Crosley Revolution portable record player - magnetic cartridge!

I've been looking for a portable record player but they all seem to have ceramic cartridges and 3-5g tracking force. I just discovered that the Crosley Revolution has a magnetic cartridge (AT3600) and less than 2g of tracking force so I think I can use it on the road without worrying about damaging my vinyl. Just wanted to pass along the (surprisingly) good news.

 

Actually, this does have a ceramic cartridge as well and this is the stylus: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Crosley-CR6002A-Revolution-USB-Turntable-Needle-901-D7-/290540952791

 

Many of those don't last a year with normal use.

 

Honestly, it's magnetic. Here are some references, the first of which originally came straight from Crosley:

http://www.vinylengine.com/turntable_forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=45648
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20111027144732AAORitc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCTNcms8vUA (comments and in-video)
http://www.amazon.com/Crosley-Revolution-Portable-Turntable/dp/B004UDWR54 (review by skiman10)

Where have you read about the longevity of this particular model?

EDIT:

Another reference:

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showpost.php?p=5295916&postcount=10

 

It's my personal experience I'm citing. A lot of people are bringing those Crosley re-creations into my store, seeking to get them repaired after having used them for a few months.

 

Looks like a copy of the Audio-Technica Sound Burger/Mister Disk (which used a magnetic AT cartridge).

 

Actually, it is the Spinerette that uses a Magnetic cartridge.

 

Got it, thanks for passing that along.

It sure does.

Both the Spinerette and Revolution use a magnetic cartridge. Did you read the reference links I posted above? They all specifically reference the Revolution as having a magnetic cartridge:

http://www.vinylengine.com/turntable_forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=45648#p355988

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20111027144732AAORitc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCTNcms8vUA

http://www.amazon.com/review/RL600WXQIHT8W/?ASIN=B004UDWR54&nodeID=3375251

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showpost.php?p=5295916&postcount=10

If you don't feel like reading, the short YouTube video mentions it in-video (and in the comments).

 

I noticed there were no AT Soundburgers for sale on flea bay at this point. The last one sold there for $300 two months ago. Otherwise, all quiet. Where else could I look for one?

I would love to find a good portable player that I could use to play lps for my university students. I have some powered speakers laying about. Could I use them with such a device.

Above all, my lps are old and precious and I mustn't use a device that will tear into the vinyl grooves. Must have a non-abusive stylus. The other Crosley gear has a very bad rep among collectors. The Fisher Price classics are the best looking of course, but not friendly to vinyl.

Thoughts?

 

bilgewater, the Crosley Revolution has a magnetic cartridge and less than 2g of tracking force. It should be as easy on your vinyl as any audiophile turntable.

 

Thanks. This is fascinating. I suppose Crosley has a very bad reputation from past products. Should we understand this one as a real bump up in quality? If so, why would they change their paradigm at this point?

Am I asking for too much: portable turntable that does not hurt precious vinyl. AND that can hook up to powered speakers? And perhaps does the usb thing for the dreaded "needle drops" (what a term).

 

Don't ever believe this -
The Crosley Revolution will wear new grooves into your records
I would only play trashed records on one of these "record players"

 

I would rather believe Alan as I saw the stylus used for the Revolution and indeed, it is a ceramic cartridge.

 

Eww!!!! Why would be damage their precious music on those things!?!

 

I would buy the Spinerette as that has a magnetic cartridge but put a weight or a record clamp on the center of the LP and you have it made.

 

I'd be hesitant to buy the Revolution since it has (9) 5-star and (8) 1-star ratings from Amazon users. Amazon can be a poor choice for reviews, but such a disparity is unusual. I like to read the poor reviews first.

 

Here's the review that caught my attention:
http://www.amazon.com/review/R3MTXG6HV9TPC6/ref=cm_cr_pr_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B004UDWR54&nodeID=&tag=&linkCode=

Too bad, I wanted one.

 

It seems to come down to whether the Revolution has a magnetic cartridge or a ceramic cartridge. If it's ceramic, it has a high tracking force and will trash your records. If it's magnetic, it has a low tracking force and is fine to use on expensive records.

Do you say that because you think it has a ceramic cartridge?

There is a lot of info online that says the Revolution has a magnetic cartridge (references above), but there is also some that indicates a ceramic cartridge. How can we settle this? I'll try calling Crosley on Monday to see what they have to say, although this guy says he did exactly that and was told it has a magnetic cartridge with less than 2g tracking force:

http://www.vinylengine.com/turntable_forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=45648#p355988

Do you say that because you think it has a ceramic cartridge?

 

Thanks for checking into the cartridge ggking7.

 

Well, I'll tell you one thing....I would not put ANY of my albums, even worn ones, on that Crosley thing.

 

I have a $.50 library-beaten copy of Jo Jo Gunne's self titled album just begging to be resurrected through a contraption of equal esteem.

 

I once knew someone that had one of these Crosley pieces of junk, she had vintage Stones vinyl, Motown & some other good records...well they were good until that piece of crap played them.

 

These brainless Crosley-bashing posts are getting ridiculous. Have you read the rest of this thread? Previous Crosleys have had ceramic cartridges which will tear up your vinyl like you describe. The Crosley Spinerette has a magnetic cartridge for sure and the Revolution may have a magnetic cartridge. Those record players will not tear up your vinyl any more than an audiophile turntable.

Some people hear "Crosley" and regurgitate the same old crap without considering new information that is right in front of them.

 

Does anyone have a way to get their hands on a Crosley Revolution and photograph the cartridge so we can figure out if it's magnetic or ceramic? If you have a tracking force scale that would be even better. Maybe a display model in a shop near where you live?

I'm in Spain right now and I've been able to find the Vestax and Ion locally but no Crosley. I could order it from the UK but shipping and import duty will be pricey. I'm happy to pay up if it has a magnetic cartridge, but if it's ceramic it would be a steep loss.

 

I've seen turntables with magnetic cartridges that did not have adjustable tracking force and I've seen a magnetic cartridge do as much damage as a ceramic cartridge when they are tracking too heavily, or the cartridges are misaligned because there is only the factory setting for a cartridge glued in place. A cheap turntable got that way with a lot of shortcuts in the design department.