Turntables can be very pricey and authentically old school or they can be very affordable options that mimic the throwback machines with modern features. Crosley and Victrola belong to the latter category. Both brands have amazing machines, but which edges out the other? If you don’t want to make the wrong decision, just follow our review and comparison of the two brands.
Victrola or Crosley?
History and Experience
The story of Victrola is rich in history, as they have been around since the 1900s. The company was born in Camden, New Jersey, and was first under the name Victor Talking Machine Company. Victrola made a mark in the turntable music industry and still to this day, a Victrola brand record player is more than just the story behind it, it’s also about the sound quality.
As for Crosley, their history is a lot more recent compared to the veteran Victrola. Crosley record players are a product of Crosley Radio, with headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky. Crosley Radio is a resurrected version of Crosley Company, which was in business from 1921 to 1956. Crosley Radio put out their first turntable in 1992, and has since been a big player in the turntable manufacturing industry.
Comparing Victrola and Crosley Turntables
Victrola and Crosley: Up to $50
- 3-speed portable suitcase
- Bluetooth
- Built-in speakers
- Control switches
- Many colors
- Bluetooth
- 3 speeds
- Easily portable
Design and Size
Both the Victrola VS Crosley record players are similar in size, and both come in a suitcase-carrying case that doubles as the turntable stand. The Crosley turntable features more colors, but both share the vintage feel.
Being similar in size doesn’t mean two units are equally portable. To be a true portable record player, it also needs to be lightweight, which the Victrola unit wins in spades. The Crosley turntable is around 5 pounds while the Victrola turntable is only just shy of 3.
The controls are placed in similar locations on both products, which is close to the platter, but you’re not going to find a remote control included with your purchase any time soon with such budget models.
Sound Quality and Technology
The Crosley VS Victrola portable record players have similar sound quality due to having components of around the same grade. The Victrola turntable has built-in speakers, and the Crosley option does as well. You can also choose to connect to external speakers for bigger and more expansive sound.
You will also be able to play records of varying sizes on both portable turntables because they come with 3 speeds. The 3 speeds are already very impressive for players at this price point, but you may not be able to find a fully automatic system that doesn’t require you to lift a finger to place the tonearm or return it to its initial position.
An adjustable pitch control is also less likely to be featured on more affordable devices. The pitch control allows users to deviate from the standard 33, 45, and 78 RPM to find the perfect pitch for the record in question.
(To maintain your turntable excellently, here’s is a simple guide to clean a turntable needle)
Connectivity
The connection has a huge role to play in how compatible and easy to set up record players are. The Crosley and Victrola record player models have Bluetooth that allow you to start playing music from your media devices directly out of the in-built speakers. You can also choose to connect both vinyl record players to outside speakers via the RCA outputs, or listen to your collection from the headphone jack that is also present on both devices.
Our sonic engineers chose the Victrola as the winner for this Victrola VS Crosley record player round one. Both the turntables are similar in many ways, but the VSC-550BT-BK edges out the Crosley player due to the sturdier design. The case has protective corners and larger and sturdier feet to help dampen vibrations.
Victrola and Crosley: Up to $100
- Belt-driven suitcase design
- 3 speeds
- Built-in full-range speakers
- One-knob control
- 7-in-1 design
- True retro exterior
- Belt drive
- 3 speeds
Design and Size
As you can see, the Crosley record player is a portable design while the Victrola VTA-204B-MAH is not. Which is more preferable is entirely subjective, but the Victrola model has more capabilities. Not only is it a record player, it also has an FM radio, a CD player, a cassette player with Bluetooth and built-in stereo speakers.
Sound Quality and Technology
While they both sound great, the Crosley model has the edge here due to the full-range speakers within. The Victrola model also has speakers, but they are stereo rather than full-range. A Victrola plus Crosley record player can be hooked up to external speakers via the RCA output for your deep bass needs.
