Two friends started collecting records around the same time.
One grabbed a Crosley Cruiser from Target, plugged it in, and threw on a Fleetwood Mac reissue. The other waited, saved up, and bought a setup three times the price.
Fast-forward a year: the Crosley friend was still spinning every weekend-same suitcase record player, same built-in speakers, same good times. But the “audiophile” setup? In a dusty old box in the corner of the room because it was too complicated to setup.
Say what you will about Crosley, but it gets people spinning. And that’s more than a lot of more expensive record players can claim.
Most people know Crosley for those cheap suitcase players. The colorful ones you see at Target, in dorm rooms, and all over Instagram. But Crosley actually makes a surprisingly wide range of record players, including some proper turntables that are a lot better than people give them credit for.
So we went through Crosley’s lineup to figure out which record players are actually worth buying, which ones make sense for beginners, and where you would be better off spending your money elsewhere.
From the inexpensive suitcase players to some surprisingly capable turntables, there are a few hidden gems worth knowing about.
Table of Contents
In this guide, we’ll break down the full range of Crosley record players-from the budget suitcases you see in every Target aisle to the overlooked turntables that actually hold their own against brands like Audio-Technica and Sony. Whether you’re just starting out, shopping on a tight budget, or looking for an affordable upgrade that won’t wreck your records, you’ll see exactly what Crosley offers (and which ones are worth your time).
- Crosley Record Players: More Than Just the Suitcase Thing
- Crosley Suitcase Players vs. Crosley Turntables
- How to Pick the Best Crosley Record Player For You
- The 5 Best Crosley Record Players
- Conclusion: Is a Crosley Record Player Worth It?
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Crosley Record Players: More Than Just the Suitcase Thing
Have you been on Crosley’s website recently? I hadn’t at least not until recently.
And honestly, why would you? Everyone already knows what Crosley is. The suitcase record players. The pastel colors. The ones sitting in the electronics aisle at Target that somehow end up in every dorm room and Instagram reel.
But here’s what threw me…there’s a lot more to Crosley than that.
One night I started poking around their site out of curiosity, and I went down a bit of a rabbit hole.
They’ve got actual turntables…
Some of them are pretty decent, like proper entry-level record players that could hang with Audio-Technica or Fluance. There’s even furniture built for vinyl, media consoles, record stands, all that mid-century looking stuff – and these fun, random side pieces like radios, cassette players, even CD units. It’s a weird but kind of cool mix.
And it made me realize something: Crosley isn’t really trying to be an audiophile brand.
They make vinyl easy, affordable, and fun, and once you get past the suitcase players, there are a few surprisingly solid turntables mixed into the lineup too.
The problem is that they also make a lot of stuff, and it is definitely not all equally good. So we went through the lesser known parts of the lineup to shine a light on those underrated Crosley record players that are actually worth buying.
Crosley Suitcase Players vs. Crosley Turntables
Ok so you’re shopping for your first record player? Perfect. You’re exactly who Crosley was built for.
They’ve always been the easy on-ramp. No preamps, no cables to match, no three-hour YouTube deep dive just to hear your first record. You can plug it in, throw on your favorite record, and you are in the physical media universe. That’s what made them huge in the first place. They made vinyl simple and accessible again.
What you do need to know is what kind of record player you actually want – because in the Crosley world, there are really two types.
1. Suitcase / All-in-One Players
These are the classics. The ones everyone recognizes.
Everything’s built right in: turntable, speakers, even Bluetooth on most models. They’re affordable, light, portable, and honestly, they’re fun. You can take them to a friend’s place, plug in anywhere, and be spinning in seconds. They’re good for spinning records quickly, easily, and on a budget.
2. Traditional Turntables
These are the ones nobody talks about (until now).
And where the Crosley stereotype starts to fall apart a little…People love to write the whole brand off as cheap plastic junk, but these are much more solid than that. Better materials, sturdier builds, proper adjustable parts, and the kind of setup you would expect from a normal standalone turntable.
