Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Culture

Crosley Radio’s Vinyl Rocket will Transport You Back to the 1950s

By

Crosley Radio Vinyl Rocket jukebox
Image used with permission by copyright holder
The vinyl record has gone from niche collector hobby, to nearly breaking back into the mainstream as the physical media format of choice. Chances are you probably have your own collection of vinyl records to show off. However, an iconic facet of the vinyl record era of yore that has been absent from this revival is the jukebox. Sure, there are CD and digital format jukeboxes in many a dive bar across the world, but they’re not the same as a vinyl player. However Crosley Radio, which has been around in some form since launching its first radio back in the 1920s, is changing that. The company 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. You’ll pull in some serious cred sporting this in your entertainment room or drinking establishment. 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?

Crosley Radio Vinyl Rocket vinyl jukebox
Image used with permission by copyright holder

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 mid-range 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. Like we said, serious cred.

Recommended Videos

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 $11,996. If you need some help bolstering your vinyl collection in anticipation, Crosley has a selection of popular classic records on its website.

A version of the article also ran on our “brother site,” Digital Trends.

Brendan Hesse
Brendan Hesse
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Please reach out to The Manual editorial staff with any questions or comments about Brendan’s work.
The next ‘Predator’ movie will be different from the rest of the franchise in a major way
Director Dan Trachtenberg wanted to keep pushing the boundaries of what a 'Predator' movie could be
The Predator in 2018's Predators

Since the first Predator movie was released back in 1987, every installment in the franchise has been defined by roughly the same formula. Our human protagonists come up against the unstoppable might of a Predator, and have to use some combination of skill, strength, and ingenuity to defeat it.

The next installment, though, is departing from that tradition in a major way. Predator: Badlands, which is being directed by Dan Trachtenberg, the man behind Prey, will feature a Predator as the film's protagonist. “The creature is front and center, leading the charge,” Trachtenberg said in an interview with Empire. “He’s still badass, but something there touches you emotionally, too. Creating a character you connect with, but are also super-intimidated by, has been challenging. But exciting.”

Read more
The Bear season 4: Everything we know so far
Are you ready for another season of this FX comedy-drama series?
Jeremy Allen White as Carmen 'Carmy' Berzatto, Lionel Boyce as Marcus, Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Richard 'Richie' Jerimovich. CR: FX

The Bear wrapped up its third season in June 2024, and fans of the incredible FX comedy-drama are already salivating at the thought of more restaurant stress and family dysfunction. The show focuses on the mental health and interpersonal problems of Carmy, Sydney, Richie, and the rest of the titular restaurant's staff as they navigate opening up a fine-dining establishment in the same location as a previously legendary deli sandwich shop.

While you can enjoy shows like The Bear while waiting for the next season, you should also check out the details about what's next on the horizon for the show itself. This is everything we already know about The Bear season 4!
What will The Bear season 4 be about?

Read more
The 9 best Ridley Scott movies of all time
The sci-fi master is still going strong in his 80s
Pedro Pascal in Gladiator 2

Ridley Scott somehow finds a way not to overshadow his actors as some other big directors do (Stanley Kubrick being a prime example) while still maintaining a good amount of creative control and a sizable chunk of his movies' billboard value. His ability to adapt while staying true to his favorite genres allows him to traverse many eras of Hollywood history going back to the late 1970s. Scott's large repertoire of actors who enjoy working with him also forces his movies into the public consciousness.

Ridley Scott is back yet again with Gladiator II, which makes now as good of a time as any to look back on his career and rewatch his films. Whether you want to think about the future of the planet, peer in on a piece of history, or get a thrill out of a crime story, these are the best Ridley Scott movies to stream right now!

Read more