After watching you and your daughter’s video, I bought a Victrola from Amazon. It was a customer return and an Amazon note thanked me for giving it a second life! It was only $30 U.S. including tax. Mine is brown and has a nice retro look in my music room. It sounds like an old AM/FM pocket radio I used to own. I play pop records bought at thrift stores and I am surprised that it is fun to play. I also play 78’s that were given to me. To me, worth every penny.
There used to be a suitcase-style record player with the same tonearm and cartridge as the IKEA turntable -- the MPK (Music Public Kingdom) TT270. I have a review of it on my channel. It sold for around the same price as the IKEA turntable today. Unfortunately it has been discontinued. But both Victrola and Crosley do sell several portable record players with the AT3600L cartridge, such as the Crosley Portfolio and Victrola Revolution Go.
The Victrola sounded exactly how I would expect, as I had two cheap music centres in the 80s that had essentially the same platter, tone-arm/cartridge and drive system, not to mention friends who also had similar. Because I didn't really know any better (I knew proper turntables existed, I just never had experience of them), I put up with it. It wasn't until I got a job that I bought the original ProJect Debut turntable and my listening enjoyment improved immensely. The best thing about the Ikea turntable is the arm and cartridge. At least it plays back with more detail and extended frequency range.
Great show Frank and a good comparison.. especially for someone getting into vinyl for the first time. The Victrola sounded a bit tinny when you played a record on it, whereas the Ikea sound had a bit more depth, but who am I to judge. Music is for everyone Thanks for sharing !!
Hey Frank, I can definitely hear the sound difference between the two... The Ikea sounds clearer. And I can hear inconsistencies in the wow with the Victrola... But honestly why choose any of these if you can buy an entry level Audio Technica, Fluance or just a vintage TT that will do a way better job.
That Victrola sounded actually awful, especially compared to the Audio-Technica pickup on the IKEA. The difference was even more audible when you switched between the two directly without speaking in-between. You could literally hear the speed variance at 9:49 - So yes, the IKEA is a piece of plastic, but I'd never tell anyone to buy the Victrola over that one, or over anything, basically. I like the look of those all-in-ones. Don't know why, but for me they look really cool. Too bad that all of them are using the same good-for-nothing mechanics.
YES! Thought it was just me, but in the second comparison when Frank switched over to the Victrola it sounded as if it was pitched down by about -2. Glad to see someone else noticed.
The Ikea sounds better imo (a bit more depth and overall bass). The Victrola definitely was turning slower, and it seemed to be struggling to keep the same speed...strange. I have a small ION duo deck (easy to store and even take along) and the sound is decent for what it is (coupled with computer speaker) although some of the records really skip a bit too much for my taste. Nice show! Cheers.
Here’s an example why Frank and this channel meteor storms it out of the park. So many dudes dress their hobby knowledge as a smoking jacket, ascot draped upper classhole. But Frank gets that it’s all supposed to be fun, not some snobby overcompensation for manly shrinkage. Frank digs it deep and sometimes just digs it and that’s the passion and the passion is the definition of hobby.
The main issue with the Victrola is that it’s simply a case for that cheap, all-in-one turntable unit that you see in many of these suitcase style record players. Anyone can buy them for a penny from a supplier in China and slap a heritage brand on them. If I’m not mistaken, Victrola hasn’t been a going concern for years. Like the UK’s GPO and others, the brand is now owned by some company simply looking to trade on a well-loved brand. The IKEA one, for all its shortcomings, at least looks like some thought went into engineering a proper record player. It’s just way overpriced for what it is. Like Frank says, there’s more bang for your buck out there.
The Victrola brand is owned by Innovative Technologies.The mechanism is either a Sunwin or a clone. Either way, it's Chinese. The Ikea is either a Hanpin or Ya Horng, from Taiwan. The main difference in sound is the magnetic vs the ceramic cartridge.
I would have figured on passable sound from the "victrola," but that's probably due to the ceramic cartridge etc. The VIPRB-AT-LPGO-BT you can pick up at Walmart for circa-$160, which may be a shade better than the ikea.
My kid brother's first record deck came from Tandy/Radio Shack. He got it in about 1983. It was better in every respect than that IKEA one. My brother tweaked and upgraded it over the years, and with another, and my Tandy mixer (£78 in 1984), was able to start dj'ing. The sound quality was great, and it was a sturdy piece of kit. Pity they don't make 'em like that anymore.
Hi Frank, apart from the more expensive Victrola Turntables, the rest are just plain junk. Just recently released is the Audio Technica Sound Burger which now has bluetooth. I saw Techmoan review it yesterday on CZcams and it's build, sound, tracking force and wow and flutter came out quite respectable.
I love my records, I will keep with my vintage Dual turntables. I own 10. Two were my Dads (1971 and 1981) and one I bought used in 1980. All still run and records sound great.
It could be interesting to try to improve the IKEA record player. Add more weight to the record platter and the chassis to make it more sound dead, to kill some resonance. Obviously there’s a limit to what can be achieved, but there’s a bit of easy solutions to try out. Maybe a cork platter mat instead of the filt mat? 🤷🏼♂️
I'm pausing at 1:17 thinking "he better go to the stylus at the very start, becasue that is the most important thing with a cheap record player; to know if it will destroy your records. Ok, un-pausing now.
People buy what they can afford or what is easy to get. I started with a sound design all in one (8 track-radio and records) back in 78 buy 1980 I had a pioneer PL-530 and I'm still spinning on it today.
Nice comparison review. The "Victrola" is from my childhood days. Very popular back then. And most of the home stereo console units had very basic "'turntables". Both of these units are built for kids, teens, low end audio. They do the job they were intended to. The sound difference would be because of the cartridge type. At the cost of todays vinyl I would spend a bit more. Audio Technica, House of Marley, Denon, Project can be bought in the 200 to 400 dollar range here in Ontario. Of course you would need an amp/receiver and speakers to enjoy the sound. P.S. My eyes were distracted to the bottle of Crown Royale on the shelf. I still have a Dual 1209 that I bought in 1967. Still functions well.😊😊
FYI the Victrola brand today is a different company than the RCA Victor "Victrola" phonographs made in the early-and mid-20th-century. Due to several corporate reorganizations, the Victrola brand now has nothing to do with RCA Victor or the original Victor Talking Machine Company "Victrolas".
First, I noticed a difference in the volume levels. But, as I expected, the Ikea sounds much better with good bass response. The Victrola sounds tinny, which I would expect from the cheapest of the cheap ceramic cartridge. The Ikea is just a turntable whereas the Victrola is a complete self-contained sound system. Obviously the Ikea has a built-in pre-amp. Different pre-amps produce different sound output.
hey frank...good comparison...i have to say i like the victrola simply because it doesn't need external speakers to enjoy...but....i do use headphones which make the sound much better (better than the ikea sounded....so there's just a little tip for both you and your daughter...hope the family is well...peace to all...rocky
I think IF people can find vintage players at thriftstores (not the 80's all-in-one), it's a better investment. My used Sony I bought in 1995 is still playing. I've seen so many turntables make it to the Goodwill "bins" and get instantly crushed by a heavy object or a really nice player get trashed only missing a cartridge.
Not trying to sound like a smart alek, but would the tone arm / stylus resting on the record as it was played slow the rpm? Or does the phone weight kind of accomplish the same thing?
Big Announcement!!!!!!....Paul McCartney will be releasing an 80 Vinyl Singles Box set with Picture sleeves on December 2, 2022. Paul will be making the announcement on Thursday 11-10-2022. - Eliot Wien, NYC
I could hear the Wow on the Vic… yikes. I started with a suitcase ($30!) but found that I got far more mileage after a slight upgrade to the LP60… had that one for years!
A family member gave me a old Montgomery wards airline record player with am/fm radio and a 8 track player but I'm scared to use it lol. I went and played with it a little, needs a new stylus obviously, and the record player works. But I want to get it refurbished but I'm not sure if it's worth it. Could you talk to me about that please or elaborate a little for me on what you think? I know most vinyl heads don't like all in one build but does it matter that it's a really older model just asking for some help and some info
i suppose you could by the icrapea and mod it by using it basically as a template to make a plinth out of mdf and platter ,and upgrading the cart a notch ...
On paper, the Ikea should be the better turntable. It has a magnetic phono cartridge and a real spindle bearing (versus the stationary spindle of the Victrola). And the sound test bore that out. But build quality of the Ikea is abysmal. I think you'll find that it isn't so much that the platter is warped, it is that it doesn't fit the spindle properly and as a result it wobbles. While you can technically replace the cartridge with something better, there's no proper way to adjust tracking or anti-skate. The thing is almost entirely made of plastic, and it is very laughably light. And I'm betting, based on the inexpensive nature of everything else in the Ikea, the pream isn't particularly good, so the inability to disable it is a red flag. Bottom line: The Ikea is cheap and disposable. It is slightly better than the Victrola, but that really is not saying much, and the Ikea's price is way out of proportion for what you get. And I think the Ikea is butt-ugly. I would not have either unit in my stereo setup, though I might consider the Victrola if I had a need for a portable.
I have the RPM app as well on my Android phone I haven't used it in a while. But your use of a roll of tape in the center of the platter inspired me to run it again. I have seen that it's been updated a couple of times since I last used it. My result was 33.27 and even so it said it's not a real turntable speed. So obviously there's some bugs there.
The IKEA record player would be much better if it had to be assembled (couldn't help it.) But seriously, while I feel it costs too much, I wonder if it could be hacked by at least adding some weight to the base.
The Ikea player will sound better , that's because of the 3006L cartridge, but if it's better all along, no, i stay clear from both of'em, i got a Technics 1210 mkll, so i'm done bying recordplayers/turntables.😆
For $190 you could get so many better brand new tables from UTurn or Audio Technica, never mind something vintage on the used market from a legit manufacturer like Technics.
Firstly as expected the IKEA clearly sounded better, however I think it's the Victrola that serves its purpose better. I disagree when you say that neither is good for a serious listener of music. Many years ago (too many) I started out with something much worse than the Victrola, a portable all in one (the IKEA can't offer this cheap, instant hit), I got it as a kid at Xmas & that started me on a lifetime of happy listening. It didn't ruin any records either, 50 years on they still play fine, it's how you look after them 👍
I have said it many times, but the cheapo record players definitely serve an important purpose - they are a gateway for many people into this hobby. And as I said in this video, the stories of them "destroying" records are great embellished. I still stand behind my comment that they are not for serious listening though.
I could definitely hear the wow on the Victrola turntable which I think could become really annoying over time. That said I do pick out sound fluctuations very easily so maybe I’m being too critical. That RPM app looks interesting !
But some of that disposable furniture is pretty heavy... :) Our IKEA couch in the basement is at least 10 years old now and going strong... I'm not convinced any of these turntables will be around in 10 years.
@@ArturdeSousaRocha Perhaps they are not, but long as I can remember, it had that reputation, along with complicated assembly instructions..when television shows are making jokes about it, you know it's universal..I'm sure they got the feedback, and changed things..but that myth is still floating around..
IKEA turntable just seems like a poor option when you can spend around the same to get an entry level turntable from one of those other companies you mentioned - which provide more options and probably sounds better. The Victrola sounded terrible in your test - not worth the $40-50. I remember as a kid I had a small plastic white & black turntable with a built in amp and radio that and with speakers and was probably like the Victrola - maybe biased as it was a while ago but think it still may have sounded better.
Recently my father in law thought he was doing me a solid and bought me a cheap pioneer turn table. I'm sure he didn't give much. But it was from the heart. That said, it's a piece of junk. It's still in the box.
Vintage ('70s - '80s) Pioneer turntables are ones of the the real stuff. I own two of them and my actual main is a Pioneer PL-300. Better than all the junk nowadays!
I think I'll purchase a Victrola for my millennial daughter since she likes the retro look, doesn't care about sound quality, and prefers to scratch records.
@@jayzeeshawn Lotta people use em to spin the Vinyl , looking to see if it's Warped . I'd definitely test records was not familiar before purchasing - venders permission of course
I can't figure out how Ikea could put out something so hideously ugly. After all, cool modern design is supposed to be their whole shtick, right? One important technical difference is that the Ikea has a MM cartridge, while the Victrola has a pretty sketchy ceramic cartridge. Some of those ceramics use a plastic cantilever, and may even have a ruby stylus.
No amount of "cheap" justifies really crappy turntables for people "getting into the hobby". Why pay $40 to make your $30 records sound like complete crap. Rather than buying instant landfill, look around for decent old second hand decks.
The ikea sounded better than the vicrrola thr auduo sounded like it struggels to get the audio out but are ideal as a cheap player for young kids/ those who are getting knto vinys I have subbed to the channel
I can’t imagine setting heavy items like a roll of duct tape and smart phone are giving accurate readings. Those items have to be weighing down the platter, slowing it down.
@@Channel33RPM Totally understand. Even on a top tier turntable I still can’t see how setting a phone onto the platter would give an accurate reading because of the added weight.
Ikea taking $200 for that piece of crap is pretty brazen. They could have easily made it out of wood or at least more massive with a nicer platter for that money. $90 should be plenty for that thing.
These are toys and not proper turntables. Don't get sucked in by the hype that guys like this and CZcams vids create cos you will be wasting your money, and these will damage your vinyl, period. Go to a decent Hi FI dealer and get some good sound advice instead of this rubbish.
I don't think I am hyping either one of these... quite the contrary. I assume you watched the video, but perhaps not the whole thing? That said, if you have kids, or if you are around kids, you know most have no interest in hi-fi stores (that may come later... first comes the curiosity). And while the IKEA turntable is not very good... I don't see how it would damage anyone's records beyond normal wear.
Both rubbish. Get your daughter a good vintage starter system. I always tell people to start with vintage so they hear potential. Those cheap players would have never inspired me and probably would have turned me off of records.
Why? She has access to many turntables in the house - including vintage hi-fi stuff and newer turntables from Fluance, U-Turn and ProJect. But kids really dig the suitcase players. It's a thing. And I'm totally cool with it.
After watching you and your daughter’s video, I bought a Victrola from Amazon. It was a customer return and an Amazon note thanked me for giving it a second life! It was only $30 U.S. including tax. Mine is brown and has a nice retro look in my music room. It sounds like an old AM/FM pocket radio I used to own. I play pop records bought at thrift stores and I am surprised that it is fun to play. I also play 78’s that were given to me. To me, worth every penny.
There used to be a suitcase-style record player with the same tonearm and cartridge as the IKEA turntable -- the MPK (Music Public Kingdom) TT270. I have a review of it on my channel. It sold for around the same price as the IKEA turntable today. Unfortunately it has been discontinued. But both Victrola and Crosley do sell several portable record players with the AT3600L cartridge, such as the Crosley Portfolio and Victrola Revolution Go.
The Victrola sounded exactly how I would expect, as I had two cheap music centres in the 80s that had essentially the same platter, tone-arm/cartridge and drive system, not to mention friends who also had similar. Because I didn't really know any better (I knew proper turntables existed, I just never had experience of them), I put up with it. It wasn't until I got a job that I bought the original ProJect Debut turntable and my listening enjoyment improved immensely. The best thing about the Ikea turntable is the arm and cartridge. At least it plays back with more detail and extended frequency range.
Great show Frank and a good comparison.. especially for someone getting into vinyl for the first time. The Victrola sounded a bit tinny when you played a record on it, whereas the Ikea sound had a bit more depth, but who am I to judge. Music is for everyone Thanks for sharing !!
Those were my impressions of the 2 record players as well.
Hey Frank, I can definitely hear the sound difference between the two... The Ikea sounds clearer. And I can hear inconsistencies in the wow with the Victrola... But honestly why choose any of these if you can buy an entry level Audio Technica, Fluance or just a vintage TT that will do a way better job.
I agree with you... I cite similar examples (AT, Fluance, U-Turn audio) toward the end of the video.
That Victrola sounded actually awful, especially compared to the Audio-Technica pickup on the IKEA. The difference was even more audible when you switched between the two directly without speaking in-between. You could literally hear the speed variance at 9:49 - So yes, the IKEA is a piece of plastic, but I'd never tell anyone to buy the Victrola over that one, or over anything, basically. I like the look of those all-in-ones. Don't know why, but for me they look really cool. Too bad that all of them are using the same good-for-nothing mechanics.
YES! Thought it was just me, but in the second comparison when Frank switched over to the Victrola it sounded as if it was pitched down by about -2. Glad to see someone else noticed.
The Ikea sounds better imo (a bit more depth and overall bass). The Victrola definitely was turning slower, and it seemed to be struggling to keep the same speed...strange. I have a small ION duo deck (easy to store and even take along) and the sound is decent for what it is (coupled with computer speaker) although some of the records really skip a bit too much for my taste.
Nice show!
Cheers.
Here’s an example why Frank and this channel meteor storms it out of the park. So many dudes dress their hobby knowledge as a smoking jacket, ascot draped upper classhole. But Frank gets that it’s all supposed to be fun, not some snobby overcompensation for manly shrinkage. Frank digs it deep and sometimes just digs it and that’s the passion and the passion is the definition of hobby.
Thanks man! If it's not fun - it's not worth doing, IMO.
The main issue with the Victrola is that it’s simply a case for that cheap, all-in-one turntable unit that you see in many of these suitcase style record players. Anyone can buy them for a penny from a supplier in China and slap a heritage brand on them. If I’m not mistaken, Victrola hasn’t been a going concern for years. Like the UK’s GPO and others, the brand is now owned by some company simply looking to trade on a well-loved brand.
The IKEA one, for all its shortcomings, at least looks like some thought went into engineering a proper record player. It’s just way overpriced for what it is. Like Frank says, there’s more bang for your buck out there.
The Victrola brand is owned by Innovative Technologies.The mechanism is either a Sunwin or a clone. Either way, it's Chinese. The Ikea is either a Hanpin or Ya Horng, from Taiwan. The main difference in sound is the magnetic vs the ceramic cartridge.
I would have figured on passable sound from the "victrola," but that's probably due to the ceramic cartridge etc. The VIPRB-AT-LPGO-BT you can pick up at Walmart for circa-$160, which may be a shade better than the ikea.
My kid brother's first record deck came from Tandy/Radio Shack. He got it in about 1983. It was better in every respect than that IKEA one. My brother tweaked and upgraded it over the years, and with another, and my Tandy mixer (£78 in 1984), was able to start dj'ing. The sound quality was great, and it was a sturdy piece of kit. Pity they don't make 'em like that anymore.
Cool Strohs beer sign. I miss that beer.
Hi Frank, apart from the more expensive Victrola Turntables, the rest are just plain junk. Just recently released is the Audio Technica Sound Burger which now has bluetooth. I saw Techmoan review it yesterday on CZcams and it's build, sound, tracking force and wow and flutter came out quite respectable.
…and it’s apparently already sold out, too.
Yeah, try buying one!
Wow great video. I've never seen a video comparing two worse turntables. Informative as always though! You did it so we don't have to. 😂
I took one for the team, haha!
@@Channel33RPM Next week you should compare a Chevy Vega with a Ford Pinto.
I love my records, I will keep with my vintage Dual turntables. I own 10. Two were my Dads (1971 and 1981) and one I bought used in 1980. All still run and records sound great.
Wow - sound like a great collection!
Fantastic video bro
love the channel keep up the great work
Thanks!
Interesting video Frank. Even if it's comparing junk to trash. :-)
Thanks 👍
Piano music is the best for testing acceptable wow & flutter because of the sustain and decay of notes.
Yes good tip
It could be interesting to try to improve the IKEA record player. Add more weight to the record platter and the chassis to make it more sound dead, to kill some resonance.
Obviously there’s a limit to what can be achieved, but there’s a bit of easy solutions to try out. Maybe a cork platter mat instead of the filt mat? 🤷🏼♂️
I'm pausing at 1:17 thinking "he better go to the stylus at the very start, becasue that is the most important thing with a cheap record player; to know if it will destroy your records. Ok, un-pausing now.
Great video. Thanks for doing the comparison.
No problem 👍
That was a fun comparison. Thank you.
Glsd you liked the vid.
Through one AirPod 3 I can clearly hear that the Victorola has no bottom end (compared to the other one).
WOW it's better than a Crossley/Victrola but what isn't?
I can surely hear the difference between them. The Ikea one, indeed.
