Turntables & Accessories Reviews

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USB OMG!
For those of you who thought your vinyl collection would be relegated to the "I'll listen to it later" pile, check this out. The Sony USB turntable allows you to put your collection onto your MP3 player. Its as easy as listening to a record. The software is pretty intuitive - but you do have to name each track, otherwise you will end up with 1 "song" per side. That being said, the quality is good - there is a low 'hiss' before each track, but it cant be helped, nor does it detract from the music, (where there is no audible hiss). The slim profile and black color make it easy to fit this unit into your audio center. I have seen similar turntables for 3x the price, but if you are a regular person who doesn't have specific and exacting audiophile needs, this is the turntable for you.

Sony PS-LX300USB USB Stereo Turntable
This is a great little unit. It's not "audiophile" quality, but it does the job and at a great price. My old vinyl was not the best quality either. Too many times my vinyl was not treated the way it should have been. But, when you can't get the music anywhere else, this unit works well for making the transfer to digital. The software does a good job of "cleaning" up the sound.

This is exciting
I would have given this 5 stars with a little better instructions on set up. It assumes a knowledge of stereo components that I don't have. But as it is I've fumbled along by trial and error and I'm getting incredible results.

My LP collection has been in the basement for the last 23 years. Frankly I assumed those records were ruined. I never had good stereo equipment or fresh needles, and I never treated them with more than casual care. However, I dragged them up to make a list of what MP3 tracks I'd like to buy and to my amazement I found that I had huge collections with songs that have never been digitalized. I also found that some of these old LPs are only available at astronomical prices. So I decided to try digitalizing my old LPs using the Sony PS-LX300 USB.

Before playing my first record, I spent a day on-line looking at the options for cleaning vinyl records. Spending hundreds of dollars on a disc cleaning system for records that I assumed were about ruined was out of the question. I settled for the RCA Discwasher for .95, even though reviews claimed it was vastly inferior to the old product (which sells at auction for well over .00). I also looked at the DIY options of washing vinyl records, but what I read indicated that drying was as important as getting a cleaner into the grooves and the RCA Discwasher brush was supposed to serve this function of both cleaning and drying.

I hooked the Sony turntable up to my Dell Laptop so I could keep working on my desktop computer while recording. The Sony turntable comes with a USB connection and also RCA cables (which are very short). The turntable comes with a switch to choose either Line or Phono. I presume from the combo offered above that you could also attach the RCA cables to speakers purchased separately to listen while recording through the USB option. I have a DAK Mixer Interface (which I never figured out) so I hooked the RCA cables into that and tried plugging their stereo mini plug into my laptop input line, but my first pass did not produce sound on the final recording -- no doubt I had to change some settings on my input line. So instead I just plugged headphones into the DAK mixer to listen while recording using the USB option.

For USB recording, I had to go into my control panel and change my Sound|Recording options, but that those steps were well spelled out on page 11 of the Sony turntable manual. I'm sure with more fiddling around I can figure out how to get sound through my laptop while recording, but it's working just fine for me with headphones.

Then I thoroughly cleaned my first LP -- an old favorite I purchsed in 1961 and played to death over the next 20 years. I cleaned it a total of three separate times, assuming it was very dirty, following the directions carefully. As I pushed the start button on the Sony, I was amazed at the quality of sound coming through the headphones. I expected to hear mostly hisses and pops with a little music thrown in. I couldn't believe the quality of that old LP after cleaning. There was some cracking but mainly it was noticeable between tracks.

I used the default settings on the SoundForce Audio Studio for "Vinyl Recording and Restoration" and these pops and crackles were almost eliminated in the final product.

Right now my recordings are coming through as one track (which they mention can happen with some old LPs) but the software has a good help section which includes how to go back and separate the tracks. I'll be working through that later this morning. But right now I have my first two records digitilized with a sound quality I never believed possible. I am thrilled beyond belief and looking forward to listening to hours more of my old treasures as I compile them into a digitilized collection.

As a final note, I always scoffed at those who said that records had a warmth that is missing from CDs. I figured that only audio snobs with expensive equipment could tell a difference since I was quite pleased with my CDs and iPod music. But as I listen to my old LPs I am aware of exactly what they mean. There is an intimacy and depth of sound that is missing from CDs. Amazing to think that such an old technology can hold up so well, even on ill-used records that are over 45 years old.

Doesn't look expensive, but it works.
Some reviewers have commented on the "plasticky" appearance of this unit. No doubt, it isn't the kind of equipment you would have expected to be sitting next to an expensive amp, receiver and huge speakers twenty years ago, but it doesn't serve the same purpose.

