Crosley is known (and perhaps hated by many in the audiophile community) for its Urban audio-friendly, Outfitter-friendly, briefcase-clad turntables. Recently, Crosley released the Crosley C200, which is its first-ever direct drive turntable that supposedly combines Crosley’s vintage- enthused, synth style with hi-end, high-tech features.
The Crosley C200 Direct Drive Turntable is aimed at the DJ market and is indebted to the model Technics SL-1200 design with its adjustable counterweights and S-shaped tonearm. Equipped with an inbuilt amp and an Audio-Technica magnetic cartridge, the emphasis here is on flawlessly bringing records up to speed and make the ultimate mash-up ever. Below are some of its features:
Quick Overview
Pros
Cons
Bottom Line
The Crosley C200 is a good turntable and is an excellent piece for those individuals who are looking for a new record player. In case, the turntable that you bought the first time was cheaper and less sturdy, and you happen to be a tight budget, the C200 will be a great upgrade. The Crosley C200 Direct Drive Turntable might not meet the expectations of a professional turntable, but it is a worthy piece considering its price and design.
Worth Every Penny
The Crosley C200 Direct Drive Turntable might not meet the expectations of a hard-core audiophile with a fat pocketbook, but you happen to be a tight budget, the C200 it is a worthy piece considering its price and design.
Design
Features
Sound Quality
Value
1. Design & Pitch Control
The adjustable pitch control of this turntable is a nice touch, particularly for the more advanced users. With the pitch control, you can easily adjust the tempo and pitch for Djing, and this helps in making the device more appealing to the veteran crowd.
A majority of turntables from Crosley appear and feel cheap, however, that is not the case with the Crosley C200 Direct Drive Turntable. The dazzling strobe dots, matte black finish, and the more resilient tonearm make for a sturdy design and a sleek look.
2. Sound quality
C200 has been tested with several types of genres including trap, ambient, deep house, and indie rock. The turntable was also used in playing numerous sizes of records with an aiming of finding out if there were any variances in its performance. The sound quality did not disappoint even when tuned to excessively loud volumes.
3. The Built-In Pre-amp
The Crosley C200 Direct Drive Turntable comes with an in-built pre-amp. However, the pre-amp isn’t that great. For those who want a better sound quality, it is recommended that you acquire your own pre-amp. In case, you flip the phono switch on turntable’s back and then run the RCA cables on your own pre-amp you may get better results.
The RCA cables are also a bit shorter, and you might want to reconsider in investing in a longer set that is incase your home stereo set-up forces you to do so.
Set-Up
This turntable is easy to set up. To set it up, you will just set the turntable platter in the centre, connect the headshell into the front side of the tonearm, steady the stylus pressure and the tonearm, and put on the lid of the turntable. If this sounds super sophisticated, you don’t have to worry. When setting it up everything locks into positions like LEGOs. For those who prefer to use manuals, the directions are simple and easy to follow.
At times when setting up a brand new turntable, the process of balancing the tonearm can be a bit complicated. Nonetheless, that is not the case with the Crosley C200 Direct Drive Turntable.
Best Price For Crosley C200 Direct Drive Turntable
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$228.04 $279
Specifications For The Crosley C200
Drive Type: | Direct Drive |
Speed Settings: | 33.3RPM, 45RPM |
Brand: | Crosley Model: C200 |
4. Other Features
Current Crosley C200 Direct Drive Turntable Deals
Crosley C200A-BK Direct Drive Turntable with S-Shaped Tone Arm (Black)
$186.95 $279
Crosley C-200 is a very good turntable for the non-audiofile listener and has everything you need to safely (safely) play your vinyl. Do not buy it for the internal preamp. You probably won’t be satisfied. This TT needs the phono input on your receiver or preamp to produce really high quality sound. It has a very decent starter cartridge but I seriously recommend you upgrade it. There are many cartridges with much better performance. Look up cartridges on the Internet and read the reviews such as CNET so you can decide which one to buy.