wilkes85 You, sir, get it. I've already seen a ton of hate directed at this - all based on the fact that it's not some fiddly, ultra-snooty high end turntable. For the price, I think it's very nicely featured.
Aimede, this turntable does not appear to share any parts with the Hanpin (AT-LP60-style) turntables. But there is an almost identical JVC turntable being sold outside of the U.S.: www.mistergooddeal.com/nav/achat/hifi_video/elements_separes/platine_disque/jvc_al-f58s.html
xaenon no hate for this, my parents had a little Aiwa on that design that still works (might need a new belt though) and have not crunched yet their records. 😁
I was going to spend a few more bucks on Audio Technica's LP60 because I wanted good quality and not just a toy like the "case portable player". This video came at last moment and I'm very happy to save a few bucks but maintaining quality. *Thanks a lot for including audio samples straight from the player!!!! That was huge help* Great review, mate.
A simply marvellous review, thank you for making it! I find your reviews very beginner friendly and educational whilst still covering the important aspects for advanced enthusiasts. You have an approachable manner and an attention to detail that mark you as a high quality reviewer. It's a surprise you don't have more people subscribed!
Thank you for providing reviews for midrange and entry level products. It's good to have people who won't dismiss these products immediately and tell you that you need to spend hundreds of dollars to enjoy vinyl records.
In the latest audio/video magazine I cannot, for the life of me fathom paying the outlandish prices those companies are charging for their "hi-fi" equipment! I cancelled my subscription because it was making me an anti hi-fi enthusiast. And besides I WASN'T LEARNING ANYTHING from that magazine that I couldn't learn from people like you on the internet! Thank you.
I have to admit, I bought one from Amazon after this review, and have already gone to Goodwill twice to scrounge for classical baroque and early music records - so far I'm loving it! Upgraded LP GEAR stylus coming this week on recommendation too!
Was looking for a gift to get my friend for her birthday next month. She’s just getting into vinyl (courtesy of me) and currently only has a Crosley Cruiser, because that’s all she could afford. I promised her that I’d buy her a new turntable for her birthday, and now I think I just found the perfect one. Although, the whole tonearm thing is kind of a bother, it seems like a very nice starter turntable. Gonna see if I can find myself one and give it to her. Thanks for making this video, VW! You made gift shopping a lot easier, lmao.
Great no BS review as usual. This would definitely be a great beginner turntable or secondary bedroom turntable. I’m glad they took your critiques seriously as well.
Is this the same Rega Carbon Stylus in the video? (Rega Replacement Stylus for Carbon Cartridge - RP1) www.amazon.com/Rega-Replacement-Stylus-Carbon-Cartridge/dp/B00EO5X74S/
The rega carbon stylus is identical to the Audio Technica stylus..its badge engineered at...the LPGear elliptical replacement however will give a possibly a clearer sound...
Great video! I'll probably be recommending this table to anyone who's looking for an affordable way to get into records without buying a Crosley. I also have to mention that your video where you mentioned that you replaced the anti-skate spring on your LP-120 inspired me to order a replacement spring which I'll be replacing within the next week.
atoxique, watch the end of the video where I explain why a turntable like this is actually better for a beginner than one with a tonearm that needs to be balanced and adjusted.
If the cartridge is not easily upgradable then that may be why the lack of the adjustable balance. They would not have to worry about you putting something with a different weight on the end of the tone arm. Likely the choice of not featuring an adjustable balance drove the other decision. The adjustable balance would cost more than the changes to the mount.
Thanks for doing this review! I hope IT will fix the various defects and design flaws; however, even if they do fix those things, I feel that the AT LP60 is still a better overall value than the VPRO-3100, for a few reasons: 1) Antiskating. Even though the difference might not be overtly audible while listening to records, a turntable without antiskating will produce uneven wear on the diamond and the records, and if you can avoid uneven wear, why wouldn't you? (It's also worth noting that even though the original U-Turn Orbit didn't have antiskating, they designed it so that the tension of the tonearm wires produced a moderate antiskating force.) 2) When AT says their turntable is fully automatic, they're not lying, and full automation is a very useful feature for those of us who drink too much coffee (shaky hands) or people who are a bit clumsy. 3) Metal platter. Thin plastic platters can potentially warp over time. I've experienced this with entry-level turntables from Crosley and Aiwa. The metal platter of the LP60 won't warp. 4) On-off switch for the built-in preamp. This isn't a big deal for most people, but it's nice to have the option.
Almost. It did not skip on "Da Funk", but did skip on "Around The World", whereas the AT-LP60 skips on both. So it's better, but still not perfect. But like I said before, that Homework album was really only meant to be played by DJs with professional equipment. It was released in 1997 when they did not expect average consumers to be playing it on sub-$100 turntables.
That's still not bad at all, really. If that turntable proves to be reliable, it really should be considered as defacto for the $100 beginner's turntable. I'm also curious to know if even with the limited headshell if you can replace the cartridge at all. With a fixed counterweight you'd have to find one with the same weight as the 3600 and roughly the same screw placement, but there may be a handful that could fit. I'm not sure if you'd want to follow this up, but it was worth mentioning since you've got one in hand. Nice work as always, man.
Your email to Victrola must have worked! I got one a month ago , before it arrived this video is the one that popped up on TH-cam . I watched it to see what I was getting. My one when it arrived was like you said was a pain in the arse to get the lid on. What I'm on about your email to Victrola must have worked as , I was put off closing the lid while playing a record. I'm happy to say the tone arm doesn't lift as high as your one. Victrola must have took note of your email or watched your video!
