The Crosley CR49-TA Traveler is a beautiful vintage-looking, 1950s inspired portable turntable. At $108 on Amazon, it’s also one of the most value-priced record players in the market, so keep in mind that you shouldn’t expect the very best sound from it. If you are looking for great sound quality, go to the homepage and check out which turntables I recommend.
This turntable plays records in three speeds: 33-1/3, 45 and 78 rpm; so you don’t have to limit yourself to only one part of your record collection. It comes with the cartridge, which includes a diamond-stylus needle. It is also belt-driven, a more affordable choice and great for casual listeners who just want to enjoy their records.
However, even though it doesn’t look like it, the materials that it is made of are very cheap: it is mostly plastic, particle board and vinyl. The only part that doesn’t look as cheap is the outer covering, made of synthetic leather.
Still, this turntable has a big advantage: its portability. You can easily carry it with you wherever you go, be it for visiting a friend, traveling or just enjoying records wherever you want to without complications. Because of this, there’s really no set up required, just open the box, plug it and play. In addition, its built-in speakers assure you that you’ll really be able to listen to your records anywhere without needing to plug it into external speakers.
And this brings us to the other downside of this product: The Crosley CR49-TA does not have any Aux outputs to connect it to larger external speakers or headphones. Many of you may consider this option essential, so be sure to remember that before buying.
Now, let’s get into the ratings!
Crosley CR49-TA Design (5/5)
The retro design of the Crosley CR49-TA is easily one of its most attractive features. Inspired by original portable record players of the 1950s, it is sure to delight and captivate vintage lovers anywhere. It comes in two colors: a classic-looking Tan, and an elegant Black. A perfect choice if you’re a true vintage lover!
Crosley CR49-TA Sound Quality (3/5)
As you may have guessed from its price, this turntable’s sound quality is far from being the best, but it’s definitely not the worst either. Many users have complained that it spins too fast, and because of this, LPs (33-1/3 rpm records) do not sound well. Other complaints criticize the built-in speakers, which some claim do not do the records justice, and because the Crosley CR49-TA can’t be connected to external speakers, you’re stuck with them.
However, many users also agree that 78 rpm (and sometimes 45 rpm) records sound pretty good on this one. It also has adjustable tone control (bass/treble) which is a nice feature to play around with. All in all, we could say that this product has an acceptable sound quality, and while it’s not a fit choice for true audiophiles, it will serve for casual listeners.
Crosley CR49-TA Price (5/5)
It is not common to see turntables whose price is around $100. The Crosley CR49-TA costs $108 on Amazon, so if you’re on a tight budget, you may want to consider buying this product, or anything from Crosley for that matter, because their products tend to be very affordable.
Bottom line: Go for this turntable if you’re on a tight-budget or have a love for vintage styles. However, know that the sound quality will surely not be the best. Buy it here, and check out other Crosley products here.