They’re not audiophile-level, but they’re legit. And a lot better than the Crosley reputation would make you think.
Feel free to explore their site for that side of things, but this guide is focused on one goal: helping you pick the right record player for you.
How to Pick the Best Crosley Record Player for You
So you’re set on this whole physical media thing. Awesome. Great choice.
Let’s get you spinning as quickly as possible.
Really, it comes down to two simple questions: what’s your budget, and how do you want to listen?
Let’s start with budget.
If you’re working with around $250 or less for your whole vinyl setup, go with a suitcase or all-in-one model.
They’re literally plug-and-play, come with built-in speakers, and don’t need anything else to get started. Perfect for small rooms, apartments, or anyone who just wants to have a simple player to enjoy their records without extra gear.
These are great for a huge percentage of people but picking a safe one that won’t damage your records is definitely the biggest question.
We are not going to waste your time breaking down every reason and spec that helped us narrow the field to the best, safest options – but no that we did do that, and stashed all of that good intel in our Record Player Guide.
But don’t worry it’s not like reading a manual, basically the guide let’s you pick a few things that matter most to you – cost, design, Bluetooth, simplicity, whatever – and we will sort the options around those preferences. Here’s a quick video to show how it works:
And yes this is a post about Crosley record players but it’s not a Crosley ad – so there are some Crosleys in there, but there are other great options too.
Overall, it really depends on how you see yourself listening.
Are you the type who spins a record every week or two, maybe owns three LPs, and just wants something fun when friends come by? Stick with the suitcase players. They’re simple, stylish, and do the job.
But if your collection’s already growing – records piling up in drawers, wishlist getting longer…it might be time to step up to the turntable line. These models start around $200 for the turntable and roughly $300–$350 for a full setup. They’ll sound better, last longer, and give you real room to upgrade without starting over.
So in short, here’s the quick guide:
- Casual spins and style? Go suitcase or all-in-one.
- Sound and growth? Go component turntable – Crosley’s hidden gems.
Either way, the goal’s the same: get you spinning records, safely and easily.
The 5 Best Crosley Record Players
Everyone starts somewhere. And for a lot of people, that “somewhere” is a Crosley suitcase record player.
They’re easy to find, easy to use, and let’s be real-they look pretty sitting on a shelf. So despite what you might see on the internet forums, this really is not a bad option to get started.
If you’re going the all-in-one route, there are two budget Crosley models we’d actually recommend: the Cruiser Plus and the Voyager. They’re affordable, easy to set up, and for what they are, they get the job done. We’ve tested the others, and honestly, the extra $20–$50 you’ll spend on fancier all-in-ones doesn’t make much of a difference.
Both of these models are featured in that Record Player Guide, where we compare the all of the best all-in-one suitcase players side by side, features, specs, prices, and honest opinions. If you’re trying to figure out what’s worth buying (and what belongs in the “sea of junk” pile), this the best shortcut to get there.
But for now, here are some of our top Crosley choices if you’re taking that path.
Personally I would go Cruiser Plus > Voyager.
Crosley Cruiser Plus
What it’s like
The classic Crosley suitcase player: cheap, portable, colorful, and ready to use without buying anything else. Bluetooth works both ways, and you get aux, and headphone connections too.
What to know before you buy:
You are buying simplicity. If you already care about better sound or upgrading the setup later, skip this and move up to one of Crosley’s traditional turntables.
Crosley Voyager
What It’s Like
The Voyager is another easy all-in-one Crosley, but it feels a little sturdier and more solid than the Cruiser Plus.
What to Know Before You Buy
It is still a suitcase player, so the same limits apply. I would pick it over the Cruiser Plus if you care a little more about build quality.
Here’s where it gets fun. Hidden deeper in their lineup are the real treasures: Crosley’s turntables. These are the ones nobody talks about – proper tonearms, counterweights, magnetic cartridges, the stuff that actually starts to sound good.
