Crosley Cruiser Record Player Review

Vinyl has made a comeback, and for good reason. Many serious audiophiles have been saying (us among them) that the texture and bite of music have been replaced by digital perfection, which in turn has removed a bit of the personality of music. The resurgence of this musical medium also means that turntables have become something that have been showing up in homes again.

That’s right, y’all! They are no longer just for DJs or those of the older generation. With this reinvigoration of the turntable system, there has been a surge of new models rolling out. For those that are just getting into vinyl, there may be a little reluctant to choose a turntable. We don’t blame you; it’s pretty overwhelming.

If you have been looking for the right turntable for you, you probably ran into the Crosley Cruiser record player. Is it worth investing in? We used our years of knowledge garnered from sitting for hours in front of our record players to look at this for you. So let’s see, shall we?

Crosley Cruiser Record Player Review

The build of this turntable is the first thing we want to talk about. It is crafted with a vintage look in some pretty cool colors. The body itself is constructed with MDF wood and then fitted with two built-in speakers. It is also equipped with both an RCA output and a headphone jack.

The turntable can play all three speeds, and the unit comes with a 45 adapter for even more versatile playability. Along with that, the unit is built with a Bluetooth receiver so you can use it to play your favorite streaming service through your smart device using the unit’s speakers.

Who Is This Product For?

This turntable has a lot going for it. We think almost anyone could get quite a bit from it. It is compact and lightweight, and that translates to easy transportation. If you’re similar to us and like to share your vinyl with people, this is a great choice for you. On top of portability, it offers a budget-friendly price tag.

All of that coupled together is why we wholeheartedly recommend it for new vinyl users and younger audiophiles.

What’s Included?

When you purchase this turntable, you will receive the following in the box:

Overview of Features

Part of the joy of getting a brand new turntable is the nostalgia that it brings. Even if you were not alive when records were big, you still get that feeling when you look at this vintage-styled model. The design is super cool. Everything from the built-in speakers to the cool colors you have to choose from makes this model from Crosley pretty darn epic. Then when we got into the actual performance of the piece, we were even more pumped.

The unit is crafted with MDF wood, which, though it may decrease the durability of the unit, also makes it lightweight. This is by far our favorite part because what vinyl lover doesn’t want to share their records with their friends? This allows you to do just that. The turntable is easy to use and quick to fix, which are all the reasons that we love this unit.

Now with that being said, there are some things that we hope they can improve for the next model. The portability is awesome, but one thing detracts from the ease of transport. This unit is not built with a place to store the cord, leaving you having to juggle the unit and the cord.

On top of that, the top is not removable, making it more challenging to place when dealing with limited space. But of all the things we wish for this turntable, the most significant want is better speakers. They are adequate and deliver good sound, but they could also be better.

How to Use It

If you’re looking to be able to use your turntable like a master, the first thing you need to do is read the manual. This will give an idea of what each of the functions does and how to use them. The manual comes with the turntable, but maybe you need a better visual.

If that is the case, then you should check this video out.

Alternatives

If you are looking for something that delivers better speaker quality than the model we have been looking at, then you might want to take a look at the alternative below.

Jensen JTA-230

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the basic sound quality of the turntable we have been reviewing. However, there are other models that offer even better speaker quality, which translates to better sound overall. The Jensen JTA-230 is one of these for us.

Along with a better speaker, it too comes with a budget-friendly price tag and portability. In the end, the features of this turntable are very similar to the Crosley Cruiser; the biggest difference is the elevated quality of the speakers. Even if they don’t get that loud!

Final Thoughts

The Crosley Cruiser turntable is a great starter model for those just getting into vinyl. It is simple to use and brings with it good quality sound. And in our mind, that is what really matters.

So if you are looking for a budget-friendly turntable that will introduce you to the wonderful world of that classic vinyl sound, then this is a pretty good investment in our mind.

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