The way I look at it, once I have copied my 100 or so LPs to a hard drive, I'll just put this puppy on eBay and get most of my money back. Frankly, for what I spent on it, I could throw it in the trash and come out ahead b/c I didn't have to go out and replace my (some irreplaceable) vinyl with CDs.

Let's make it plain, however, that converting your LPs to digital (even with the pretty good scratch removing software included) won't render the clean, clear quality of the identical recording which was later released on CD. In other words, this USB player works just fine and the software will allow you to disguise the defects of your old, used records somewhat, but it isn't going to make them new or even come close to a new CD. As for the reasons, lets just say that so much new recording technology has come down the road since you bought your old records that they didn't sound as good as you thought they did when they were brand new.

Now that we're over those few hurdles, let's talk about the turntable and software. The TT will play 33s and 45s, but not 78s. Well, really - do you care? Maybe. I have about as many 78s as LPs. My wife has a slew of 45s. So, yeah, it might be an issue.

The TT works just fine with as little "wow" as you used to have on much more expensive units. The stylus seems to be up to the task, also. The software can be a little daunting at first, unless you have already played with similar apps. Actually, once you get over the hump, it's pretty much a matter of play and record. You'll probably just stick with one scratch removal setting and copy all of your records w/o changing it.

This unit does have a switch which allows you to turn on or off the preamp, which is handy if you decide to use it as a part of your home entertainment system instead of putting it on eBay.

Incidentally, my unit is hooked up to an XP equipped Dell laptop. Like others, I was surprised and disappointed to discover that I could not monitor the sound through the laptop's speakers while it was being recorded. Other than that, getting it set up and operational was fairly easy (but I do have a background with computers and A/V stuff).

I recently had the opportunity to set up another brand of unit for a friend. It had a few more features, such as a fancier mechanism for dropping the stylus on a track in the middle of the record and it would play records backwards(!?) But, it cost more money.

The Sony works well enough that I recommended it (and Amazon, too) to an older friend. She immediately purchased it, but I'm pretty sure her techno savvy son had to set it up for her!

USB vs. Line Input & Software Choices
After reading the reviews about my top choices for an afforable USB turntable, I came to the conclusion that unless it had some major flaw that made it unusable or introduced some intollerable noise, one turntable at this price was just about the same as any other. I chose the Sony because it came with software that you couldn't just download for free. Sound Forge Audio Studio is quite easy to use and the the fact that it supports .wma so I can edit clips recorded from other sources.

I did download Audacity and like it too. In fact, I switch back and forth, depending on the project. What suprised me was that the sofware wouldn't detect the breaks between songs very well while using the USB interface. I think the gain is just too high and can't be adjusted down that I can tell. Luckily, this unit has it's own preamp and allows me to hook it up at line level to the computer's sound card input. Now the software will detect the individual songs and treat them accordingly.
I don't know if this is a flaw with this particular unit or all USB input. The other benefit of using line level over USB is that you can hear what is being recorded. With the USB input, you can't (unless I'm missing something).

All in all, I'm pleased with my purchase and even more pleased that my decision to go with the Sony model got me two choices of recording software.

Great little player!
You have to give Crosley credit for coming up with these cool gadgets for all of us who love vinyl. This is actually the best sounding small record player to come out in decades. It is not very loud but the sound is very clear. I own several small record players and none is this good. The price is also very good. Thank you Crosley!

Pretty good actually
I am quite impressed with the sound of the built in speakers and impressed with everything else in general about this little turntable.

Miniscule, Effective, 3 Speeds, And Stereo Sound.
The model CR-40 seemed the best of the Crosley portable turntables. It does what the larger turntables do, with less size, better styling, and front firing speakers, where as the various incarnations of the CR-49 have side speakers and wasted space around the platter. My only minor gripes are no pitch control, and no flippable 78 needle, as it can't be good for the same stylus to alternate between 33 1/3, 45 r.p.m., and 78's. A Vestax battery portable I bought 2 years ago had an optional 78 stylus available, which I got, though it does have to be manually removed/replaced when switching back to playing LP's and 45's (Vestax and Numark make plastic AC/battery monoral speaker portable record players with pitch control, which are quite good, but without the cabinet styling of the CR-40). Crosley's inclusion of a spare stylus is appreciated.

