It's not that bad! I got one of these Crosley Cruiser Deluxe with the Navy Blue Color and Red & White Stripe that look like the UK Flag! It's the tonearm with the silver and the light counterweight with the spring and the regular Banpa Cartridge with the regular Red Stylus! I replaced it with a better stylus cartridge "Banpa Turntable Cartridge Replacement BP2ATC - (2017 New Design) with Two Side 78/LP Needle! You can also use some Nuts and Washers with Super Glue to make up a counterweight neatly!
Idk man, I'm still gonna say this one still doesn't sound very good. Rather harsh and tinny sounding. I have an Emerson M2400 all-in-one system from the 1980s that sounds a whole heck of a lot better than that thing, and even it has a ceramic cartridge (albeit a slightly different one, a genuine Chuo-Denshi CZ680). Not great (due in part to excessive motor noise) but still serviceable.
I have to agree. The sample Mr. Record-ology played for us kinda sounded like a 1930's victrola recording. It had decent stereo separation but there wasn't any fidelity to the sound. Sure, the Crosley cruiser is fine for kids just getting into vinyl, but people will want to very quickly upgrade after they hear a record played on any reasonable hi-fi.
It's the ceramic piezo cartridge. It sounds shrieky.
I have Auna turntable, but it has identical turntable mechanism as Crosley Cruiser. I heared a lot of bad things so after few weeks I bought Audio Technika LP120XUSB. I wonder what I would have done if I saw this video earlier. But I'm still happy, couse I have retro looking turntable which will have radio function to me. And it done it's purpose, vinyl has became my hobby. Hopefully, I'll have money for food in the future:D
So i run only technics wheels for my audiophile. Tube amps, Shure and Ortofon 2M Bronze stylus. Amps an speakers by McIntosh.... got a crosley afew yrs ago from a friend as a gift.... not bad. Was built ok an decent sound. Its in my garage when im working in there. So its not too bad... not the greatest but not bad. Dig the video!
Those old BSR record changer type record players have way more tracking force than the Crosly. And those things were everywhere one upon a time. In just about every “all-in-one” stereo, console stereo, and even as a component. I even still have 2 of them.
Your discussion on tracking force being the sole measure for distortion is wrong. Conical needles need heavier tracking to make up for their inability to fit as well in a record groove as a needle design that better imitates a cutting head, like an elliptical. You can shove a square peg in a round hole, but it won't do you justice. These models need that extra weight to also make up for the fact that the 1$ all-plastic cantilever cartridge inherently cannot do much with the already poor tracking.
A lot of people like saying how the original LP was designed to track at 6 grams, which makes the cruiser's specs good enough. Old records had lead mixed into the vinyl as a way of permanently lubricating the groove. We don't put lead in records anymore, which makes 6 grams too much.
These are beginner's record players, yes but they are terrible beginner's record players.
Interesting comment - thank you for your perspective!
I'm still glad that I started out with an entrylevel DJ turntable instead.
About the same price but plays better and allowed me to switch out cartridges.
It's what made me realize that there's more to vinyl playback than just turntables.
Good point!
@@Recordology Thanks.
The turntable I started out with was a Reloop RP-2000MK3, cost me 120 euros back then.
It's modern equivalent is twice the price, but many better affordable DJ brands have entered the market the past few years.
Who I first saw Crosley record players I thought what a load of junk, then I thought back to the 60s and my Dansette valve suitcase player.
In some respects that was a piece of junk but it did get me into playing records and it made me go onto buying a Hi Fi system later.
If it get young people into listening to physical media and it does not disappoint them the go on I say.
It is a great starting point and serves that purpose well.
I don't believe that people buy this in order to plug it into an outboard amp. There are hundreds of turntables at not a lot more money that would sound a lot better if used that way. They purchase this because it is not a lot of money and it's an all in one. The speakers sound like an old transistor radio. If people really like the sound of these, enjoy.
His remark about the outboard amp is more of a 'make do with what you have' sort of mindset. It might not be the equal of an LP60 or even an LP120, but it's still an improvement over the onboard amp and speakers, yeah?
