For entry-level vinyl hobbyists, paying for an expensive turntable might contain high risks because they do not have much knowledge in the field.
So, I strongly recommend you to go for a budget-friendly option like the Crosley turntable. Check out this post of Crosley record player review for an ideal choice.
TL;DR - Here are our choices:
About the brand
Crosley is an electronic audio manufacturer in Kentucky. It is a modern incarnation of the Powel Crosley, which was found in 1921 and then discontinued in 1956 due to declining sales.
With a modern marketing strategy, the Modern Crosley resurrected the original tradition and spirit of the old company in 1992. It is also ranking a remarkable position in the field when focusing on the style and design of
audio equipment. And now, Crosley is among the biggest manufacturing companies in audio equipment.
“Amplify your style” is the Crosley’s mantra. They put customers first and produced user-oriented products for any demands and budgets. Their targeting customers are young audiophile and vinyl collectors with delicate eyes.
With a strong belief that everything starts with fashion and trickles down into everyday culture, Crosley offers its user a wide range of turntables with unique and eye-catching designs.
It has a C-series for delicate audiophiles and a T-series for mid-range users. With its Cruiser series, Crosley made their significant steps to make vinyl music familiar with young generations.
And the Portfolio, Voyager, and Discovery turntables series, Crosley successfully built up a world of colorful, sleek, and modern record players.
Top 5 Best Crosley Record Player Review
Without further ado, here is my list of the best 5 Crosley record players. I have studied their features carefully and also read some online reviews. Finally, I combined them with my experience and then listed out the best-value turntables below.
Crosley C6 Belt-Drive Turntable - Best Traditional Player
Top of my list today is the best-value Crosley C6 Belt-Drive turntable with its excellent performance and its traditional look.
With a simple look of a turntable with a decent plate and a transparent cover, the C6 turntable is a perfect choice for those who are seeking the real breath of the vinyl era.
It features a low-vibration MDF plinth that is wrapped in veneer with four color options of black, red, grey, and walnut to suit your style. Besides, it is equipped with a synchronous motor for minimal vibration during playing records.
Moreover, the exclusive belt-driven turntable mechanism from Crosley enables you to enjoy both 33⅓ and 45 RPM records. You can switch between to speeds by simply lifting the platter and moving the groove up or down.
This high-quality turntable also gives you great flexibility to change cartridges and change the tracking weight your way. It possesses a manual return tonearm with adjustable counterweight and replaceable phono cartridge for customized musical experiences.
The Crosley C6 Belt-Drive turntable can be used right out of the box with a pre-mounted Audio Technica moving magnet cartridge. It also offers you the freedom of replacement whenever you want to upgrade the cartridge or needle.
This fantastic turntable comes with a built-in preamp to volume up your music. It is also compatible with speakers and receiver with RCA outputs on the back. With the Crosley C6 Belt-Driven, you are ready for any 70s musical experiences.
Pros:
- A built-in preamp
- Customizable counterweight and replaceable cartridges
- Can play 33⅓, 45 RPM records
Cons:
- Not having anti-skate feature
Crosley CR704D-PA Musician Turntable - Best for Versatility
Next on my list is a versatile turntable that can integrate a radio and a CD/Cassette player, the Crosley CR704D-PA Musician turntable.
As you can see in the picture, this Musician turntable has a classical look with real wood material. It comes with a sturdy box with simple but unique details. While the dial and front pieces are made from plastic, it offers you a metallic look and feel.
As a record player, the Crosley Musician is a combination of vintage style and modern technology. It can play three speeds: 33⅓, 45, and 78 RPM records. With the Crosley quality, this player offers you smooth and clean audio experiences with a warm and pleasant lushness. It offers a perfect playability for a turntable at the $100-$140 price range.
The Crosley Musician turntable features a built-in Bluetooth receiver that allows you to stream digital music by connecting your phone to your turntable
speakers. You can also connect your phone and MP3 player to the turntable with an integrated port at the back.
Moreover, the Crosley Musician is equipped with a tape player at the side and a CD player at the front of the turntable. However, the red screen displays vague numbers and doesn’t fit with the classical look of this record player.
Another interesting feature of this turntable is the FM/radio player at the front. The radio system stays true to the old days with a manual tuner. Maybe it might make tuning a little bit difficult. But it will bring you back to the days where people use this airplane tuning dial.
Pros:
- Can play both CD, cassette, and records
- Built-in Bluetooth receiver
- An integrated FM/radio playing system
Cons:
- No cable output
Crosley C200 Direct-Drive Turntable - Best for Quality
The Crosley C200 turntable is the best record player in the list with advanced features that you cannot find in any other product from Crosley.
In terms of design, it only comes in a black color with shiny details. It possesses a damped die-cast aluminum platter with felt-slip mat.
The minimalist design is not a strong point of this turntable. However, it offers an outstanding performance that you have never seen before in Crosley products.
The Crosley C200 is the first direct-drive turntable that will eliminate the fear of a rubber belt that will stretch out over years of use.
Moreover, it will bring the speed in quickly and maintain consistent speed over time. Hence, it is more reliable for several years of usage without the deterioration in quality.
It features a high-torque motor that is able to spin both 33⅓ and 45 RPM records. This turntable manually operates with a start and stop control that will allow you to play music at your preference.