Better deal elsewhere
Crosley offers a bundle that comes with three needles and a cleaning kit that's a much better deal.

love it
I love this player! Nothing bad to say about it.
turntable arm is not plastic like the cr49(which is a good thing). And it does not have a tinny sound that a lot of people were complaining about with the cr49. You have to love the return arm feature as well:)

Dude,Your getting a Crosley !!!!!!!
Best Purchase made in a long time, This Record Player is the answer. I have been using it as a stand alone but it comes with input,Output and USB for ripping the music.

I Like it.

Kurt

Great record player.
This was a great product at a good price. I'm excited to be able to play all my old albums again!

The Crosley Keepsake: Definitely a Keeper!
I recently started to collect vinyl and was looking for a way to play my records. I wanted something small (I live in studio) and easy on my wallet. I was also looking for something that looked old, but had more modern technolgy. The Crosley Keepsake Turntable was the answer that I was looking for. I have been using it fairly nonstop for 2 weeks now and it has been a blast! What's more, I have installed the software and have been ripping some mp3's! Also, the auxillary jack allows me to play my ipod through the built in speakers (which sound fine for a small, portable record player). Everyone that sees this product asks me about it and they are suprised at how reasonable the price is. I recommend this turntable to anyone looking for a cheap and unique way to enjoy analog music in this digital age.

Replacement Needles for ION record player.
Ther needles were received on a timely basis and work as expected. What was unsettling was that three weeks later I received a duplicate invoice from what appeared to be the same company, indicating they were shipping the needles. Price was twice what I was originally charged. I replied with a copy of the original invoice in a sharply worded email. I never heard back from them, nor was my credit card charged for the duplicate order and the order appeared never to have been shipped. I was wondering if someone broke into their order system and was phishing for information. Most disturbing!

Good product, good service
These hard to find replacement needles for my ION USB Phonograph were priced reasonably and arrived quickly. Since they come two to a pack, I'll have a spare!

USER FRIENDLY
I am not a high tech kind of person and I find this unit very
easy to use --- clearly very user friendly. I have made many
CD's from the vinyl records in my extensive record collection
from the 50's and 60's. The sound reproduction is acceptable.
I am fully satisfied with my experience with this unit and can
honestly recommend this unit to those who wish to burn CD's
from their vinyl records.

Convert your LPs & Audio Tapes
The easiest & fastest way to convert your favorite music to Compact Disc.
Records as you listen with a touch of a button. Great turn-table!

A Fabulous Player/Recorder
I bought this as a gift, but was so impressed, am going to have to buy one for myself!

A Good Value for the Money
When I could no longer find a diamond stylus for my old Pioneer turntable, I bought the PL990. I'm satisfied with both the sound quality from my old vinyl recordings and the price I paid for the turntable.

Not too bad for a first turntable
I bought this turntable for my birthday after getting my hands on an uncommon record that I was really excited to hear. After reading various reviews for two days, I decided it was worth the extra money to go with the Pioneer over the Sony PSLX250H. This model *has pitch control* unlike the Sony models. The stylus is cheap to replace, but the cartridge isn't replaceable. Sound quality was good, but not great. I'm no audio expert, and even on my cheap speakers it sounded flat. As a comparison I had a friend bring his Stanton over to play the same record. His sounded noticeably crisper and clearer. The other major problem is that if the record is a little bigger than most or not quite a circle then it probably won't play. This may sound confusing, but it's the truth. The back end around the platter is raised, and the tonearm holder is placed directly next to the platter. Non-perfectly circular records tend to hang and rub on the raised backend, the tonearm holder, or both.

After owning the player for a little over a month I've decided to upgrade to an Audio-Technica AT-PL120.

Happy Listener/Recorder
I own a high end Technics turntable (which I still have hooked up to another receiver) so I could compare. While the build quality of the Pioneer is no where near the Technics, the sound quality is impressively close. I swapped the rubber mat with the Technics (which is twice as thick) to help cut back on needle weight to the album.
Now the true test recording, the first song I tried was Bob Seger's, Night Moves because it contains some quiet parts (I wanted to see if the Pioneer would output any additional noise). I used Roxio's recording software and told it to detect and clip any spots without sound. The Pioneer passed with flying colors. It detected both quiet spots !!! I didn't think it would.
Final thought: While the sound quality doesn't match that of high end big buck turntables, for the money and casual listener/recorder (cause after you record a song with the software out these days, you can make it sound how ever you like). I'd have to give it 2 thumbs up.

nice turntable-good value
Needed to replace my Pioneer PLA-25 turntable from 1972 to play my vinyl.
This turntable works very well for low price and a lot of plastic. It is
fully auto with a dampened dust cover and a metal turntable with rubber mat. Be forewarned that RC wires to A/V are short and you may need to have to add extensions. The preamp cannot be turned off either. It sounds
great and I should be able to replace the needle for under 10 dollars.
Has a speed adjust but have not had to use it. Very happy with it.

