Oh god, another cheap turntable? (Crosley C3)
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- čas přidán 1. 07. 2024
- The last video left me a little frustrated that a decent turntable couldn't be had for a reasonable price.
Or can it?
First video: I bought the cheapest record player on eBay Aus:
• I bought the cheapest ...
Colins video on mini amps:
• A Look at Affordable T...
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The Crosley C3 has the same motor that Sony and Audio Technica uses. If you have speed control issues, remove the motor cover on the bottom. It has two potentiometer screws to adjust the 33 1/3 and 45 RPM. I replaced the cartridge and speed adjusted it using a strobe ring and strobe light. Dead nuts. In a blind test, people would think it was a $500 table.
Hi - So pretty good for modern cheap stuff
It reminds me of when i bought my portable CD-Rom boom box in @ 1995
I took my favourite cd with me to work, and told a few people i am going shopping and may be back late "cover for me" - i usually take 30 mins at the most so the 1 or 2 times a month i go for a hour or hour 15 is reasonable.
Went to JB-HiFI in sydney CBD, walked in and was having a look at items on the shelves ( there would have been 15-120 to pick from )
Decent sales rep came and told me this is this and that is that , and this is better, i had a budget, i think under $200 , anyway after him making me dizzy with stats, i pulled my cd from home and said, i dont really care what the stats on the box say ( rather than say i dont care about your spin comparisons ) , we are going to play track 1 and track 5 of my favourite cd in every one of those machines and i will pick which one i like best.
The look on his face was priceless, he ummed and erred and i asked " which ones are plugged in, he said all of them, i said no worries you can stay here or server some one else, i will ask for you and you will get the sale anyway
I played every machine, i had a piece of paper and simply ranked the first one at a 5, then the rest was based on how much better or worse they were
The variety, lets call it 20 machines , 3 or 4 very good ones, about 5 or 6 were all tied as last / junk and again 2 or 3 were ranked at 70% good and 80% good
I picked the winner out of the top 3 which ranked the best , actually it was the cheapest which looked the best and was in the top 3 quality / sound wise, the cd and AM/FM radio is beautiful - i did not worry about the tape part
So, yeah sound is subjective and the bad ones sounded tinny / dull / like a $2 am radio blaring all over the place, and for say 20-30% more $$$ you got something way better.
I guess we have all thrown out systems / mini hifi / 3in1 / modular systems / bookshelf systems and these things today are not really as good.
My son was looking for a 3 in 1 as he has his own music records - i told him just to search ebay and gumtree for 20k's close to home and have a look and ask people to visit and play tape / record sample that he should take with him
Regards
George
$4USD, that cracked me up!
Bypassing the internal preamp does seem like the way to go with these. Not to get to audiophiley but it seems to lack any depth or warmth, almost as though it's just amplifying the audio without fully restoring the RIAA curve.
Love the Toshiba by the way, glad it got a look in
Yeah, a preamp-ectamy would be the way to go, but beyond the scope of this video.
Still not sure what I’m going to do with this unit. If I do decide to keep it, that’s the way I’ll probably go.
"$4USD, that cracked me up!"
"I came here to say that, but knew in my heart it had already been said."
With those cheap preamps you got one major issue: Lower frequencies are harder to restore cause you need more volume to get them back to what they were supposed to sound. Higher frequencies don't need a boost quite that big. Now throw in a cheaply made phono preamp and all you got left are mostly high frequencies :p Even the mids were lacking on the crosley phono preamp :p but at least the rest was at least decent. And for those who don't want to deal with vintage HiFi Turntables, cause they might need some care and maybe even a repair, they Crosley C3 is an O.K. option at least.
Absolutely lost my mind at "Four USD". Fantastic delivery! XD
Hah. Thanks. The exchange rate actually isn’t horrible at the moment, postage costs to here are the worst.
had a good cackle also.
That Toshiba is a gorgeous looking piece of 70s design. Back in 1985 one of my first purchases when I started work was a Technics separates midi system with an SL-J3 linear tracking turntable, and it still gets used most days today when doing work in my spare room/office. It's obviously needed new belts and styli for the turntable and belts for the cassette deck, as well as cleaning and lubrication a few times over the years, but sounds as good today as it did way back then.
Looking forward to the return to vintage computing, but readily admit that I've enjoyed these sorts of diversions. Good on ye!
Thank you for the honest review of this, I might have to look into one of these If I can get it for under $100 USD, and then a preamp for my 5.1 surround sound setup put into stereo mode, as it has no built in phono preamp, but 2 stereo aux inputs.
Love these two turntable vids. I would call them retro, for sure.
Okay, first the "quirks and features", then it's time for a Doug score :-) As an aside, I'm really digging the design of this! Great review!! And, oh, that Toshiba... that's a beaut, Clark!
Damn, I was thinking the same exact thing! (Can we “Doug Score” turntables?!)
@@everydaychris5597 "and on the RPM speed it gets a 7 out of 10" :-)
Nice change of pace. nothing wrong with retro but good to mix it up!
Just found this on sale on crosley's website for $47.98 shipped to my door. I can't wait to try it out with a new pre-amp!
Great video!
Thanks mate 👍
Am I glad to own my Hi-Fi Optimus stereo system from 1997-98 and to have it in perfect working condition. I paid over U.S. $1000 for it back then. And that Toshiba music center is beautiful. Reminds me of the Crown (cannot recal what model) music center that my father bought me for Christmas 1977.
I listened to my copy of 1927's A World Without You after listening to you play yours, and you can certainly here the difference in the speed between what you're playing and what I have. It's actually quite significant. Interesting video. I still have issues with turntables that have no dust cover. You're just asking for ruined discs.
Mr Lurch. Excellent video. Can you test anti skate?
I wonder how accurate the phone speed test is. It would be interesting to try a few phones and see if they all report the same speed. I also wonder if the phone weight affects much vs a record. I'm not sure how much more or less a phone weighs, but also the fact that the phone weight is dispersed differently.
You got a great deal, these are really decent units.
So, thanks so much for your honest review of the C3! In part of shopping for a decent turntable for my daughter’s 14th birthday, this was settled for a meager $114 today (US dollars). It’s like teaching your children to drive a stick before they can enjoy the automatic...albeit, record-playing is like driving a wonderfully carbureted/manual steer/stick shift. It’s a great experience that everyone should have.
Glad I could help!
I'm not a fan of internal pre's, though I have two turntables that have them (I bought them both used). It's normally not absolutely necessary to bypass the internal pre with those two, but this one seems to be so bad as to be mostly useless. Good news is that you can get a pretty good external pre for $30 or so. And if you're the target market for this TT, those will be all you need for "high quality" sound. Meanwhile, the cartridge that thing uses is becoming a legend in inexpensive cartridges. Let's be honest, this whole package sells for less than half of what most record fans would consider the minimum price for a cartridge alone.
It's the first Crosley I've seen that would be fun to add to my stable of TT's. But then, I have a lot of 70's separates systems that all have built in pre-amps. This would be a nice "conversation piece" and especially fun for playing my more "rough" LP's and 45's.
Love the hi-fi stuff too, wish I could subscribe twice.
If you want to properly weigh the tonearm, the scale should be at a height where the stylus will be sitting at the same height as if it was sitting on a record...
To save confusion perhaps aussies should change their dollar currency denomination to Bruce just to keep it clear
This here's the wattle, the emblem... 😄
These cheap turntable videos are so unnecessary and useless. And brilliant! Love it! Keep the content coming, Jason! :)
I'd put this one into the "not completely useless" category.
@@MrLurchsThings Useless in a good way, I meant. 😁 That kind ov video you had no idea you really wanted to watch but afterwards.
I just got this for $54USD ($489AUD) and it's honestly so close to good that it's unnerving. If this has a properly designed phono preamp and a removable headshell, it would be the champion of cheap turntables at anything less than $240USD ($3799AUD).
Cheap cheapie, aka el-cheapo, aka el-crappo turntables were always on the market, and there was a glut of absolutely terrible machines like this RP105 or whatever in our German department stores in the (19)seventies (yes I'm old) for less than about 5 meals at a local German curry-sausage stand! This Crosley C3 is actually available for way below what a real turntable would have cost back then, which would have cost about as much as a case of top grade vintage Napoleon sparkling wine.
Considering inflation, it costs really far less than that, and is astonishingly only about as much as ... about 5 meals at a local German curry sausage stand!
The catch is of course getting sound through speakers, and here in the most crazy USA, people think their ghastly old Craig or Yorx plastic-chique boombox stereo is a classic goldmine, and real used HiFi is prohibitive as to what hucksters want these days, with the old second-hand store prices of 20 bucks a piece long gone, so never mind our bonkers US used market!
However, a brand new lovely sounding mini-amp and a decent set of speakers together, or a pair of self contained powered speakers can indeed be had today new for about the same as the C3, with a decent phono-preamp for about 70 dollars.
Real HiFi has never been more affordable than today, as long as you know where to look, and what to look for!
Don't worry about the topic. It's your channel, and some diversity in topics doesn't hurt. May even help recharge your "batteries" so you don't burn out on your channel.
It's been a nice change.
@@MrLurchsThings I agree, did not mind the record players one bit. Unleash your inner techmoan :)
P. S love 1927 as well.
Interestingly enough, the Crosley C6 is a pretty good turntable.
Looks like a Project turntable
Interesting. A counterweight at sub 100$. If only they could remove the pre amp and reduce the cost it would be a good entry point.
Art DJ phono stage is good about $50 get the one without the USB if you have to have USB it's about $60. And you don't weigh a cartridge like that should have done it without the mat and even that's too high give you a false reading find a bit of stiff plastic and Bend it some heat under a grill place over the scales so it's at record height the lip attach it with some Blu-Tack to the scales. I would say C3 is better than Auto Technica lp60 not including the Built-in phono stage but without in comparisons
Can't get a correct reading from a phone especially placing it where you did need to be above the spindle and even so the phone will be out you need a strobe disc
Thank you for the review. I love my C3. A part of me felt guilty for buying it but it’s aesthetically pleasing when playing records. I’m well aware what I could get for more money. I do have issues with the counterweight not working correctly but I’m able to dial in the weight that is required fit the AT cart. The other issue was the speed was a bit sharp but I was able successfully adjust the speed controls that are hidden underneath foot of the motor. I also think the cue mechanism needs to be lowered carefully because my lowers too fast.
