Marvellous, between you and Techmoan these turntable reviews make compulsive viewing ( for some reason I don't quite understand - probably it's the crapness that just makes me smile )
@@chaos.corner I have a Rega RP3 wich is a beginner audiophile grade turntable and it is indeed very lovely although i modded some components like the platter and spindle to have the tt sound even better than it originally was ;-)
The low cost is what surprises me. If you feed the cost of the cheapest 1970s record player (e.g. Fidelity HF42) through an inflation calculator it comes out at about £100. In 1973 the cheapest magnetic cartridges were about £5, equivalent to the price of this turntable today.
*CORRECTION:* There is another trimmer on the back for adjusting the 33⅓ RPM speed which I overlooked when making the video. *Chapters Index:* 0:00 Pricing & overview 1:22 Specifications 2:21 First look & accessories 3:49 Broken & incorrect parts 6:15 Tonearm design 7:02 Controls & outputs 8:37 No frills 9:23 Speed issues 11:49 Playback tests 14:26 X-Dreams - Mary Ann 17:42 The Winning Lion - It's Time To Go 21:48 Reversed channels 23:35 Final thoughts 25:08 Outro music
I wasn't sure when looking at the video, but, does the weight at the back move to easily, because there might be a screw missing, that when tightened would fit the groove of the back of the tone arm. I suppose it would be a headless screw that goes to a point,
Good to know, were you able to fix the speed issue at 33⅓ RPM then? I mean it sounded decent (apart from the reverse stereo thingy). I wish they would put it at $79 and fix packing and improve QC then it would be a great TT for the price. (gently used, great shape AT-LP60 don't come by often). It would definitely help some people get into vinyl easily without a too steep investment. Some comment was mentioning a "higher end" model from this company that was at least much better packed. Something to keep in mind to help people who want to get into vinyl but don't know where to start. Thanks.
My guess regarding that name: "rock pigeon" might be a direct translation of the Chinese 原鸽 (Simplified Chinese in China, as opposed to Traditional Chinese used elsewhere), which is a homophone of 原歌 "original song", in the sense of "this turntable sounds as good as listening to a live original". Yeah… with that kind of wow? I doubt it.
Back in my youth, I played DJ for a bunch of Parents Without Partners dances. I was the geek that bought hundreds and hundreds of those yellow, plastic inserts that snapped in to 45rpm records. I wanted ALL of my 45's to be able to be played without having to track down the center piece. I am also old enough to remember that there used to be an automatic 45rpm changer bar on old BSR turntables that allowed you to stack 45rpm records like you could for 33rpm's. Your videos kick the nostalgia emotion in to full effect. Thanks!
Nostalgia is certainly nice, but I'm more in for sound! I'm an "audiophile" first! I would be lying if I said "Nostalgia" wasn't a small part of it! 😁 just subbed to your channel btw!😁
I still prefer those yellow adapters to the cheap adapters they include with turntables these days. With the yellow adapters I can clean the dust off my 45s without the records slipping on the platter. With the turntable adapters they slip like a mofo.
For whatever reason, most of the 45s sold in the country where i live either had a small hole, or an optional peice which you broke off if you wanted a large hole (only the dukebox ones came with the large hole)
Thing is, I guess, at that price? Can you even expect QC really? Considering where it comes from, this is just cheap plastic crap to try and get one-up on the hundreds of different ceramic cartridge based players that advertise the same features at the same price point.... at least it has a magnetic AT3600L cartridge which is very good, but the arm, bearings and counterweight assembly, and lid packing are really only worth a facepalm... But at this price, can you really expect better? And any form of QC? When you're looking at the AT-LP60X and above, then yes, QC is expected, and mostly does it's job - some dodgy ones do get through, but at least AT are more particular about their products, and have a reputation to maintain, but who are "One-By One" and their "Rock Pigeon"?
@@stevesstuff1450 In 1979 the cheapest new turntable I could find, a Garrard SP25MK6 was about the same price as this, and that is not taking into account inflation. It wasn't great either. The first one didn't work properly, while all of that model suffered from a poorly designed cartridge mount that would lose contact every couple of months.
@@MrDuncl : Yeah, the cartridge slide mount has always been a weak point - same with similar BSR models; I have the BSR P128R in my little collection, and it works beautifully; however, the bloody cartridge slide does need regular cleaning! Mechanically, both the Garrard, and BSR are sound decks (they do play a fraction fast, but that's a standard with them and can't be corrected), and they have stood the test of time very well, and if in good mechanical condition, they can fetch good money on Ebay nowadays! They both were the audiophile-on-a-budget turntables, and can still turn in a damn good performance even today! :-)
I agree that I'd take an AT-LP60X over one of these any day of the week. In fact, I just modified an AT-LP60X for 3-speed and added a pitch control; but, the Pfanstiehl 78 stylus "bottoms out" at 3.3 grams. I have a 78 stylus from LP gear coming and we'll see how that does. For entry level models, those AT turntables are not bad and at least they have a metal platter.
@@tarstarkusz Crosley actually has better. C62 (includes speakers), C100, C8 (external belt), C200 (direct drive), C3 (triangular plinth), K100A (includes Bluetooth speakers), and K200A (direct drive, includes Bluetooth speakers). But they are all over $200, except the C3, which is under $100.
@@tarstarkusz I haven't tried looking it up on UA-cam. Try the C200, it's the same turntable without the speakers. It's a Technics SL1200 clone from Hanpin in Taiwan, similar to the Audio Technica AT-LP140, only it's a 2 speed. It even has an AT cartridge. When people think Crosley, they think Crosley Criuser, which is a cheap Sunwin suitcase player from China.
