• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Crosley portable record player

Guest123

Guest123

Super Member
Has anyone bought one of these little units yet? Here's the info from the official website:

"We took the record player "out of the box". Crosley's Revolution™ turntable truly fits the word in every way. Where other turntables take up space, this one dances around a desk without ado. Where other record players must be kept in their designated place, the Crosley Revolution™ practically begs to join you on every journey. And where other turntables tangle you in a web of wires, the Crosley Revolution™ effortlessly pairs with any FM radio for cordless, clear sound. It is a turntable of firsts-the first battery-powered Crosley turntable, the first with a platter smaller than a teacup saucer, and the first with a wireless transmitter for cord-free enjoyment. Users can tote this two-speed turntable with them to vinyl swaps or to a friend's house. Featuring a USB hookup for easy analog-to-digital transfer, the Crosley Revolution™ will allow users to free their favorites from the grooves for digital enjoyment across a variety of devices. This small but mighty turntable also features a headphone jack, passive audio out, and a dynamic full range speaker. **PATENT PENDING**
Portable Turntable
USB Enabled For Connection to Windows Equipped PC and Mac
Software Suite For Ripping And Editing Audio Content
Belt Driven Turntable Mechanism
Plays 2 Speeds - 33 1/3 And 45 RPM Records
FM Transmitter
Dynamic Full Range Stereo Speakers"

Price: $149.95

The Crosley Radio website is:
http://www.crosleyradio.com/Product.aspx?pid=1869
 

Attachments

  • gadgets_51.jpg
    gadgets_51.jpg
    36.5 KB · Views: 34
Register to hide this ad
I bought one and sent it back...

The sound quality sounds like nails on a chalkboard (very bright). The USB feature didn't work (loud squeal in one channel). The FM transmitter function didn't work. Signal was strong enough, but there was clipping distortion due to a poor design.

Somebody had a video up on YouTube demonstrating the same poor quality sound, squeal in the left channel when using USB and bad distortion when using the FM transmitter. So, I don't think it was just a defective unit.

It could be useful for spotting records that look good and sound damaged when out buying used, but that's about all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJw-QsXlTFs&playnext=1&list=PL70C793966FE9D40A

Too bad... It probably would have been nice if they made it to take any P-mount cartridge like the old Audio Technicas. Instead, they cheaped out on the cartridge and added a bunch of features that don't work. Well, it's a Crosley after all...
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the reply, royphil345. I had a feeling that this little thing was too good to be true. Another great idea ruined by shoddy craftsmanship, crappy parts and bad design, I guess. I hate to say this but, it's probably made in China, right?
 
My wife and I happened to wander past the Crosley turntables in Target a few nights ago. She asked about them and I tried to find a way of explaining what market they cater to. She picked up on what I was trying to say and said, "so they're the Huffy of turntables." My wife is smart.
 
ElPee said:
...Another great idea ruined by shoddy craftsmanship, crappy parts and bad design, I guess...
Click to expand...

It's the new way for Crosley.

At $149, it's grossly over-priced, even if it worked correctly.

Which many do not.

It's unfortunately another turd that they think shines like gold and smells like roses, and is priced accordingly.
 
It's really too bad. The craftsmanship didn't seem terrible. Lots of design flaws though. It looks like they had to have bought the Soundburger design. If they stuck to it, without adding poorly executed features that didn't work and used a tonearm that let you put your own P-mount cartridge in, even if they wanted to supply something dirt cheap with the table, I think it would have been pretty cool. Dropping the useless features and upgrading the cartridge a bit probably wouldn't have changed the production cost any...
 
Defense of Huffy

"so they're the Huffy of turntables."
Click to expand...
Crosley turntables maybe worse, my Huffy bike keeps on rolling, and I put thousands of miles (according to the Western Auto speedometer) on it mostly when I was a kid. A Schwinn it is not, however.
 
They copied the Soundburger design and cheapened it as much as possible. NFG (No F-ing Good). No better than any other Chinese made Crosley NFG product. If you need a portable phono for crate digging, get a Japanese Columbia if possible or get a Numark which is semi-decent. But they won't be your main turntable.
 
The killer here is not how cheaply made it is (which is pretty horrendous), but the PRICE they pawn these off to people.

It's price gouging.
 
Powel Crosley is turning in his grave. What an insult to his memory, for a company using his name to churn out crap like this.
 
Considering I like my records, I probably won't be trying this. I'd play my records on the turntable in my microwave before subjecting them to a player like that. Apart from that, it's not really an innovation or a "revolutionary" product as Audio Technica had one like it in the 80's http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fcse8veYxVU and Emerson had one like it (built in Great Britain) in the 60's http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaUJzjHX3Bs .
 
Last edited:
I wouldn't pay $1.49 for that POS let alone $149. I was also going to suggest an old Audio Technica portable that was made in the 80s and shows up every now and then for probably a lot less money and is a 100 times better. I seriously doubt Crosley bought the rights to the Soundberger design, like everything else they steal/copy and then scam people into thinking it is something of quality which it isn't. I'v seen/inspected Crosleys and they are an insult to just about any TT that was ever designed/mfg.
 
The problem with "platterless" turntables is if the record even has the slightest warp, the playback is extremely sour and wavy. I found this out when I had an "auto reverse" Sansui turntable that had an arm above and below the record. Like the Sound Burger, the Sansui auto reverse turntables were selling for quite a bit on eBay, although I think I gave mine away because I did not want to risk someone buying it and realizing how bad it sounded on certain LPs and demanding their money back. After all I only paid about $3.00 for the thing.

For it to be a proper turntable in my book it actually has to have a platter. I won't even get into the quality of the arm and stylus on those portable units, especially the Crosley.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom