New $85 Electrohome Montrose turntable review & test
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- čas přidán 29. 06. 2024
- Canadian brand Electrohome (co-owned with Fluance) has a turntable that's currently on sale for under US$85, the Montrose (model RR35). But is it any good? Let's find out...
Time flow:
0:00 Introduction
2:07 Setup
6:12 Overview
8:42 Sound quality
13:49 Tests & measurements
17:03 A look inside
18:37 Conclusion
Note: This model of turntable was made for Electrohome by Leetac: leetac1995.en.alibaba.com/
#vinyl #turntable #audiophile - Věda a technologie
Impressive that this record player has a servo lock system (that's what Sony once called it) for keeping the speed accurate. That sets it apart from most other budget oriented record players. I agree it sounds a bit bright though.
I picture a room full of fascinating audio, video and computing objects from the past including 1000’s of cds, cassettes, records and laserdiscs when I watch your videos.
We really need a room tour video
VWestlife is busy enough with regular creation of videos for us; I'm sure adding a chick (or many of them) to the mix is too much -- you need a farm to raise chicks, you know!
@@defcreator187I think you need to have a browse through his early videos….
Don't forget the Tandy! (Tandys?)
An entry-level turntable that has this quality is rare. Thanks for the review/test. And thanks for reminding me how clear vinyl production records sound!! In my 80s AM radio days, I used a LOT of those production tracks in rip-n-read carted commercials!
A budget turntable that looks like a vintage turntable. It gets all the basics right (if you buy a stylus pressure gauge). The highly respected AR turntables didn't have anti-skate. This is tweaker heaven: anti-skate, phono stage upgrades, sound deadening panels, bottom panel upgrade etc. I predict a cottage industry of tweaks. That AT cartridge was once rebadged by Rega, so it's a good cartridge. Join a forum & have fun!
First-time comment: I've been subscribed (and watched pretty much every video) for about 5 years now. I am not much of a tech guy (old or new) but fondly recall my late-70s all-in-one Panasonic turntable/cassette-tape stereo system (age 16-17) which gave me many years of pleasure playing Beatles, Eagles, Billy Joel LPs. I watch because generally enjoy 70s vibe. I've watched your more personal journey video and glad you worked through obstacles. Anyway, I enjoy your videos, for me a bit more of a casual thing for relaxation but obviously you have a lot of knowledge/expertise. Thank you.
I remember my parents getting a Panasonic although I remember it being National-Panasonic on the front. They had it for years, I remember them getting it in the mid 70's and it sounded pretty good as well.
@steviebboy69 national ran big time in india in the 80s and 90s and the early 2000s too. If you didn't have a national air conditioner or a geezer or a product from them, you were considered a 'slow' and a 'loose' person 😂
@@RantegSingh21 I do remember seeing refrigerated A/C units being National. This being in Australia and National was popular as is Panasonic.
@@steviebboy69 "National" and "Panasonic" are from the same company Matsushita of Japan. Same with Technics!
@@steviebboy69 "National", "Panasonic", "National-Panasonic" as well as "Technics" are all brands from Matsushita of Japan.
Really happy to see that optical speed feedack system! This should be standard for any turntable produced after 1990!
Sadly, that feedback system only acts as window dressing in this setup, and actually seems to make things worse!
Electrohome ruined the motor's performance, because by itself, it generates only 0.08% wow/flutter on the Crosley C3, same for the C6. The EG-530ED-3F is THE standard motor for pretty much all turntables made in China today, which only excludes Pro-Ject as the last big Western maker of turntables. It can be found in everything from this el-cheapo to twothousand dollar boutique machines, and it is freakin amazing as a standalone self contained and very stable motor.
@@owenlaprath4135 Good point, I always forget most of these turntable motors have speed regulation electronics inside. I always assume they just run a normal dc motor at a constant voltage.
Happy pride vwestlife! Not really related to this video but the one you made about coming out really helped me!
🏳️🌈❤️
My "cis gender" "straight" self agrees! BE YOUR SELF.
wait wut? And I thought I had a good gaydar lol. Would have never guessed but people say that about me. People think I'm jok8ing when I tell them for the 1st time. After reading @farisalharbi647 comment I HAD to find this video. Blown away! The best part is I got to put a face to the voice! Stupid Planes! 🛩✈🛩
every time you post somethin bout budget record players i get excited cause i legit use your vids on record players to show peeps that wanna get into vinyl for the first time and dont wanna spend 1000s of $ on a player. so this is goin in the catalog to send!
thanks for being as unbiased as possible on all these reviews (including cassette decks), seriously helpful when i dont wanna sift thru all the technical jargon sheets
That's what I do too. I think a bunch of us viewers do that.
Kevin real down to earth approach is really what gets me. Plus he manages to discover products like this TT that we never heard of but are worth considering, especially for a first time buyer. Awesome.
at that price, its a steal. They done a lot right with this turntable.
Yeah too bad for that counterweight scale that it is not rotatable and the lack of antiskating... even a basic, spring-loaded solution would not add too much to the costs! I mean, as they bothered with a closed-loop system, it seems like a missed opportunity to create something really decent! 😥
Real attractive cabinet too, I am a sucker for wood
@@volvo09 Well it's just fake wood 🪵
Dale Jacobs truly shines in this video, with his 1978 jazz-fusion album.
The first track of this album (Cobra) is very good.
This Electrohome RR35 has good late 1960's to mid 1970's aesthetics, which would make it a good match for some older wood-cased receivers and amps. At $85.00, it seems like a good buy (provided the buyer gets one as well sorted and squared away as yours is).
Good video, as usual.
BTW - I drive a 2020 Jetta with the 1.4L turbo engine (with an automatic). It does great on gas with a mixed cycle averaging between 34-38 mpg - and on pure highway driving, upwards of 45-50 mpg. Those are almost TDI type numbers - on regular gas.
Even better if one of those older amps/recievers has its own phono preamp, as it seems the internal one is the biggest drawback here.
You know it a good day when vwestlife is doing video of vinyl records and turntables reviews, eh?
Seems like they have pretty decent quality control, and for an entry level record player, the sound is pretty darn good! It seems like the company actually cares about the product that they put out. Great video as always!
The Montrose is a great entry level unit. And the price point is fantastic.
That optical speed sensor makes it just as advanced as a 90s ball mouse! Nice to see a feature like that with a budget model. Not the model for everyone but certainly better than other lower end turntables available. It’s a good upgrade if all you have is a suitcase style one! Great video!
No matter how many good, or not, music equipment you bring on Stage, you always have the Grooviest Tunes. *Thanks!*
Thanks. Always a good & fair review of the products you showcase.
Great find! Looks almost exactly like my Dad's wood grain Panasonic turntable we had growing up in the 70s. All that's missing is the Quadrophonic receiver with the joystick controlled balance with red LED 😂
I was able to get a refurbished ATLP60XBT for $50 from AT's outlet store. Have been pretty happy with it, especially for the price they were selling it for.
10:32 - Connecticut Twins Orchestra? OK, be right back, gotta Google that. **afk** OK, back. Jas (John) and Stas (Stanley) Przasnyski were born in Bristol, CT in 1926. Apparently, they were a Pretty Big Deal in the polka scene. Huh, you learn something new every day.
"Entirely acceptable?" I'd say it's pretty darn good! The faux woodgrain and smoked dust cover is believable enough to look great next to vintage equipment, and the chromed cursive branding helps bring the "vintage look" home. As you said, it's not a premium turntable, but it's far better than I expected for the price.
I enjoy watching your videos! I have been watching since maybe around 2009-2010 on my old channel. I hope you are doing well and please never stop uploading. Your videos are very informative and entertaining! 🥰
Stunning turntable and great review as always
I am very nicely surprised! It definitely looks very nice, and the closed-loop speed control plus an upgradeable cartridge with VTF adjustment makes it a great option! Thank you for this great review, now I want one of those “production music” albums to tape my own news segments 😂… thanks for sharing this content with us 😊
10:10 through 11:08 . . . WOW !! the sound through the receiver and speakers I have connected to the computer is incredible, coming from the 85 $ turntable.
You need some Electrohome mid century woodgrain "rocket" or cylinder 360° speakers to go with this!
Greetings from Canada.
What a find Kevin! This will replace the AT LP60 in my recommend list for 1st time buyers with little budget.
Thank you!
Thank you very much for sharing all your great reviews with this old Patagonian professor who love electronics since the 50's. Gracias from frozen Argentina
Electrohome seems to be making really great products for the lowest-end of the market. I bought one of their suitcase players (used), and although it is very similar to the Crosleys and Victrolas (ceramic cartridge and a similar mechanism), it sounded much, much better. It was a little wider, with speakers on the sides. I think they paid more attention to the amplification and speakers and thus got the most they could out of that technology and form-factor. It isn't on their website, so it must have been discontinued. It is great to see they have offered this alternative as an entry-level turntable!
It’s a decent turntable, even though I won’t buy that particular turntable, I recommend them for newcomers to vinyl records!
I'm totally for the Electrohome turntable. My sound System lacks a big deal of treble, so the tone boost must compensate for it. Besides it's more beautiful than the AT-LP 60. I love the fake wood plinth and the smoked dust cover. It's just like my old Philips Turntable I had as a kid. To give it a more authentic 70's look I'd buy a nice rubber mat with silver trimmings on it. ❤❤❤
Glad to see there’s more good quality entry level turntables being made available today
12:50 The Electrohome has a scratchy, metallic sound, the second a dull, closed sound. I honestly can't tell which one sounds worse, I'd say they both sound very bad. I really appreciate your videos and your point of view.
That Dale Jacobs track was super!
Good to see an inexpensive product which is worth the money.
If I was in the market for a new turntable, as there are now 4 in my house, I would buy this one. It does all I need it to do without all the fancy stuff.
Great review Kevin.
I can't believe a turntable at this price has servo control for the speed. That is very cool.
I have an Aiwa version of the ATLP60 set up for the kids. When the motor became erratic I figured I'd just buy a new one, but at $150 now I modified a crosley cruiser motor to work. That Aiwa is pushing thirty years old - can't complain...
Very nice, much better than I expected.
'That was the first click .....[click] that was the second click....' makes you sound like the Lock Picking Lawyer. 😂 ❤
Great review, this is a compelling offering at that price
A very nice and excitable deck For some one just starting out . until they start going down that audio file rabbit hole.Good post definitely made with love❤
Finally, another review of a decent sounding budget turntable under $100!
Love your videos and record collection 💪👊
Gotta love how this turntable has a spot for the 45 adapter yet my 4x the price Fluance deck does not.
This turntable looks like the one that Aldi used to sell!
More than likely it is.
@@60gregma yo this is how we roll in ohio
mecha xi-jinping vs gundam kim jong-un
(you did good, congratulations)
Another in-depth review
The Electrohome turtable has a lot going on for it. Would be interesting to hear how it sounds by using a decent amplifier's built-in phono stage instead of its own. I suspect it will sound better than the Audio Technica.
I'm a sucker for woodgrain and smoked plastic
Would look great sitting next to an Atari 2600
I just found one "used, like new" on Amazon for $75! Thanks for sharing the review. 😊
I was pretty impressed at the strobe result for such a cheap deck. Nice vid 👍
Wow, can’t believe what a good motor/speed control system that thing has
But the downside of such a system is wow and flutter. But I don't think most people will hear it. Most tape decks are "worse" and nobody can hear it except for people who claim they can hear the difference of using different cables to connect the unit to the stereo.
@@christo930 disagree, this system counters the w&f of conventional systems, its actively monitoring speed and adjusting accordingly
These technique isnt new. maybe its rare to any TT. few AT-LPW Model series, the AT-LPW40 or AT-LPW50 for example. instead both of it are belt drive, which this Electrohome TT might be Direct Drive i suppose. these uses a similar technique with the speed sensor motor that ensures the speed, its sensoring to the bottom of the platter that has a counting in it like a clock. and its deadly spot on.
so you dont need to screw the speed to these TTs. which i found it very pratictal. beside if the belt is getting loose, then you need to replace a new one.
@@MisterYeko The technique used is very rare for belt drive, hence my surprise, I have seen it used in direct drives such as Sony, the only belt drive where there is active servo control, that I`ve encountered, was the Technics SL-BD22
@@jdekong3945 ah it did exist long time. Oops. I didnt think of the meaning behing of DC Servo. Now i get it…
Even on my smartphone speakers, I could hear the more crisp high end on the Electrohome immediate. Of course, I couldnt hear the low end difference on it.
I'd love to see you take a look at the AT-SB727 Sound Burger portable turntable. Definitely an interesting looking device...
Thanks for doing this thorough review. I don't need another turntable but I admit to having been curious about this one. As a Canadian, this is a somewhat depressing reminder of how domestic manufacturing has mostly disappeared from this country. Just like with Crosley, there is no continuity between the original Electrohome and the current company. This seems like a good quality item for the price range; too bad it doesn't have three speeds.
If they fix what is probably a mismatch for the input impedance of the cartridge and get the better tone quality, this would be fine for 90% of people wanting to play records occasionally. Most people aren't "audiophiles" and would be happy with such a turntable. Sadly, if this turntable becomes a big hit, they'll jack up the price.
As a Canadian who grew up in the '90s, Electrohome is a brand that I automatically associate with cheap import electronics from discount department stores like Zellers - right up there with Curtis and Sylvania.
I grew up watching an Electrohome 27 inch cabinet tv, the nostalgia for the brand is real. Lol
I would say this Electrohome turntables passed the critical Jazz Fusion test.
Many thanks VWestlife✌️
I love cheap turntables because i know you going to make a video about it. this one looks ok.
That RCA-plug trick was just epic! Too bad I can't do that on my linear tracker.
V Westlife, the original "Mr. Hands". ❤ Love your reviews. 😊
Just realized I have an Electrohome "Apollo 862" spherical turntable / radio with matching spherical speakers.
Electrohome was making some pretty funky and sometimes bizarre stuff in the 1960s and 1970s.
Definitely brings those high frequencies out, but that's nothing that can't be solved with an external preamp and a little EQ'ing. Even the low end roll-off didn't sound too terrible, and that too can be compensated for. Anyone who's just getting started and might want to upgrade piece by piece over time could certainly do far worse, and at that price, this thing just set the new bar. I'd still recommend the LP-60 if it's in someone's price range (even with all the plastic), but this seems like a great alternative for a bit less!
I'm with Dr Cassette on this one😀Very nice to see a frequency locking circuit on this TT for the price - I'm impressed. Ahh! Hello Dr Cassette - I thought you'd disappeared. I trust you are well. A big thumbs up to VWestlife for chucking this out into the big bad world of youtube for others to consider, i found it thoroughly entertaining and surprising. Keep up the good work. Bests, John
LGR would approve...
Released an hour ago. I’m in for a treat
I’ve had that Network record since the 80’s. I use the uncut side for antiskate adjustment.
I am impressed. Under $100 and that kind of quality? It's a no brainer.
I'm impressed. Very nice for 99$. Finally some good news.
I'm amazed by how expensive the AT-LP60 has gotten over the last couple of years. It's not worth the price anymore. This Electrohome unit is priced VERY generously. If only they had implemented anti-skating rather than just having a free-swinging arm, this thing would be the biggest vinyl bargain of the decade.
Almost sounded like LaDuca sneaked into the studio with the Polka Twins. About time we had some polka here again.
OK. I didn't know about that new turntable. I'll check it out if this model is avariable on Peru.
12:35 That is such an 80s album cover! (though I see it came out in '78)
Thanks to that comparison i now know what intro song 12voltvids uses 😂 thanks!
I have my Dads 70 B&O turntable as my main turntable its a heirloom so i have no need for another turntable but this would make a nice gift for beginners.
I remember using that Command test record back in the 1970’s.
I either borrowed it from my audiophile cousin or the public library.
Looks good, great price, Audio Technica cartridge which is upgradeable, and auto on/off, you can't go wrong. Far better than those dreadful, non adjustable, ceramic cartridged monstrosities which cost more!
Looks nice. Can't tell that much how it sounds except from your expert ears describing it.
I bought a ILive with anti-skating, 3 speed, aluminum platter, standard headshell, BT, USB, S-shaped tone arm, metal 45 RPM adapter all for $75.00 at Big Lots. It even has auto-return. Except for the strange grinding sounds it made over audio when first purchased 4 months ago, which has disappeared, It sounds very good. I use it with a Douk Audio external pre-amp. I'm pleased. It is my 4th turntable. Just a spare to use while I service my 2 Technics SL-D202's.
Can you guess my 4th turntable? Probably not, but it is the ATLP120X-USB and I really like it with the AT Vm95e or Ortofon 2M.
It's hard to find anything good nowadays.
