Brad Kimball
Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1171
From: Highland Mills, NY USA
Registered: Jun 2003
posted October 21, 2018 01:12 PM
I have alot of old time radio shows on vinyl lp that are NOT high fidelity stereo. I don’t want to invest in a nice expensive record player just to play them. Something cheap with built-in speakers that won’t destroy my records with a ceramic needle. Are the Crosley all-in-ones truly that cruddy? Is it that the reviews you read are written by vinyl snobs who want a Crosley to sound like a 100-piece orchestra is in the room with them?
Posts: 1236
From: Dunstable ,Bedfordshire.
Registered: Jan 2005
posted October 21, 2018 01:43 PM
I don't think you'd buy an all in one style turntable for it's sound quality,they do a reasonable job as my son has one but it's not something I would like to hear my vinyl on,in a small quiet room they are ok,the one he has can be put through an amp too,Mark
posted October 21, 2018 06:26 PM
Hi Brad these are a great little player, and just plug it to any amplified computer speakers from around $10 up etc as a built in decent pre amp.
Very nice sound, and really do a great job for the cash.
Posts: 33
From: San Francisco, CA, USA
Registered: Sep 2018
posted October 21, 2018 09:32 PM
Those little Audio-Technicas as Mark points out are by all accounts very solid entry level tables (and there's at least one cheaper model, too, AT-LP60? ). They don't meet your criterion of having built-in speakers. For that you'll likely end up with something like the Crosleys--I think it's unlikely that those would damage your records in any meaningful way although at the lowest end the speakers are fairly crummy and I probably wouldn't put any super valuable LPs on them just in case. For a few bucks more an Audio-Technica and a pair of cheap powered speakers would be a marked improvement.
posted October 22, 2018 03:33 AM
The trouble with some of the crosley etc types is the arm doesn`t track too well, people often find they need to put a coin on top of it so it doesn`t skip etc.
The arm etc feels very cheapie, if you will.
The stylus on the LP60 is a superb Audio Technica, AT3600L a very affordable and spherical stylus thats kind to records etc.You can also pick generic ones up from about $8.The original not too much more.
AS Ben says something like this with some cheapie powered speakers you would do pretty well.
posted October 22, 2018 05:21 PM
To all of the above: stay away from the Crosleys. Ultimately, it's not just a matter of whether your records are "hi-fi" in content, it's a matter of whether they will survive being played back over time. A base-level table such as one of the ones recommended will serve you a lot better. C.
-------------------- "Why are there shots of deserts in a scene that's supposed to take place in Belgium during the winter?" (Review of 'Battle of the Bulge'.)
Brad Kimball
Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1171
From: Highland Mills, NY USA
Registered: Jun 2003
posted October 26, 2018 02:10 PM
Thank you. I think I’ll go with a basic t/t by SONY and some EDIFIER powered speakers. Apparently, AUDIO TECHNICA makes the SONY-badged turntables.
posted October 27, 2018 08:44 PM
These would actually make a long play platter device for projectors that do not handle standard large reels. Example any 600 foot capacity machine could pull the film through and the turn tables could provide supply and take up.
Insert a 1/2 inch round shaft over the 45 rpm spindle adapter, drop the reels on the turntable.
Add rollers along the film path allowing for twists and turns
Supply would run on natural free wheel and the motor inside would provide a little snugness to prevent loose film
Take up turntable would turn and slip correctly at 33&1/3 rpm.
I never did it, but I would think it would work nicely. Build a book case type thing to hold the tables, upper and lower shelves.