@@paulstubbs7678 even a Crosley Cruiser won't ruin your records, we used to tape nickels to head of record players when I was a kid. I grew up playing an original Beatles white album on a record player with a nickel taped to the head. No damage done.
That "free gift" card raised alarm flags! They are almost certainly going to ask you to write a glowing Amazon review in exchange for the gift. Loved the two tracks you played!
I remember this model record player! In 2017 I was in Brussels and I saw one of these for sale in an electronics store there. It had the same mechanism and cartridge, as well as the two very recognizable volume and speed knobs on the side. The difference was that it was pure white, instead of woodgrained like this one. Price was around 80 euros. I remember a "Crosley" suitcase machine was 29 € in the same store.
The reverse channel issue may have been when they wired the cartridge. I experienced this problem when installing a new cartridge. I had switch the left and right output at the cartridge and it worked just fine.
The RCA output jacks on the turntable may be reversed. If so, this could be remedied by simply reversing the connecting jacks plugged into the table. There is also a possibility that the AT3600L cartridge wires have been reversed during assembly. All said, in addition to a couple of nicer Dual turntables, I have an AT-LP60 (first generation). The AT-LP60 is a decent sounding turntable which is plentiful on the second-hand market. Good review!
I can tell from the X-Dreams song that the turntable is running a bit fast, but not to a major extent. If they could get their QA issues resolved I think this would make for a great turn-table for the price that is.
I have one of the more expensive versions of this with a better built in speaker and Bluetooth and the manufacturer does know how to package the lid better. I’m not sure why they cheaped out on packaging for the lower end models aside from just saving a few bucks…
Essentially, by offloading the QC work onto the customer, and with how you may need to do a few returns to get one you can tolerate, they brought some of the purchase price down by increasing the opportunity cost. So those who can afford another $20-30 to save the hassle will do so; while those who need the basic version have to put up with more of this crap.
I wonder if the damage is from the lid banging into the base during shipping? Maybe some silicone bumpers at the corner of the dust cover would save them on returns?
@@dashcamandy2242 I suspect they'd still net more profit not providing such protection. Many people don't bother returning stuff like this, so long as the core functionality is still there. It seems like the kinda thing that'd oftentimes be bought as a gift, too.
@@dashcamandy2242 just one of those foam bags around the cover when shipping would probably help. Another thought. I wonder if this was a customer return already.
I recently got the newer version of this turntable, and honestly its not bad for the price. Yes there are some places where costs were cut, but overall it gets the job done. There weren't any quality control issues or broken parts. The speed and counterweight issues have been fixed, and the tonearm base isn't loose. I probably will plan to buy a higher quality turntable down the line, but for now I'll stick with this.
Really? MJ's 'Thriller' back in the '80's was probably no more than $20 and I bought an excellent used original for only $10 on eBay several years ago and later I found a second original copy three or four years ago at an antique store for only $3, but by all means, waste $50 or $60 on a reissue. To each his or her own. Haha! I see your point though comparing the cost of this turntable to the cost of a reissue 'Thriller' record. :)
@@TorontoJon Yeah I was more comparing the value of the turntable to the record. Not saying Thriller is worth a fortune or anything (especially since it's the best selling album and has no chance of rarity unless the MiniDisc releases become even more scarce).
I can see straightaway at 24:32 why the channels are reversed. The red headshell wire should be in the other connection at the top of the cart and the yellow (should be white) where the red is. The black connections should probably be reversed as well (although I suspect they've commoned the ground and channel grounds together)
It doesn't really look like the wrong counterweight. It seems more like the counterweight screw that fits on the spiral groove of the back of the tonearm was missing and that's why it won't fit properly. That would be the hole on the counterweight side. You can see in the figure of the user manual that it shows the dial up to 4 g too.
Even if it fit correctly, the counterweight I got is still not correct for this turntable, because even with it as far forward as it can go, for the heaviest tracking force, I could not get it up to the 3.5 grams that is recommended for the AT3600L cartridge.
@@vwestlife Yes I agree, it's the wrong counterweight. What I meant was that it's the "intended" one and they designed it wrongly, rather than they sent the wrong piece.
Considering the cost of the Michael Jackson Thriller album which goes for nearly $30 at most retailers, and the fact that it is included as a free bonus makes the actual cost of the turntable come in at around $29. The Audio Technica cartridge supplied with this device is at least $24. So it is actually a good deal and sounds way better than any Crosley I have ever heard.
I was listening and reading stuff and then @20:00 I realized that I was not completely put off by those tunes you were playing. That was the weirdest thing for me. I'm very sensitive to crappy music, but I was transfixed...
That's pretty Amazing that you can get a turntable of any quality for that price. Growing up I remember the Akai entry level turntable was about $80, but that's $202 dollars today, and I dont think it was any better than what you reviewed. It even had a base cover made of cardboard. A good Technics direct drive, or what they called "Quartz Drive" cost $200, or about $500 today. I read recently that Panasonic was going to revive the SP-10 line of turntables, but I have not seen one for sale. That would be a pleasure to review.
I think that volume control at 12:45 is actually linear. You need to have volume control logarithmic to match the way how ears works. But I really like this review. These songs are instant bangers and stereo problem made me laugh.
