Home > Consumer Reviews > Crosley CR248 Songwriter CD Recorder - Paprika

I bought this item because I have serious amounts of vinyl and old cassettes I wanted to digitize.

Sad to say, I started with the cassettes. For that purpose, this device excels. I digitized about 100 old (mostly spoken-word) cassettes.

By that time, I was no longer able to return it; and when the first LPs came out sounding tinny and slightly fast, I found myself seriously wishing I could do so.

I must say, this device was a snap to use. The reviews that refer to the controls as confusing may reflect a lack of willingness to RTFM (which I'll admit could be a bit better-written). It's well-constructed and sounds at least average.

If you have *lots* of tape (comedy, books-on-tape, radio programs), and you're not particularly tech-prone (read: computer-savvy), this device may be worth it. If, on the other hand, your main goal is digitizing LPs, I'd recommend you pass.

This isn't worth even one star. I've never purchased anything as worthless as this. Fortunately, I bought it at Target, because of the ease of returning purchases there -- I pretty much knew I'd be returning it since I'd already read these negative reviews (could it be the positive ones were written by Crosley employees?). I'd also had a lot of trouble with TEAC's version of the same thing -- though that's an infinitely superior component to this.

Ease of operation, yes. Does it work, NO!!! Each time I put a blank CDR in the tray (whether SONY, MAXELL or TDK) it did the same thing: it started to record as it should, but then stopped recording while the LP continued to play. Only by looking at its very small screen did I notice it now said PHONO (rather than RECORD)and had stopped recording (each time after about 10 minutes). Starting it to record again made little difference -- and 3 of the more expensive "digital recordable" CDRs went into the toilet. I decided enough was enough and just now returned it to Target. I intend to let Target management know they're selling junk to their customers.

Whatever you do, DON'T BUY THIS!!! You'll only be sorry if you do. I'm now told that you can use SONY's CD recorder/player (RCD-W500C)) with an interface to your own turntable and produce excellent copies onto disc without using a computer. That's going to be my next route if the TEAC, when it comes back from its 3rd trip to the plant in Calif for "adjustments," doesn't again work properly. The current best price I've found on this Sony unit is about $256, including shipping, here at Amazon.

Considering the large number of LPs still out there with people like us ready to transfer them to CD, it's a wonder no one has come up with something that really works.

I was very disappointed with the whole experience. Firstly, the machine never worked and also the accompanying directions and brochure was most inadequate and very poorly written.Furthermore, it took great effort and persistence to finally return the songwriter for another machine.I hope my next experience is not as trying!

I purchased one of these from One-Way Furniture. It seemed like the perfect way to preserve some of my near-50 year old reel to reel tapes and LPs. I was very wrong. All the problems you read here in other reviews were the ones I had also. And don't let the needle in the tone arm on this thing come in contact with an LP you want to keep. The downward pressure is so great that it will actually deepen the groove in the vinyl...then try playing it on your high dollar Technics turntable. I sent it back but they kept $77.58 of my money as a restocking fee...Nice people, huh?

This is being added almost one year later (10-30-2007). This morning I went to Bed Bath & Beyond to buy a small crockpot. Just inside the door there was a large display with this same CD recorder. Only it was not the same. This one was a solid wood cabinet and all else looked like the Crosley except the buttons/control configuration. The price was (sit down all you folks that paid close to $399.00 for theirs), $199.99. I looked it over really good and it appeared to be very close to the Crosley unit. Since I sent that unit back almost a year ago, I was fasinated with this one...the price floored me. I bought it...and get this...I had a 20% off coupon and the unit cost me $159.99 plus tax. I have been "playing" with it all afternoon and believe me, it is far superior to the Crosley Songwriter. It performs flawlessly. It's has the name of Innovative Technology...buy it...you'll like it...

Some of the other reviewers of this product were less than happy with the quality of the product, or the sound of phonograph records or other media formats. Well, yeah, it doesn't sound all that great compared with other systems...but the buyer should already have something better for listening. As a recording device, it was pretty good, and that's why I bought the Crosley...to transfer old cassettes and records to the CD format for preservation purposes. It worked fine. I thought the design of the front panel was a overly complex and hard to read, but I got used to it. Crosley might have added a VU meter and adjustment to the recorder, but that would have jacked up the cost. All in all, and for the recording purpose, it's a pretty good tool. The object CD-Rs sound just like the original cassettes and records.