I absolutely love your channel and it has really helped me decide that this is the turntable I wish to go for. it's also currently $58 on amazon. Thank you!!!
Even as an audiophile, I love seeing new budget options pop up. Like any product, the more competitive and featured these lower-end options get, the better for the consumer. At some point, even some of the mid-range and high-end brands will need to bring their prices down, or come up with other features to make them stand out from the budget options in order to compete. Honestly, even if you're a huge snob, buy a few of these cheaper models and throw them on Ebay. Get the sales numbers of these budget options up to continue driving the competition.
Dark - I actually do somewhat agree with you. Vinyl isn't the best medium for music. The issue is that the "Loudness War" has destroyed modern CDs and digital releases. You can't press a vinyl anywhere near as hot as some modern masters, so usually there will be much more dynamic range on the vinyl option. Trust me, if I could get some of my favorite albums in hi-res WITHOUT awful compression, I totally would. Vinyl for me is a fall-back.
I am happy that the budget turntable market is growing, that will definitely help to get newbies into the hobby. Dark, I’m not sure what you mean by audiophiles being walking jokes. Is it because we claim that we can “hear the difference”? I’ll tell you it’s because we can. Go to your local HiFi shop and give some of their gear a listen, and then go home and play the same songs on yours. Guarantee you’ll hear the difference. Lassi, I can hear the difference between a cheap and expensive TT. Just saying. I’m not trying to start an argument, and I’m not going to argue if someone wants me to, the above information is strictly FWIW.
Many things about vinyl generally come down to personal preference. Vinyl is usually mastered with a warmer, more dynamic sound that a lot of people prefer over the loud, aggressive sounding digital versions. Pressing a -6dB digital master to a vinyl record would be a disaster. And the people who say they can hear a difference CAN, because every turntable is going to sound slightly different because of the parts, the stylus, the DAC, amplifier, receiver. It's the nature of analog; There are so many variables to turntables that sometimes you can even take two of the exact same model and get slightly different results. Usually within a dB or two, but sometimes that's enough to sway people.
I never refuted that they "would" do a loudness war with vinyl, they clearly would if it were possible to press vinyl that hot. So I don't know why you tried to make that point. And no, it's not just "crappy pop music" getting mastered loud. Soundtracks, scores, classical, jazz (though I'm not sure what "handsup" is, even tried to Google it). It's almost a rarity now days to find a release with more than a DR7, regardless of it's genre.
Well I just bought one of these from Walmart yesterday and I can assure you that they have NOT fixed either of the two issues you pointed out in this video.... I only bought one because I was almost certain Victrola would have fixed these issues by now, but they haven't... I will be returning this unit to Walmart .
Everything is rebadged at this level. They're all made in one of two Chinese factories. Crosley, Victrola, GPO, Akai, Zennox, Xenta, Steepletone, Ion, even Audio Technica etc. etc. None of these names make a single thing. All badge engineering.
Awesome video again Vwestlife. Wow this is actually a really amazing tt for the price, when the flaws are fixed it surely is the best tt for it's price range. Looking at amazon the black version costs only 88 dollars.
I think this looks and sounds fine. This is the sort of equipment we need to see that will (hopefully) encourage people to take up vinyl. Like you said 'it's not perfect'....but then, what is? Thank you for the fantastic review.
In spite of the little annoyances with this turntable, it would be a significant upgrade from my current TT - an ION "Compact LP" unit - nonetheless. Excellent job, Kevin!!!
Well, I just pulled the trigger and bought this on Amazon for $37 with free shipping, I am thinking the seller is closing it out and just getting rid of it for the cost of shipping basically.
As a side note I always love seeing the records you play on these reviews, I'm surprised more artists didn't release their albums on coloured/patterned vinyl as opposed to plain black, unless the production costs were prohibitive.
Thanks for the heads up for the Columbus Day discount! I bought one based on your excellent review. Looking forward to just playing and enjoying records without all the audiophile anxiety.
Nice review! Certainly a good alternative to the AT LP60. Its nice to see another budget but decent product. Mechanism looks like an updated version of Ion Profile Pro, just with start/stop button and removable cartridge.
3:40 The absence of (typically tinny) built-in speakers (and obviously the toyish amplifying stage to power them) on this kind of dubiously branded gear gives some hope that this won't be absolute trash.
Pretty good overall package for the price. The brand doesn't really affect me since I'm aware of the actual history and I don't care, but the actual turntable itself looks worth the living room, but the scratching on the cover is something they should fix in the future before I buy one. This will probably be hopefully the case for future batches.
G'day, VWestlife! Thumbs up! Fabulous job! Enjoyed seeing new budget options, and reviewing Victrola VPRO-3100 "It's the best new turntable under $100!!" Thank you! Cheers! 😊💿❤️✌🏼
I've seen some bad design in my time, but the lid is ridiculous! The saying "you get what you pay for" certainly applies to turntables. Fantastic reviews by the way, keep up the good work!
when i hear those MP3 quality AKA no static clips from records i remember why i subscribed, just like those DVD quality VHS clips. showing us what analog sounds and looks like when you open the throttle!
Why is it that here in the Philippines turntables costs around twice as much compared over there in the U.S.? It's ironic that money is tight here but we have to pay more.
Great video, a friend of mine is looking for a new turntable, and this looks like a perfect one for her, sad thing is that I can't find any retailers in europe. We might have to import it. Thanks for bringing the turntable to my attention, I love these vids about cheap turntables, even if i would never use one.