No, a linear volume control causes all of the "action" to occur at the minimum settings. A log pot is used to even it out so 50% loudness occurs at midpoint, rather than at 10% rotation. This probably uses a linear pot to send a voltage signal to an electronic volume control IC, since that is the way most modern circuits are configured. The reason is that it allows the cheapest single gang linear pot to be used on a stereo system, or even 2.1 channel or even surround sound as well.
This turntable would be ok for a kid or teen to try and see if things go further. I've had so many turntables in my life. Just like I used to live in an apartment with 3 other guys, now I'm married and have my own house. Cart seems to track ok. Vinyl & Turntables can go absolutely deep and this is an OK place to start. Hoping the user graduates someday! Cheap is cheap.
Was looking for this. I’ve seen cheap guitars with the same issue on their tone and/or volume pots which can be easily fixed for a little soldering and a couple cheap replacement parts. I do find it deliciously, albeit mildly, ironic how the genuinely-linear response potentiometer has the un-linear perceived action, due to our own hearing’s logarithmic curve existing and applying on top of our perceptions.
Not only do we get to hear obscure shoulda-been-hit tracks on this channel, we get to hear them in their entirety, as their use evades UA-cam's content match software.
Take a look at the back of the cartridge to see if the connectors are on correctly. That may be a point where they are reversed. As usual another great video... 👍👍
It's very interesting that they called that turntable the Rock Pigeon. The Rock Pigeon is the common feral Pigeon that you see flying around in cities. It's also known as the Rock Dove.
18:00 a long-lost Olympic Hit song, wonder if Lance Armstrong knew ‘em? Only song by The Winning Lion, maybe they were one-song wonders, such as Cycle V, Combo Audio, Lloyd Allen, and so on. Like a light version of Europe’s big hit, “The Final Countdown,” more geared toward NASA.
Dude! I have been listening with a defective audio cable to my PC speakers for like a year now and didn't know it until watching this video. My cable's channels seem to be reversed too, so I heard your turntable reproducing them correctly! I then checked a few other sources and yep, all reversed. I just reversed the cable so it's red to white and white to red and now all the stereo tests I've tried are as they should be. If nothing else, thanks for that! I may have to leave my own bad Amazon review for this cable... But anyway, I enjoyed this video otherwise too.
I was listening on my phone, so I didn't really notice the reverse channels issue till I put on headphones, but even on my phone I could tell that Marianne was a touch fast. I'm going to have to get a copy of that album, because I just keep humming that song day in and day out. It has itself a permanent spot in my UA-cam music likes
Thriller is a great album, I wouldn't be hurt over that as my only choice, even if I already have the modern release. A model currently on Amazon for $144 with the red tinted wood grain really looks like a top notch turn table. Has great reviews too. Seems like a really great price for a modern TT. But certainly not as good as my vintage units I already have. I still think the Pyle TT we both reviewed years ago was the best TT for the price, just seems like everything since is just not quite all it should be.
The problem with volume is the exact opposite of it being linear. Volume potentiometers are supposed to be logarithmic, because that's how our ears and our brains process volume, but this one is linear and that's why it's weird.
A linear potentiometer would result in the volume changes being more substantial at the low end. My guess here is that instead of attenuating the signal directly the knob only sends a control voltage to the amplifier chip. If the amplifier is designed to take a linear control signal instead of a 'corrected' one then a double 'correction' like we hear here could result.
You could've still heard the wow effect, especially in 'Mary Ann.' But, thanks for giving us unsuspecting, prospective record play buyers what not to buy...
That X Dreams album is awesome! I have not been able to obtain a fully copy however I do have a few songs. It is really an excellent underrated record! Do you ever make CD copies for your subscribers? Lol 🤣
thomas allertz ...When I was in the U.S. Navy, way back in the early 1970's ( yea, I am now 70 ....oh boy..!! ), I had a Dual 1229-Q turntable. I think it came with a great Shure M91 ED cartridge. I had a very nice component system and some really good speakers. I played thousands of hours of music on it. A number of years later while I still had my system and everything still worked, I decided to try another Shure cartridge, the M95 ( maybe M95ED...cannot remember...too many years ago now...lol..! ). I didn't like it. It wasn't as warm and rich as the M91ED.
That song by The Winning Lion is an absolute jam! Is there a chance you could upload a flac of the recording? Seems like buying the single is virtually impossible.
22:24 - Wow, not only in the audio itself... Did they _reverse the leads on the cartridge?_ 25:08 - I've always liked the sound of a Wurlitzer organ rhythm section.
its not to bad for that price, the cartridge is £17 here in uk and its much better than a last generation bsr turntable. i think its amazing value even thou speed is not very constant , thankyou for posting your review :)
Right? I think this thing is too far on the cheap side but looking to set up a friend even with a free vintage turntable to get back into it the cartridge and preamp needed to get it running will cost more than this whole player.
@@fallenshallrise these are good value on eBay aiwa px-e860k , has audio technica cart. Belt drive full auto start stop , builtin preamp so plays throu any amp . Tons for sale , can get for £20 Inc postage
I feel kind of dumb, but this video actually pointed out that I had wired up the DAC and amp attached to my headphones backwards when I set them up a couple days ago (i.e the stereo test played in the 'correct' channels for me). I haven't been listening to any music since then (mainly UA-cam videos), so I hadn't even noticed.
About 4 years ago I bought a Pioneer M6500 music center. It worked pretty well as it actually has separate electronics for each of it's functions and using the turntable sounded fantastic through some pretty big Pioneer speakers that I got specially for it. The only downsides where that the control knobs on the front had been slightly bent out of shape (and were loose) and the front plate appeared to be covered in blood ! Well I've got to say that if I was forced to only have one 'system' then this would be it, despite the lack of cd player (it sounds that good !) And the price I paid ? £11.50, an absolute bargain !
Marvellous, between you and Techmoan these turntable reviews make compulsive viewing ( for some reason I don't quite understand - probably it's the crapness that just makes me smile )
What's reconned to be a good turntable these days? Buying good quality used?
@@chaos.corner I have a Rega RP3 wich is a beginner audiophile grade turntable and it is indeed very lovely although i modded some components like the platter and spindle to have the tt sound even better than it originally was ;-)
The low cost is what surprises me. If you feed the cost of the cheapest 1970s record player (e.g. Fidelity HF42) through an inflation calculator it comes out at about £100. In 1973 the cheapest magnetic cartridges were about £5, equivalent to the price of this turntable today.
Coincidentally, Techmoan recently got a turntable that also had the left and right channels reversed. Lol.
Oh yes, "Rock Pigeon" and "Professional" certainly go together very well
What goes with Rock Pigeons is Pigeon Sh** (and lots of it) and this “professional” turntable brand is full of sh** so maybe they do go to together.😂🤣
When pigeons walk around bobbing their heads they are rockin out!
Lololol!!
Think I'll stick to my dad's old full metal Garrard :D
@@nslouka90 Yeah :D where do they sell headphobes for pigeons.
This feels like one of those 'I bought it so that you don't have to' types of videos. Thanks for producing this!
*CORRECTION:* There is another trimmer on the back for adjusting the 33⅓ RPM speed which I overlooked when making the video.
*Chapters Index:*
0:00 Pricing & overview
1:22 Specifications
2:21 First look & accessories
3:49 Broken & incorrect parts
6:15 Tonearm design
7:02 Controls & outputs
8:37 No frills
9:23 Speed issues
11:49 Playback tests
14:26 X-Dreams - Mary Ann
17:42 The Winning Lion - It's Time To Go
21:48 Reversed channels
23:35 Final thoughts
25:08 Outro music
Good trat u checked
At least you have some good music to chill with.
I wasn't sure when looking at the video, but, does the weight at the back move to easily, because there might be a screw missing, that when tightened would fit the groove of the back of the tone arm. I suppose it would be a headless screw that goes to a point,
@@orange_light_pictures No, the counterweight is wrong enough for this turntable that a set screw wouldn't fix the problem.
Good to know, were you able to fix the speed issue at 33⅓ RPM then?
I mean it sounded decent (apart from the reverse stereo thingy).
I wish they would put it at $79 and fix packing and improve QC then it would be a great TT for the price.
(gently used, great shape AT-LP60 don't come by often). It would definitely help some people get into vinyl easily without a too steep investment. Some comment was mentioning a "higher end" model from this company that was at least much better packed.
Something to keep in mind to help people who want to get into vinyl but don't know where to start.
Thanks.
My guess regarding that name: "rock pigeon" might be a direct translation of the Chinese 原鸽 (Simplified Chinese in China, as opposed to Traditional Chinese used elsewhere), which is a homophone of 原歌 "original song", in the sense of "this turntable sounds as good as listening to a live original". Yeah… with that kind of wow? I doubt it.
It is a load of crap
Surely they have Google Translate in China too?
@@liroso maybe Baidu Translate
@@JamesLee-on1yb or maybe Babel Fish?
@S2 turbine BIRD BIRD BIRD IS THE WORD hahaha
Back in my youth, I played DJ for a bunch of Parents Without Partners dances. I was the geek that bought hundreds and hundreds of those yellow, plastic inserts that snapped in to 45rpm records. I wanted ALL of my 45's to be able to be played without having to track down the center piece. I am also old enough to remember that there used to be an automatic 45rpm changer bar on old BSR turntables that allowed you to stack 45rpm records like you could for 33rpm's. Your videos kick the nostalgia emotion in to full effect. Thanks!
Nostalgia is certainly nice, but I'm more in for sound! I'm an "audiophile" first! I would be lying if I said "Nostalgia" wasn't a small part of it! 😁 just subbed to your channel btw!😁
I still prefer those yellow adapters to the cheap adapters they include with turntables these days. With the yellow adapters I can clean the dust off my 45s without the records slipping on the platter. With the turntable adapters they slip like a mofo.
For whatever reason, most of the 45s sold in the country where i live either had a small hole, or an optional peice which you broke off if you wanted a large hole
(only the dukebox ones came with the large hole)
@@pineappleroad Interesting! Where are you located if I may ask?
@@TechGorilla1987 UK
All professional turntables come with built-in speakers. That's what makes them professional!
Damn, I assume then that my Sondek is for amateur use only.....whew..good thing I`m an amateur.
Just like the $20$ professional studio headphones!
Wow so my Sansui and Miracord must be toys with no speakers 😅😅
@@vtjmproductionsusa2390Knobend
Oh no Pioneer and Technics don’t have one. I guess they not professional grade 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
You could do a whole video, just playing slightly obscure 70's, 80's 90's songs on reviewed turntables!
That's what the "You Can't Download Vinyl" channel is for :)
MrVinylObsessive only plays records.
That actually seems like a remarkably competent turntable for $59. I'm ordering one to audition things in my record storage room.