Beautiful unit but.....
I purchased this at Target less than 5 months ago. It's a gorgeous unit and fits in really well with our decor. Over all I liked it, but the speakers started to fuzz out early on and I was not "blasting" it or anything. For some reason it especially didn't like harp music and you could hear the speakers rattling around at a moderate volume. I could deal with that even, but then the CD player went bad. Sometimes it would play and sometimes you could just hear the disk spinning around and around. I would put it back in over and over and only sometimes would it "catch" and play. I tried to return it to Target but it was beyond their 90 day return policy. I called Crosley and was told I had to pay to have it shipped back to them, and then pay another 20 bucks to have them look at it and then pay to have it shipped back to me. The unit was around 100 bucks, by the time I have to pay for shipping to and fro and 20 bucks to have them look at it, I could just buy another one. I was really disappointed with their customer service, and I'm a bit leery to try again.

Gorgeous unit and it could have been just my bad luck on this one, but hold on to your receipts!!

Very happy with this system! :)
I have had this system since Christmas, so that would be about 6 months now. I agree with one previous review that the dial that switches the functions is hard to read, but I just know that the far left is radio, next is tape, then record, etc...

The sound is very good. I like how you have the option of hooking up larger speakers in the back if you have them. Also, I'm not sure what some people are talking about, mine does not play anything fast. I'm a musician, my father is a musician, I would notice it playing fast. Could just be that some of the systems aren't right, but mine works fine.

Very happy to ditch all of my other clunky systems and combine into something smaller. I recommend it!

I love my record player
This record player reminds me so much of the one I had as a little girl. It sat on the floor of my bedroom and at night, when I couldn't sleep, I would curl up, ear to dimly projecting speaker, and lull myself to sleep (those days - it was The Clash, Bowie's Peter and the Wolf, Joni Mitchell, The Ramones, Elvis Costello, the Pogues, and Gram Parsons in several incarnations).

All of that is to say that I was primed to like this record player from the start.

The speakers have a limited capacity, but that's okay with me, because I didn't get this to blast music - I got it for listening to things I love on sunny or rainy mornings.

IT IS NECESSARY TO PURCHASE THIS PRODUCT.
MY RECENT PURCHASE OF THIS PRODUCT IS VERY NECESSARY FOR VYNIL RECORDS CLEANING. NEXT TIME I WILL ORDER SOME OTHER PRODUCTS LIKE THIS.

An average product.
This product is average. It cleans, but does make that extra effort to get records really clean. I ripped off the suede lining from the cleaner and replaced it with velvet from my local fabric store. Velvet is a little stiffer and can get into the really small grooves better.

For fluid, I make my own. I take a 24oz spray bottle and use 21oz of Distilled Water, 2oz of 91% Isopropyl Alcohol from the drug store, 0.5oz of Hydrogen Peroxide and 1oz of Jet Dry.

Anyone with old records needs this
The title says it all. Since almost all LP records are now old they need dusting and cleaning. As far as I know the Discwasher is the best product for this purpose. Works well and refurbishes old LPs.

Bring your vinyl up to date.
A great and easy way to get that lp collection onto cd's. Very easy to use, and once you get going you can't stop. Granted you still get the pops and clicks off the vinyl onto the cd but it is still nice to hear your collection again after all these years.

Transferring those records to CD
I have a lot of old LPS, which I cherish but never listen to. I have no working turntable. After deciding to transfer them to CD, I looked at the choices & selected this TEAC. I am totally satisfied. It is not too difficult to operate & the CDs sound just like the records. That was what I was hoping for. I did have some trouble finding the Digital Audio CDs. They are a specialty item. You might want to order them with the recorder to get started. If you are an old vinyl person, you can bring the music up to date on CD. Try this!

Richkj
Everything worked as advertised. Had a question on why CD did not work and found out that my CD player was too old. Customer service was great and accomodating.

The answer to a prayer!
I was delighted when I discovered this nifty machine online. It's very intuitive in its operation, and records to a CD with no fuss or muss. The tonearm does what it needs to, without bells & whistles, and I like the automatic return. Without a tracking control, I hope it maintains its speed over time. The only question I might have for others who've had this awhile.......... which replacement stylus (needle) would they recommend getting? I think TEAC had a G-350 model? Would that one fit on this? The TEAC website is useless when it comes to accessories for this unit.