Wow this isn't to bad of a turntable little better then the lp60 but i still think that has better build quality but for a 99 dollar turntable i don't expect the best. The turntable I want is either a custom U turn orbit or the Fluance rt81. I thought about the ATLP3 but idk if it has the traditional anti skate problem i have concerns with that if anyone has a ATLP3 let me know if it has a anti skate issue.
Mightn't the steady-on red LED just be there to reflect off the grooves around the platen into a hidden optical sensor? Like the light on the bottom of an optical mouse? I can't think of any other reason for the LED to be hidden down there.
Either that or it is a factory calibration item, simply there for adjusting the speed to within factory tolerance as they come pre-assembled... I'm a bit stumped too
RedBearAK I was thinking something similar - part of a servo speed control to minimize variations in platter speed? It'd be really cool if that was the case, but for $100 I seriously doubt it is. More likely it's just for show.
@@xaenon I don't know, but for a long time now you could get an optical mouse for less than $5. I doubt the necessary components would cost more than $1 these days.
RedBearAK True enough, though I think it would be closer to $2 to $3 if you included the servo electronics. But, bear in mind that when dealing with a $100 product, the actual manufacturing costs are probably only about $30-40 - $50 at most (the rest would be warehousing, distribution, shipping, and of course the markups at both the manufacturer and retail level). That $1-3 part would add to the manufacturing expense, and would likely be considered 'superfluous' - sort of like they considered a proper anti-skate 'superfluous' in this model, either as a correct factory preset, or as a user adjustment. Not saying it isn't possible. Just saying that on a budget model like this, it seems unlikely. Maybe on something closer to the higher-end, but with servo-controlled direct drive models starting about about $200... There is a way to find out, and now I'm curious. Perhaps Vwestlife could do an experiment. If it's a servo, a simple piece of paper to block the light from reaching the strobe marks would cause the turntable to misbehave. I'll post a query to him and see if he can do that.
RedBearAK The steady on red LED is just for show. It’s meant to mimic the speed strobe of the more expensive turntables. It’s like putting SS badging on a six cylinder equipped Chevelle (for those car nuts out there)
I noticed every record player looks about the same when its the suitcase type. My craig one I should replace that wall wart power supply . Because like your previous video of a tape player it has a minor buzz in audio. If you seen my video of it let me know. Its a switching power supply like most record players such as this one. This turntable looks similar to one you have and uxwbill have
I have a DAC that came with a very noisy power supply. Made a heck of a hum when using my turntable (noise came through the powerlines I assume). Found another wallwart in one of my drawers, tested voltage and polarity, swapped it out. Night and day difference.
You could buy a couple of ferrite chokes and place them at either end of the power cable and see if that will help eliminate that noise. You can find them for a few bucks online.
Thank you for suggestions. Also what I like about this turntable he reviewed it has a dampened lowering of the stylus. My Craig doesn't have this feature. However considering buying a Victoria in same style as my Craig suitcase turntable. However has different features. The Victola has dampened lowering. And ability to turn off auto stop. Even though it's same as my craig. And will be $60. I'm going to use points at a ta or petro truckstop and hope get a different color vs having what I have a black one. So u can tell difference plus have a spare.
I just got mine! Any ideas on how to fix the speed drops that it has from time to time? Like it spins at 33 but for like half a second it goes slow and that back to normal. I don’t know what that could be! Help appreciated :)
Coupon code is still good. Got mine 3 days ago. Bought the black model (VERY high gloss black) with a few scuffs from manufacturing (no biggie). Works as advertised. Tracks at 3.25 grams with the AT3600L supplied. You're absolutely right...the buttons seem to be ass backward..but I'm sure you'll get use to the strange layout. Checked it with a strobe disk and it seems to be right on the money. The dust cover is just too shallow (thanks for the tip about scratching the cover). I'm old school and I don't use a dust cover when playing records (my first two turntables didn't have hinged dust covers....you just took them off when using the turntable. This turntable is truly a BASS KICKER! It must be the built in pre-amp. If you like DISCO or HOUSE music you will probably like this a lot! It's a Party Turntable! For $85.00 bucks it does the job pretty well. Cheers and thanks for the review.
In Finland they sell this turntable too, but it's a different brand called: Procaster. They even have another version of this turntable. Procaster-LP10, LP-101. Those are the model names.
Awesome stuff, I'll have to keep this in mind when I have some extra money to further my record collection, as I was given a few crates of records after my sister got divorced she no longer wanted, and I've been on the hunt for a cheap, but decent quality turntable. 👍🙂
where did you get your speakers from?? I’ve been struggling to find speakers for this specific record player for a while and it’s just really confusing for me since I don’t have much knowledge on turntables
For the scrape problem when the lid is closed, I don't think a newly designed post is needed... trimming/sanding down the existing post a bit might enough to limit the lift height of the tonearm so it no longer touches/scrapes the lid when auto return is used.
The shop I visited today had this model on the shelf and selling as a bluetooth record player, you never mentioned anything about its bluetooth capability. Also, as this was done 2 years ago, do you know if the manufactor made its ammendments via your recomendations?
Guys, I posted earlier, but I purchased this and tried it for two days. The unit I got was no bueno. I ended up returning it for a refund. The 33 1/3 speed is really slow, a song that I recorded as taking 3:15 on my friend's LP60 took 3:51 on this turntable. Adjusting the speed on the bottom did not affect this much at all. I had a lot of sound distortion on records that I tested on this and a Audio-Technica LP60. I called their support and the guy was extremely rude and dismissive. Only after being persistent about it actually having a problem did he tell me to get a replacement. Unfortunately, he didn't have any idea how to troubleshoot anything.