You're aware of that not everybody understands sarcasm? ;)
Real shame about the QC issues, it wouldn't be terrible for the price otherwise. Great turntable review as always!
Thing is, I guess, at that price? Can you even expect QC really? Considering where it comes from, this is just cheap plastic crap to try and get one-up on the hundreds of different ceramic cartridge based players that advertise the same features at the same price point.... at least it has a magnetic AT3600L cartridge which is very good, but the arm, bearings and counterweight assembly, and lid packing are really only worth a facepalm...
But at this price, can you really expect better? And any form of QC?
When you're looking at the AT-LP60X and above, then yes, QC is expected, and mostly does it's job - some dodgy ones do get through, but at least AT are more particular about their products, and have a reputation to maintain, but who are "One-By One" and their "Rock Pigeon"?
@@stevesstuff1450 In 1979 the cheapest new turntable I could find, a Garrard SP25MK6 was about the same price as this, and that is not taking into account inflation. It wasn't great either. The first one didn't work properly, while all of that model suffered from a poorly designed cartridge mount that would lose contact every couple of months.
@@MrDuncl : Yeah, the cartridge slide mount has always been a weak point - same with similar BSR models; I have the BSR P128R in my little collection, and it works beautifully; however, the bloody cartridge slide does need regular cleaning!
Mechanically, both the Garrard, and BSR are sound decks (they do play a fraction fast, but that's a standard with them and can't be corrected), and they have stood the test of time very well, and if in good mechanical condition, they can fetch good money on Ebay nowadays!
They both were the audiophile-on-a-budget turntables, and can still turn in a damn good performance even today! :-)
What's QC?
@@fcmhockeyvideos Quality Control
I agree that I'd take an AT-LP60X over one of these any day of the week. In fact, I just modified an AT-LP60X for 3-speed and added a pitch control; but, the Pfanstiehl 78 stylus "bottoms out" at 3.3 grams. I have a 78 stylus from LP gear coming and we'll see how that does. For entry level models, those AT turntables are not bad and at least they have a metal platter.
@@tarstarkusz Crosley actually has better. C62 (includes speakers), C100, C8 (external belt), C200 (direct drive), C3 (triangular plinth), K100A (includes Bluetooth speakers), and K200A (direct drive, includes Bluetooth speakers). But they are all over $200, except the C3, which is under $100.
@@tarstarkusz I haven't tried looking it up on UA-cam. Try the C200, it's the same turntable without the speakers. It's a Technics SL1200 clone from Hanpin in Taiwan, similar to the Audio Technica AT-LP140, only it's a 2 speed. It even has an AT cartridge. When people think Crosley, they think Crosley Criuser, which is a cheap Sunwin suitcase player from China.
@@tarstarkusz My usual concern with cheap turntables is ruining the records, at lease with a proper cartridge, this one should be safe to use.
@@paulstubbs7678 even a Crosley Cruiser won't ruin your records, we used to tape nickels to head of record players when I was a kid. I grew up playing an original Beatles white album on a record player with a nickel taped to the head. No damage done.
@@tarstarkusz Cheap record players still sound better than compressed digital, digital is the worst thing that happened to sound and video recordings
That "free gift" card raised alarm flags! They are almost certainly going to ask you to write a glowing Amazon review in exchange for the gift. Loved the two tracks you played!
I'm at least glad to see that more turntables are coming with a *REAL* phono cartridge, not a plastic toy
Also this whole cartridge can be upgraded.
@@jerryspann8713 would you really do that on that arm?
Ceramic cartridges are real. Get your snob attitude in check.
@@alkestos that doesn't mean they're good (ik there's exceptions but usually they're not)
@SharrelWright the title of the video literally says turntable
Happy to see some X-Dreams again - thank you for introducing me to that song so much. I'd love to hear that entire LP one day
Your videos over the years have made me really want to find that X-Dreams album!!
17:41 Another appearance of Peugeot's The Winning Lion is, as always, much appreciated!
I like that track, but as far as my search is concerned, no way to listen it in decent quality other than this video which to me sounds the best...
1:30 Power: 0.5 W in standby, 1.5 W in use. Music output 2x 3W...? Boys, looks like they solved the energy crisis.
I remember this model record player! In 2017 I was in Brussels and I saw one of these for sale in an electronics store there. It had the same mechanism and cartridge, as well as the two very recognizable volume and speed knobs on the side. The difference was that it was pure white, instead of woodgrained like this one. Price was around 80 euros. I remember a "Crosley" suitcase machine was 29 € in the same store.
The reverse channel issue may have been when they wired the cartridge. I experienced this problem when installing a new cartridge. I had switch the left and right output at the cartridge and it worked just fine.
I've had exactly the same issue.
I'll never grow tired of that John LaDuca tune. Sweet closing.
I just finished to watch the review of the pt-01, thanks for another review of a turntable!
I really enjoy your turntable reviews! Please keep them coming, they are always informative and entertaining! Thanks!
My music collection will grow by one song today thanks to this video...
I love that the torture tests for any record player is with a daft punk record
I love your turntable reviews!
CHAPTERS:
0:00 Intro
1:01 Customer reviews
1:22 Specifications
2:21 First impressions
2:47 Included accessories
3:49 Poor quality control
5:54 Tracking force
6:15 Overview
8:38 Features (or lack thereof)
9:55 Speed accuracy
11:49 Built-in speakers
13:46 Feedback and skipping test
14:27 Direct hook-up samples
21:49 Thoughts on sound quality
22:08 Stereo separation test
23:35 Conclusion
25:08 Outro
I was working on an index myself, but thanks!
The RCA output jacks on the turntable may be reversed. If so, this could be remedied by simply reversing the connecting jacks plugged into the table. There is also a possibility that the AT3600L cartridge wires have been reversed during assembly. All said, in addition to a couple of nicer Dual turntables, I have an AT-LP60 (first generation). The AT-LP60 is a decent sounding turntable which is plentiful on the second-hand market. Good review!
Lol I am so glad I hear nothing wrong with this one! It means I can try to listen to my grandpa’s wind-up gramophone.
VWestlife: Come for the audio hardware, stay for the sweet synthwave tracks.
Great review and excellent song choices! 👍
I can tell from the X-Dreams song that the turntable is running a bit fast, but not to a major extent. If they could get their QA issues resolved I think this would make for a great turn-table for the price that is.
Great overview. And I love basically every track you played.
I have one of the more expensive versions of this with a better built in speaker and Bluetooth and the manufacturer does know how to package the lid better. I’m not sure why they cheaped out on packaging for the lower end models aside from just saving a few bucks…
Essentially, by offloading the QC work onto the customer, and with how you may need to do a few returns to get one you can tolerate, they brought some of the purchase price down by increasing the opportunity cost. So those who can afford another $20-30 to save the hassle will do so; while those who need the basic version have to put up with more of this crap.
If they pump out 1 million of that trash is easy to calculate why they will put paper screws if it's possible.
I wonder if the damage is from the lid banging into the base during shipping? Maybe some silicone bumpers at the corner of the dust cover would save them on returns?
@@dashcamandy2242 I suspect they'd still net more profit not providing such protection. Many people don't bother returning stuff like this, so long as the core functionality is still there. It seems like the kinda thing that'd oftentimes be bought as a gift, too.
@@dashcamandy2242 just one of those foam bags around the cover when shipping would probably help. Another thought. I wonder if this was a customer return already.
hey man you constantly put out good videos and this is another good one. Keep doing what you're doing
😂 I got a 1byOne ad in front of this video!
You could reverse the left & right RCA jacks to fix the stereo issue.
It's actually pretty nice that they included a PHONO/LINE selector switch in the back, on a turntable which is otherwise rather lackluster.
That Mary Ann song is really good!
I love that you included Tom Daley in this video. 😆 That’s one way to make a video interesting!
I recently got the newer version of this turntable, and honestly its not bad for the price. Yes there are some places where costs were cut, but overall it gets the job done. There weren't any quality control issues or broken parts. The speed and counterweight issues have been fixed, and the tonearm base isn't loose. I probably will plan to buy a higher quality turntable down the line, but for now I'll stick with this.
So in short, you're paying for MJ's Thriller on Vinyl.
And a replacement cartridge for your real turntable. lol
Really? MJ's 'Thriller' back in the '80's was probably no more than $20 and I bought an excellent used original for only $10 on eBay several years ago and later I found a second original copy three or four years ago at an antique store for only $3, but by all means, waste $50 or $60 on a reissue. To each his or her own. Haha! I see your point though comparing the cost of this turntable to the cost of a reissue 'Thriller' record. :)
@@TorontoJon Yeah I was more comparing the value of the turntable to the record. Not saying Thriller is worth a fortune or anything (especially since it's the best selling album and has no chance of rarity unless the MiniDisc releases become even more scarce).
I can see straightaway at 24:32 why the channels are reversed. The red headshell wire should be in the other connection at the top of the cart and the yellow (should be white) where the red is. The black connections should probably be reversed as well (although I suspect they've commoned the ground and channel grounds together)
It doesn't really look like the wrong counterweight. It seems more like the counterweight screw that fits on the spiral groove of the back of the tonearm was missing and that's why it won't fit properly. That would be the hole on the counterweight side.
You can see in the figure of the user manual that it shows the dial up to 4 g too.
Yes I thought it looked like there was a hole for a grub screw or set screw or the like. That would make sense.
Even if it fit correctly, the counterweight I got is still not correct for this turntable, because even with it as far forward as it can go, for the heaviest tracking force, I could not get it up to the 3.5 grams that is recommended for the AT3600L cartridge.
@@vwestlife Yes I agree, it's the wrong counterweight. What I meant was that it's the "intended" one and they designed it wrongly, rather than they sent the wrong piece.
Both songs are absolute bangers, that's for sure
Considering the cost of the Michael Jackson Thriller album which goes for nearly $30 at most retailers, and the fact that it is included as a free bonus makes the actual cost of the turntable come in at around $29. The Audio Technica cartridge supplied with this device is at least $24. So it is actually a good deal and sounds way better than any Crosley I have ever heard.
Except that Crosley now sells many turntables which are far superior to this one, including their C series (C6, C8, C10, C100, C200, etc.).
I think the one you get at a retailer is genuine; what you get with these, i don't know, and whether you get anything at all.
X-Dreams sounds really good. I wish I heard them before today
I thought it was a sarcastic joke. They sounded really lame to me, and I was buying hundreds of records back in that era.
@@johncoops6897 lame? It's an awesome album, shame you'll never hear it in full unlike me ;)
@@DeathlySin - I am glad I haven't heard any more of their album.
@@johncoops6897 you sound very boring tbh.
I was listening and reading stuff and then @20:00 I realized that I was not completely put off by those tunes you were playing. That was the weirdest thing for me. I'm very sensitive to crappy music, but I was transfixed...
