I've been thinking about getting one of the Crosley turntables, mainly because of the price and the look.
I've heard mixed things about them with regards to build and sound quality, so I was wondering if anyone had any opinions on them or maybe similar alternatives?
It's hot... but not as hot as the night Johnny Viti got married...
Play your records on a good deck at home and record them to portable media?
shareI wouldn't waste any money on vinyl. Brand-new records sound good for maybe the first 5-6 plays, then the pops and clicks make the music unlistenable.
shareAVOID Crosley, Victrola, 1byOne, etc. LIKE THE PLAGUE! They're all cheap crap that will literally destroy your records due to:
1. heavy stylus tracking (This will easily scratch your records!)
2. lack of counterbalance (This prevents the tone arm from tracking too light or heavy; it should be perfectly parallel to the record.)
3. lack of anti-skating (This prevents the stylus from skipping or skating across the record toward the center.)
4. misaligned cartridge (You're gonna want a cartridge protractor to make sure your catridge/stylus/tone arm is perfectly aligned. A misaligned c/s/t will easily damage your records.)
I've heard great things about the Audio-Technica AT LP120. It has counterbalance and anti-skating. (The recommended settings for both is 2 grams.) It's fully manual, which is another plus. It's got a height adjust, which might come in handy when playing 180 and 200g records. The stylus is removable/changeable. If you plan on playing mono records (old or new), lots of people recommend the Ortofon 2M Mono cartridge.
You'll want a leveler with a bubble indicator. You definitely want your turntable on a flat, even surface for optimal playback.
Next, you'll want a device to measure your tracking force (2 grams for the Audio-Technica 120). Adjust your anti-skating (2 grams for the 120).
Next, use your protractor to perfectly (and I mean perfectly) align your tone arm/cartridge. (A good [and free!] one can be found on VinylEngine.com. All you have to do is register on the site and you can download a high resolution PDF of one of their protractors.) Don't tighten the screws all the way!
Once your turntable is all set, make sure you clean your records before you play them, each and every time you play them. If you do this right, your records will have a long life and sound great.
So, once again, avoid Crosley like the plague.