At the start of 2021 I wanted to get a new turntable . I still have my current and only champion of all my turntables since January 1983, a Technics SL-B10. It’s been a lifelong companion. Nevertheless I’d had my eye on inexpensive ones and the C3 from Crosley caught my attention with its design. I got one at the start of the year. Out of the box I felt dubious about it. It was supposed to be brand new but it appeared to possibly be a return. Just something about the packaging. Anyway I was happy to have one to try out finally. One thing, the plinth is pretty solid. The arm and controls were disappointing in quality but functional. The C3 setup is the way most basic AT3600L systems are these days. Mine had issues the I eventually fixed after going further down the Crosley rabbit hole of fixing issues. The counterweight was the first difficulty to over come and it was never working right until the last year of the C3's life. It’s a solid piece. Moreover it's trouble is the way it’s attached to the arm. The part that holds it on is very flimsy or bendable to enable the counterweight to screw into place. It never worked right. I had to somewhat force the counterweight on and guestimate where the correct weight would be and then check it with an electronic scale. A I generally maintained it that way until perhaps over two years after buying it. At some point last year I was able to fix the part holds the counterweight in place to work right. I thought the sound was great after it was all setup. I've been a P-Mount listener for most of my adult life. I like the difference in sound of the AT3600L in comparison or to just change it up. The auto stop worked perfectly on most albums but there are quite a few longer sides that cutoff before the end. At some point it started triggering early and that was another side door I fell into finally fixing. The speed out of the box was too fast 33.7 plus and 46.02. Ok for non-critical listening but I can tell the difference. Again I toyed with the speed controls on and off for the same amount of time I did on the other stuff before I got it exact and/or within 2% of its exact speed. I had various stylus’s on it. The original factory conical and then I bought the LP Tunes elliptical version. Then an AT conical to play with. The LP Tunes one is a bit quieter in my experience. The motor was pretty decent to my ears. It seemed to get quieter as time went by. It was a daily driver for a time but I still have my Technics from 1983 fully maintained but the C3 was aesthetically pleasing in my view and to play records on. A little over a month ago the C3 went kaput. IDK why but everything on it was working great and then the AutoStart started going out again and then one day I went to play a record. Turned it on and it spun up and died. I checked everything including power but I’ve had enough of working on it. It was geeky fun at times in the 3 and half years I used it. It was dependable to play some records on. When it was right. That's my C3 story. I only wish it was still working as part of my rig. I eventually may get something better/different.
I saw the C3 for sale at Kohl's of all places, for only $42 if I'm not mistaken. I got it just to try it. I already had two other working turntables of much much better quality, but I was pleasantly surprised at how decent the C3 is, especially considering the brand. My biggest problems with the model are that the felt platter mat came wrinkled, as apparently many did, and the footprint is so large that it doesn't fit in the spaces that many people are trying to put them.
I have the same turntable and for $60, I like it….. I have the same issues with auto stop, particularly on 45s, and its size/shape does make it somewhat unruly…. But as a beginner unit, ehhh, you could do worse
At the start of 2021 I wanted to get a new turntable . I still have my current and only champion of all my turntables since January 1983, a Technics SL-B10. It’s been a lifelong companion. Nevertheless I’d had my eye on inexpensive ones and the C3 from Crosley caught my attention with its design.
I got one at the start of the year. Out of the box I felt dubious about it. It was supposed to be brand new but it appeared to possibly be a return. Just something about the packaging. Anyway I was happy to have one to try out finally. One thing, the plinth is pretty solid. The arm and controls were disappointing in quality but functional.
The C3 setup is the way most basic AT3600L systems are these days. Mine had issues the I eventually fixed after going further down the Crosley rabbit hole of fixing issues. The counterweight was the first difficulty to over come and it was never working right until the last year of the C3's life. It’s a solid piece. Moreover it's trouble is the way it’s attached to the arm. The part that holds it on is very flimsy or bendable to enable the counterweight to screw into place. It never worked right. I had to somewhat force the counterweight on and guestimate where the correct weight would be and then check it with an electronic scale. A
I generally maintained it that way until perhaps over two years after buying it. At some point last year I was able to fix the part holds the counterweight in place to work right. I thought the sound was great after it was all setup. I've been a P-Mount listener for most of my adult life. I like the difference in sound of the AT3600L in comparison or to just change it up.
The auto stop worked perfectly on most albums but there are quite a few longer sides that cutoff before the end. At some point it started triggering early and that was another side door I fell into finally fixing.
The speed out of the box was too fast 33.7 plus and 46.02. Ok for non-critical listening but I can tell the difference. Again I toyed with the speed controls on and off for the same amount of time I did on the other stuff before I got it exact and/or within 2% of its exact speed. I had various stylus’s on it. The original factory conical and then I bought the LP Tunes elliptical version. Then an AT conical to play with. The LP Tunes one is a bit quieter in my experience.
The motor was pretty decent to my ears. It seemed to get quieter as time went by. It was a daily driver for a time but I still have my Technics from 1983 fully maintained but the C3 was aesthetically pleasing in my view and to play records on.
A little over a month ago the C3 went kaput. IDK why but everything on it was working great and then the AutoStart started going out again and then one day I went to play a record. Turned it on and it spun up and died. I checked everything including power but I’ve had enough of working on it. It was geeky fun at times in the 3 and half years I used it. It was dependable to play some records on. When it was right. That's my C3 story. I only wish it was still working as part of my rig. I eventually may get something better/different.
Thanks for watching! And thank you for sharing your history and experience with this unique turntable.
I saw the C3 for sale at Kohl's of all places, for only $42 if I'm not mistaken. I got it just to try it. I already had two other working turntables of much much better quality, but I was pleasantly surprised at how decent the C3 is, especially considering the brand.
My biggest problems with the model are that the felt platter mat came wrinkled, as apparently many did, and the footprint is so large that it doesn't fit in the spaces that many people are trying to put them.
Thanks for watching and for your thoughts.
I have the same turntable and for $60, I like it….. I have the same issues with auto stop, particularly on 45s, and its size/shape does make it somewhat unruly…. But as a beginner unit, ehhh, you could do worse
Thanks for watching. Glad to read that you enjoy your Crosley C3.