Victrola vs. Crosley: Which Record Player Is Best For You?

A few months back, one of my friends bought a Victrola Journey Plus record player for himself. As I already own a Crosley Crosley Cruiser Plus myself, he called me up and gave me a suggestion to do a victrola vs Crosley. It sounded like a great idea to me, and I couldn’t say no to it. We eagerly wanted to know which one is better at playing vinyl records and has better audio quality.

We compared both the record players over design, audio, features, durability, ease of use, and other factors. Though it was a close competition, we were able to find which one was noticeably better.

But before I reveal that, let’s see what we’ve uncovered about both record players.

Just in case you’re in a hurry, you can jump directly to the section that explains which one is better.

Sound Quality Analysis

It’s time for the most important part you’ve been waiting for, the sound quality comparison of these two turntables.

We began by playing one of my all-time favorite vinyls, Care by Shriekback, on both record players. The reason we chose this particular album was to see if these record players could do justice to the vocals and the background bass.

Surprisingly, the sound from the Victrola’s internal speakers was well-balanced. The vocals were much clearer, though the rich bass from the vinyl was missing.

On the other hand, when we played the same vinyl on the Crosley, the sound was mushy, with a lot of distortion in the vocals. The bass was almost nonexistent.

Next, we tested another one of my favorites, The Wall by Pink Floyd, a rock album. We thought the results might be different this time, but the Victrola still managed to deliver better sound. The background instruments were much clearer, while the Crosley’s sound quality remained the same, distorted, with unclear instruments.

To be honest, we didn’t expect these results, especially since both record players use similar cartridges and styluses, and even their internal speaker specifications are almost the same. However, after taking a closer look, we found that the speaker magnets in the Victrola are much bigger than those in the Crosley.

In the end, we concluded that you can’t expect a bass-rich sound experience from either of these record players, and sometimes the audio can even feel boxy.

Testing with External Speakers (Using RCA Cable)

Both of these record players also have the option to connect external wired speakers by plugging one end of an RCA cable into their RCA ports and the other end into the speakers.

We tested both units with my Edifier R1280T speakers, playing the same vinyl records. This time, the vocals from the Shriekback song were much clearer, and we were also able to experience some bass on both the record players. Apart from that, the Pink Floyd record had much clearer background instrumentals as well.

Earlier, the Victrola had the edge over the Crosley when using the built-in speakers, but with external speakers plugged in, the sound quality and bass experience from both record players were much better than the previous test with the built-in speakers.

Testing with Headphones (AUX-Out Feature)

Each of these record players comes equipped with a 3.5mm aux-out port, allowing you to connect your wired headphones. Once the headphones are connected, the built-in speakers on the units are disabled.

We tested this feature by connecting my AKG K240 headphones to both record players and playing the same vinyl records. As a result, the sound was slightly better, clearer, and richer in bass compared to the built-in speakers.

Testing AUX-In Feature using iPad

These record players are also equipped with a 3.5mm AUX-in jack that lets you connect your smartphone or iPad to the players’s built-in speakers.

We tested out the player’s speakers by connecting my iPad 9 using an aux cable while playing the same songs, “Care and The Wall” on Apple Music.

We thought that this time the sound quality might be better, as the sound is generated directly from the iPad rather than from a vinyl record where other elements such as the record player stylus, platter, circuitry and viny record may influence the sound quality. But we were completely wrong. 

Once again, the sound quality was similar to the results we got while playing vinyl records. Frankly speaking, the built-in speakers are not really meant for audiophiles but are more suited for occasional listeners who don’t prioritize sound experience.

Victrola vs Crosley: Features

Both Crosley and Victrola have identical sets of features. Hence, we cannot differentiate them on the basis of that.

Here are the features that both the record players have:

• Built-in speakers: Both record players have built-in speakers. So, you don’t need any external speakers to play records.
• Portable: They can be taken anywhere and occupy very little space.
• RCA Output: External speakers can be connected using an RCA cable.
• Bluetooth connectivity: You can use any wireless device, like a Bluetooth speaker or wireless headphones. Also, you can turn both record players into Bluetooth speakers by connecting them to your phone or computer.
• Three speeds: Both can play records at 33 1/3, 45, and 78 RPM.
• Auto-stop function: Both have the functionality to stop as soon as the record stops playing.
• Color: Different color options are available to choose from.

Build Quality

When it comes to build quality, both record players are made up of plastic. The Victrola weighs 2.69 pounds, and the plastic used in it feels denser and more solid. On the other hand, the Crosley weighs 5.5 pounds, which is a lot heavier, but the plastic feels thinner.

Next, we noticed the finish on the suitcase. The Victrola has a faux-leather finish on its suitcase and handle, while the Crosley uses a fabric finish (cloth-like material) over its suitcase, which gives it a better look and feel.

So, based on the overall look and feel of the suitcase, the Crosley definitely is better.

However, there’s one more factor we couldn’t overlook, the quality of the rocker button and the knob on the plinth. In this regard, the Victrola outperformed the Crosley.