The first record player i had was a bush monogram when i was about 10 years old i thought it was great,until i found stereo.
the audiophiles left after the first reason
I had a traveler. I gave it to my sister. Her husband loves it. I'm now searching for a Keepsake. Still looking for a good price! Love this video!
Awesome!
Get the keepsake deluxe man....had a nicer deck with auto return, a moving magnet cartridge,, and pitch controls... a super nice one...
Is this a Canadian product? I can see French on it (I'm from Québec so I'm used to having English/French everyday in stores.)
FYI, it's spelled "awful", not "aweful". :-)
OMG 😐
@@Recordology the spell police!
And the plural of Crosley is "Crosleys" -- no apostrophe. :-)
You are ruthless!
Lmfao
I still fail to understand the purpose of these cheap players.
To me, the reason Vinyl is experiencing a renaissance was the stalwart DJ scene refusing to let go of their beloved 1200s. Kudos to them I say.
And I also do think that if finances are an issue, you should not waste money on a product that will probably fail to satisfy you in the long run to begin with. There is a huge market for quality second-hand players at decent prices. Vinyl, by all measurements, is an expensive hobby that will require some serious investments. If you want it to be able to compete with other physical formats (like CD), you will not only need a turntable that can hold its own, a decent cartridge and a way to bring the sound ro some speakers, but you will also have to think about the accessories. Cleaning and stylus care is equally important, especially when it comes to avoid excessive record wear. And speaking of records: lots of the newer releases are priced higher than CDs or digital downloads.
Therefore, I really don't know whether it'd be good advice to a Vinyl rookie (and I want there to be Vinyl rookies, don't get me wrong because the hobby is very satisfying) to go and get a device like that Crosley. He will probably listen to that somewhat shrieky ceramic piezo cartridge and then decide that it might not be worth to drop 20+ bucks on a new Vinly record.
Just my 2 cents, of course 🤷🏼♂️
It goes something like this...... Mr. Hipster is in Kohls / Walmart / Target / etc one day and sees this and is like - hey cool vinyl = impulse buy. Gets home and is glad it has built in speakers because he owns no stereo equipment other than his iPhone and airpods... realizes its fun but could be better = invests in better gear! Seriously I have heard this scenario countless times!
And the irony is.....the un-named record player that was ultimately run-over shared the same cheap plastic record player mechanism as the Crosley Cruiser...!!
OK, it plays records, but it doesn't do it well. A Crosley Cruiser is not to going to convince any youngster that records sound better than anything on iTunes or Spotify..... that harsh sound with no bass (even if plugged into a decent stereo system) won't convince, or fool, anyone! The ceramic cartridge used in those players is a cheap copy of a better Japanese cartridge, and is not even impedance-matched in the amplifier circuits built into these players, so it has no real bass...... Back in the 70's when BSR ruled the lo-fi market with automatic changers with ceramic cartridges that tracked at around 4 grammes, at least they were impedance-matched into the system's built-in amplifier, so they sounded pretty decent...unlike these new Crosley and derivative players.
To call that Cruiser Deluxe "excellent" ( 13:35 ) is just crazy after the experience you've gained over the past year or so on this channel....
We actually get comments from people that say that they started with the Cruiser and eventually migrated up to a Technics 1200.
Some people actually believe that records all sound scratchy and tinny and skip. Probably the only way they've heard them. Possibly what killed the format off in the first place when similar players were placed in all in one systems with tape decks then CD players. Who would want to use the record player section apart from playing those old records? It wouldn't encourage you to buy more or new records.
Those old BSR's even with their ceramic cartridges sound decent in some of the old systems of the 70's. I've got one at the moment with quite a powerful decent sounding amplifier built into and seperate speakers that are fairly well designed. It has great bass response. Better than bigger consoles of the time. Some BSR's were fitted with magnetic cartridges and better tonearms with proper adjustable counterweights.
this was a fun video mr. r.! I have mixed feelings about crosley but they still have their place in the vinyl world. I would not be opposed to getting one because they are pretty affordable and will do the job till you decide if you want to upgrade. thanks for sharing this, rob
Thank you.
