Crosley E100 Vinyl Record Player Review

The Crosley E100 Vinyl Record Player is an all-in-one belt-drive turntable with built-in speakers, Bluetooth input and RCA output. It is aimed at listeners who want a tidier alternative to separate hi-fi boxes, while still getting more adjustment than a basic suitcase-style player.

Its position is best understood as a convenience-focused lifestyle record player rather than a purist component deck. The E100A model number helps distinguish it from Crosley’s similarly named C-series turntables, as this unit combines the record player and speaker system in one cabinet.

For new vinyl buyers, students, bedrooms and smaller living rooms, the appeal is obvious: fewer cables, no separate amplifier required, and enough manual controls to learn good record-handling habits. Buyers expecting a fully automatic turntable or a serious upgrade path should look more carefully at separate turntable and speaker combinations.

The E100 has a broad, low cabinet with a natural wood and light grey finish, giving it a more furniture-like appearance than many portable record players. Its clear full-size dust cover is a welcome practical detail, helping protect the platter, tonearm and record surface when not in use.

Crosley lists a full-size aluminium platter and an aluminium tonearm, both of which are encouraging at this level. The quoted dimensions are roughly 42.5 cm wide, 34.9 cm deep and 21.6 cm high, so it needs a proper shelf or sideboard rather than a narrow bedside table.

Controls are deliberately straightforward, with a power and volume knob, function switch, speed selector and cueing lever. Around the back are the phono/line switch, RCA output, grounding point and power connection, which makes the layout more hi-fi-like than the brand’s simpler compact players.

The most important construction idea is Crosley’s VibrationBlock arrangement, which separates the turntable platform from the internal speakers. Built-in speakers and vinyl playback are always a compromise, but this form of isolation is a sensible attempt to reduce feedback and vibration reaching the stylus.

The E100 is a two-speed belt-drive turntable for 33⅓ and 45 RPM records. It includes a 45 RPM adaptor, so it can handle standard LPs and singles, though it does not claim 78 RPM playback.

The tonearm includes an adjustable counterweight and anti-skate control, with the supplied documentation indicating factory pre-adjustment for the cartridge and anti-skate. The manual also gives a recommended tracking force around 3.0 g, which is typical for the fitted entry-level moving magnet cartridge.

Crosley specifies an Audio-Technica AT3600L-type moving magnet cartridge, with a replaceable stylus. This is a much more reassuring arrangement than the very cheapest ceramic cartridges found on some budget all-in-one players, because it offers proper line-level compatibility and a known replacement path.

Connectivity is flexible but not unlimited. Bluetooth is input only, allowing a phone or tablet to play through the built-in speakers, while the RCA output and switchable preamp let the E100 feed an amplifier, powered speakers or a system with either line or phono input.

Setup is more involved than a suitcase player but still approachable. The platter, sub-platter, belt, slipmat, dust cover and counterweight need fitting, and the belt must be seated correctly around the platter and motor pulley.

Crosley supplies guidance for aligning the counterweight to the marked tracking-force range, and the cartridge alignment and anti-skate are described as factory adjusted. That reduces the intimidation factor, though owners should still follow the manual rather than guessing.

Once assembled, daily use is simple: select vinyl or Bluetooth mode, choose speed, place the record and use the cueing lever. A stable, level surface remains important, especially because the unit contains speakers as well as the record-playing mechanism.

Day-to-day operation is mostly manual. You select LP mode, choose the correct speed, use the cueing lever to lower the arm and return the tonearm by hand after playback.

The E100 does include auto-stop, so the platter can stop at the end of a side, but it is not a fully automatic deck. Buyers wanting automatic start, arm return and shut-off should not assume those functions are present.

Speed handling is conventional for a belt-drive turntable, and the manual includes rear speed fine-adjustment points for 33 and 45 RPM. That is useful if speed drifts, although most owners should not need to alter it unless there is a clear problem.

The RCA output adds genuine flexibility, but there is an important limitation: it will not drive passive speakers directly. Crosley’s manual also notes that the internal speakers remain active when using external output unless the volume is turned down, which is worth knowing before integrating it into a separate system.

Without claiming listening tests, the E100’s design suggests a stronger audio foundation than Crosley’s smallest novelty players. A belt drive, aluminium platter, adjustable tonearm, anti-skate and Audio-Technica moving magnet cartridge are all positive signs for more stable and less crude playback.

The built-in four-speaker system should make the E100 more room-friendly than compact suitcase players, and the bass port is intended to reinforce low frequencies. Even so, speakers built into the same cabinet as a turntable have physical limits, so buyers should expect convenient, enjoyable playback rather than the stereo scale and separation of well-placed external speakers.

Using the RCA output into powered speakers or an amplifier is likely to be the best route if sound quality becomes a priority. The switchable preamp makes that easier, as it can connect to modern line inputs or to equipment with a dedicated phono stage.

The cartridge is a sensible entry-level choice, but it is not an audiophile component. Its relatively high tracking force and conical-style stylus family are better viewed as dependable and forgiving than as highly revealing.