Question….. do you have an opinion on a Sharper Image “ Turntable Audio Recorder” unit? I tried to see a review on TH-cam and I don’t think there’s one? I enjoy and appreciate your videos too, thank you 😊!
I know this is an old video, but I just watched it. That Victrola looks and sounds great. You should do a shoot-out with the Audio Technica LP-60.... On anti skating-- VPI has that loop of tone arm wires sticking up at the end of their tone arms which does provide a small amount of antiskating force. In addition, VPI and U turn have tone arms that are a lot longer, which makes anti skating somewhat less necessary.
It's possible to upgrade the cartridge, just the distance between the mounting screws and the stylus has to be the same, which is 9,5mm in the case of the AT91/AT3600 cartridges. This is usually the same on many carts, like the Ortofon 2M and OM range, the Audio Technica AT95E, and so on... (or even the Audio Technica AT-F7 MC cart, but that's an overkill for this turntable) EDIT: now I got to the point in the video, where I see that the counterweight isn't adjustable. In that case upgrade of the cartridge is not recommended, it's just a waste of time as it's impossible to set the right tracking force with a different cart.
Will you be reviewing the VPRO-2000? I picked up one refurbished like brand-new on eBay for $50 60% under MSRP and have been very satisfied with the sound quality so far, would be interesting to hear your input on it
Excellent review as always. To be a fly on the wall at the fist fight between the dust cover height and the tone arm return departments... Nice touch, btw, you also verified it plays all the vinyl colors equally well. (joke)
Very good video!!! Bravo!!! I have the project primary and they say that the anti skating it’s preset from the factory but wen I check it with a laser disk I see the tonearm going to the sender... can you check it please;;;;
Thanks for the answer... can I play my records or I wouldn’t have a problem in the future? And some people say that the laser disk it’s not the right way to look the skating what is your opinion? you are doing very very very good job your videos it’s fantastic, thanks from Greece Athens
Thanks for the insightful information! Friends are always asking me what is a good starter table and I usually tell them to find a decent vintage one. But as those get harder to come by cheap, it's nice to know there is a new option that won't hurt the wallet. Long time fan of your channel, by the way! Please feel free to check out our band. We have two albums out (including on vinyl). Would love to have you listen! Thanks. -Jared (The Lunar Laugh)
Are you planning on doing a review of the Victrola Pro-2000? From what I've seen it tries to be an LP-120 for starters at a ridiculously low price for what it offers, it would be very interesting to see.
The Crosley C100 is a better choice because it is actually based on the same chassis as the AT-LP120 (just belt drive rather than direct drive) and manufactured by the same OEM as it, not a knockoff like the VPRO-2000.
It's always nice to see turntables like this being released. For a while the only two options were "complete junk" and "ultra mega high end".
wilkes85 it's another iteration of the hanpin design of the 90's with a different arm design, but for its value it is fairly correct
wilkes85 You, sir, get it. I've already seen a ton of hate directed at this - all based on the fact that it's not some fiddly, ultra-snooty high end turntable. For the price, I think it's very nicely featured.
Aimede, this turntable does not appear to share any parts with the Hanpin (AT-LP60-style) turntables. But there is an almost identical JVC turntable being sold outside of the U.S.: www.mistergooddeal.com/nav/achat/hifi_video/elements_separes/platine_disque/jvc_al-f58s.html
VWestlife oh, a chance I didn't bet it was 😁. The controls and the general design and the inners was hinting me it was a Hanpin declination.
xaenon no hate for this, my parents had a little Aiwa on that design that still works (might need a new belt though) and have not crunched yet their records. 😁
You are awesome! Great job identifying the design flaws and contacting the manufacturer. I was impressed with their reply as well.
I was going to spend a few more bucks on Audio Technica's LP60 because I wanted good quality and not just a toy like the "case portable player". This video came at last moment and I'm very happy to save a few bucks but maintaining quality. *Thanks a lot for including audio samples straight from the player!!!! That was huge help* Great review, mate.
I bought by accident the JAM SpunOut turntable too, any advice on which one should I keep? @VWestlife
A simply marvellous review, thank you for making it!
I find your reviews very beginner friendly and educational whilst still covering the important aspects for advanced enthusiasts.
You have an approachable manner and an attention to detail that mark you as a high quality reviewer. It's a surprise you don't have more people subscribed!
Thank you for providing reviews for midrange and entry level products. It's good to have people who won't dismiss these products immediately and tell you that you need to spend hundreds of dollars to enjoy vinyl records.
In the latest audio/video magazine I cannot, for the life of me fathom paying the outlandish prices those companies are charging for their "hi-fi" equipment! I cancelled my subscription because it was making me an anti hi-fi enthusiast. And besides I WASN'T LEARNING ANYTHING from that magazine that I couldn't learn from people like you on the internet! Thank you.
I have to admit, I bought one from Amazon after this review, and have already gone to Goodwill twice to scrounge for classical baroque and early music records - so far I'm loving it! Upgraded LP GEAR stylus coming this week on recommendation too!
How did you end up liking the new stylus?
Wow customer service is usually dead now days good they replied , good video 👍👍
And you can tell it's a real person and not just some auto-reply thing.
Was looking for a gift to get my friend for her birthday next month. She’s just getting into vinyl (courtesy of me) and currently only has a Crosley Cruiser, because that’s all she could afford. I promised her that I’d buy her a new turntable for her birthday, and now I think I just found the perfect one. Although, the whole tonearm thing is kind of a bother, it seems like a very nice starter turntable. Gonna see if I can find myself one and give it to her. Thanks for making this video, VW! You made gift shopping a lot easier, lmao.
Every time there's audio samples on your videos I feel an urge to listen to some of the tracks in full right after. I must praise your taste in music.
I have purchased quite a few of the albums I’ve heard on this channel.
I’ve got this turntable pleased to say that the issue with the lid closed is fixed now.
Great no BS review as usual. This would definitely be a great beginner turntable or secondary bedroom turntable. I’m glad they took your critiques seriously as well.
PUT ON THAT REGA CARBON STYLUS AAAAAAYOOOOOOOOO AUDIOPHILE APPROVED MY DUDE
Is this the same Rega Carbon Stylus in the video? (Rega Replacement Stylus for Carbon Cartridge - RP1) www.amazon.com/Rega-Replacement-Stylus-Carbon-Cartridge/dp/B00EO5X74S/
Yes.
The rega carbon stylus is identical to the Audio Technica stylus..its badge engineered at...the LPGear elliptical replacement however will give a possibly a clearer sound...
pls do a cd or dvd player tweaks.
Great video! I'll probably be recommending this table to anyone who's looking for an affordable way to get into records without buying a Crosley. I also have to mention that your video where you mentioned that you replaced the anti-skate spring on your LP-120 inspired me to order a replacement spring which I'll be replacing within the next week.
atoxique, watch the end of the video where I explain why a turntable like this is actually better for a beginner than one with a tonearm that needs to be balanced and adjusted.
If the cartridge is not easily upgradable then that may be why the lack of the adjustable balance. They would not have to worry about you putting something with a different weight on the end of the tone arm. Likely the choice of not featuring an adjustable balance drove the other decision. The adjustable balance would cost more than the changes to the mount.
Thanks for doing this review! I hope IT will fix the various defects and design flaws; however, even if they do fix those things, I feel that the AT LP60 is still a better overall value than the VPRO-3100, for a few reasons: 1) Antiskating. Even though the difference might not be overtly audible while listening to records, a turntable without antiskating will produce uneven wear on the diamond and the records, and if you can avoid uneven wear, why wouldn't you? (It's also worth noting that even though the original U-Turn Orbit didn't have antiskating, they designed it so that the tension of the tonearm wires produced a moderate antiskating force.) 2) When AT says their turntable is fully automatic, they're not lying, and full automation is a very useful feature for those of us who drink too much coffee (shaky hands) or people who are a bit clumsy. 3) Metal platter. Thin plastic platters can potentially warp over time. I've experienced this with entry-level turntables from Crosley and Aiwa. The metal platter of the LP60 won't warp. 4) On-off switch for the built-in preamp. This isn't a big deal for most people, but it's nice to have the option.
Does it pass the Daft Punk test, though?
Almost. It did not skip on "Da Funk", but did skip on "Around The World", whereas the AT-LP60 skips on both. So it's better, but still not perfect. But like I said before, that Homework album was really only meant to be played by DJs with professional equipment. It was released in 1997 when they did not expect average consumers to be playing it on sub-$100 turntables.
That's still not bad at all, really. If that turntable proves to be reliable, it really should be considered as defacto for the $100 beginner's turntable. I'm also curious to know if even with the limited headshell if you can replace the cartridge at all. With a fixed counterweight you'd have to find one with the same weight as the 3600 and roughly the same screw placement, but there may be a handful that could fit. I'm not sure if you'd want to follow this up, but it was worth mentioning since you've got one in hand.
Nice work as always, man.
If stylus skips a groove, it's due to bad setup or cartridge and tonearm mismatch.
I want to say there's a rerelease of homework that doesn't skip@@vwestlife
@@vwestlife That's odd, Da Funk never skipped on mine, but Around The World did. But surprisingly it took Rollin and Scratchin great. As well as RAM
Your email to Victrola must have worked! I got one a month ago , before it arrived this video is the one that popped up on TH-cam . I watched it to see what I was getting. My one when it arrived was like you said was a pain in the arse to get the lid on. What I'm on about your email to Victrola must have worked as , I was put off closing the lid while playing a record. I'm happy to say the tone arm doesn't lift as high as your one. Victrola must have took note of your email or watched your video!
I absolutely love your channel and it has really helped me decide that this is the turntable I wish to go for. it's also currently $58 on amazon. Thank you!!!
Even as an audiophile, I love seeing new budget options pop up. Like any product, the more competitive and featured these lower-end options get, the better for the consumer. At some point, even some of the mid-range and high-end brands will need to bring their prices down, or come up with other features to make them stand out from the budget options in order to compete. Honestly, even if you're a huge snob, buy a few of these cheaper models and throw them on Ebay. Get the sales numbers of these budget options up to continue driving the competition.
Dark - I actually do somewhat agree with you. Vinyl isn't the best medium for music. The issue is that the "Loudness War" has destroyed modern CDs and digital releases. You can't press a vinyl anywhere near as hot as some modern masters, so usually there will be much more dynamic range on the vinyl option. Trust me, if I could get some of my favorite albums in hi-res WITHOUT awful compression, I totally would. Vinyl for me is a fall-back.
I am happy that the budget turntable market is growing, that will definitely help to get newbies into the hobby.
Dark, I’m not sure what you mean by audiophiles being walking jokes. Is it because we claim that we can “hear the difference”?
I’ll tell you it’s because we can. Go to your local HiFi shop and give some of their gear a listen, and then go home and play the same songs on yours. Guarantee you’ll hear the difference.
Lassi, I can hear the difference between a cheap and expensive TT. Just saying.
I’m not trying to start an argument, and I’m not going to argue if someone wants me to, the above information is strictly FWIW.