Never heard of Dale Jacobs and Cobra before but it kind of reminds me of Bob James. 👍
You should review sharps new home cd player it’s amazing and great sound quality and doesn’t feel cheap it’s called sharp cd-bh10 home cd player no one has reviewed it
Hey this is pretty decent turntable!
Remember Technics' counterweight arm was totally useless and just spun to any number? 😆 (You got me hooked on SlugBug BTW.) Cheers from Australia! 👍😎🇦🇺
absolutley amazing to me that radioshack could make Realistic brand turntables that were higher quality, better sounding, and fully automatic fifty years ago but no manufacturer can figure out how to do that affordably today.
Realistic turntables weren't made by Radio Shack. The cheaper ones were mostly made by BSR, and the fancier ones were made by CEC.
My Dual 510 is gonna outlast ME, But this seems to be a nice turntable for someone with a vintage receiver, It nails the vintage "hi-fi" look. It sounds fine to me (given CZcams's compression and all..) 78 RPM would be a nice feature though. Is it worth $100? Yeah I'd buy it for that price. 👍👍
I think the fun part about the sledge holes from the dust cover. Even almost the outer platter.
Vinyleyeez made a short about this case and its quite poorly aged when it comes to general quality.
Like i seen almost nowadays decent cheap Turntables on the market rather than just crosley suitcases or these wood retro looking all in one device, which they use the same cheap turntable board.
Sure it misses the anti skate for example but its not a huge deal breaker since not many needle is recommended for that. So it depends.
But i feel like its quite getting better for cheap price
thanks for those 20 min of good time
I wonder if the Off on the speed switch is more like a neutral so you can freely spin it while it's on. I think it sounds great, especially with the test record. As far as the comparison goes, I think the Electrohome has more presence to it what I was listening through. Nice video and I think the turntable is worth it.
Seems like the counterweight is a kludgy design. There's no point to having those numbers on the scale if you're not able to actually 0 it out. Otherwise, it offers a lot for the low asking price.
If this thing was any more expensive I'd say pass, but for the money I think you've found a winner that most people wouldn't complain about.
I guess this is a really great value for money for something like this. The thing you mentioned would be the most important thing to upgrade in a newer version that can be made when this one gets old but I guess it would be awesome to have a version of this without the phono pre-amp to be able to pay for all this improvements because someone like me owns a vintage amplifier I got from someone and vintage amplifiers pretty much always already have an even better phone pre-amp. So if I wouldn't have a record player already I might would have bought this one without the amp inside and with some other improvements to it
I have a vintage mid 70's electrohome console on a central stand that has turntable, cassette and tuner with mixer controls in my basement. It sound terrible but look so cool..
@13:00 Dale Jacob's group 'live at puccini' is a good album as well . I doubt he brought the Moog Modular to a live date though - he worked with CBC quite often.
Not bad at all. I'd assume the difference in frequency response would largely just be down to the preamp, in which case my stereo has a built in preamp so that wouldn't be an issue
Hey VWestlife, thank you so much for your awesome videos! May I ask you if you'll ever make a video about speakers, similarly to what you did for turntables? Which ones would you recommend for beginners, in terms of quality and affordability? Thank you again for your great work
thats some crazy speed sensing tech for a "budget" turntable!
edit: another commenter mentioned that the system D
adds wow and flutter.. so its up to turntable manufacturers to make a new system
Wait, Electrohome did something good?
I'm pretty sure I (being Canadian) only saw cheap Chinese stuff with that name on the box. In discount stores shelves.
*Edit:* looking at their website, they went full on record players and their "discontinued" page show the crap I was talking about like the clocks and the cheap "Record Player to MP3" in a big "fake old cabinet look".
Oh well, at least you got some good old Canadian love with that one 😉
Yes, we Canadians love this wonderful turntable.
Just ask any random Canadian...
Honestly, it's a pretty neat and attractive box for newcommers, but I would also consider it as second turntable for something like bedroom to go with smaller speakers.
This sounds fairly good for the price. Compared to more expensive turntables it does lack a full frequency response. That is mostly from the cartridge itself which tracks at a higher force. High quality cartridges track at less than 2 grams.
So, the Molson of turntables. Aight!
So I'm keeping my atlp60 turntable! You can upgrade the turntable cartridge from LP Gear and it said no adjustment needed. So you can but it only replaces the cartridge.
Looks like they did a lot of things right, especially so for a budget unit. Not bad at all!