You should see my first record player brought in 1969 wasn't hi fi but it got me into buying vynil. Its long gone now replaced by separates.
People buy what they can afford or what is easy to get. I started with a sound design all in one (8 track-radio and records) back in 78 buy 1980 I had a pioneer PL-530 and I'm still spinning on it today.
Absolutely - as I said, if either of these help someone get into vinyl - then that is great. My daughter loves her Victrola.
Nice comparison review. The "Victrola" is from my childhood days. Very popular back then. And most of the home stereo console units had very basic "'turntables". Both of these units are built for kids, teens, low end audio. They do the job they were intended to. The sound difference would be because of the cartridge type. At the cost of todays vinyl I would spend a bit more. Audio Technica, House of Marley, Denon, Project can be bought in the 200 to 400 dollar range here in Ontario. Of course you would need an amp/receiver and speakers to enjoy the sound.
P.S. My eyes were distracted to the bottle of Crown Royale on the shelf. I still have a Dual 1209 that I bought in 1967. Still functions well.😊😊
FYI the Victrola brand today is a different company than the RCA Victor "Victrola" phonographs made in the early-and mid-20th-century. Due to several corporate reorganizations, the Victrola brand now has nothing to do with RCA Victor or the original Victor Talking Machine Company "Victrolas".
@@peacearchwa5103 Yep. Even RCA is no longer RCA. It is just a licensed brand name.
First, I noticed a difference in the volume levels. But, as I expected, the Ikea sounds much better with good bass response. The Victrola sounds tinny, which I would expect from the cheapest of the cheap ceramic cartridge. The Ikea is just a turntable whereas the Victrola is a complete self-contained sound system.
Obviously the Ikea has a built-in pre-amp. Different pre-amps produce different sound output.
Hey there Frank, good to see you back brother, hope you're feeling better. 👍
Thanks Len. I am feeling much better.
Frank. A company in the Netherlands is doing vinyl pressings in a green format. Worth a visit with your uniqueness in what is vinyl!
Oh yeah? Do you know which company this is?
Yes Deepgrooves in the Netherlands.
hey frank...good comparison...i have to say i like the victrola simply because it doesn't need external speakers to enjoy...but....i do use headphones which make the sound much better (better than the ikea sounded....so there's just a little tip for both you and your daughter...hope the family is well...peace to all...rocky
cheers Rocky!
I think IF people can find vintage players at thriftstores (not the 80's all-in-one), it's a better investment. My used Sony I bought in 1995 is still playing. I've seen so many turntables make it to the Goodwill "bins" and get instantly crushed by a heavy object or a really nice player get trashed only missing a cartridge.
Not trying to sound like a smart alek, but would the tone arm / stylus resting on the record as it was played slow the rpm? Or does the phone weight kind of accomplish the same thing?
The phone weighs more, so would likely have more of an impact.
Big Announcement!!!!!!....Paul McCartney will be releasing an 80 Vinyl Singles Box set with Picture sleeves on December 2, 2022. Paul will be making the announcement on Thursday 11-10-2022. - Eliot Wien, NYC
Yeah the inconsistent speed of the Victrola was pretty obvious.
I could hear the Wow on the Vic… yikes. I started with a suitcase ($30!) but found that I got far more mileage after a slight upgrade to the LP60… had that one for years!
A family member gave me a old Montgomery wards airline record player with am/fm radio and a 8 track player but I'm scared to use it lol. I went and played with it a little, needs a new stylus obviously, and the record player works. But I want to get it refurbished but I'm not sure if it's worth it. Could you talk to me about that please or elaborate a little for me on what you think? I know most vinyl heads don't like all in one build but does it matter that it's a really older model just asking for some help and some info
i suppose you could by the icrapea and mod it by using it basically as a template to make a plinth out of mdf and platter ,and upgrading the cart a notch ...
On paper, the Ikea should be the better turntable. It has a magnetic phono cartridge and a real spindle bearing (versus the stationary spindle of the Victrola). And the sound test bore that out. But build quality of the Ikea is abysmal. I think you'll find that it isn't so much that the platter is warped, it is that it doesn't fit the spindle properly and as a result it wobbles. While you can technically replace the cartridge with something better, there's no proper way to adjust tracking or anti-skate. The thing is almost entirely made of plastic, and it is very laughably light. And I'm betting, based on the inexpensive nature of everything else in the Ikea, the pream isn't particularly good, so the inability to disable it is a red flag.
Bottom line: The Ikea is cheap and disposable. It is slightly better than the Victrola, but that really is not saying much, and the Ikea's price is way out of proportion for what you get. And I think the Ikea is butt-ugly. I would not have either unit in my stereo setup, though I might consider the Victrola if I had a need for a portable.
Sorry Frank I ment to ask you this a while back. What anti static brush are you using now?
For static, I mostly use my Zerostat antistatic gun.
I have the RPM app as well on my Android phone I haven't used it in a while. But your use of a roll of tape in the center of the platter inspired me to run it again. I have seen that it's been updated a couple of times since I last used it. My result was 33.27 and even so it said it's not a real turntable speed. So obviously there's some bugs there.
Interesting. Thanks for letting me know.
What is the name of the app you use to measure the speed? Thanks.
play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.AM.AM.RPMSpeed&hl=en_CA&gl=US&pli=1
Well...that does it for me....looks like I'll get rid of my Technics and my Fluance and get myself a pieceofcrapfarnugen....😉
I would advise against that.
The IKEA record player would be much better if it had to be assembled (couldn't help it.) But seriously, while I feel it costs too much, I wonder if it could be hacked by at least adding some weight to the base.
Not being negative but Both tables belong in the landfill...
Wait! What?! Pressed by IKEA we’re ya to take a sad song and make it better?
The Ikea player will sound better , that's because of the 3006L cartridge, but if it's better all along, no, i stay clear from both of'em, i got a Technics 1210 mkll, so i'm done bying recordplayers/turntables.😆
Nice - I have a 1200. The 1200 is definitely the last turntable I will ever need.
For $190 you could get so many better brand new tables from UTurn or Audio Technica, never mind something vintage on the used market from a legit manufacturer like Technics.
Firstly as expected the IKEA clearly sounded better, however I think it's the Victrola that serves its purpose better. I disagree when you say that neither is good for a serious listener of music. Many years ago (too many) I started out with something much worse than the Victrola, a portable all in one (the IKEA can't offer this cheap, instant hit), I got it as a kid at Xmas & that started me on a lifetime of happy listening. It didn't ruin any records either, 50 years on they still play fine, it's how you look after them 👍
I have said it many times, but the cheapo record players definitely serve an important purpose - they are a gateway for many people into this hobby. And as I said in this video, the stories of them "destroying" records are great embellished. I still stand behind my comment that they are not for serious listening though.
I could definitely hear the wow on the Victrola turntable which I think could become really annoying over time. That said I do pick out sound fluctuations very easily so maybe I’m being too critical. That RPM app looks interesting !
The RPM app is fun to play with. How accurate is it? I'm not sure - but I think it comes close.
I heard it too. A slight drop in pitch on the vocal. The record is fairly catchy though!
I love his disbelief of how light the IKEA one is..the store that sells disposal furniture...😂
But some of that disposable furniture is pretty heavy... :)
Our IKEA couch in the basement is at least 10 years old now and going strong... I'm not convinced any of these turntables will be around in 10 years.
@@Channel33RPM Had a bad experience with a bed once, but it probably wasn't their fault.. I need to embrace my full figure...😅
Some of that disposal furniture served me for decades and survived transport when I moved. I don't know why people keep perpetuating that myth.
@@ArturdeSousaRocha Perhaps they are not, but long as I can remember, it had that reputation, along with complicated assembly instructions..when television shows are making jokes about it, you know it's universal..I'm sure they got the feedback, and changed things..but that myth is still floating around..
What’s the record your playing ?
The Penny Dreadfuls from the UK
for the price, the ikea should at least have an aluminum platter.
The IKEA sounded better, but wouldn't recommend any of the two to anyone 😉
Jim 🏴🙂
Good call.
IKEA turntable just seems like a poor option when you can spend around the same to get an entry level turntable from one of those other companies you mentioned - which provide more options and probably sounds better.