I originally thought the preamp was crap but tried plugging it into my Sony receiver’s auxiliary channel and sounds great to my ears. Before that I tested with powered speakers and it sounded like it pushes too hard and distorted. I was not crazy about the felt mat either but I’ve come to appreciate it now and still using it.
These are $85 US on Amazon right now.
Thing is though, if you're going to go down the road of buying a used amp and speakers, you may as well buy a used turntable as well.
$250US is well into "real hifi turntable" territory. I paid less than that for a slightly shabby but mechanically /electronically-sound Linn Basik, and old Rega turntables are less than that in good condition.
Hello, iv been trying to find you friends youtube Channel (the retro channel) but was unable, can you please give me the link for it, im also from Australia and use to sell the microbee back in early 80s for Altronics. Perth..
czcams.com/channels/DCXIPcYNKXFnR8q145UvCg.html
Don't like the way that tonearm hangs over the edge. To me looks very prone to damage. Good video though.
To my untrained ears, phono output without any form of processing tends to sound thin. The built-in preamp seems to have gone past the "thin" stage and is just downright tinny. Mark's preamp is better because it sounds like its doing its job properly, but even then it can only do so much. IMHO a decent amp or receiver is a must; at least one can dial in more bass and/or treble to beef up the sound and make the turntable sound its best.
BTW I'm enjoying the cheap-ass audio content, although I may be biased as the most expensive part of my component hi-fi is its speakers: $70 for the pair, brand new from eBay, and only one of two components bought brand new (the other being a Chromecast Audio).
I think a preamp-ectamy would get Marks preamp sounding the best.
What TT are you using?
@@MrLurchsThings I'm running a Technics SL-1950, although I'm cheating a bit here... I didn't buy it; I inherited it from my father. Although I did have a Pioneer PL-L70 linear turntable that I bought at an auction for $12, and then subsequently gave away to a friend when the old man passed his Technics onto me.
A preamp-ectamy on the C3 would definitely help, maybe that was holding Mark's preamp back a bit as well. The C3 could be a fun project (no pun intended). It would be interesting to see how good it could sound with some mods and the right components in the audio chain. I'd watch an entire series of videos on it!
The C3 is the least expensive TT I have ever listened to that actually maintains "The Tune", quite surprising indeed. Once set up properly the C3 actually sounded better than a tired & untouched for several years but still functioning LP12.. Is the C3 cheaply built?, yes. Can you actually enjoy listening to records on it?, yes.
Even with a very brief comparison over CZcams, the Muffsy preamp was better, much more balanced midrange, less screechy treble, and more bass. Not great sound, but better than the Crosley built-in preamp, which sounded pretty bad. The last onkyo test was also much smoother than the crosly preamp, and the bass was quite obviously better with the onkyo.
I reckon those early 5.1 receivers that still had phono are pretty underrated (and cheap)
Like the music on the lp.... who was that?
An Australian Band - 1927
Why would you want anything but quartz-locked direct drive? It always seems that the belt-driven units are never at exactly the correct speed! Peace.
I guess I should be happy to have a Technics SL1200 MKII.
Any chance of playing any album from 'The The' I'm shure? you'll enjoy it. Trust me try it :-)
Never heard of them. Might have to borrow yours 😂
@@MrLurchsThings i know the knack and the who
I still dont understand the mentality of playing a pair of powered speakers on a turntable with absolutely zero bass or treble adjustment-??!!
Thank you for the review. The elephants in the room on this turntable not addressed here - no dust cover and no anti-skating adjustment. Nevertheless, I purchased one for $54 shipped to door direct from Crosley, couldn't resist at that price, will just keep it covered with a sheet or towel when not in use. I believe Crosley are blowing these out because sadly their units with built-in horrible sounding speakers, ceramic cartridges, and bluetooth connections seems to be what sells for them. Good for us who know better. I have a couple different setup options I can go with, similar to what you showed. Did you balance the tonearm and set the tracking correctly? Sorry, I saw you using a gadget, but don't know how that works, I couldn't tell from this video. I always just place the tonearm over the platter until it is balanced, then set the tracking about as low as the cartridge specs allow. Thanks again.
My eyes just bleed looking at that thing....
WEA
With all the analog cool 80s 90s stuff behind and you calculate the rpm with a phone and rely on that? ….. shame……
You want a good product, buy vintage.
If you know what you’re looking for - sure. But this unit isn’t completely horrible.
Yeah, the problem is that if I tried to buy vintage turntable, I wouldn't know the difference between some good vintage product or some crappy vintage product. It's helpful to have reviews of these products, especially ones that are easy to purchase, if you're in the market. That said, I'm not in the market for a turntable and probably never will be, but I learned quite a bit just watching these last couple videos.
Use a proper strobe disk ffs.
this record and its songs were truly awful