Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Music
  3. News

Crosley is bringing vinyl jukeboxes back from the dead with the Vinyl Rocket

Brendan Hesse
By

crosley radio vinyl rocket jukebox front
Just like drive-in diners and Ford Thunderbirds, vinyl jukeboxes are largely a thing of the past, despite the recent revival of the vinyl format over the past few years. But Crosley Radio, which has been around in some form since launching its first radio back in the 1920s, is expanding its jukebox lineup with the Vinyl Rocket, a fully functioning vinyl hub that will take you back to the days of the sock hop.

The Vinyl Rocket not only represents the first vinyl jukebox in the company’s current catalog, it’s also the only vinyl jukebox in production, period. The machine is capable of holding up to 70 seven-inch records, and can play both A and B sides thanks to what the company calls a “unique rotating vinyl mechanism” for a total of 140 possible selections. That’s an impressive collection on demand, but nostalgia factor aside, the question is: How does it sound?

Related Videos

According to Crosley CEO, Bo LeMastus, “the Vinyl Rocket was created with the most devoted audiophile and collector in mind.” It’s equipped with a five-way built-in speaker system that includes two midrange drivers, two tweeters, and a 12-inch twin cone bass speaker, all powered by a D4 digital amplifier with independent stereo channel outputs. All of this is built by hand in the U.K., and each unit is individually numbered.

Related

To bring the glowing beauty into the 21st century, Crosley has outfitted the Vinyl Rocket with a welcome smattering of modern features. The jukebox features a Bluetooth receiver for streaming from smartphones and other mobile devices. It also features an auxiliary input for wiring in directly and output jacks for connecting supplemental external speakers. Along with the classic button controls, the machine can also be operated via voice control thanks to a microphone input, and it comes standard with a remote control. For browsing your tunes once your collection is loaded in, the jukebox has special software that enables you to create labels for each record you add.

The first place that comes to mind for a jukebox like this would obviously be an oldies bar or restaurant. But if the Vinyl Rocket sounds like something you’d want in your home, you’re in luck; the Vinyl Rocket has the ability to be set to either coin op or free mode. After all, who’d want to have to pay to listen to listen to their own jukebox?

Even if you’re not paying for each spin, though, you’ll still need to fork over some serious dough to land the Vinyl Rocket. It’s currently available from Crosley’s online store for $13,000. If you need some help bolstering your vinyl collection in anticipation, Crosley has a selection of popular classic records on its website, and be sure to check out our guide on how to start a vinyl collection.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
I used two of the year’s oddest tech gadgets so you don’t have to
The open Nokia 5710 XpressAudio and Huawei Watch Buds

If you’re intent on not keeping your true wireless earbuds in a normal charging case, and want to hide them inside a different gadget, now is your time. The Huawei Watch Buds is a smartwatch with a pair of true wireless headphones inside, and the Nokia 5710 XpressAudio is a 4G phone that stores a pair of earbuds in the back.

It’s a bizarre niche that I’m surprised contains two products. I’ve used them, so it's my duty to report that both are a bit silly — and I don’t want to use any more of them, thank you very much. However, for the few people out there thinking they want to buy one, this is what they're like. For everyone else, you get to marvel at two of the oddest tech products seen in a while.
Phone or smartwatch?

Read more
What is Dolby Vision? The dynamic HDR format fully explained
An example of the difference between Dolby Vision and regular HDR.

Of all the new TV technologies to emerge over the last few years, it's arguable that none has had as big an impact on overall picture quality as High Dynamic Range, or HDR. When properly implemented, HDR makes everything pop, while enhancing details and improving color. We think it has been more impactful than the move from Full HD (1080p) to 4K Ultra HD or even 8K resolution.

But not all HDR is created equal; in fact, HDR is a catch-all term that refers to several distinct and competing technologies. The one with the biggest brand recognition is Dolby Vision. Dolby Labs has done such a good job of marketing Dolby Vision as its own platform, many consumers aren't even aware that it's an HDR format.  That shouldn't be a surprise: TVs that have Dolby Vision technology are often labeled as "4K HDR TV with Dolby Vision," making it seem as though the two terms aren't related.

Read more
What is Sonos? The speakers, app, and everything you need to know about wireless music
Sonos Roadm in three colors.

When you think about wireless music, one name comes to mind. Sonos. And unless you’re a diehard analog music fan who shuns anything digital, you’ve likely encountered the Sonos brand. It effectively pioneered and normalized the idea of multi-room, digital wireless audio, and it’s still the gold standard to beat.

Curious about what exactly Sonos does, and how it works in the same world that already includes Apple, Spotify, and even your old Technics turntable? Is Sonos right for you? Let's dig into it.
What is Sonos?

Read more