Thank you.
People destroy things and that Crosley would be so useful in our Third World. it is awful to see. I am from th 50´s and armed and serviced hundreds of equipments. Your video is great unless the last part. We are not all from USA. Saludos de Patagonia, Argentina.
I do wish you actually ran the Crosley over with the car lol
Well honestly that sounds pretty mediocre to me. i don’t if its due to the youtube compression. I think if you replace the stylus with a diamond one it will sound a bit better.
"The subject of so much disdain"..... for anyone with half a brain. Seriously, they should hold congressional hearings on trying to pass off this GARBAGE to the public.
They don’t do any damage lol.
@@Recordology They're still junk -- and completely defeat the purpose of anyone who wants to "get into vinyl" so far as superior sound quality is concerned (real or imagined)...except for wanting to see a record spin 'round & 'round . LOL.
@@Onneff69 Did you even WATCH the video? Or are you too self-involved with telling everyone what they MUST do to enjoy records?
Happy with my first turntable, a $30 Cruiser. Would like one with higher grade materials and sound quality for later
They got them at Walmart for $31, worst thing is the sound quality of the speakers, hook up your soundbar, change the needle like I did. The damn records cost more.
I don't have a Cruiser, but I do have a suitcase player of very similar quality, and let me tell ya: It's *fine*. It plays records, it sounds great with headphones and passable without, it handles warps, and although I want to get a proper Audio Technica setup when I can, I now know not to trust Reddit audiophiles that flip their wigs if anybody even hypothetically mentions spending less than $600 to get started. To hear them tell it, suitcases tear records to pieces just by being in the same room as them and sound like the screams of the damned, lol.
14:00 if you’re here for the turntable getting run over. But I recommend watching the whole video.
My Crosley Rochester doesn't distort records. However I have had a Victrola entertainment system and an Ion phonograph and the distortion of the cartridge made records unlistenable. Why is that? Does Crosley use better cartridges?
They should be comparable. Perhaps a bad single unit?
I question the idea that the Cruiser STARTED the craze; I think it's more along the lines of it was the first inexpensive player offered to capitalize on it. Either way, it was definitely aimed at the hipster crowd.
I'm still not enamored with these things. Okay, I'll admit they're probably not as bad as a lot of people claim; the complaints of 'ruins your records!' most likely originates from the fact that most early models shipped with (and many models STILL ship with!) a really crummy ruby or sapphire needle, which is only good for a handful of hours before it becomes worn and yes, starts munching on your records. If you buy one of these, do yourself a favor and find a DIAMOND needle straight away and swap out the original ASAP. And the best upgrade you can do to these is use the LINE-OUT to connect it to an external amplifier or decent set of (powered) external speakers, since the internal amp and speakers are basically the same as you'd get in a $20-30 Bluetooth speaker.
That said, yes, if a Cruiser or Victrola or 1byOne or ??? portable is what you start with, if that's all you have room for, or all you have money for... it's YOUR money, YOUR records, YOUR ears, YOUR hobby. Don't let the haters run your life.
I have a Cruiser DeLuxe myself, it was given to me for Christmas in 2016. I don't use the turntable in it much, but I've fitted it with a 3 mil stylus for 78s, and it works quite well for playing those, especially since it has a pitch control that I find useful to adjust for the early odd speeds. Those old records had to deal with much heavier tracking than you'll get out of an inexpensive Crosley, that's for sure! Anyway, I use it primarily for its built-in Bluetooth function, which I've ported into my 'big' stereo in the living room.
And I'll happily tell those who want to marginalize me for it to step the **** off.
The reason why it is credited with starting the resurgence in the fact they put it on store shelves where people just came across them and impulse bought them.
@@Recordology I'll agree with that. The current industry would not be the same if Crosley, etc. had not done that.
Just a question - what kind of turntable did you end up running over?
yeah they aren't as bad as people make them out to be.
