Crosley CR249-TA Radio Keepsake USB Turntable-Tan

List Price: $149.95 Discount Price: Too low to display

Features:

• USB Enabled for Connection to Windows Equipped PC and Mac
• Software Suite for Ripping and Editing Audio Content
• 3 Speed Belt Driven Turntable Mechanism
• Automatic Return Tone Arm
• Dynamic Full Range Speakers

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic Item! I'm listening to all my favorite albums on CD! [Posted on 2007-12-12]
This is a very high quality turntable. The sound of it alone was a shock for being so simple it sounds great! I am making CD's of all my precious records from the 50's and 60's. It is easy after you get all the computer settings done, that is a bit of a challenge but once done making CD's is a snap. Highly recommend this item. I got it in black so it matches my other modern equipment.

Old School Wonderment!` [Posted on 2008-04-21]
I have old collections of records that I've been craving a listen to. Now I not only can listen, but also enjoy the old school look and feel of this unit. I think it's great that it has a handle and speakers, making it completely portable.

It looks wonderful on my counter (it's practically a piece of furniture) and I get compliments on it all the time.

Plus, it works exactly as advertised. The software is easy to use and installs easy. I'm using a Mac. Enjoy!

Reality [Posted on 2008-06-17]
So i got the unit and put some records on ...
1. Sound
The sound is mediocre.It is reminiscent of the middle 50's to late 60's low end phonographs. Tone adjustment is a single pot type that ranges from low to high, bass is questionable.
2. Turntable
This is all plastic, the tone arm has no weight adjustment for the audiophile collectors and is not a quality arm, the speed switch is of low end quality (3 position slider type)
3. Case
It is a good solid wood type looks and feels good, Hardware is mid line quality.
4. USB
The system works as advertised however there is a lag time between the player speakers and play through on the computer which , if the player volume is up will give you an echo, this is not recorded, mearly a time difference between the player and computer. The player tone control does not effect the recording on the computer as it is a direct thru put from the tone arm to USB to computer.
5. questions
why is there no headphone or external speaker jack?
why is there no kickstand to hold the top open, i had to add one.
instead you have to remove it or lay it all the way back down.
Product is worth maybe $100 in todays market
The plus is that you can listen to records without having to patch into a separate audio system, it is a "portable record player" Plug and play!!!

Good Customer Service [Posted on 2008-06-26]
I bought this for my wife, who wanted to rip some ancient 78s. Delivery was prompt but when she assembled it, the turntable did not turn. Customer support in this case was helpful; they talked her through reattaching the drive belt and all was well. Although a tendency for the drive belt to come off might be a small flaw, customer support was certainly above average for this product. We chose this unit for the ability to process the 78 RPM records, and are reasonably satisfied with this unit overall. The lack of proprietary software for the unit might be an issue, but I think for this product the open-source option is just fine.

Disappointed - looks great, but is poorly constructed [Posted on 2008-07-16]
Very attractive, a great concept...but the product is of poor quality.

This was the first phonograph I've purchased in 25 years. I am interested in digitizing some rare 78 RPM recordings made by a family member, and also to listen to some limited release LPs I own from the 80s.

It's an attractive unit when you first take it out of the box and reminds me of the old Califone turntables. But upon closer inspection, the turntable and tonearm are made of very flimsy plastic. The unit's cover must be either on (closed) or completely off...it won't stay partially open as pictured on the web page.

Installation and set up of the software and communication with the computer was a little confusing because of the way the device interacts with Windows audio settings. The instructions aren't very detailed, but if you persist you can figure it out.

I put on an LP and the sound from the onboard speakers reminded me less of a Califone, and more like the sound you'd hear from the children's toy record players of the 60s and 70s...faint, tinnish, distorted at higher ranges. I captured some of the audio to my computer and it sounded fine.

The greatest disappointment was when I tried to play a 78. The speed setting is changed using a frail, plastic, sliding lever. After switching to 78, there was no notable change in turntable speed. I looked closer and discovered a snapped circuit board and a number of disconnected wires! It looked as though they hadn't been properly soldered and had been simply fallen off, or perhaps had been jarred loose. I had never seen a circuit board snapped like that, and can't imagine how it happened, but it is a good indication about how flimsy this product's components are.

Fortunately, the distributor "Best in Home" was very professional and prompt. I contacted them the next day via email, described what happened and requested a refund. They quickly approved it and gave me detailed instructions on how to return it. There was no shipping fee and I received a complete refund. I was very pleased (and relieved!) with their service.

Note: The "Crosley 78 RPM Replacement Needle" does not fit this Crosely 78 RPM turntable tonearm, despite the fact that Crosely says "For 78 RPM turntables."

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