I bought the CHEAPEST “Turntable” at Walmart! U SHOULD TOO

[@cheapaudioman]

I bought the Cheapest turntable I could find at Walmart. You should probably do the same but not for the reasons you think. Crosley Record Player amzn.to/3xE2rlh Check out this video for another option kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJyZfWRsbs-Dh7s

[@fredashay]

But was it made in 2014? And did you dye your hair blue but it came out a seasick sort of green?

[@andygoldblatt]

This was great Randy. I sort of had the opposite experience this weekend. I bought my daughter the new TS album on vinyl - her first record. We get home and she of course wants to listen to it on my system. Before I knew it I was barking out directions: “No, you save the hype sticker!”, “We have to clean it first, it’s from Optimal!”, “Don’t put it back in the paper sleeve, use this Mofi one!”, “Now we let the tubes warm up”, “You have to sit EXACTLY here”….The moral of the story is that WE are the weird ones, and kids who just want to listen to some music on suboptimal turntables are going to be just fine.

[@cheapaudioman]

well said. we ARE the weird ones

[@billywindsock9597]

I’m not weird. Now where did I put my optimal ear height cushion for listening sessions?

[@MW-nb4dv]

I've been through all of this with my kid too!🤣

[@cheapaudioman]

@@billywindsock9597Billy!!!

[@pnichols6500]

Holy smokes, that is exactly what I do with my wife!

[@LeonardChurch33]

I feel like every hobby has this item. The "good enough to get you started" item that the purists scoff at but is actually a good bang-for-the-buck entry point. It's something I think people need to be more sensitive to in general. If buying the cheap thing is the only way you're going to get into the hobby then DO IT!!

[@cheapaudioman]

agreed

[@TonyMacina]

Yep, plenty of times in the audio world I've come across items I can't believe are such good value only for purists to scoff. If it lets people enjoy the hobby cheaply it will keep the industry alive. Look at the camera industry for a view of what happens if you don't, 120 million cameras a year at the peak down to about 10-20 million total a year now.

[@Nordraw]

Junk is junk save your money and get a step up. It will save you every time

[@algiles881]

My advice would not to buy a Crosley or one of it's many derivatives and buy a second user system with a good name, and a new stylus. The tinny sound of the Crosley sounds like one of those 1960s transistor radios with the 1.5 inch speaker.

[@rocker11281]

Then I would opt for an AT LP60 with powered speakers. Suitcase players with all their flaws can be big dissapointment for some. If you are one a tight budget get one of the Crosleys with an MM-cartridge, or at least a model that is known for having a correctly impediance matched ceramic cartridge.

[@macheesmo3]

Come for the stereo reviews, stay for Dad getting shaken down by his daughters for stuff!!! 😂

[@Robert.Novack]

As a lifelong musician and former audiophile I surprisingly found myself purchasing a Crosley I came across at Walmart on clearance for 21 bucks. I figured if I didn’t like it I could hand it off to one of my grandchildren. I immediately upgraded it with a diamond stylus I ordered from Amazon for 4 and a half bucks and picked up a few jazz records at a local thrift shop for a buck and a half each. I must say I’m really having a blast with this machine. I mean it is what it is, but actually better than l expected. Now nearly everyone in the family wants one ! But I can’t complain….it’s cheaper than a good pair of jeans. Have fun and be happy y’all.

[@dr3w399]

exactly i feel they are great for thrift store records.

[@reginaldcampos5762]

Yes. I dont have money for high end turntables. If i truly wanted high quality sound, why not just buy CDs instead? But regardless, these things sound fine.

[@mabbaticchio]

My 18 year old daughter got one for Christmas. When she put on a record for the first time in her life, she was expecting some magical sound quality. The look of disappointment when the needle hit the record was almost humorous. I tried to explain that it is just a novelty product and we could always upgrade it. She insisted on keeping it though and continues to buy records and continues to be disappointed. She'll learn. But, I am happy that she is at least into something that is not on a phone.

[@louise_8546]

I wonder if this is the majority of customers of these - youngsters who want to learn more about turntables and record collecting. I bought a very simliar one with an 'Akai' badge (in the UK a lot of Akai products are very poor rebadges, sadly). She was 12 at the time. She collects most of her vinyl from charity shops (or thrift stores, as they're known in the US XD). I mean, it sounds pretty awful but I hope it leads to something...it also teaches younger ones how to 'take care' of their belongings, for obvious reasons.

[@CrosleyRadioOfficial]

Thank you so much for your incredible words and feedback on the Cruiser! We absolutely hope we can be a stepping stone for someone on their vinyl & audio listening journeys.

[@TheHammerofDissidence]

Reminder: those sapphire styli only have a lifespan of 40 HOURS until they need to be replaced. Most people who buy these aren't even aware that they need to change out the stylus which is why these decks are reputed to "destroy" your vinyl.

[@FromMyListeningChair]

Crosley also includes a replacement stylus with the metal cantilever in some models

[@TheHammerofDissidence]

@@FromMyListeningChair so long as they tell them to change it regularly. They are super cheap, so it's not a big deal to do so.

[@michaelturner4457]

It's red, so I'm sure it's actually a diamond stylus. A sapphire stylus would be white.

[@OldGuyHifi]

On my way to Walmart right now. The hell with all this "audiophile" stuff. I am Cruising now! You are so right in trying to get people to listen intentionally. Well done.

[@TorontoJon]

I would recommend some of the Victrola units instead provided they come pre-installed with an Audio-Technica ATN-3600L cartridge for better sound quality. Crosleys are still using cheap styli and often with really cheap plastic cantilevers instead of metal cantilevers which accounts for the mediocre sound quality.

[@TorontoJon]

Yes, Crosley record players are for the masses to start a record collecting hobby and they're not for audiophiles or any seasoned collectors, but there is no doubt that they were a key part of this massive vinyl revival that we are enjoying now thanks to those Crosley units making the hobby more accessible to novices. Audiophiles should acknowledge that even if they do so begrudgingly. Haha! In many ways, it's like a newbie buying a First Act electric guitar to dip his or her toes into that hobby to see if he or she even likes playing electric guitars without having to break the bank buying more high-end guitars by Fender, Gibson, etc. Then over time, they can upgrade. :)

[@jimspc07]

The little holder for 78s you found is in fact an insert for 45s. Used for playing 45s that had spent a former life on a jukebox or commercial auto player of some sort and had their small spindle centre removed leaving a big centre hole.

[@Bo-hb3eo]

Thanks Randy. I’ve been wanting to get something for my granddaughter. She’s six years old. I think she’s ready for something like this. She’s very responsible. I love it. Say hi to your camerawoman for me. She did a great job.

[@cheapaudioman]

will do

[@TorontoJon]

I would recommend some of the Victrola units instead provided they come pre-installed with an Audio-Technica ATN-3600L cartridge for better sound quality (although they are at least double the price of Crosley record players). Crosleys are still using cheap styli and often with really cheap plastic cantilevers instead of metal cantilevers which accounts for the mediocre sound quality.

[@Bo-hb3eo]

I appreciate the recommendation. Thank you!

[@osliverpool]

I started with a simple portable mono record player in the 1960s, which would have sounded terrible compared to my modern gear. But it's what got me started on the love afair with records that hasn't left me, and I owe a lot to it (and to the parents who bought it for me).

[@stevesstuff1450]

You speak the truth there sir! I must be of similar age, and it was parent's Philips stereo record player with ceramic cartridge that fired my love of listening to records - those old original Beatles albums (mono) still sound great when I play them today; no nasty distortion caused by the heavier tracking cartridge.... 👍

[@brucejones533]

Your daughters seemed to enjoy some retail therapy as much as you did.

[@punkrockjemojzivot]

I have a similiar Crosley-styled suitcase player. I have it connected to a stereo system with EQ and i often buy replacement diamond needles.. with that the sound quality is far better. Its not great, but good enough. Anytime Crosley players are mentioned, audiophiles always starting absolutely insulting anyone that uses these. Id say its affordable and good enough.

[@bertpeters1866]

Randy, this made my day! REAL cheap audio, combined with your adorable daughter, made me smile so big that I thought I was going to swallow my ears. And I absolutely WILL NOT be running right out to get one of those horrible things.

[@jeremybirdwell2623]

What an awesome, refreshing take! Keep it up CAM! Anything that gets people to listen to music with intent instead of as background noise it a great thing!

[@neilfisher7999]

There is nothing wrong with these items. They are an on-ramp for people to get started listening to music. Someone who starts here isn't going to have much of a collection or do much record care to begin with. So it doesn't matter if it does damage to the records. I had something like this as a kid. I'm 60 years old now. I don't have any of the records I played and destroyed as a kid today. If this gets a young person started in listening to music, it's great. If they become an audiophile, then it did the job introducing them to music.

[@jC-kc4si]

My record player from kindergarten xmas didn't play 78 rpm so the train sound 78s I had played super slow.

[@jonathandavis9507]

I started on the fisher price turntable. Solid machine.

[@stevesstuff1450]

@neilfisher: Well said! I grew up with my parent's music systems that were only a few steps better than this - still using ceramic cartridges - and those 50-60 year old records still sound great today, on my Ortofon 2m Red..... Those old cheaper systems fascinated me with how music came off those big black plastic discs back then, and fired a new interest in me to want to improve my system..... Still loving records today - as well as CD and downloads... 😃

[@agustinduenas5902]

I bought a $27 all-in-one record player back in 1964 while I was a freshman in college living in the dorm. It worked but sounded tinny with no bass. I quickly had to tape a nickel onto the top of the tone arm to minimize skipping. I was really envious of a friend down the hall who had a $250 Koss all-in-one player. It sounded tremendously better than my cheap record player. I couldn't afford anything better. That was the beginning of my odyssey seeking better and better sound. I can afford much better music systems today but that was my humble beginning into the world of audio and music listening.

[@SPAZZOID100]

All in one systems were MUCH better back then.

[@4thewinir344]

Randy, you’re a good dad and you make good sense. Keep doing what you’re doing!

[@ShawnMcClurg]

My partner just bought one of these for me as a Christmas present. Being that we live in a small apartment, and the fact that I’ve always wanted to start a vinyl collection, makes it perfect for me… for now! Great review.

[@MichaelPConnelly]

I bought one of these. When I owned it I upgraded the needle to a diamond. Did fine. Then I upgraded 😊

[@SteveRig82]

Thanks!

[@tdogger73]

I've purchased two of these. First was when my kids were toddlers and we lived in a smaller apartment. I didn't want them bumping into it messing up my turntable, and this suitcase style worked great to allow me to play my records and then stash it away. My kids are at the tween age now and I got them one for Christmas along with a bunch of albums they like. My daughter is especially enjoying it. No, they don't sound great, but swapping the stylus out to a metal cantilever/diamond tip and also connecting to external speakers (we use a small CD player/speaker with input jacks) and it's listenable. It's meant to be fun and get people excited about the hobby, and if they don't take to it, it's no big investment. Great video!

[@frankierodriguez8661]

I don't really mind today's video really other that the fact that you are a great dad and make your daughters have a good time and be happy. Having a daughter myself, I know that is our duty along a good education and all but happiness and that they will remember us as great dudes when we are not here anymore. Well done Randy. ❤

[@adsph]

I am sensing a lot of ease you are experiencing lately. A lot of fun. Kids are the best right ? You make valid points for those entering the audio/hifi world. This unit is a beginning. Well done and safe travels.

[@mikecampbell5856]

It looks like you had a great day with your daughters. My mom bought me a cheap little record player in 1967. I still have it. It turns and hums but I think the needle is broken. I just can't throw it away.

[@TomJordans]

Terrific review! We've had a couple of Crosley record players in our household and they certainly get the job done of tracking a record. The kids love them and, if it gives them some perspective on what it was like listening to music when I was a kid, then that's great. They can always listen to my stereo when they want quality. :)

[@unclelou3523]

The biggest crime here is paying $37 for a No Doubt compliation. You know and deserve what you're going to get when you buy a $40 turntable.

[@jake105]

I love your channel. I bought the Yamaha A-S301 integrated amp on ebay after watching your review. It came in at just over $300.00 all in and I'm very happy with it. I use it with the Project phono box dc and also upgraded the stylus and cartridge. FYI, I went in the other direction with the Crosley. In my case the Victrola. When I heard my niece was using the portable Victrola to play her records, I shipped my Denon dp-300f to her. Her mother purchased powered speakers for her so she got a complete upgrade.

[@ArtHess-l2y]

Wow, Strange seeing this review this morning. I have a Retrolife portable record player being delivered by Amazon today. Cost was $45 with tax. I will be hooking it up to a Fozi Audio BT20A Pro purchased recently and two Energy Take Classic 5 Pack Speakers. i'm not expecting much now that I've watched your review. It's fun trying though. By the way I do have a Fluance RT85 turntable in my good system. Thanks for all you do! Very entertaining and informative!

[@KenIn_NH]

Thanks for making this bright spot in an otherwise dreadfully dreary Monday. Absolute fun and a joy to watch your interaction with your kids...scored major cool dad points today. Well done! 😊

[@jkmsaturn]

Great point, Randy. A $45 record player that can reproduce the sound of our most enthralling & enduring type of media. Plus, I was able to take it to our triplet granddaughters' house where they could see & hear the magic for themselves.

[@Schmadis]

im 24 and just got a crosley as an early christmas present. 10 days ago i knew nothing about vinyl or turntables, and now im watching audiophile youtube.. the crosley deff does a good job at recruiting newbies! im gonna pickup a technics sl-b20 and everything else i need today! im very excited

[@adamcanterbury]

Awesome Video!!Loved the subject matter, Loved the approach, the vibe, and including your family is heartwarming and makes you that much more enertaining...Great Job keep it up.... Much Love and Many Blessings

[@abe_nuh]

this video made me slightly more comfortable to buy a crosley. thanks, dude!

[@unclesnake3766]

You said it perfectly, it's not for the audiophile snobs that feel the need to tear down a cheap product that they'd never buy. Why these people feel the need to even negatively comment on these has always been beyond me. But for a kid or someone new with a budget and/or lack of space, this is just fine until they decide which way they want to go with this. I appreciate somebody like you who knows their stuff taking the time to speak on these positively! Hopefully it helps someone get into this fun hobby of ours and be excited about what they have!

[@TorontoJon]

VWestlife did an in-depth video that debunks the myth that Crosley record players ruin records, but there's no doubt that the ruby or sapphire styli have to be replaced after 40 hours of use and they are not quality styli compared to more reputable brands; not by a long shot. However, yes, nobody in their right mind should play their most expensive or cherished records on a Crosley, Victrola, Ion, etc. record player. It's fine if one plays thrift store records purchased for a dollar or two or if one wants to test some of granddad's old 78 rpm records (since most turntables only play 33.3 rpm and 45 rpm records) and this is an entry point for someone wanting to dip their toes into the hobby. :)

[@FromMyListeningChair]

One of the funniest videos I've seen on the channel. I also started with a Crosley all-in-one and I was immediately hooked.

[@ramondelgado6778]

I loved this video!!!! Super fun investigating this level of gear. Also, LOVE the kids being in your video!!!!!!

[@cheapaudioman]

I wasn't going to include them but at the very least I'll be able to look back on this video as a time capsule with them. forever captured.

[@ramondelgado6778]

@@cheapaudioman 100% Agree. I"m doing that now with videos of my 11 and 10 year old daughters when they were toddlers and it's breaking me up inside. I personally, LOVED seeing the kids in your videos. Your stuff just keeps getting better. BUT, I also really love going back to the old videos. Those are GOLD. Haha!!!

[@KyodaiKino]

I’ve watched a bunch of videos on these cheap record players and I think this is the most handsome-looking one I’ve seen! The black and red look pretty sharp, and as someone for whom American Idiot and Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge were pretty big albums as a teenager, I’m inevitably a bit drawn to that look. I’m well past the point where I’d ever buy one of these, but it does sort of make me wish some company out there were making higher-quality answers to these cute, fashionable suitcase machines.

[@riktrola715]

If you want to have "fun" (not sure what fun is to you), try playing a record on just the player itself, the way it was intended to be played and share your thoughts with your readers. You "should" be surprised. This unit provides it's purchasers an opportunity to hear how "good" an inexpensive ceramic cartridge CAN sound. This player will give you an even better idea of what a record sounded like to the average listener back in the days of three dollar LPs in the sixties. For even more fun, try playing this unit thru a good Bluetooth speaker (forget what you think you know about how bad bluetooth is). Better still, plug a bluetooth adapter to your system and you will get a true idea of how "good" a ceramic cartridge can sound without having to find an old amplifier with a ceramic phono input. The electronics of this player have taken care of that. Granted, this will never sound like what you are used to, but like you said it's forty-five dollars. This record player is much more than value, but an introduction to the past (try playing some Petula Clark, Herb Alpert, Jim Reeves, Tony Bennett, etc.), it is about real FUN when appreciated properly.

[@drivebymedia841]

I use this for kids records, dollar bin records 78's I have a friend who has a cabin and has one of these. That means I can get them beatles, beach boys, Boston, eagles elton john andother classic rock from the dollar bin that you would not play on your good turntables ect. That makes for a nice surprise when you get to the cabin

[@thummumcrysanth]

I have a couple cases full of 45s and 78s kids records that belonged to my parents. I had a record player like this in my bedroom when I was a kid. It probably sounded a lot better than this one.

[@TorontoJon]

That sounds like a fun time indeed to listen to dollar bin records in a cabin. :)

[@bpalpha]

45 adapter. Crosley does make that C100 unit now which is somewhat viable.

[@recordtime4923]

Brilliant video and a joy to watch! I bought one a while back and wound up letting my sister borrow it with the intention of never asking her to return it.

[@bradlantto6481]

Hey Randy, this one made me smile, I was thinking of the times my daughter wanted anything to do with my activities, she's 17. Anyway keep up the good work, this prior Navy corpsman will always tune in, love the content. Good music reproduction= therapy without side effects. Thanks for what you do.

[@DavidB-ec7bm]

60 years ago, I had a cheap record player that I played kids records on. I had fun with my brothers. That device is perfect for the camera man to play with some thrift store records. Maybe a jam box with some cassette tapes or used CD is another advertising device for the hobby.

[@FidelitySoundz]

lol. Just like when we go to Walmart with my two boys. Always end up leaving with more than I thought I was even there for. Lol. Great video!!

[@cheapaudioman]

So true!

[@djray369]

To get the most of out, you need a mixer with a ceramic input. I found one on FBM. Radio Shack made one. I have it hooked up to my mixer because I use my Numark Pt101 for 78s and then I take it with me for crate digging.

[@pmallgood]

Such a family man. Love to see it. I have my Fluance RT-81 and love it. Not high end by any means, but not cheap either.

[@crBudgetWatches]

Recently got my first turntable . I am gen x and since the late 90s Injust keep up with the times and stopped listening on turntables until now. WOW not only I am enjoying the old sound but as you say now I remember that enjoying music through a turntable is a commitment to the music , the disc and the author . You won’t be skipping tracks or changing playlists you need to go through it and that’s how you get to discover great songs within each album.

[@shanebenham9619]

Lovin ya work mate! Just getting back into Hifi, your channel has really taught me a lot about the stuff I’ve not yet encountered - Dac’s (yes please! ) streamers (naaaah) etc. Turntable is the next project, probably won’t go quite this far down the budget-hole, but a useful 10mins nonetheless. For my own part, I’ve gone down the used route….a poisonous notion for some, I know, but on a tight budget it’s hard for me to see past good names at low prices. Secondhand market is crazy atm. So far I’ve bought a Cyrus 5 integrated amp, a set of Mission 701’s, and a Cambridge Dacmagic, all tested in perfect working, and near perfect cosmetic order. Total cost so far £275. That’s nuts. That makes no sense to me. One can only assume convenience is the priority over all else these days… well…..err….no, just no! Keep on keepin on man!!

[@Timothycan]

These suitcase record players do have a place, and I think you summed it up perfectly. When I was a kid in the 1960s (I'm 66 now) I had a plastic toy record player with no proper speed regulation and no amplifier, just a needle attached to a diaphragm. It sounded atrocious but I loved it and would have absolutely dreamed of having something like a 'Crosley' back then. But it still led me on to a life-long love of records and record players.

[@jefrymoad5030]

now that was an awesome video, makes me remember when I first started enjoying vinyl back in the mid 60's, thanks for the flash back brother

[@samuelrayls5419]

Thanks for the review, I've been looking at getting in to vinyls and I'm looking for a turntable for me to start with. This is one that I've seen and thought about getting because of the price, but that being said I haven't gotten this one because I want one a little nicer and that I will like. Great video, love getting to see an adventure in a video that I wasn't expecting to see one in.

[@cheapaudioman]

step up to an audiotechnica or something from fluance or uturn if you want to jump into the vinyl game. this one sounds terrible. but I was trying to make a point about the journey beginning even if it sounds terrible.

[@2visiondigital]

My 1st turntable was a Poineer PL41a with a Shure M91e cartridge, connected to a Pioneer SX 727 receiver and Dynaco A 25's. It was a different era, no Walmart, but there were HiFi stores. Wish i still had the gear, it costs a bundle used nowadays.

[@HarakiriRock]

The fact that it can connect to other components is another positive. I have an old Crosley that plays records, CDs, cassettes, has a radio tuner and built-in speakers, but no way to connect external speakers or anything. This is the kind of content I like to see from this channel, even if I have no interest in this product.

[@lsaideOK]

Your best video ever! Love the teamwork. I'm sure the multiplayer box I used 50 years ago was far worse than this. Great that you give this device its due. Might be interesting to see how one of the more upscale models would do in comparison.

[@ziggysawdust9830]

Dude you fill my heart and soul with absolute joy just by talking passionately about HiFis and teaching people how to start this wonderful hobby

[@Divreon]

A portable like that one is currently on my shelf. I now have a lot more gear. It got me used to listening to albums instead of just individual tracks. Kindof like the tea ceremony of music.

[@byronshepherd8415]

The problem that developed with both my cheapie crosleys is the belt wear is bad (or just really cheap belts) so the speed doesn't stay consistent for very long, and after a bit of time the slip is pretty significant. Belts add up, and it's a hassle to change them. That said, an upgraded cartridge does help the sound.

[@iAPX432]

Reminds me my red plastic turntable when I was kid. It's just way better in any way, sound included. It's where I played my first Beatles single and my first Bowie single to. With *THAT* music you don't need expensive gears to be happy!

[@Recordology]

Please check out the Crosley C6, C10, C20, C100, and C200.

[@bichela]

I use two Crosley voyagers for silvermoon radio. They are not bad with a Pfansthl stylus. They work fine on my radio show

[@TorontoJon]

Great video, Randy, and as we were joking in the comments section of your previous video, it was a treat to see you actually test a cheap Crosley record player here with your more high-end gear. Oddly enough, Crosley record players have come a long way with pitch controls, Bluetooth, etc, but the sound quality is still not great and they still use those cheap ruby or sapphire styli. I'd be curious to know if the stylus on your unit had a metal or plastic cantilever because that can make a difference in sound quality with the metal one being much better. It still won't turn this Yugo, Gremlin, or Pinto of a record player into a Ferrari or McLaren, but it helps a bit (How did you like my car analogy?). Plus, the arm-raising and lowering piece of plastic can sometimes be a bit sticky and not have enough dampening fluid, so it has to be manually pushed down a bit for the stylus to make full and proper contact with the record grooves. Additionally, the lid can sometimes interfere with the record being able to spin properly and it might have to be bent back a bit or if possible, detached fully if that is a feature of that particular model.

[@ShinyKnifeB_Channel]

I’m not an audiophile but I do have a few records I like to listen to occasionally. I have mine hooked up to a set of powered computer speakers. I use the headphone jack, it shuts off the main speakers on the turn table. So all the music comes from the powered speakers. Makes a world of difference. I think if you use the RCA cables it still uses the speakers from the turntable if I’m not mistaken and they suck.

[@frankcolliton10]

I paid $45& change for my brand new one @ Walmart. I'm an audiophile with high end equipment, but for the price it was enjoyable for the family to listen to records from years gone bye. This is a charming little unit, definitely for the youngsters & young at heart. 👍

[@blueriverlore]

This is exactly how my journey began. In 1963 I was 9 years old and bought my first record player with my own newspaper route money. The FIRST record I played was by Big Tiny Little. It was the best experience of my life up till then. I bought it on 11/8/1963 and we all know what happened a few days later.

[@a.j9645]

We all love this channel and lately... We love it even more. Go Randy its your birthday😀🇸🇪!

[@HappyHighwayman]

And what happens when it breaks?

[@l_o_c_o_666]

A great and fun introduction for beginners, paperweight for the rest of us. Your daughter has mad dancing skills (no doubt) about that

[@mmgee]

What’s the cartridge moving magnet or moving coil? lol

[@symphonysoup]

Good on you for involving the kids so much, and being a good dad, hard thing to come by anymore.

[@greatpix]

Back in the '50s I had a record player like that playing 45s of kids songs or popular music of the time like 'Rawhide' TV show theme by Frankie Laine. It was largely the reason I love music today.

[@thebodybeatdownDiTi]

Nothing wrong with budget options.. but the vinyl being put out isn't really oldschool vinyl. It's digital transfered to vinyl. If I'm not mistaken?

[@mattupload5808]

Hey Randy. Great video and I agree with the concept. Your daughters are adorable--you are a lucky man and I know you know that! All the best!

[@nickwilson2318]

Love this message. For me, turntables aren't about sound qual, they're about, as you say, active and intentional listening, which is so much more fun and rewarding than streaming music. I love that a product like this exists that is accessible to many people. Getting better gear over the years hasn't necessarily imcreased my enjoyment of music. If anything, I used to enjoy it the most when I was 15 and have an early ipod, a graham slee headphone amp, and some grados.

[@FootballFinn]

Your kids are so cute. Reminds me of my grandkids.

[@kuhrd]

In the past, I remember spending quite a bit of time and a bit of money upgrading a basic turntable with a better Needle/Stylus and also making minor changes to the preamp circuit to clean the sound up substantially. At the end of the day, it's vinyl and will always have some drawbacks/tradeoffs just like any medium short of lossless.

[@GentielioGaming]

I read that very cheap turntables will damage your vinyl. Is it true? i don't know, just wanted to mention this.

[@dr3w399]

No they dont.

[@twrex-13]

My reintroduction into vinyl was through a cheap turntable like this one. Hell, my initial introduction into vinyl (in the long long ago) was a Fisher Price record player. It does work to get people into the hobby

[@jasontenney4991]

I agree with his assessment! These are the kind of record players I had growing up and as a kid i used and abused but you know what my record player I had then got me to appreciate the vinyl collecting hobby and 40 years later sure I have a better turn table but it's that dee jay kids player that set in motion my love for vinyl so many years later!

[@jazzyj30]

Can we get a video review of the TMNT backpack?

[@weatheronthe8s895]

I am not an audiophile, but I did get a Crosley Cruiser for Christmas a few years ago. I have to have my music be high or to a certain degree of low quality to find enjoyable. I would rather listen to my music in AMR (primary used for phone calls) or even AM radio than satellite radio for example. Although I can listen to FM radio all day so long as the station isn't being fed by a low bitrate source. When I got my Crosley, I was expecting the records to sound more similar to a CD. The amount of cracking in the audio and just the overall lack of punch in the sound made it less enjoyable for me. Not to mention some part of the amplifier broke after only a few months rendering it basically useless. I think if I had a more expensive turntable, I would be able to enjoy the records much more. The Crosley though turned me further from records more than anything. I expect some level of cracking being the type of source it is, but not to that degree and I like to feel my music.

[@marcump]

great point. I remember my first GE solid state simi-portable mono turntable.. I actually wish I still had it. Now I've got my high school days Marantz 2220b receiver and Technics SL-2000 manual turntable---which the vender kinda cheated me out of the SL-1600 manual but I enjoyed it regardless.. It's cool to still have that system.. but I miss the GE and my sisters stereo Decca turntable portable that used a tube amp.. I remember the airy sound from the speakers---almost like there was a soft sounding fan inside.. it had a deluxe BSR spring suspension plinth mounted in the case.. angled speakers with extension cords hidden in a stuff ringed hole.. everything was hinged like a nice case.. vinyl rapped wood.. solidly built.. I remember being a little jealous I didn't get that one. Later got a Technics V6x integrated amp and an AKAI GX-7 cassette deck. Much later 1983 Yamaha A-1000, K-2000 tape, P-700 turntable. I still have everything.. I took really good care of all that stuff.

[@stevenj2380]

I don't know if you should have any series "Below Entry Level?" gear. Sharing personal life is double-edge sword for channels that are not about that IMHO. You are a very good man and father, no matter what.

[@richardblayneamerican8149]

Randy, my girlfriend had a number of her daughter's 45's from the 1980's (when she went off to college). I decided we should return them to her, along with a Crosley turntable we'd bought just for the occasion(she really isn't a vinyl fan). When I tested the turntable, the speakers sounded tinny. But when I used headphones, the sound was quite good! How is that possible with a cheap turntable with a low-end cartridge? Thanks!

[@LBCAndrew]

Yeah... i think i'll be sticking with my early 1970's Sansui with an Audio Technica cartridge that the cartridge alone costs 2x the Crosley.

[@izaacizaacizaac]

Wow your cartridge is 2x more expensive than the suitcase player... who cares

[@rhapsodyd6339]

I love how the columns on the graph got better each time

[@cheapaudioman]

I figured out how to do it by the time it was done

[@erikmolnar6585]

That's funny you got No Doubt, My cousins grew up in Anaheim, and my cousin Donnie has worked with them forever. I never got into them but the guitar player seems like a really cool person. I've actually always wanted one of those for some reason.

[@blackhorn34]

My first turntable was the Sony BT turntable which I just upgraded to the Fluance. And yes I call it an upgrade cause the Sony has no upgradable parts. It’s plug & go which is great for someone starting out assuming you’re willing to invest the $250 price tag. But after 2 years with it, I decided to take that next step. Granted the fluance wasn’t much more than the Sony but it definitely looks nicer.

[@rkilbrai]

Loved how fun this video was! I had one of these (for a week). It sounded so bad, but got me into the hobby. My son wanted to get into records, saved his allowance and bought one of these. He now has something better, but this got him to enjoy his records with me (we each have our own collections).

[@scofab]

There's something to be said as well for an "IDGAS" music source you can haul around and isn't a phone like the masses... For camping trips and such I have a variety of mostly '80s JVC/Victor stereo "boomboxes" (a hobby of mine to restore) and no they don't sound fantastic by any stretch. But the fun of pulling out a fresh Maxell XLII-S mix-tape, having it spool some BGM on a 40 year-old RC-M60 and watching people's reactions is priceless. And it's enjoyable making the tapes too, my home stack has a few gems in it that can lay down some pretty nice sound. Like you say... it's all about having fun, else what's the point. Thanks as always and regards once again from Japan.

[@jamesoloughlin]

Worried that the sound quality is so bad that to a newbie they’ll write off vinyl entirely. Today there are so many methods to listen to music. Still good video and points made.

[@beatdownbucky4951]

First of all, the TMNT backpack is fookin' awesome! Secondly, i bought one of these for my 15 year old son. He's always loved music, and I threw my entire catalog at him while he was growing up. You have to understand I didn't buy it for the sound quality, features, build quality... I purchased it for the experience, the experiences, the time. I get to go dig crates with my teenage son in the land of never-ending screens. I go and look for vinyl in the last record shop in town with my TEENAGE son. Its incredible, well worth the 50 bucks in my opinion.

[@jergervasi3331]

I love how much fun your kids are having. Good parenting!

[@cheapaudioman]

It was such a fun video to make

[@MichaelLivingston-me]

Fun video. Cute kids. Didn't expect something this cheap to sound good. I recall my first portable mono player back in the '60's. I used to partially close the lid as it improved the sound. I don't think I would play a good record on a Crosley more than 1 or 2 times. I'm thinking the tonearm and needle are cutting new grooves in the record.

[@jamesgroff4962]

How much counter-weight should I add to far side of the tone arm?

[@stevekile1919]

An adapter for "78's", don't you mean "45's". When hooking to your expensive stereo system I take it that it uses a ceramic cartridge for I see no ground wire for use with a magnetic cartridge. If it uses a magnetic cartridge then I assume it has a built-in pre-amp that compensates for RIAA equalization, then give you a line level output on the back. I did notice a level control above the RCA phone jacks unless it was a Philips head screw.

[@davidmartineziii7343]

You are absolutely right! The audiofiles like us need to be the teachers of the knowledge of hifi, by utilizing the Cruiser planted in the layman's audio palate to grow the interest :)