I kinda want the star wars one now! Yeah sure I have an awesome LAB2100 that I restored and love, and a kickass Yamaha/Klipsch/KLH/Sony hifi setup but the star wars player is waaay too cool to ignore as someone who loves star wars and record players, who became facinated with and was introduced to the hobby at the age of 9 in 2002!
My first player was: a fisher price suitcase player kindly donated by friends of family who found out I wanted a record player.
I feel like you destroyed a different record player because I have owned a Crosley since 2014 and still use it to this day and mine looks much different than yours. Even though they do sound like a Radio Shack battery powered radio it is good for my needs because I don't have the space or money for a giant HD quality record player stereo system but I still want to listen to records.
Interesting I always wanted a crosley but people talked bad about them...I'm gonna get one now.....I got a victrola...but now I'm getting a crosley thank you...
Vwestlife really went into detail on this and put it through its paces way back in 2016 or so. He showed the issues as well as where it worked. One issue it has is skipping on really bass-heavy records like Daft Punk's Homework. One other thing to note is that records were spec'd at 6 grams and I have seen instructions on 1960s records say to not track at any more than 10 grams.
Sorry, but I still think Crosley still sounds bad to me. However, I won't dis anyone who buys/owns one as that may well be all the person can afford.
I actually purchased a "Victrola" model one, on discount. I have zero issues with it - BUT, I use it tied to an amp, which is set up in an RCA standup radio cabinet, which I only use to play 78s on so I don't put too many miles on the shellac records with steel needles and heavy tone arms.
My only wish is I could find a cheap thicker needle to play 78s with on it. I suspect I won't get more than a few hundred plays or so on the needle before I need to replace it.
I love your channel and all your videos and reviews. The only issue I have is the "fact" you state at 4:55 that a higher tracking record player like an inexpensive Crosley will have less distortion then a higher end light tracking turntable. A mid to high end turntable that has the proper stylus and cartridge to track at a light weight should not have more distortion. I have a Dual CS460 and a Thorens TD190 (both built on the modern Dual auto chassis) running a Dual ULM arm with an Ortofon OM20 stylus. They both track at 1.5 Grams and there is no way that combo is making more distortion then these Crosley set-ups. Other then that I enjoyed the review and the counterpoint to everyone saying Crosley is junk.
Thank you again. I picked up a crosley messenger to use as a dedicated 78s player in fb marketplace. Paid ten dollars for it. A real bargain. Issue: it comes with auto shutoff and there is no over ride control on this model. The label area on a 78 being much smaller than on modern records that shutoff was a real problem. So I opened it and could not seem to adjust it enough to resolve the problem. One nail clipper and a little speck of plastic later... no auto shut off at all. Problem solved. I can play 78s, pocket records, even 3" discs on it now.😅
Nice!
The Crosley will never be as bad as the Jensen JTA-470 - a chunk of plastic that its makers dare to call "professional"! Plugged into external speakers the Crosley is listenable, whereas the Jensen is shrill and lispy. Wanna break something? Try a Jensen!
It can even be worse than that. I have a GPX all-in-one from the early 1990s, and the record player mechanism it has is arguably worse than the Crosley Cruiser. All plastic tonearm, only 2 speeds, bare plastic platter (not even the little rubber nubs), and it's also one of those ones where you have to pull the tonearm to the right to start it spinning.
Hahahah ok I will keep that in mind! Thank you for watching and commenting!
Wow!
@Hogstuff Pulling the tonearm to the right? I remember that! Probably similar to this example: th-cam.com/video/DNGxDAiTxaQ/w-d-xo.html
He even gives it the appropriate treatment!