The C200 turntable is equipped with an Audio Technica AT-3600 moving magnet cartridge. It is mounted directly on an S-shaped tonearm with adjustable counterweight.
You can also install a new cartridge with a NP5 stylus in this turntable for better audio performances.
Meanwhile, the Crosley C200 includes a built-in phono preamp that allows you to play music without external hardware. But if you want to volume up the music, the RCA output enables you to play music through speakers.
Pros:
- High-torque motor
- Play two speed 33⅓ and 45 RPM
- Advanced feature for improved performance
Cons:
- Defective anti-skate mechanism
Crosley CR8017A Voyager Turntable - Best for Value
If you are looking for a beautiful combination between vintage and modern vibes, the Crosley CR8017A-SA Voyager turntable is an excellent choice.
The Voyager record player is a vintage-inspired 3-speed turntable that can play both 33⅓, 45, and 78 RPM records. It comes with a built-in speaker that makes it a right-out-of-the-box player.
With a modest dimension of 14” x 10.5” x 4.63”, the Voyager record player fits perfectly with any space. Moreover, the clean, vintage-inspired, and aesthetic design makes it an eye-catching turntable. You can choose from 5 options of color: black, amethyst, dune, sage, and washed blue.
Meanwhile, the weight of only 5.5 pounds allows this turntable to travel with you everywhere. You can take it out and add some propulsion to your outdoor picnic. It promises to be a loyal friend on any of your journey.
Besides, it features a Bluetooth receiver that allows you to transmit digital music wirelessly to the turntable’s speakers. You can switch from phono to Bluetooth mode with a handy switch on the turntable face.
The Voyager comes with an adjustable pitch knob that allows you to fine-tune the output music to make it pleasant to your ears. It features an auxiliary-in and a headphone jack for private listening. Moreover, you can connect the turntable with external speakers through RCA output ports.
It comes with a pre-mount ceramic cartridge with NP6 needle. It also allows you to upgrade both stylus and cartridge for optimal musical experiences.
Pros:
- Built-in Bluetooth receiver
- Adjustable pitch control
- Can play 33⅓, 45, 78 RPM records
Cons:
- The sound quality is not for audiophiles but can improve with a speaker
Crosley CR8005D Cruiser Deluxe Turntable - Best for Portability
Last on my list is a cute turntable from Crosley, the Cruiser Deluxe turntable, with its charming design.
The Cruiser Deluxe turntable is a perfect gift for someone who is really into the aesthetic design.
It comes in the form of a suitcase with a modest dimension of 13.98 x 4.02 x 10.00 inches and only weighs 5.51 pounds. It will fit perfectly into any cramped space of car trunks. Hence, you will have music all the way you go.
It is available in 17 different colors, including limited editions. Most variations are wrapped in vinyl with colors from the 2018 Pantone favorite.
However, the Quiet Jungle variation will have a super luxe velvet coating. And the White Nomad is fabric-wrapped with a timeless lends texture.
When it comes to playability, this beautiful belt-driven turntable can spin three speeds of 33⅓, 45, and 78 RPM. It features an adjustable pitch control that allows you to customize the aud
The Cruiser Deluxe turntable also features a dynamic full-range stereo speakers. Thus, it can be used right out of the box without any assembly or installation.
Moreover, it has a built-in Bluetooth receiver, which enables you to stream music wirelessly to the Cruiser Deluxe speakers. You can also connect to this turntable through its RCA and headphone jack outputs.
Pros:
- Small and compact size
- Play 3 speeds of 33⅓, 45, and 78 RPM records
- Eye-catching suitcase design
Cons:
- The sound quality is not excellent
FAQ
1: Is Crosley a good record player brand?
This answer is firmly based on the user’s opinions. For me, Crosley is a high-quality brand in audio equipment. It offers outstanding performance when compared to other brands at the same price range. It does give me the quality output that I craved for.
It also provides you with budget-friendly products that meet your demand. Moreover, I love the thoughtful and stylish design of Crosley turntables.
However, Crosley’s performance might not be enough for picky audiophiles who are seeking for the real breath of the vinyl era. The quality it offers is quite limited in comparison with high-end products. But it is undeniable that their products are great at this price range.
2: How many series of record players Crosley has?
A wide range of series and variations is the thing that makes Crosley a famous brand. It offers you no less than five main series with different features and designs.
Namely, the C-series is suitable for high-end audiophiles who demand true vinyl turntables. At a slightly lower price, the T-series offers a decent quality with enough features for high-quality record playing.
Meanwhile, modern design with hot colors from Pantone makes the Cruiser, Portfolio, Voyager, and Discovery series the best-selling series of Crosley
3: Does the low price mean poor quality?
Although Crosley turntables come at a much lower price, they offer decent quality that you can trust. As a beginner, Crosley turntables are an ideal option with enough sound quality at a reasonable price. You will also love a stylish design and compact size of this turntable.
- You may be interested: Jensen Record Players Review: Editor's Top 5 Picks
Conclusion
So, here comes the end of this Crosley record player review. I have brought you a list of the best Crosley turntables with their exclusive features.
And in case you want a specific recommendation, my choice is the Crosley C200 turntable with its unique S-shaped tonearm and exquisite performance.
Hope you have fun with Crosley turntables!
Reference:
*Table's last update on 2023-05-30. Information is from the Amazon Product Advertising API. They're accurate as of the date and time indicated and are subject to change.
