Crosley

CR8005F-WS Cruiser Plus Vintage 3-Speed Suitcase Turntable

Bottom Line

The Crosley Cruiser proved a solid suitcase record player with speakers in our testing.

Pros

Performed well out of the box in our user testing. Lightweight yet solid feel and easy to carry around. Needle lever lifts high; convenient for needle changes. Needle itself performs well. Rotates seamlessly. Offers Bluetooth input.

Cons

Speaker quality is only average at high volumes. We had difficulty getting the Bluetooth to work.

$51.41*

About the product

Crosley CR8005F-WS Cruiser Plus Vintage 3-Speed Suitcase Turntable

Reviewing the Crosley CR8005F-WS Cruiser Plus Vintage 3-Speed Suitcase Turntable

It might seem surprising that record players are still sold today, given the prevalence of streaming services such as Spotify that make it easy to listen to almost any song at any time as long as you have an internet connection. However, record players offer a high-fidelity sound that lets you listen to music with the same quality it had when it was initially recorded.

The Crosley CR8005F-WS Cruiser Plus Vintage 3-Speed Suitcase Turntable is an excellent starter record player and is easy enough to use for those without any previous experience. It has a portable suitcase design and several fantastic features that let you listen to your favorite vinyl records and stream music through Bluetooth.

 

Testing the Crosley CR8005F-WS Cruiser Plus Vintage 3-Speed Suitcase Turntable

The testers at the BestReviews Testing Lab were presented with several questions and were asked to explain their past experiences with record players. Testers then proceeded to unbox the Crosley CR8005F-WS Cruiser Plus Vintage 3-Speed Suitcase Turntable, analyzed its build quality and tested its features and settings following setup.

The BestReviews Testing Lab strives to investigate every claim Crosley makes about the product. For this article, testers aimed to verify if the Crosley CR8005F-WS Cruiser Plus Vintage 3-Speed Suitcase Turntable is portable enough to take anywhere, delivers dynamic full-range stereo sound and has a three-speed belt train with an adjustable pitch control.

What is the Crosley CR8005F-WS Cruiser Plus Vintage 3-Speed Suitcase Turntable?

The Crosley CR8005F-WS Cruiser Plus Vintage 3-Speed Suitcase Turntable is a modernized version of traditional record players. It has a compact and lightweight design with a needle lever that raises high enough to change records effortlessly. Neutral coloring lets it blend well with traditional bookcases, and setup is simple enough to be done by anybody, regardless of any experience with record players.

See how it compares to other products in its space — check out our reviews for the best record players.

Crosley CR8005F-WS Cruiser Plus Vintage 3-Speed Suitcase Turntable price and where to buy

The Crosley CR8005F-WS Cruiser Plus Vintage 3-Speed Suitcase Turntable costs $90 on Amazon, but it’s often on sale for much less, making it a bargain pick for those who want to listen to high-fidelity vinyl records.

How to use Crosley CR8005F-WS Cruiser Plus Vintage 3-Speed Suitcase Turntable

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The Crosley CR8005F-WS Cruiser Plus Vintage 3-Speed Suitcase Turntable is easy to use and only requires the user to plug it into a power outlet and turn it on. The average user can use the switch to toggle between the three speeds of the turntable, while advanced users such as DJs and music producers can use the pitch control knob, which ranges from about half speed to two times faster.

Crosley CR8005F-WS Cruiser Plus Vintage 3-Speed Suitcase Turntable benefits

The primary benefit of the Crosley CR8005F-WS Cruiser Plus Vintage 3-Speed Suitcase Turntable is its easy operation, as no previous experience is necessary for the average user to set it up and use it. The suitcase design makes it convenient for traveling, and its compact and lightweight build makes storage easy. A built-in Bluetooth transmitter allows wireless music streaming and connections to external speakers for improved sound quality. DJs and music producers will appreciate the adjustable pitch knob and three-speed belt train.

Crosley CR8005F-WS Cruiser Plus Vintage 3-Speed Suitcase Turntable drawbacks

The sound quality of the CR8005F-WS Cruiser Plus Vintage 3-Speed Suitcase Turntable is fine, and the volume can get quite loud. However, it lacks the punch of other record players and onboard equalizer settings, and sound quality seems to dip around 50% volume level.

Although it’s durable for the most part, some users felt that it was cheaply made and less sturdy than other record players and turntables. Pitch adjustability is a neat feature, but the average user won’t get much use out of it.

Should you get the Crosley CR8005F-WS Cruiser Plus Vintage 3-Speed Suitcase Turntable?

The Crosley CR8005F-WS Cruiser Plus Vintage 3-Speed Suitcase Turntable is excellent for anyone who’s never owned a record player. It's inexpensive, and Bluetooth functionality makes it versatile enough to listen to vinyl records on Bluetooth speakers or wireless headphones. Although loud for a record player, it doesn’t deliver thumping bass like traditional speakers, making it a better choice for bedrooms and small dorm rooms.

Quality 3

Although the build quality is durable for its lightweight design, it’s not as sturdy as other record player turntables.

Performance 3

Audio quality is acceptable, but those looking for crisp, high-fidelity sound will want to look elsewhere.  

Accurate Product Claims 4

It has Bluetooth connectivity, adjustable pitch control, a three-speed belt drive and a portable design, but the sound quality is far from dynamic.

Ease of Setup 5

Even users with no experience with record players or turntables will find setup quick and easy — all that’s required is a power connection to get it running.

Appearance 5

It has a modern aesthetic, and the suitcase design looks great on any bookshelf or table.

 

Product Dimensions:
13.78 x 10.24 x 4.72 inches
Item Weight:
5.5 pounds
ASIN:
B09JSXN2BT
Item model number:
CR8005F-WS
Customer Reviews:
4.3 out of 5 stars
Best Sellers Rank:
#51,495 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics) #419 in Audio & Video Turntables
Date First Available:
October 19, 2021
Manufacturer:
Crosley