@@Hogstuff I had one like that back in the early 90's. It was a Pye though. One of the doors on the double cassette deck didn't line up properly either. It had 2 slider controls for each of the 3 band graphic equaliser sliders joined together. I think it might've had an actual knob for volume. It got smashed up eventually after my Dad bought a better all in one stereo with inbuilt CD player and seperate turntable with a magnetic cartridge. That was better and a lot more expensive but the turntable still wasn't the best so we plugged in a better quality second hand turntable.
literally my first record player when i was 12 years old. played my favorite records on it and i had fun. fast forward 4 years later, i gave it to my cousin and upgraded to a sony automatic. sounds pretty good and didn't damage any of it at all. i love em' i think it is a great starting point. the only things that i would have to tell people when they are buying these types of turntables and when they are just starting out, is to change the needles probably like a month? because that's how i change my needles when i was using one of these because you could pretty much notice the sound difference and it is really important. change your belts also for about 3 months minimum depending on your use because it could possibly slow down. and finally, take care of it. this is not a toy, you could have fun with it but you also have to take care of it for it to last longer even though it is a very cheap one. treat it like your kid and it will be fun. i just hate it when "audiophiles" just constantly trash out these players because they have a different mindset or perspective in all but i mean we can all upgrade to something better and this is just a starting point. p.s. i freaking love the video!!
Thank you!
The only reason I don’t trust crosley is because I was going to upgrade from an old vintage one my grandma gave me and I decided to go with the cruiser, my record sounded really warped and distorted yet when I put it back on the vintage player it sounded normal, maybe it was just a 1/1000 chance that happened but it put me off from the brand. Overall a good review though!
what is your other player?
I own a Victrola record player and the components are very similar to Crosley if not the same ones. I think that Crosley is not a bad record player
I love records and I share the passion my dad gave me. I dated a girl with a crosley. It was nice to see her enjoying the music too.
The player you ran over was probably better than the Crosley.
I assure you it was not - bad unit right out of the box.
It was better for having the speakers on the bottom facing down to create more bass off whatever surface it sits on and point the tinniness away from your ears. Might muffle the sound but better than getting tinitis.
Well tbh I had one of these suitcase players and I returned it because it distorted the sound of the record like it was on a wah wah effect, even connecting it with speakers didn't fix it and it was just very tin sounding? Dunno if anyone else had that happen but I still wouldn't use one of those because they just seem more like decorations in your room.
I had a player like a suitcase one, and I know exactly what you mean by the tinny sound. I upgraded a year ago to a Audio Technica 120, and my sound went light years ahead.
@@mrpoothtick I have an Audio Technica LP 60 and I love it! It's miles better than the cheap victrola suitcase I tried out 2 years ago lol
It might've had a problem with the platter or belt. They generally do sound rather flat or tinny. Not a great amount of detail.
I think the best way to get into record collecting and vinyl stuff is to get some nice used equipment. It makes a big difference
But no offense to the real crosley that we known of as today but somebody just slapped the logo on the peachy box and that happend a reproduced mechanism from the 80s
Modern Marketing owns the name now.
While I pretty much agree with your points, at least for the newbie, and there are huge “urban myths” floating around about this player, could you comment or do some sort of comparison between the current Crosley you reviewed and an older suitcase Cruiser or a current cheap(er) knock-off like you briefly showed. In short, what is the difference between the thing you ran over and the review player ? Other than the style, don’t they have an almost identical turntable, arm, cartridge and stylus ?
Isn’t the amp about the same power and the speakers the same size (or bigger)?
I know Crosley has made attempts (more or less successfully) at up-market units. But is this better than it was or better than any other similar appearing suitcase player you could find for the lowest possible price on eBay or Alibaba ?
I am 65 and never gave up on vinyl. I have purchased all kinds of turntables, refurbished old ones and personally own a lot of Crosley and similar Chinese turntables, as well as old portables and nice component turntables,
but not a current Cruiser. I even think the Chuo Denshi typical cartridge can sound fine and work well if terminated properly and in an arm that lets it track at something close to the correct angle at not much over 5 grams.
Any cartridge will trash vinyl to some degree if it is incapable of tracking the record. If you don’t hear distortion from mistracking at anything under about 5G, you likely are not trashing your records. If you hear significant inner groove distortion or skipping etc. at even 1.5-2G there is probably audible damage being done to your records.
Last, I absolutely agree there needs to be a plug and play self contained record player that is not a system that needs excessive set up or restoration to be able to hear and experience what a great medium records can be.
Thanks for reading my mini rant response.