That's pretty Amazing that you can get a turntable of any quality for that price. Growing up I remember the Akai entry level turntable was about $80, but that's $202 dollars today, and I dont think it was any better than what you reviewed. It even had a base cover made of cardboard. A good Technics direct drive, or what they called "Quartz Drive" cost $200, or about $500 today. I read recently that Panasonic was going to revive the SP-10 line of turntables, but I have not seen one for sale. That would be a pleasure to review.
I think that volume control at 12:45 is actually linear. You need to have volume control logarithmic to match the way how ears works.
But I really like this review. These songs are instant bangers and stereo problem made me laugh.
No, a linear volume control causes all of the "action" to occur at the minimum settings. A log pot is used to even it out so 50% loudness occurs at midpoint, rather than at 10% rotation.
This probably uses a linear pot to send a voltage signal to an electronic volume control IC, since that is the way most modern circuits are configured. The reason is that it allows the cheapest single gang linear pot to be used on a stereo system, or even 2.1 channel or even surround sound as well.
Well, if one record is kinda mandatory to have, it's MJ's thriller. So excellent choice.
Thought the same thing.
Yes! You can never have enough pressings of "thriller"!
Except I’ve already had it for over 30 years and don’t need another copy.
We can put the "bird that don't fly" in front of "that dog don't hunt" dog and we may eventually get dinner.
This turntable would be ok for a kid or teen to try and see if things go further. I've had so many turntables in my life. Just like I used to live in an apartment with 3 other guys, now I'm married and have my own house. Cart seems to track ok. Vinyl & Turntables can go absolutely deep and this is an OK place to start. Hoping the user graduates someday! Cheap is cheap.
54$ for a record, an assignment tool, record bags and an at 3600l doesn't really sound like a bad deal... it even comes with a whole record player
Why am I just finding this account. This account is awesome!
I'm guessing that the volume control uses a standard potentiometer (linear taper) rather than a logarithmic one (audio taper).
Was looking for this. I’ve seen cheap guitars with the same issue on their tone and/or volume pots which can be easily fixed for a little soldering and a couple cheap replacement parts.
I do find it deliciously, albeit mildly, ironic how the genuinely-linear response potentiometer has the un-linear perceived action, due to our own hearing’s logarithmic curve existing and applying on top of our perceptions.
It’s such a shame that “Mary Ann” wasn’t the huge hit song that it should have been…. excellent video as usual. Thanks again, VWestlife!!!
It is also interesting that it didn't get claimed...
Not only do we get to hear obscure shoulda-been-hit tracks on this channel, we get to hear them in their entirety, as their use evades UA-cam's content match software.
@@rogerb5615 - it's the artists who claim the copyright, not UA-cam. So this loser band just don't care... any airplay is good airplay.
Take a look at the back of the cartridge to see if the connectors are on correctly. That may be a point where they are reversed. As usual another great video... 👍👍
I wondered if the RCA jacks on the back are reversed, which could be easily remedied by reversing the cables for the one set of jack inputs.
It's very interesting that they called that turntable the Rock Pigeon. The Rock Pigeon is the common feral Pigeon that you see flying around in cities. It's also known as the Rock Dove.
18:00 a long-lost Olympic Hit song, wonder if Lance Armstrong knew ‘em? Only song by The Winning Lion, maybe they were one-song wonders, such as Cycle V, Combo Audio, Lloyd Allen, and so on. Like a light version of Europe’s big hit, “The Final Countdown,” more geared toward NASA.
Had to comment because I got an ad for the turntable before the video started. Comedy gold.
Feels like a long time since you played X-Dreams I love that song.
"As God As My Witness, I Thought Turkeys Could Fly"
- WKRP in Cincinnati -
Dude! I have been listening with a defective audio cable to my PC speakers for like a year now and didn't know it until watching this video. My cable's channels seem to be reversed too, so I heard your turntable reproducing them correctly! I then checked a few other sources and yep, all reversed. I just reversed the cable so it's red to white and white to red and now all the stereo tests I've tried are as they should be. If nothing else, thanks for that! I may have to leave my own bad Amazon review for this cable... But anyway, I enjoyed this video otherwise too.
Great music always with VWestlife !
Thanks for bringing back Mary Ann! It's such a good song.
Thanks to you, I love that XDreams album. I was lucky enough to find one for sale about a year ago.
I was listening on my phone, so I didn't really notice the reverse channels issue till I put on headphones, but even on my phone I could tell that Marianne was a touch fast. I'm going to have to get a copy of that album, because I just keep humming that song day in and day out. It has itself a permanent spot in my UA-cam music likes
Thriller is a great album, I wouldn't be hurt over that as my only choice, even if I already have the modern release. A model currently on Amazon for $144 with the red tinted wood grain really looks like a top notch turn table. Has great reviews too. Seems like a really great price for a modern TT. But certainly not as good as my vintage units I already have. I still think the Pyle TT we both reviewed years ago was the best TT for the price, just seems like everything since is just not quite all it should be.
Excellent review as always, many thanks :)
The problem with volume is the exact opposite of it being linear. Volume potentiometers are supposed to be logarithmic, because that's how our ears and our brains process volume, but this one is linear and that's why it's weird.
this
A linear potentiometer would result in the volume changes being more substantial at the low end. My guess here is that instead of attenuating the signal directly the knob only sends a control voltage to the amplifier chip. If the amplifier is designed to take a linear control signal instead of a 'corrected' one then a double 'correction' like we hear here could result.