The volume and BT/Line In/Phono knob on the Victrola felt much heavier and more durable compared to the lighter volume knob and rocker button on the Crosley.

Hence, we found that when it comes to build quality, the Victrola is a much better choice.

Design and Aesthetics

Honestly speaking, both of these record players look really amazing due to their vibrant suitcase designs and nostalgic style that reflect the charm of old record players.

Upon closely inspecting the design elements of these units, we found that the Crosley has a much better design compared to the Victrola. While both record players come in various color options, I must say that Crosley has truly aced the design game by including a variety of patterns, textures, and prints in its overall design. We particularly loved the leopard print design.

We also found that Crosley offers some limited-edition designs featuring popular franchises on its suitcase, such as Guardians of the Galaxy, Star Wars, Mickey Mouse, and more. These designs not only attract fans of these franchises but also elevate Crosley’s design to a whole new level. In fact, Crosley even includes designs inspired by vinyl covers further adding to its range of options.

On the other hand, Victrola comes in more basic colors, such as black, black rose gold, gray, and white, with patterns like Farmhouse Shiplap Grey. However, their designs still don’t quite match the variety and creativity that Crosley offers.

Hence, when it comes to design Crosley is undoubtingly better.

Durability

Both of these record players cost below 69 USD, which is quite affordable.

For this price, you get a complete record player that includes a built-in speaker, turntable, amplifier, Bluetooth feature, ceramic cartridge with a sapphire stylus, the ability to play three different sizes of records and other components.

Hence to keep the players affordable for customers while maintaining the company’s profit margins, the record players are made with cheaper plastic components that are usually of low-grade quality and manufactured in China.

Over time, these cheaper components can crack, degrade, or malfunction, making both of these players less durable. As a result, we found that you cannot expect long-term durability from the highly affordable suitcase players from these two brands.

Ease of use 

While setting up the record players, we found the unboxing and setup process to be very easy.

Even for first-time users, these units are really simple to set up and operate. To get started, all you need to do is take the record player out of the box, plug the adapter into a wall socket, turn on the power, select the appropriate record speed using the speed selector, place the vinyl record on the platter, and then lower the tonearm onto the outer edge of the record and it will start playing immediately.

In case you need more detailed instructions, here’s how to use the Victrola record player and the Crosley record player guide.

The best part is that the user manual clearly outlines everything from the controls to the features, making it easy to get started with the players quickly.

The only difference we found was the pitch control button (to manage speed irregularities), which is available on the Crosley but absent on the Victrola. Other than that, the setup and usage process are quite similar.

Because of the pitch control feature, We would give this point to the Crosley.

Speed analysis

When we did a speed analysis of both record players, we found a lot of inconsistency in the platter speed, meaning neither has particularly good wow and flutter.

A good turntable maintains wow and flutter below the 0.25% range, but these record players can’t achieve that due to the low-quality components used, such as the cheap motor, plastic platter, and low-grade rubber belt.

The Crosley Cruiser Plus does have pitch control that can adjust the speed, while on the Victrola Journey Plus, you need to adjust the speed screws, which are either under the platter or at the bottom of the device.

While neither solution can match the precision of a high-end turntable, they still provide a way to manage speed irregularities.

Tracking force

I heard rumors about suitcase players having excessive tracking force, but I never trusted them until we did a tracking force check using my stylus gauge. We were shocked to see the results.

The tracking force exerted by the Victrola Journey Plus was 6.1g, whereas the tracking force on the Crosley Cruiser Plus was almost 5.4g.

Honestly, that’s too much tracking force for vinyl records, as excessive force can cause a lot of wear on your records and get worse with a worn-out stylus.

Bluetooth Feature

The Crosley Cruiser Plus has a Bluetooth 5.0 lossless stereo input and output feature, meaning you can connect your devices, such as a phone or tablet, to the record player and stream music. Alternatively, you can connect the record player to an external Bluetooth speaker or headphones and listen to the music from your vinyl records through them.

On the other hand, Victrola has a downside, as it only offers a Bluetooth 5.0 input feature, which lets you connect external devices and listen to music through the record player’s internal speakers. This gives an edge to the Crosley, as it offers both input and output connectivity features.

The Bluetooth in/out feature is best suited for people who love the aesthetics of a wireless connection.

We tried connecting the Samsung Galaxy S23 to both players, and both connected in under 10 seconds.

Final words: Which one is better?

Victrola Journey Plus offers a slightly better audio experience than Crosley because of its better built-in speakers. However, when you connect external speakers on both the record player, audio quality is somewhat similar. Setting aside the sound quality, the design and features of both record players are nearly the same.

The suitcase record players are good if you are starting up or want something on a budget.

But my suggestion would be to go for a better turntable from Audio-Technica such as AT-LP120XBTUSB. They are built better, look better, and produce better music out of your favorite records. CHEERS!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long does a Victrola needle last?

A Victrola needle can last anywhere between 50 and 300 hours, depending on the condition of the records played and how frequently the record player is used.

Q: Is a Crosley or victrola better?

Victrola record players offer better sound quality, and even the build quality is better when compared to Crosley.