Connectivity
It’s difficult to find turntables without built-in Bluetooth as one of the key features. For a portable player, wireless connectivity is key. Both vinyl players have Bluetooth and as our experts said above, you can hook up the system to external powered speakers if necessary.
The winner in this part of our comparison is the Victrola turntable. Not only is it a vinyl player, but it also features old-school capabilities such as an integrated CD and cassette player as well as an FM radio. These integrations by far exceed its competitor and showcase Victrola innovative technology.
Victrola and Crosley: Up to $130
- 3 speeds
- Cassette and CD players
- LED lighting
- Built-in speakers
- Built-in phono preamp
- 2-speed turntable
- Adjustable tonearm
- Features a moving magnet cartridge
Design and Size
When it comes to the design and build quality, the Victrola turntable is arguably the sturdier one. Our experts say the sleek mahogany wood exterior keeps your records safe inside the body. On the other hand, the Crosley C6A-BK adopts a simpler and more modern appearance with your record resting on the platter directly on the plinth, with nothing protecting the components but the hinged dust cover.
Of course, the Victrola models are larger and heavier, but you can play music without having to worry too much about the stability of the lid.
Sound Quality and Technology
The turntables are at different price points, with the Victrola units being more affordable. This could give the brand a tiny bit of an edge over the Crosley players, and there are even more features embedded within than the more expensive option. On the Victrola turntables, you will find a CD player, cassette player, Bluetooth, speakers built in, and 3 adjustable speeds.
The Crosley record player unfortunately does not have 3 speeds, nor does it have speakers. There is Bluetooth, and a built-in preamp, but there are also much fewer controls compared to the Victrola player that has everything on the front control panel with LED lighting.
(Want to update your vinyl records collection? Here are the best places to buy vinyl records online)
Motor and Cartridge
Let’s start with the motor on the Crosley C6A-BK. It is a belt-drive turntable with a low-vibration synchronous motor [1]. Our audio team says that belt drives do take longer to reach the optimal speed, it is more resistant to vibrations. The big difference is also that it can absorb more shock, although the belt will need replacing over time.
Vinyl enthusiasts will be happy to know that our audio engineers also recommend belt drives to protect your turntable platter over time. This next point is debatable, but some members of our sound team argue that belt-driven turntables also produce better sound.
This is due to the lower vibrations, which contribute to an overall cleaner sound. The less motor noise there is, the clearer the audio will be.
The Victrola is also a belt-driven unit that offers the same benefits as its competitor.
Meanwhile, the Crosley has a phono cartridge, which has a moving magnet by design. Moving magnet cartridges have a high output and usually have a replaceable stylus. The Victrola also has a moving magnet or MM cartridge, so there is no real difference between the two brands in this regard.
Connectivity Options
Both the Crosley and Victrola players feature Bluetooth connectivity and RCA outputs on the back. However, only the Victrola unit has a headphone jack. This was surprising to our experts as that model wouldn’t really be your first choice to mix music. A headphone jack allows you to listen to your vinyl in peace without disturbing others.
If the bass response and audio quality just isn’t up to par with the built-in speakers, which are only present in the Victrola unit, you have the option of connecting the players to powered speakers. Keep in mind that if your system uses passive speakers, you will need an amp.
This round of Victrola versus Crosley record player models sees the former brand take the crown yet again. You can get more than decent sound from the turntable, especially with the in-built speakers that are absent in its competitor. It also has features like Bluetooth for wireless connection while keeping a vintage appearance.
Overall Winner: Victrola
In this Victrola VS Crosley record player comparison, our experts believe that the former does vinyl records justice with Victrola innovative technology such as stereo speakers built into many of the models, a sturdy build, with excellent sound quality that beats out other models—all for a reasonable price. Your vinyl collection will benefit from such features and there are even old-school CD and cassette players and FM radios in certain units.
Finding the best option for a turntable? Well, you can select one from this top list:
