Does a Crosley or Victrola DESTROY your vinyl? #vinyl #shorts

There are plenty of entirely legitimate reasons to recommend not buying cheap record players from brands like Crosley and Victrola. But the common claim that they "destroy" records or "chew up the grooves" in normal use is an exaggerated myth that is scaring away newcomers and giving a false impression of the format's fragility.

#shorts #vinyl #turntables

[waterup]

I remember reading an old magazine article stating that records are meant be played, not to sit on a shelf collecting dust.

[nocturnaldivision]

Couldn't have said it better. People just getting into album collecting aren't playing hard to find expensive records. They're playing modern pressings of popular records that are constantly getting reprinted or common dollar bin record store albums. It's not the end of the world if someone somehow manages to wear out an 18 dollar repress of Number of the Beast on a Crosley by playing it 50 times.

[Wistarium]

you know what i think? so what if you dont have the best stuff. records are meant to be played and enjoyed. if you really love a record you have, wear it out. use it. enjoy it. its not anyone else's problem what you do or use with it anyways

[SharpForceTrauma]

me who doesnt even have vinyl: very good information to know here.

[hmm]

Thank you so much for the advice just brought a Crosley four days ago and I just bought my first two albums. I didn’t do any research before buying. When I found out they could destroy your records. I was very worried. Thanks so much for clearing up the confusion in giving more precise numbers and understanding

[theSOUNDinterpreter]

I had a Victrola when I first started collecting records years ago. I’ve since upgraded to a Pro Jet Debut Carbon and recently to a Technics SL-1200GR. The records I used to play on my Victrola still sound fantastic. I would not worry about playback on it

[WonHakWoon]

I have a similar turntable, but I'm scared to use it. The vinyl community is so agressive, I'm forcing myself to look for something else 😭😭

[crshmycar]

A year ago I got a Crosley as a gift and I was so worried it'd destroy my records, I really wish I knew this back then so I would've played em more. I upgraded to a Sony turntable now, mostly for the sound quality, but I'm glad I had that Crosley as a jumping-off point.

[jsimpso]

The most important thing is to enjoy your records unlike audiophiles who spend their time moaning and complaining about minute technical differences nobody notices!

[TheRealVodun]

I'm a dedicated Stanton user, and I have had my fair share of Crosley turntable usage. They make a great Christmas gift, cheap beginners record player and nice gimmick. They're not exactly designed with quality in mind, but they're not the worst.

[JessHull]

I'm fine with these they seem to just be for getting people interested in vinyl. I don't know anyone that got into vinyl through buying one of these that continued to use them on a regular basis after they had a collection of more than 10 or so records. They usually upgrade by then or abandon the hobby completely. Usually, the later it seems.

[caliraptor]

this is good information cause I have a crosley and I keep reading that it will absolutely DEMOLISH my vinyls so this makes it a lot better 😭

[ericodijk]

The best thing you can do is replace the sapphire/plastic stylus with a diamond one. That also has an aluminium cantilever and the diamond tip lasts 10 times longer.

[jamesslick]

These types of players are for casual use, I doubt they are used for hours of "critical" listening. For what they are, they're fine. Most records are NOT worth a million bucks, and any "serious" listener will have a better (perhaps vintage) TT. My Dual 510 is vintage mid range, But good enough in my system, But these are perfectly OK for a "retro" themed party (likely the biggest use for them) or for someone who want's the occasional nostalgia fix. They don't "eat" records. They certainly are better than whatever passes for CASSETTE players that are made today! Having a worn stylus (even in the best cartridge, on the best turntable) is what's gonna kill your records!

[TheComputerGuy]

Short and sweet, couldn't be said any better. Happy new year!

[mazinz]

These are also great for when you want to play less than stellar condition records (like something you may find at the flea market). I have my higher end turntable for decent condition records. I have one of these Crosley types for the warpy, scratched, potential skip crazy vinyl I stumble across

[ka-pop]

I bought a Hype brand suitcase style USB turntable a few years back. I used it to record a hard to find song from vinyl to computer. It mostly sat around for the next 4 or 5 years. Now the speed drags and lurches. Not sure if the belt wore out or the motor went south. But, suffice it to say, it was not a good purchase even at a relatively low price.

[YearsOfLeadPoisoning]

Yep. The biggest issue is just that they sound awful.

But sounding awful can be an interesting way to experience old music, so even that has merit IMO.

It's fun. People need to chill out a bit and just be happy that this entry point in the hobby has resulted in an incredible comeback of the medium, and the resulting avalanche of good quality represses and new releases.

[CletusHunnicutt]

A friend just gave me her dad's old barely used Crosley. It's one in a larger wooden cabinet and it surprisingly sounds decent. It made playing old Christmas albums in the living room this year more convenient and without the shrill shite sound I've experienced from cheaper models, it gave a nice ambiance with the decorations. Definitely for occasional playing though. Now if I want to crank up some old mono 45s for actual LISTENING, I go to my main setup in a back room.

[lauscho]

Honestly, the speakers are the worst part. I have a better turntable, but when I just want to have a casual little sit-down with a record and not make it a main event, I've got one of these USB'd into my computer and I don't even bother with the internal speakers on it, just listen to my vinyl through Audacity on my PC. I mean, if I want to listen to a record like I MEAN IT, I could get up and put one on my nicer turntable, and enjoy a richer, fuller sound, but... this is fine for when I just don't want to get up. On super rare occasions, I will even use the internal speaker if I just want to go to the bedroom and put on a vinyl nice and quiet and nap to it.