And honestly, this is my favorite part to share with you. Because once you dig past the pastel players, Crosley’s got a few turntables that genuinely hold their own. Let’s go through them.
Crosley C6 Turntable
What it’s like:
You get an MDF plinth, adjustable counterweight and anti-skate, an Audio-Technica cartridge, and a built-in preamp. Super legit
What to know before you buy:
This is one of the best values in Crosley’s lineup. If you want to move past suitcase players without spending a ton, this is probably where I would start.
Crosley C8 Turntable
What it’s like:
The C8 takes the same basic idea as the C6 and makes it feel more substantial, with a heavier wood plinth.
What to know before you buy:
You are paying more mostly for the nicer build and isolation. If you plan to keep the turntable for a while, the extra money is easier to justify.
Crosley C100 Turntable
What it’s like:
The C100 is the more adjustable, DJ-looking option, with an S-shaped tonearm, removable headshell, pitch control, adjustable counterweight and anti-skate.
What to know before you buy:
This is the Crosley to look at if you want more control. It is less simple than the C6, but much more flexible.
For the same turntable with bluetooth capabilities go with the C100BT
If you want the classic Crosley experience, I’d go Cruiser Plus for the cheapest, easiest option or Voyager if you want something a little more solid.
If you want a proper turntable, the C6 is probably the sweet spot. It is affordable, well built, adjustable, and easy to build a real setup around. The C8 is the step up if you want a nicer, heavier build, while the C100/C100BT makes more sense if you want more controls and room to tinker.
Here’s a quick comparison table to recap all of that:
| Feature | Crosley Cruiser Plus | Crosley Voyager | Crosley C6 | Crosley C8 | Crosley C100 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $90 on Amazon | $100 on Amazon | $190 on Amazon | $250 on Amazon | $200 on Amazon |
| Turntable Type | Suitcase, Portable | Suitcase, Portable | Manual, Belt-Drive | Manual, Belt-Drive | Manual, Belt-Drive |
| Built-In Speakers | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Preamp | — | — | Built-In, Switchable | Built-In, Switchable | Built-In, Switchable |
| Bluetooth | Yes, In & Out | Yes, In & Out | No | No | No |
| Cartridge | Ceramic, NP-6 Stylus | Ceramic, NP-6 Stylus | Audio-Technica AT-3600L | Audio-Technica AT-3600L | Audio-Technica ATN3600L |
| Counterweight | No | No | Adjustable | Adjustable | Adjustable |
| Anti-Skate | No | No | Adjustable | Adjustable | Adjustable |
| Recordbuilds Score | 3.5 / 5 | 4 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 | 4 / 5 | 3.5 / 5 |
Conclusion: Is a Crosley Record Player Worth It?
Here’s the twist: the record player everyone loves to roast is the same one that brought vinyl back from the dead.
Without Crosley, half of us wouldn’t even own a record.
They made it simple again-plug, play, enjoy. And now? They’re quietly growing up. Their turntables aren’t perfect, but they’re real machines with legit sound.
So whether you started with a Cruiser or you’re ready for something sturdier, don’t overthink it.
Enjoy the phase you’re in. When you’re ready to take the next step, we will be here waiting with open arms.
Because a vinyl setup is a super fun thing to build. But honestly, it does get overwhelming fast. If you have the budget to get a Crosley “turntable”, finding the best speakers to match shouldn’t require fifteen tabs and a Reddit deep dive.
Our community solves that. There are a bunch of great vinyl setups in our setup directory that show what gear people are actually using and recommending – also it’s honestly just fun to see other people’s spaces.
Then, load create your setup in our builder tool which will automatically check prices and compatibility, and let you see the whole system before you spend a dollar.
Here’s a quick video I made showing how this one works:
Best of luck out there – and whatever you need, or if you’ve got any setup questions, feel free to reach out at info@recordbuilds.com or DM us on Instagram.