Many things about vinyl generally come down to personal preference. Vinyl is usually mastered with a warmer, more dynamic sound that a lot of people prefer over the loud, aggressive sounding digital versions. Pressing a -6dB digital master to a vinyl record would be a disaster. And the people who say they can hear a difference CAN, because every turntable is going to sound slightly different because of the parts, the stylus, the DAC, amplifier, receiver. It's the nature of analog; There are so many variables to turntables that sometimes you can even take two of the exact same model and get slightly different results. Usually within a dB or two, but sometimes that's enough to sway people.
I never refuted that they "would" do a loudness war with vinyl, they clearly would if it were possible to press vinyl that hot. So I don't know why you tried to make that point. And no, it's not just "crappy pop music" getting mastered loud. Soundtracks, scores, classical, jazz (though I'm not sure what "handsup" is, even tried to Google it). It's almost a rarity now days to find a release with more than a DR7, regardless of it's genre.
Victrola should replace the lid for you as well.
Or just take it off and buff it out. It's a light scratch.
Like Techmoan says rub some Brasso on it!
A very balanced and complete review. Excellently edited and presented.
I love your turntable reviews / tests! Keep up the good work!
Well I just bought one of these from Walmart yesterday and I can assure you that they have NOT fixed either of the two issues you pointed out in this video.... I only bought one because I was almost certain Victrola would have fixed these issues by now, but they haven't... I will be returning this unit to Walmart .
Wow Victrola is finally moving up from rebadged Crosley Cruisers and all in ones. That's nice to see. Great video by the way!
Everything is rebadged at this level. They're all made in one of two Chinese factories. Crosley, Victrola, GPO, Akai, Zennox, Xenta, Steepletone, Ion, even Audio Technica etc. etc. None of these names make a single thing. All badge engineering.
Thanks for the review. I just ordered this turntable and it's nice to see it's good quality for the price and will be great for my needs.
Awesome video again Vwestlife. Wow this is actually a really amazing tt for the price, when the flaws are fixed it surely is the best tt for it's price range. Looking at amazon the black version costs only 88 dollars.
great review dude, we need more reviewers like you
All these years I've been watching your content, and I never knew your name was Kevin until this video. LOL.
I think this looks and sounds fine. This is the sort of equipment we need to see that will (hopefully) encourage people to take up vinyl. Like you said 'it's not perfect'....but then, what is? Thank you for the fantastic review.
In spite of the little annoyances with this turntable, it would be a significant upgrade from my current TT - an ION "Compact LP" unit - nonetheless. Excellent job, Kevin!!!
PS: Now I really want one for Christmas!!!
Well, I just pulled the trigger and bought this on Amazon for $37 with free shipping, I am thinking the seller is closing it out and just getting rid of it for the cost of shipping basically.
As a side note I always love seeing the records you play on these reviews, I'm surprised more artists didn't release their albums on coloured/patterned vinyl as opposed to plain black, unless the production costs were prohibitive.
Because it's black...more classic and cooooll
Thanks for the heads up for the Columbus Day discount! I bought one based on your excellent review. Looking forward to just playing and enjoying records without all the audiophile anxiety.
Good on you sir. Just enjoy the music!
Nice review! Certainly a good alternative to the AT LP60. Its nice to see another budget but decent product. Mechanism looks like an updated version of Ion Profile Pro, just with start/stop button and removable cartridge.
How can a Victorla NOT have 78 RPM? 🤔
Victrola*
1931 a Victrola had 33 rpm, so...
Ok, for the usual Audio Technica cartridge there is no 65 micrometer stylus available.
3:40 The absence of (typically tinny) built-in speakers (and obviously the toyish amplifying stage to power them) on this kind of dubiously branded gear gives some hope that this won't be absolute trash.
At least it acts like a turntable you could plug into a stereo and be set.
Pretty good overall package for the price. The brand doesn't really affect me since I'm aware of the actual history and I don't care, but the actual turntable itself looks worth the living room, but the scratching on the cover is something they should fix in the future before I buy one. This will probably be hopefully the case for future batches.
I like it when you say "The factory will need to re-design this post to be not as tall..."that's a proper recommendation
G'day, VWestlife! Thumbs up! Fabulous job! Enjoyed seeing new budget options, and reviewing Victrola VPRO-3100 "It's the best new turntable under $100!!" Thank you!
Cheers! 😊💿❤️✌🏼
As usual a great video, and proper attention to detail, and not silly nick picking, but helpful information 😊
Arriving at a vwestlife video with under 200 views? That's a rarity!
It had not yet been up for even one hour when you commented
8k views at the moment
1.2K
Why does it even matter???
I do like your no nonsense approach to reviewing and explaining gear on your channel.
You are always really fair with your reviews I think
Nice video! Loved watching these vids before my uni lectures. Keep up the good work!
Very thoughtful and thorough review of the turntable
I've seen some bad design in my time, but the lid is ridiculous! The saying "you get what you pay for" certainly applies to turntables.
Fantastic reviews by the way, keep up the good work!
I ordered one from the victrola site. $85 shipped with the new user discount. Will report how it compares to the AT LP60 that I used to have.
It was not good out of box.
While it's great that someone replied to your message, they shouldn't be leaving the factory with such flaws.
Nice work Kevin.
I will definitely cop this. Thank you for this review!
Good god im in love with your channel. Quality stuff!
when i hear those MP3 quality AKA no static clips from records i remember why i subscribed, just like those DVD quality VHS clips. showing us what analog sounds and looks like when you open the throttle!
Why is it that here in the Philippines turntables costs around twice as much compared over there in the U.S.? It's ironic that money is tight here but we have to pay more.
I definetly like the aesthetic of this turntable
Is the only thing u should like
@@hangar18coleccionables I mean, it is a good beginners turntable.
So do I, it isn't trying to be modern which is a big plus for me. It looks like something you'd have paid a decent amount of money for in the 80s/90s.
So you have to get speakers in order for you to listen music on it?
Great video, a friend of mine is looking for a new turntable, and this looks like a perfect one for her, sad thing is that I can't find any retailers in europe. We might have to import it. Thanks for bringing the turntable to my attention, I love these vids about cheap turntables, even if i would never use one.
Wow this isn't to bad of a turntable little better then the lp60 but i still think that has better build quality but for a 99 dollar turntable i don't expect the best. The turntable I want is either a custom U turn orbit or the Fluance rt81. I thought about the ATLP3 but idk if it has the traditional anti skate problem i have concerns with that if anyone has a ATLP3 let me know if it has a anti skate issue.
AT-LP5 works but is fiddly to get spot on.
I don't have the AT-LP3 but even my lowly AT-LP120's anti-skate works fine.
That you for posting! This product will get more folks discovering the joy of vinyl records!
Mightn't the steady-on red LED just be there to reflect off the grooves around the platen into a hidden optical sensor? Like the light on the bottom of an optical mouse? I can't think of any other reason for the LED to be hidden down there.
Either that or it is a factory calibration item, simply there for adjusting the speed to within factory tolerance as they come pre-assembled... I'm a bit stumped too
RedBearAK I was thinking something similar - part of a servo speed control to minimize variations in platter speed? It'd be really cool if that was the case, but for $100 I seriously doubt it is. More likely it's just for show.
@@xaenon I don't know, but for a long time now you could get an optical mouse for less than $5. I doubt the necessary components would cost more than $1 these days.
RedBearAK True enough, though I think it would be closer to $2 to $3 if you included the servo electronics. But, bear in mind that when dealing with a $100 product, the actual manufacturing costs are probably only about $30-40 - $50 at most (the rest would be warehousing, distribution, shipping, and of course the markups at both the manufacturer and retail level). That $1-3 part would add to the manufacturing expense, and would likely be considered 'superfluous' - sort of like they considered a proper anti-skate 'superfluous' in this model, either as a correct factory preset, or as a user adjustment.
Not saying it isn't possible. Just saying that on a budget model like this, it seems unlikely. Maybe on something closer to the higher-end, but with servo-controlled direct drive models starting about about $200...
There is a way to find out, and now I'm curious. Perhaps Vwestlife could do an experiment. If it's a servo, a simple piece of paper to block the light from reaching the strobe marks would cause the turntable to misbehave. I'll post a query to him and see if he can do that.
RedBearAK The steady on red LED is just for show. It’s meant to mimic the speed strobe of the more expensive turntables. It’s like putting SS badging on a six cylinder equipped Chevelle (for those car nuts out there)
Thoroughly enjoy your reviews!!
what are the cheapest or at least affordable speakers for this turntable?
I noticed every record player looks about the same when its the suitcase type. My craig one I should replace that wall wart power supply . Because like your previous video of a tape player it has a minor buzz in audio. If you seen my video of it let me know. Its a switching power supply like most record players such as this one. This turntable looks similar to one you have and uxwbill have
I have a DAC that came with a very noisy power supply. Made a heck of a hum when using my turntable (noise came through the powerlines I assume). Found another wallwart in one of my drawers, tested voltage and polarity, swapped it out. Night and day difference.
You could buy a couple of ferrite chokes and place them at either end of the power cable and see if that will help eliminate that noise. You can find them for a few bucks online.
Thank you for suggestions. Also what I like about this turntable he reviewed it has a dampened lowering of the stylus. My Craig doesn't have this feature. However considering buying a Victoria in same style as my Craig suitcase turntable. However has different features. The Victola has dampened lowering. And ability to turn off auto stop. Even though it's same as my craig. And will be $60. I'm going to use points at a ta or petro truckstop and hope get a different color vs having what I have a black one. So u can tell difference plus have a spare.
I just got mine! Any ideas on how to fix the speed drops that it has from time to time? Like it spins at 33 but for like half a second it goes slow and that back to normal. I don’t know what that could be! Help appreciated :)
Have you seen the new "Heyday" turntable? Looks like it might be a strong contender for best new turntable under 100 bucks. I saw one today at Target.
They just put one similar to this on inventory at the Walmart that I work at. Currently tagged at $59.00.
excellent video as allways! Nice to see a not so crapophone in current production
I was originally thinking of buying an AT LP60x but since I looked at this turntable, I'm not sure which one to get now...
Mr Gonorrhea I got the lp60
I will wait the improvement thanks for the video. Look a nice little turntable
Cool track from Reptar, never heard from them before. Very useful review.
The mat and platter look like the ones in the Ion Profile LP.
Coupon code is still good. Got mine 3 days ago. Bought the black model (VERY high gloss black) with a few scuffs from manufacturing (no biggie). Works as advertised. Tracks at 3.25 grams
with the AT3600L supplied. You're absolutely right...the buttons seem to be ass backward..but I'm sure you'll get use to the strange layout. Checked it with a strobe disk and it seems to be right
on the money. The dust cover is just too shallow (thanks for the tip about scratching the cover). I'm old school and I don't use a dust cover when playing records (my first two turntables didn't
have hinged dust covers....you just took them off when using the turntable. This turntable is truly a BASS KICKER! It must be the built in pre-amp. If you like DISCO or HOUSE music you will
probably like this a lot! It's a Party Turntable! For $85.00 bucks it does the job pretty well. Cheers and thanks for the review.