@@eDoc2020 - yes, correct. It probably uses a single gang linear pot and a digital volume control chip.
Specifications: "Audio Technical AT-3600L" Like the store Homer Simpson shopped at that had Panaphonics, Magnetbox, and Sorny. :)
After 1+ year I finally got the joke. "This bird won't fly."
I'm a smart boy.
"Rock pigeon", fitting that the most majestic and musical of birds should give name to the most excellent of products.
You could've still heard the wow effect, especially in 'Mary Ann.'
But, thanks for giving us unsuspecting, prospective record play buyers what not to buy...
And one by one they all get returned .... Cracking video !!!
@25:12 What song is it?
I've got a brilliant idea about the reversed channels -- reverse your cables. Who knew there was a solution so simple.
That X Dreams album is awesome! I have not been able to obtain a fully copy however I do have a few songs. It is really an excellent underrated record! Do you ever make CD copies for your subscribers? Lol 🤣
Apparently this turntable "ran afoul" of quality control.
I'll get the lights on the way out.
A real turkey of a joke.
The audience throws rocks at comments like that.
The factory just purchased these broken, knowing full well most customers couldn't be fucked returning them.
*Flying rat* turntable😂
Kudos to that AT cartridge. Made even this table sound pretty sweet.
Probably a fake.
Great review! You just sold me on the product 👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿
Hope you returned it. Nothing like the old turntables. That’s what you get for that price. Good video.
Rock Pidgeon…Sounds like an unreleased B-52s song 🤘
I think, a Second hand, is the best choice. I have an Full Automatic Grundig turntable, made by DUAL. I Build an Pre-AMP and it works so great.
Yep, Dual is king.
@@westelaudio943 I had a Dual. Unfortunately, it had the proprietary, Ortofon cartridge mount.
thomas allertz ...When I was in the U.S. Navy, way back in the early 1970's ( yea, I am now 70 ....oh boy..!! ), I had a Dual 1229-Q turntable. I think it came with a great Shure M91 ED cartridge. I had a very nice component system and some really good speakers. I played thousands of hours of music on it. A number of years later while I still had my system and everything still worked, I decided to try another Shure cartridge, the M95 ( maybe M95ED...cannot remember...too many years ago now...lol..! ). I didn't like it. It wasn't as warm and rich as the M91ED.
Rock Pigeon's turntable looks identical to Angles Horn's to eliminate sorrow and sorrow, to free people from suffering.
That song by The Winning Lion is an absolute jam! Is there a chance you could upload a flac of the recording? Seems like buying the single is virtually impossible.
Discogs has a few dozen copies. Summer Olympics in the 1980s featured this song, and was also in a movie that who knows the name.
I'll stay with my Pro-ject T1.......also cheap but very nice made. Great vid by the way.
Can anyone tell me what is playing at 25:10? I loved it so much!
You can find it on their/his other video in full : ua-cam.com/video/TW0_Gl_3EGg/v-deo.html&ab_channel=VWestlife
@@lunamonkey Thank you a lot
Rock pigeon - cool model name, makes me want to buy it immediately
/s
I wonder if the stereo channel swap is due to the cartridge wires' channels being reversed. Just swap the channels on the back of the cartridge.
So thankful for the Technics turntable we got a Curby's - the Door-to-door Discount Superstore - way back before the turn of the century...
That stereo test thing made me yank my headphones off for a sec to make sure I wasn't going mad.
I had to check my earphones to make sure I was wearing the right sides!
Wow that WOW! You were right about that, it’s very audible.
I noticed it gets worse the heavier the record on the platter is. So it's probably mostly due to the cheapo no-name motor they used.
22:24 - Wow, not only in the audio itself... Did they _reverse the leads on the cartridge?_
25:08 - I've always liked the sound of a Wurlitzer organ rhythm section.
Thanks for the video, Kevin.
its not to bad for that price, the cartridge is £17 here in uk and its much better than a last generation bsr turntable. i think its amazing value even thou speed is not very constant , thankyou for posting your review :)
Right? I think this thing is too far on the cheap side but looking to set up a friend even with a free vintage turntable to get back into it the cartridge and preamp needed to get it running will cost more than this whole player.
@@fallenshallrise these are good value on eBay aiwa px-e860k , has audio technica cart. Belt drive full auto start stop , builtin preamp so plays throu any amp . Tons for sale , can get for £20 Inc postage
@@lookoutleo Great tip
I feel kind of dumb, but this video actually pointed out that I had wired up the DAC and amp attached to my headphones backwards when I set them up a couple days ago (i.e the stereo test played in the 'correct' channels for me). I haven't been listening to any music since then (mainly UA-cam videos), so I hadn't even noticed.
Love the Tom Daley cameo😆
Oh Nice Better things in the world Kevin videos will watch it after work. Have a nice day . Miguel
That’s a great 👍 deal for under $60.00. Magnetic 🧲 cartridge, and very nice 👍 wood 🪵 color. Your friend, Jeff.
About 4 years ago I bought a Pioneer M6500 music center.
It worked pretty well as it actually has separate electronics for each of it's functions and using the turntable sounded fantastic through some pretty big Pioneer speakers that I got specially for it.
The only downsides where that the control knobs on the front had been slightly bent out of shape (and were loose) and the front plate appeared to be covered in blood !
Well I've got to say that if I was forced to only have one 'system' then this would be it, despite the lack of cd player (it sounds that good !)
And the price I paid ?
£11.50, an absolute bargain !