Very good points! I know that there are finally some all in one units with Audio Technica MM carts which is good. I will definitely do some side by side comparisons down the road - great idea. In terms of sound quality on lower end units - I have been told multiple times that it has more to do with matching impedance more than anything else. Thank you so much for your comment!
What a great video.
Thanks!
Ok question I've been looking for awhile I got mine crosley cruiser as a gift I'm missing that turn table mat and what circle thing next to the base of the needle
The circle is a 45 adapter for playing 45's that have the large hole.
6:18 I have a technics turntable from the 80s that tracks at literally 1 gram lol
Awesome video
Its better to just get an original ATLP60, or one of pyle's 2 belt driven Dj turntables, that have strobe, adjustable counterweight, can use any cartridge. That's what I tell people and a used stereo receiver and speakers.
But keep in mind the target audience and the purpose of these units...
@@Recordology it's interesting that for many years their didn't seem to be a market for portable players between the late 70's or so up until the 90's when vinyl left the mainstream. Probably because cassettes then CDs could outperform most cheap portable players then there's the convenience factor.
I have a nice Pioneer home record player, but I also have a portable Numark PT01. And y'know what? In some ways, I have more fun with my portable player than my home one. There's something enjoyable about having a small record player I can carry around with me and set up anywhere, with its built in speaker. It's not top quality, no, but it's fun. And I think that matters a ton. Also my girlfriend got a Victrola suitcase style player, and it's what allowed her to get into a hobby that we now both share. So yeah, I love these little suitcase players.
I agree - it was explained to me once like this; there are turntables, and then there are record players! Both are fun!
Yeah I was listening to mine instead of my Philips 212 with the Ortofon 2m blue just because it was fun.
Im all in for that crosley have a place in the vinyl World. Is This all in one player good no! You have your points many old record players back on the Day had heavy tracking force as Well. Do This justify that This record player suck, no. I Think of This suitcaise record player as a toy. Nothing more. I dont belive that you need to spend 400 dollers on a decent record player, but o dont Think the cruiser and the other suitcase player is the Way to start.
Many old record players back in the day were one of the only ways to listen to music especially before cassettes. Reel to reel was a bit cumbersome even the smallest reel recorders.
What is bad? The sound quality! Not loud. It's more suited as a kiddie record player. I do agree that these got me back into vinyl.
And they are not automatic they are manual I prefer automatic record players and mine are UK made
Well, in my opinion, i think the crusier lacks in bass and has a distorted treble. I had one for many years but i diddn't like it's sound, either, trough the built-in speakers or trough the RCA audio output. I think they are kinda good for beginners that don't care about sound quality.
Beginners might give up thinking records really sound like that if they've never really heard a decent turntable. Most might be used to digitally recorded music and think that vinyl is an obsolete technology and therefore isn't capable of sounding really good.
I would upgrade the cartridge to a flip style
For those interested, There is an upgrade cartridge available for crosley record players, among others.. It comes with a flip over needle for 78 rpm records. This cartridge is also reported to give better definition at higher frequencies. Its a Banpa BP2ATC however from what I have read the 78rpm tip which comes with it is actually an LP tip instead of the required 3 mil. tip for the older 78's so if you are going to play 78s it would be a good idea to buy a Pfanstiehl 274-ds73 replacement stylus assembly or equivalent. There is a good video on this upgrade here on you tube just look for......... finally an upgrade for crosley. It is the first one displayed..
I keep hearing about this.....I would love to get my hands on one!
I've had record players I bought more damaged by Fed Ex than your car.
lol
When the cruiser tt was played direct-not too bad.The “roll” of that old tt was indeed cool.Check out where a TH-camr chops one up in his lawnmower!
The beginning of that record you "played" did not start with the middle of Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet.
shhhh
sometimes i have to edit the take......
I am wondering if that third party player has or share the parts with the Crosley Cruiser.
Why I wonder is they almoast look the same but differs in the case size.
I am not in to vinyl but I am into computers.
Intresting channel you got :)
Thank you!
@@Recordology you are welcome
They're all similar or the same generic mechanisms.