In Finland they sell this turntable too, but it's a different brand called: Procaster. They even have another version of this turntable. Procaster-LP10, LP-101. Those are the model names.
I can’t even believe they are going to fix it. That’s amazing.
i wonder if this would make an nice addition to the HTPC or A/V receiver for mom and dad to enjoy their records, seems like it would.
Awesome stuff, I'll have to keep this in mind when I have some extra money to further my record collection, as I was given a few crates of records after my sister got divorced she no longer wanted, and I've been on the hunt for a cheap, but decent quality turntable. 👍🙂
where did you get your speakers from?? I’ve been struggling to find speakers for this specific record player for a while and it’s just really confusing for me since I don’t have much knowledge on turntables
For the scrape problem when the lid is closed, I don't think a newly designed post is needed... trimming/sanding down the existing post a bit might enough to limit the lift height of the tonearm so it no longer touches/scrapes the lid when auto return is used.
The shop I visited today had this model on the shelf and selling as a bluetooth record player, you never mentioned anything about its bluetooth capability.
Also, as this was done 2 years ago, do you know if the manufactor made its ammendments via your recomendations?
There is a newer version of this that does have Bluetooth output. I do not know if they included my recommended fixes or not.
If i'm not mistaken, the platter and the rubber mat is the exact same one as the ION Profile Pro usb turntable.
Guys, I posted earlier, but I purchased this and tried it for two days. The unit I got was no bueno. I ended up returning it for a refund. The 33 1/3 speed is really slow, a song that I recorded as taking 3:15 on my friend's LP60 took 3:51 on this turntable. Adjusting the speed on the bottom did not affect this much at all. I had a lot of sound distortion on records that I tested on this and a Audio-Technica LP60. I called their support and the guy was extremely rude and dismissive. Only after being persistent about it actually having a problem did he tell me to get a replacement. Unfortunately, he didn't have any idea how to troubleshoot anything.
Yeaaah! A new video about audio equipment.
Question….. do you have an opinion on a Sharper Image “ Turntable Audio Recorder” unit? I tried to see a review on TH-cam and I don’t think there’s one? I enjoy and appreciate your videos too, thank you 😊!
I know this is an old video, but I just watched it. That Victrola looks and sounds great. You should do a shoot-out with the Audio Technica LP-60....
On anti skating--
VPI has that loop of tone arm wires sticking up at the end of their tone arms which does provide a small amount of antiskating force. In addition, VPI and U turn have tone arms that are a lot longer, which makes anti skating somewhat less necessary.
April 4th, 2063, Oobie Doobie is still played on vinyl... :P
It's possible to upgrade the cartridge, just the distance between the mounting screws and the stylus has to be the same, which is 9,5mm in the case of the AT91/AT3600 cartridges. This is usually the same on many carts, like the Ortofon 2M and OM range, the Audio Technica AT95E, and so on... (or even the Audio Technica AT-F7 MC cart, but that's an overkill for this turntable)
EDIT: now I got to the point in the video, where I see that the counterweight isn't adjustable. In that case upgrade of the cartridge is not recommended, it's just a waste of time as it's impossible to set the right tracking force with a different cart.
Have you tried putting a Gramit or washers between the top of the post and base? That should stop the lift going sky high
Do yo have tested the Victrola revolution go? It looks good
No, but Record-ology has tested it.
Will you be reviewing the VPRO-2000? I picked up one refurbished like brand-new on eBay for $50 60% under MSRP and have been very satisfied with the sound quality so far, would be interesting to hear your input on it
Excellent review as always. To be a fly on the wall at the fist fight between the dust cover height and the tone arm return departments... Nice touch, btw, you also verified it plays all the vinyl colors equally well. (joke)
I have this one for some months and its starting to have problems with the motor
Does the upgraded stylus require a lower tracking force than the standard one? I've herd somewhere that it does but I'm not sure.
Great video. I love it when manufactures listen to people that review their products.
Very good video!!! Bravo!!! I have the project primary and they say that the anti skating it’s preset from the factory but wen I check it with a laser disk I see the tonearm going to the sender... can you check it please;;;;
It may have _some_ anti-skating, just not enough to completely stop the tonearm from skating to the middle.
Thanks for the answer... can I play my records or I wouldn’t have a problem in the future? And some people say that the laser disk it’s not the right way to look the skating what is your opinion? you are doing very very very good job your videos it’s fantastic, thanks from Greece Athens
Eirinaios Nakos the LaserDisc method is perfect for checking anti-skating. Anyone who tells you it isn’t is full off shit.
Great video! What speakers are you using? I see they’re Bose, but what’s the specific product name? Thanks!
Hi! Can u help I just bought this model and when the lp star it’s sounds slowly at 33 RPM and I don’t know how to fixes
hey jawbreaker got back together a year or two ago
Jawbreaker in a VWestlife video... sweet!
Thanks for the insightful information! Friends are always asking me what is a good starter table and I usually tell them to find a decent vintage one. But as those get harder to come by cheap, it's nice to know there is a new option that won't hurt the wallet. Long time fan of your channel, by the way! Please feel free to check out our band. We have two albums out (including on vinyl). Would love to have you listen! Thanks. -Jared (The Lunar Laugh)
Are you planning on doing a review of the Victrola Pro-2000?
From what I've seen it tries to be an LP-120 for starters at a ridiculously low price for what it offers, it would be very interesting to see.
The Crosley C100 is a better choice because it is actually based on the same chassis as the AT-LP120 (just belt drive rather than direct drive) and manufactured by the same OEM as it, not a knockoff like the VPRO-2000.
@@vwestlife Many thanks for the reply!