The Victrola sounded terrible in your test - not worth the $40-50. I remember as a kid I had a small plastic white & black turntable with a built in amp and radio that and with speakers and was probably like the Victrola - maybe biased as it was a while ago but think it still may have sounded better.
Recently my father in law thought he was doing me a solid and bought me a cheap pioneer turn table. I'm sure he didn't give much. But it was from the heart. That said, it's a piece of junk. It's still in the box.
Vintage ('70s - '80s) Pioneer turntables are ones of the the real stuff. I own two of them and my actual main is a Pioneer PL-300. Better than all the junk nowadays!
Great !
I think I'll purchase a Victrola for my millennial daughter since she likes the retro look, doesn't care about sound quality, and prefers to scratch records.
Thing about the victrola , the fact it runs on batteries . Perfect for taking to record shows . Had to look that option up - You didn't address it
I will have to check this one... I didn't know some of these ran on batteries until I saw your previous comment.
@@Channel33RPM Now U got me questioning - Takes batteries or Not . Units rite there on your side of the fence instruction booklet included
What would you do with it at a record show? You certainly shouldn;t be playing records on it.
@@jayzeeshawn Lotta people use em to spin the Vinyl , looking to see if it's Warped . I'd definitely test records was not familiar before purchasing - venders permission of course
I can't figure out how Ikea could put out something so hideously ugly. After all, cool modern design is supposed to be their whole shtick, right?
One important technical difference is that the Ikea has a MM cartridge, while the Victrola has a pretty sketchy ceramic cartridge. Some of those ceramics use a plastic cantilever, and may even have a ruby stylus.
No amount of "cheap" justifies really crappy turntables for people "getting into the hobby". Why pay $40 to make your $30 records sound like complete crap. Rather than buying instant landfill, look around for decent old second hand decks.
Hello My Great Friend Frank Landry I Hope You Have A Great Wonderful Sunday Afternoon And Evening Blessed With Love Joy And Happiness.🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
I'm surprised how cheap those Ikea players look
huge difference in sound. the ikea was far superior then the victrola from what i heard.
The ikea sounded better than the vicrrola thr auduo sounded like it struggels to get the audio out but are ideal as a cheap player for young kids/ those who are getting knto vinys I have subbed to the channel
Thanks for subscribing!
@@Channel33RPM no worries I find your videos intresting
Ikea should sound better, being 3x's as expensive.
Honestly if you can't afford anything better than these then stick to digital. Seriously.
IKEA really soaked the mattress with that hunk of junk.
Big differens, IKEA much better 😎
I can’t imagine setting heavy items like a roll of duct tape and smart phone are giving accurate readings. Those items have to be weighing down the platter, slowing it down.
I take it all with a grain of salt... as I stressed in the intro, this video is for fun.
@@Channel33RPM Totally understand. Even on a top tier turntable I still can’t see how setting a phone onto the platter would give an accurate reading because of the added weight.
This ikea deck is sooo ugly... Can't imagine someone buying this and put it in the living room infront of the guests...
Both of these products are just junk
Ikea taking $200 for that piece of crap is pretty brazen. They could have easily made it out of wood or at least more massive with a nicer platter for that money. $90 should be plenty for that thing.
I agree.
These are toys and not proper turntables. Don't get sucked in by the hype that guys like this and CZcams vids create cos you will be wasting your money, and these will damage your vinyl, period. Go to a decent Hi FI dealer and get some good sound advice instead of this rubbish.
I don't think I am hyping either one of these... quite the contrary. I assume you watched the video, but perhaps not the whole thing? That said, if you have kids, or if you are around kids, you know most have no interest in hi-fi stores (that may come later... first comes the curiosity). And while the IKEA turntable is not very good... I don't see how it would damage anyone's records beyond normal wear.
@@Channel33RPM Oh dear!
Both rubbish. Get your daughter a good vintage starter system. I always tell people to start with vintage so they hear potential. Those cheap players would have never inspired me and probably would have turned me off of records.
Why? She has access to many turntables in the house - including vintage hi-fi stuff and newer turntables from Fluance, U-Turn and ProJect. But kids really dig the suitcase players. It's a thing. And I'm totally cool with it.