The improved Crosley... from 2007

[@eternalhalloween1]

You know what? If someone is just starting out, and wants to give vinyl LP a chance, go ahead with this. It will get the job done. It will allow you to decide if this is a journey you want to go on. You can ALWAYS upgrade later if you decide to take this journey. Also, if you use an inexpensive turntable along with some used records, you may discover that you like certain albums you wouldn't have been exposed to otherwise.

[@MrWhiteRabbitt]

DUDE! For once in a million years, your channel showed up on my front page. I remember watching your very old videos from 13-14 years ago all the way back then. I'm amazed and so happy at how much your channel grew, I always knew there was a charm to your content and to your whole attitude and vibe. I wish you the best!

[@vwestlife]

Thanks!

[@grazie375]

man, r/vinyljerk members are cooking you for this, i dont understand why though. its a perfectly good video.

[@theantiquescollector2199]

because audiophiles will never admit they were wrong about crosleys shredding records

[@LMW-28IF]

Vinyljerk is just a nasty subreddit in general. All I ever see on there are people absolutely lampooning kids who got Crosley/similar turntables without knowing any better.

[@Laundry_Hamper]

A sprinkle of that Wonderful World of Wurlitzer disc really elevates a dish

[@xaenon]

Records like that are why I love vinyl. You can haunt record stores, flea markets, garage sales, and charity stores, and find so much wonderful stuff that got forgotten when the world began switching to CDs.

[@johnathin0061892]

"Just because something is popular doesn't mean it actually has any redeeming qualities, TikTok proves that"... truer words were never spoken on KZbin.

[@danny1959]

Oh look, It’s Michael Fremer, the guy who said over and over that he could hear digital, until he couldn’t.

[@Berk-lf6ge]

These People are delusional. Sure if you play a track without hiss and cracks, anyone can hear its digital, but if you have a digital recording of a vinyl play there is no way

[@rss1956clipper]

I have the Keepsake, it was a Christmas present from my parents circa 2009. I have a collection of about 3000 78 rpm records, so was thrilled that it had 78 available. Bought a 78 specific needle and it sounds pretty good. My preference, though, is listening to records on my 1961 Webcor Moderne console Hi-Fi. Gotta love that retro charm!

[@christo930]

As much as I like the aesthetic of pre-1980 turntables, the 80s is the best decade for turntables. Yes, there was a lot of crappy crosley level turntables on cheap desktop AIO stereo units, but the best turntables were made in the 1980s. Just about every mid level turntable from the 80s is more than good enough for anyone but audiophiles. The best turntables of the 80s are the best ever made.

[@itscarve]

@@christo930 what are some brands and models to look for? I'm in the market myself.

[@christo930]

​@@itscarve If you are looking for a brand new one, Audio-technica makes a pretty good entry level turntable for about 150 usd. If you're looking for a used turntable, the regular name brands (Technics, Sony, Pioneer etc) all made excellent entry level turntables in the 80s. You can get some really cool models that have cool features like being able to treat it like a CD and play the tracks in any order you like, or play only track 2, 4 and 7. Or Quartz lock, which continuously monitors the speed and makes it perfect (no wow and flutter). Or another popular one is the ability to play both sides of the record without flipping it. The downside of 1980s turntables though, is most will need at least some minor work, like changing the belt (though Quartz Lock tables don't use a belt) or replacing the stylus. Unlike the model in the video, most 80s turntables will need to be attached to a stereo system to play (they don't have a built in amplifier or speakers) records. Most will have a high quality phono level pre-amp. The downside to that is you won't get a line out and will require your stereo to have a phono input and not just "auxiliary," though there are many models that have line-out or selectable phono/aux switch. This can be overcome with an external phono pre-amp if your stereo doesn't have a phono specific input (plus, most of them have a ground wire that also needs to be attached to the stereo). If your stereo is modern, it very well probably doesn't have a phono input. Another drawback is you may have to replace the cartridge because a new stylus is not avail or priced too high. But Audio-Technica has you covered. They make some very good and reasonably priced cartridges with reasonably priced and widely available replacement styluses. One other thing to consider is that something sold in the 80s is pushing 40 years old. It might have bumps and bruises. It might have been owned by a smoker and smell of tobacco. This can be cleaned, but it has to be cleaned inside and out to get rid of the smoke smell. Either way it will probably require some cleaning and polishing. There are cheap turntables almost indistinguishable from modern poorly made turntables today, though even with these cheap ones, they were better physically built then. The mechanism from a Crosley Cruiser was invented in the 80s. But the really bad ones were almost all integrated into a AIO unit and not a separate component detachable from the stereo. Hope this helps. Good luck. It will be fun.

[@christo930]

@@itscarve If you are looking for a brand new one, Audio-technica makes a pretty good entry level turntable for about 150 usd. If you're looking for a used turntable, the regular name brands (Technics, Sony, Pioneer etc) all made excellent entry level turntables in the 80s. You can get some really cool models that have cool features like being able to treat it like a CD and play the tracks in any order you like, or play only track 2, 4 and 7. Or Quartz lock, which continuously monitors the speed and makes it perfect (no wow and flutter). Or another popular one is the ability to play both sides of the record without flipping it. The downside of 1980s turntables though, is most will need at least some minor work, like changing the belt (though Quartz Lock tables don't use a belt) or replacing the stylus. Unlike the model in the video, most 80s turntables will need to be attached to a stereo system to play (they don't have a built in amplifier or speakers) records. Most will have a high quality phono level pre-amp. The downside to that is you won't get a line out and will require your stereo to have a phono input and not just "auxiliary," though there are many models that have line-out or selectable phono/aux switch. This can be overcome with an external phono pre-amp if your stereo doesn't have a phono specific input (plus, most of them have a ground wire that also needs to be attached to the stereo). If your stereo is modern, it very well probably doesn't have a phono input.

[@christo930]

@@itscarve (Part 2 if 2. Keeps disappearing) Another drawback is you may have to replace the cartridge because a new stylus is not avail or priced too high. But Audio-Technica has you covered. They make some very good and reasonably priced cartridges with reasonably priced and widely available replacement styluses. One other thing to consider is that something sold in the 80s is pushing 40 years old. It might have bumps and bruises. It might have been owned by a smoker and smell of tobacco. This can be cleaned, but it has to be cleaned inside and out to get rid of the smoke smell. Either way it will probably require some cleaning and polishing. There are cheap turntables almost indistinguishable from modern poorly made turntables today, though even with these cheap ones, they were better physically built then. The mechanism from a Crosley Cruiser was invented in the 80s. But the really bad ones were almost all integrated into a AIO unit and not a separate component detachable from the stereo.

[@alexs-mind]

I love that you played the soundtrack from 8-bit guy’s game. I didn’t even know there was a vinyl release for it, that’s amazing!

[@RebrandSoon0000]

Yeah for sure.

[@ok4todd]

Wow. I'm stunned by this player! If it had a different name and maybe packaging when it came out, this night have been a runaway success. Even at $150. Great video, brother!

[@force311999]

It did it was sold as the last callifone school record player

[@Catswhiskerdetector]

John LaDuca - "Mr. Fantastic" in the Wonderful World of Wurlitzer is such a banger hehe

[@sgtsquank]

That John Laduca album sample really piqued my interest so I searched for more and of course I find a video from 11 years ago playing more. Yeah it's your video. Singlehandedly keeping John Laduca relevant in my life. John and I thank you.

[@AMDRADEONRUBY]

Nice my favorite KZbinr Time! Btw thanks again i feel happy because of you i made my coming out and living an happy life with my boyfriend!! And now i have a video about a briefcase turntable love your stuff mate.

[@CableWrestler]

Good on you mate. I'm straight, but love is love; it's beautiful and I wish you both the best ❤

[@Ice_Karma]

Congratulations! 😻♥

[@AMDRADEONRUBY]

Yeah I'm far from straight and I'm happy being gay 👬

[@NebachadnezzaR]

What does vwestlife have to do with you coming out?

[@enlamainyokohama]

​@@NebachadnezzaRI think you need to look through past videos.

[@radiotubes]

Spot on. Nothing is better than perfect reviews on something you love

[@RebrandSoon0000]

Great informative video. As a 80s kid, I can appreciate the value and quality of Vinyl a lot. I used to have a Fisher-Price 45 LP record player as a kid, and my Grandfather had a entire stereo setup dedicated to his massive Vinyl collection for its time.

[@rob12231]

That Feelies album is immortal. Was not expecting to see or hear that, cool!

[@ianburkard]

I purchased one of these in early 2005 (dated 2002 I think) and knew that the internal speakers would never be amazing. As soon as the suitcase turntable arrived, I immediately disconnected the internal speakers, and added two output jacks and fed the audio through my old SONY receiver. It was a very simple mod that made the turntable totally worth it for me - my gateway to vinyl. Glad to see that there are new models with more features. It's a shame that they didn't use all of the features of the PCB in the first release.

[@djijspeakerguy4628]

I have the Crosley traveler turntable, which is essentially a cruiser with the Keepsake style design, and larger speakers (exact same ones!!) with tone control. It’s still got the smaller platter, but it has the removable lid. It’s mounted on springs, but the record doesn’t hang off the side, though you can’t shut the door when playing LPs. It’s got the cruiser style red cartridge, and sound quality is somewhere in between the two models. Surprisingly, closing the lid while playing 45s on the traveler actually dramatically increases the bass response! It’s crazy!!

[@Beginner_artist_tim]

"150$" **Me looking at the prices** "129.99$" Me:👍

[@spd1214]

Wow, I'm impressed. Who would have guessed a record player from Crosley could sound that good. I'm also impressed to see the 8-bit guy released an album related to his video game..Attack of the Petscii robots. As always, great video VW!

[@dhpbear2]

6:03 - I love how that patch of dirt gets 'played' in rhythm with the music! :)

[@aaaalex1994]

Can't think about Crosley without thinking about The Grand Tour...

[@kennethevoy]

Slugbug! You introduced me to them and it's what I program to all day now. Thanks!

[@TheOriginalCollectorA1303]

It’s obviously not intended to be a high end model, but this is actually pretty nice for a suitcase style player! It’s nice they added extra features later on, but considering the higher price, I can see why it wasn’t as popular. If they could fit the features of this into the lower end models, I’m sure they would be pretty solid overall. Great video!

[@BillsBoxOfSound]

Thank you for turning me on to Slugbug. I heard the 7" blue (or red) single in one of your videros a few years back and it hooked me. Got all their recordings now! Fascinating that you can't get a decent portable without working hard for it.

[@rogerb5615]

Are there any other geezers here who remember the KLH suitcase systems? A Garrard (I think) turntable in the bottom part, and two split-apart speakers for the lid. These were very popular in dorm rooms in the late 1960s.

[@KDoyle4]

The side-firing speakers remind me of two of the better table top phonos o the 1950, the Columbia 360, and the Webcor Musicale Corononet.

[@Soccergirly.and.VeloDad]

That last track was such a hit of nostalgia from an era that is way before me.

[@RJDA.Dakota]

This actually reminds me of the old school record players from Newcomb, with the large speakers on the sides, and the removable lid. The chunky thickness of it reminds me of the old tech with the valves/tubes.

[@christo930]

Many of the school record players have solid state amplifiers, though many are tubes. The problem is they peaked in the 70s, maybe the early 80s, but even by then they were not the quality they once were. They also don't use good cartridges. They use a replaceable cartridge/stylus combo. I don't think they make them anymore. Plus, they are crystal cartridges. Many of them don't have the power to use a MM cartridge.

[@audvidgeek]

In the dying days of Califone, they rebranded the Crosley Keepsake, and made them in their familiar turquoise color instead of brown.

[@LemonExtras]

That Wurlitzer record is amazing. Loved some of those tracks from all the records

[@ryanrichardson2957]

Michael Fremer wrong about something? Let me find my shocked face 😮. Another great video.

[@FireOfJagz]

Where i live the cheap crosley costs about €100. For €25 more i bought a german built 'Dual' from the '70s. It obviously has no built-in speakers, but it is an amazing machine

[@TorontoJon]

Yes, Dual turntables are fantastic, the more vintage the better. I also like vintage Elac Miracord (or Benjamin Miracord) turntables. :)

[@My_Op]

Thanks for the compliment at the end. I would hate to be called normal or fashionable ;)

[@DavidQuerolRagasaCargani-wn3md]

Nice to see you demonstrate this Crosley turntable since I've actually seen you demonstrating this playing a record awhile back in your one of your previous videos.

[@FirstLast-vr7es]

I gave up listening to 'audiophiles' years ago. Seems no matter what you have, it isn't good enough. Seems like snobbery to me. I work on a lot of vintage equipment, and have a toy record player from the '70s like what the Cruzer is based on. People mercilessly trash Crosley stuff, but don't realize that their priceless records were almost certainly played on something *just as cheap* back in the day. Very possibly much worse. That's some real irony for you.

[@RealGestumblindi]

Many audiophiles seem to live in an esoteric world far away from reality, just think of that "Compact Disc shaver" rightfully ridiculed by Techmoan... (who is, like VWestlife, a bastion of audio common sense and a pragmatic approach).

[@fallenshallrise]

For first system as long as it plays records and sound comes out in stereo who cares what the audiophiles think. My first stereo was an all in one BSA unit, with a front load cassette deck and probably this same turntable mechanism and it was great for a kid and got me into the idea of having "my" music that was different from my parents music. My first bike was also a cheap Sears coaster brake bike that probably cost $60 and it got me into riding. It didn't hold me back. If anything it is what got me interested in the first place and like my stereo it was cheap so I could enjoy it the way I wanted and play with all the controls without my parents caring if I did something "wrong".

[@Berk-lf6ge]

Hey Kevin, this is going to be a very random comment, but i watch your channel since the beginning way back and to me you have created one of the best technology related channels on youtube. I remember there was another channel named wxbill or something of that kind that i also thought was pretty good, it reminded me a bit of your channel but apperantly it doesnt exist anymore

[@vwestlife]

uxwbill is still around and still making videos.

[@paulj0557tonehead]

11:35 The great 1964-71 Wurlitzer 4500 straight console solid state (all replaceable transistors) Electronic Theater Organ ('71 4500R on this album, as noted by green auto-rhythm tabs on the lower right of the organ). I uploaded John La Duca's other great 4500 album. ( look for side 2 as well)- *Wurlitzer Organ 4500 4502 4300 John La Duca Side 1* , On this album it's the '64- '68 model without the auto-rhythm, but did have something the 4500R didn't have, louvers on top of the organ for the spinning rotary speakers known as the Wurlitzer SpectraTone to be heard better by the organist for sure. The 4500 straight console organ guts were also put in the 1966 Wurlitzer horseshoe theater organ console. They started with the straight console in 1964 and didn't even call it a theater organ per say, as to make it more desirable to a larger market of players, but it was a theater organ. The 4300 was it's smaller spinet version with less keys and pedals, but the same electronics and same controls, just all rocker tabs. Check out the cool 4300 brochure- *internet Archive WurliTzer Model 4300 Organ Brochure* BTW The album on this video is on VWestlife's video list. Also the complete album was uploaded recently on KZbin. Forget how they titled it. If VWest is short for VW Westfalia, right on. I drove my '64 Westfalia for years! I put 15" Beetle rims on it and ran a 1500cc engine with Solex 28 pict-1 carb, Bosch 009 distributer, a Tiger Capacitive discharge ignition, and unleaded heads I ported myself. I got 27mpg highway or in town.

[@TallisLizzy]

I like the vintage ones from the 50’s and early 60’s to play VG records from the era. It’s a fun experience.

[@RealGestumblindi]

There is one thing I always say these Crosley Cruisers and similar (current) models are really well suited for: playing 78 rpm shellac records (if they have the 78 rpm setting)! - using a suitable stylus (they're readily available), not the standard one for vinyl records one they come with, and of course not the built-in loudspeakers (many models have some form of external audio output, often RCA connectors). Shellac records are meant for a high tracking force, in fact it's what they need (especially the really old ones that were made for wind-up mechanical gramophones with their heavy sound boxes). The results you get using such a Crosley Cruiser for your old shellac records are certainly not poorer than on a period-appropriate gramophone, and you most certainly will also not damage them in any way, as by gramophone standards, a Crosley Cruiser treats them extremely delicately. (Edit: I don't know whether the typical "Crosley Cruiser" does have audio output, but I have seen many clones ore clone-ish models which have one, and also an 78 rpm setting).

[@inrit]

That Wurlitzer album would not be at ALL out of place as a chip tune song in something like an NES-era Zelda game. Really cool.

[@bluexephos2255]

That Yr Lad song sounds great, I'll have to check the full album out!

[@the2323guy]

Definitely didn't expect to see Garret Claridge!

[@RebrandSoon0000]

LMAO, forgot about him.

[@Techcraft15]

I remember the legendary "chainsaaaaawwww" :D

[@ImaginationMeme]

my favorite of his is the big logitech pc speaker blow out

[@Pluralofvinylisvinyls]

“Circa 2009” 😂 come on

[@kernel_data_inpage_error]

They did another crossover with VCRs

[@bobbylibertini]

Pretty sad- with all of the technology extant for the last 29 years, they can't even make a portable record player that's as good as what we had in the 70's! When I was a kid, I had a stereo record player that was the size of a large suitcase. It consisted of a metal frame from which you swing the full-sized speakers out from, and pivot the turntable part into horizontal position. It had great volume and sound quality; volume, treble and bass controls, and could play multiple stacked albums or 45's automatically. I've never seen one like it since...but that thing was great! Wouldn't give you two cents for a Crosley.

[@rizzlerazzleuno4733]

Many manufactures in the sixties and seventies made record players like you describe, often with an AM-FM radio. I had a GE version that was all metal and included Porta-Fi which allowed for a portable speaker to be set up anywhere in the house and get audio through the house wiring. The GE and other brands show up often on auction sights. I have a Zenith, Magnavox, Voice of Music, Admiral, and RCA that have the fold-away speakers and drop down record changer. If you search long enough you can probably find the same model you had.

[@bobbylibertini]

@@rizzlerazzleuno4733 Thanks for that. Interesting! Other than the record player I mentioned, the only other kind I remember seeing were the cheap little small suitcase variety similar to these Crosleys, which had just one built-in speaker and were horrible. Going to search Ebay right now just to see if I can see one like we had...don't even remember the brand.

[@steviebboy69]

One of my units is a Kreisler with the 4 speed auto changer and flip over cartridge. It has AM radio as well and has Valve's in it and it has quite a good sound. From memory it has large oval speakers in each side as well, the lid lifts up and one time this fell down with a loud bang at which I thought a capacitor had blown. I was out of the room and ran in to turn of the power then i realized what had happened.

[@patbarr1351]

If the inflation calculators are accurate, those portable made-in-USA phonos from the '70's like the GE Wildcat cost the equivalent of several hundred 2024 dollars. My records survived being played on them.

[@andrewinnj]

The Feelies! I knew I liked you 😊 I also got that older Crosley Keepsake when I left for college in 2007. It was good at what it did but I still graduated to a better turntable when I could afford to.

[@ianwiese1]

Whats the song at the very end on that 78 didn't get any matches when I tried to "Shazam" it. I have a Victoria Revolution go which is nice actually. only gripe is no tone control and the small size platter. but for a new thing its decent got a light tracking force MM cartridge that I can easily slap a 78 stylus on

[@vwestlife]

Johnny Messner & His Music Box Band - "I Must Have One More Kiss Kiss Kiss (Before We Say Goodnight)"

[@kevinmaher4609]

I love the sly picture of some Twink that happens to have a crosley record player in it. Very subtle.

[@derschrau8er]

Definitely didn’t expect to see The 8-Bit Guy’s record 😍

[@geraldmartin7703]

Except for the mention of the USB connection, much of this video could have originated in the mid-1960s, when I was in high school. These cr*ppy suitcase record players did nothing to hurt the popularity of The Beatles, Rolling Stones, and other bands. High Fidelity was not faddish back then. (I'm old).

[@xHakase]

The 2013 updated version of the Crosley Keepsake was the first turntable I purchased about 10 years ago. I found it to be notably better than the Crosley Cruiser that some of my friends had, but I never realized that it had a magnetic cartridge or a lighter tracking force. Though I inherited an old Sansui turntable, I didn't have a preamp/receiver or good set of speakers at that time, so the Keepsake was certainly a good place to start as a teenager. I still have it, but I've since moved on to using a 'real' turntable. I'll probably adjust the speed pots sometime and replace the stylus.

[@hughjanus6975]

I've always loved the 8 bit guys background music

[@Dark_eVader]

Hey staying til the end of the video doesn't make me a weirdo... Oh wait... I am a weirdo.

[@beitie]

It's okay, many of us weirdo's here to support you.

[@audvidgeek]

Califone...Remember them don't you? The classroom record player company? They actually sold a version of this record player. Instead of brown, it was in their characteristic turquoise color. It caught a lot of flak because it wasn't up to par with their older record players of the 1960's and 70's, but it's still a good one comparing it to the Cruiser

[@TheRealKVJ]

Good video! I've been getting into record collecting when i started off with collecting Jungle/DnB records! ^w^

[@northof-62]

Intrigued by that "Macintosh Tapes" track on the Truck Month album; never heard this before. I also liked the Robot music! Thx for your interesting video.

[@themirrorsofmymind]

13:45 Anders Enger Jensen - Attach of the PETSCII Robots (Alternate Soundtrack) (2022) Sounds very WNUA 95.5 Chicago mid-1990s...

[@Ice_Karma]

15:42 Mm, what's that from?

[@vwestlife]

www.amstereo.org/images/crosleykid.jpg

[@Ice_Karma]

@@vwestlife Thank you! 😻

[@fallwitch]

Great video! Thank you for taking the time to put this all together. Also love seeing your subs climb!

[@marktubeie07]

15:42 I didn't see a record player in that picture - oh wait... 😉

[@nmbdk4955]

Had to pause for a moment there 😅

[@LudiusQuassas]

Thank you for never forgetting about us 78 fans lmao.

[@AriaPosting]

hey! im not a weirdo just because i like big suitcase record players! thats only one of the reasons!

[@Bushougoma]

The case and speaker design reminds me of the Califone rim drive institutional record players which were popular in classrooms. I always wanted one they're cheap enough but the plug in ceramic cartridge / stylus assembly is getting ridiculously expensive. This one is actually an improved version of the Califone it has a nearly full size platter, an inexpensive magnetic cartridge (better sound quality), and a belt drive which will produce less noise than a rim drive.

[@dimitrioskalfakis]

great music selection for the wooden suitcase.

[@joshm264]

I expected nothing other than this from crosley; "it's evolving, just backwards"

[@jerryking7502]

You know what's funny? I used to deliver Wurlitzer pianos and organs!

[@oliverlotus]

I'll take being called a weirdo! Thanks for another great vid.

[@Mongo61]

4:31 ❤ The Feelies! ❤

[@coordinatezero]

I saw that too! "Crazy Rhythms", great record!

[@BillyTheKidsGhost]

Savage burn at the end...🧐

[@ThatMacintoshguy9563]

I’ve that 2 tone white and blue 1987 ford f-150 single cab pickup truck that Paul owned I finally found one and bought it now driving it as my daily driver pickup truck

[@peacearchwa5103]

78 rpm shellac discs can offer rather lifelike sound quality, particularly when played with cheap modern turntables and a 3-mm stylus suitable for the wide grooves. Thanks for demonstrating!

[@vwestlife]

3 mil, not 3 mm. A mil is a thousandth of an inch.

[@CARLiCON]

too good to be true, sounds fantastic, great demo, thanks!

[@DariuszNawrat]

Wow. Vinyl from 1926. It's superb. 98 years old.

[@JozefBogin]

Shellac. Breaks when you drop it.

[@vwestlife]

Shellac, not vinyl.

[@DariuszNawrat]

@@vwestlife Ok. Thank You.

[@ethanspaziani1070]

I wonder if it's possible to reverse engineer and complete the circuit for the line out that would be a cool follow-up project

[@97nelsn]

I’ve seen way too many of these Crosley Cruisers at the thrift store and sometimes sold in the boutique section. I knew there was something off if I see them dumped in the same place as the UV phone cleaners.

[@AS90AS90____]

I hope that people don't take the piss out of Crossley's too much. It was a gateway for many people to experience a good quality, physical item.

[@tomcarlson3913]

There was an identical looking Crosley to this that I got way back in 2002...It had the same Chuo-Denshi ceramic cart that triggers audiophools, no inputs (besides the power brick connector), and possibly no suspension on the turntable. It wasn't bad for what it was, but probably besides sound it was not much better than the new smaller ones.

[@vwestlife]

That was the CR49 Traveler, the model which preceded the Keepsake.

[@manFromPeterborough]

@@vwestlife I bought 3 of them into Australia, 2 of them made in 2002, the black one 2007, which has a lighter arm weighing in at 3.7g, the others 6.8g, I had to take 2 turns off the counter spring and got it to 4.3g

[@frankowalker4662]

It has a really nice tone to it, with decent volume.

[@irontobias]

I started collecting around 2006, and bought my first player on clearance at Christmas time for around $120 at radio shack of all places... It was one of those retro-styled Curtis ones that has a CD player in the front (though sadly no cheap tape deck in the side like similar units later added). That crappy sounding player was my pride and joy, even after my wife bought an ION iPT 01 for Christmas the year after, and went through more than a few home repairs to keep it alive. Nearly 20 years later, and I own dozens of turntables - most much better than that one - but still hold shitty players in high regard as a way for people to get into the hobby. My kid's first player was a knockoff cruiser from goodwill, and they still love to crank up the phonograph to listen to tunes from a hundred years ago

[@TheKnobCalledTone.]

That Attack of the Petscii Robots track sounds like something from a 90s adult film

[@KE5ZZO]

06:00. Is the center hole on the record bigger than normal Or is the center spindle on the player smaller than normal?

[@vwestlife]

Neither. It's just a slightly off-center label.

[@thekidfromiowa]

Representing your home state by playing The Feelies!

[@thekidfromiowa]

The only thing more New Jersey would be watching Uncle Floyd while listening to Bruce Springsteen.

[@AricVogel]

I have got to agree with you on the whole TickTock thing, I don't understand the appeal at all. Why watch vertical videos on a tiny phone screen, when I could be watching awesome full size videos like this on a big 27" monitor? Maybe I'm just having my first "Am I out of touch? No, it's the children who are wrong!" moment in my life.

[@AhDollar]

i found one of these used on ebay, the seller included a 10" 78 shellac complimentary, and i had the same problem of it stopping before it reached the run-off groove, so i sprayed the edge of a magic wall sponge with some vinyl spray i prepared (four parts distilled water, one of 90% isopropyl alcohol, and a few drops of dish soap), ran it backwards over the record, dried it with a microfiber cloth, the record was filthy, and after cleaning, the needle made it to the run-off with no problem

[@automatedelectronics6062]

The latest Crosley record player incarnation is the Anthology series. The big draw is the Beatles editions. That's what it took to get me to buy a couple. No tone control, but they do have a speed pitch adjustment control and Bluetooth has been added. It also comes with audio-out cables. Also, they have gone to a regular magnetic cartridge with a diamond stylus. The platter is small, but if you are worried about record support, use a record clamp. It does autostop at the end of the record.

[@theneonchimpchannel9095]

I did buy a similar record player to the Cruiser when I was in the UK last year so I could listen to the records I was buying over there. It was by a company called Goodman and it came with a ruby stylus so it wasn't quite as bad as the cheaper styluses that usually come with them. The speakers were small but had a decent enough sound for me to listen to records in my hotel room or at a friend's house. It also had 78 speed although I didn't have any 78s so I never tested this. It had bluetooth so it could connect easily to a much higher quality speaker. It wasn't an audiophile set up at all, but it was fine for travel purposes and it was a lot better than any other portable turntables I've tried.

[@emily1743]

Nice to see/hear Truck Month in there.

[@jro7075]

Great vid you never cease to amaze me did not know of this I would see a keepsake om line for sale but always thought it was a ceramic cart amazing also I like that album you play Mr fantastic wurlitzer I remember hearing that song when I was younger John Laducca got to see if I can find me a copy thanks JRo

[@GarthBeagle]

11:35 I love when you play that Wurlitzer tune, nice to see the album art!

[@christopherrigby2798]

While it's not hifi and my turnable set up is a lot dearer, that actually does sound quite decent especially when you took the output direct which does show what can be achieved even from a "plastic" deck. Too bad it didn't take off.

[@TheGreatAtario]

It's funny, back in the 80s and 90s, even the cheapest crap record players had automatic return

[@coondogtheman]

I'm curious if you can tap into the preamp output before it runs to the main amp and run that out to a line output jack.

[@dashcamandy2242]

15:42 - Now, why did he use this pic... 15:45 - {red arrow appears} OH! The turntable. Gotcha. 👼 I wanted to use a portable turntable, I'd refresh my mom's GE V631n. Sure, it's ugly and clunky, but as a teen she cranked her Jackson 5 and Monkees singles on it, and then when I was a child and she was in her twenties, her Larry Gatlin, John Denver, and Kenny Rogers LPs. (Huh, I wonder if my dad's Richard Pryor and filthy Bill Cosby LPs are still around? They'd be in the closet next to Mom's LPs... I should check on that sometime.)

[@netoe]

5:33 I have never seen a colored 78

[@8antipode9]

One of your videos introduced me to SlugBug and I instantly needed to know where that music comes from. For this video it's good to hear him again, and I just had to troll your comment section a bit to see if anyone else mentions him. Seems like you've spread it to a few people!

[@Pyjamarama11]

Oh man, I love to strut my stuff down the street with my portable record player on my shoulder It really gets the dames into a fizz (In between record skips)

[@anteck7goat]

Amazing how even Crosley made good products

[@natechrisman5333]

Fantastic, I love it

[@hankcromer2935]

I have one very similar to that. Can’t remember if it plays 78s or not. Going to pass it on to my Nephew because his suitcase record player died on him. From what I can remember it doesn’t sound bad for what it is.

[@LegoManguy]

I'm one of the weirdos that stayed till the end of the video...LOL