You're the second person who has said this turntable (and any other cheap turntable) will destroy vinyl, perhaps as soon as the first play. So I looked into this as I found this alarming and I also wondered how on earth these companies get away with it.

First up I checked a Youtube video entitled 'Will cheap turntables ruin your records'at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7K3XcD46Wk0&ab_channel=RecordRaid , where the guy played two identical records one on an audiophile setup and the other on a cheap Crosley, after 40 plays or so he compared the waveform patterns from both on a computer and the difference was negligible. The result: no noticeable damage from the cheap player, although naturally it didn't sound as good.

Another audiophile video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPc5frU8IQQ&ab_channel=VWestlife titled "Will a cheap record player DESTROY your vinyl?" The answer was NO. He was rather disparaging of what he called keyboard warriors who go onto comments sections and say any non audiophile approved equipment will "destroy your records."

So whilst it can be argued cheap record players may not sound particularly good, there seems to be no actual evidence that they will actually ruin/destroy records, I suspect some of the warning posts are snobbery with a heavy dose of exaggeration and hyperbole.

Therefore although I know it won't sound a great as an audiophile setup the evidence from the debunking videos I have watched on Youtube has convinced me that my records will not be ripped up within a few plays on this turntable.

Below are the comments the second audiophile added to his video regarding cheap turntables:

* I am in no way advocating the purchase of Crosley Cruiser record players. They sound terrible and better choices are available in the same price range. I'm just disproving the claim that they will "destroy" or "chew up" records. In normal use and with proper care, your records will be fine.

* BSR record changers were the Crosleys of their day; they were lambasted by audiophiles as "record grinders", because many of them had tracking forces similar to the cheap record players of today -- but yet, if you've ever listened to a used record from the '60s through '80s, chances are it was played on a BSR or similarly crude record player at some point in its life, and yet was not "destroyed".

* I take "destroyed" or "chewed up" to mean a record that has become unplayable and unlistenable due to skipping or extreme distortion; not merely to mean the scratchiness typical of "well-loved" records. When faced with a scratchy record, most people just turn down the tone control and continue to play it.

* The elliptical styli favored by audiophiles will cause excessive record wear at tracking forces much above 3 grams, so 3 to 3.5 grams is frequently cited as the maximum safe tracking force for all turntables. However, the conical or spherical styli used by inexpensive record players and "DJ" cartridges can apply higher tracking forces without any significant risk of excessive wear. When stereo LPs first came out, 5 to 6 grams was cited as the maximum safe tracking force, as compared to the 10 to 12 grams that was typical of older monaural record players!

* As I mentioned in the video, the LP I used for my test has very low groove modulation, causing surface noise to be much more audible. Modern LPs and 12-inch singles are cut much louder, enough to drown out the surface noise of all but the most extreme tracking forces I used during my test.

* Some audiophiles have defended their overblown claims by saying that the damage caused by a cheap record player will only be audible on a "good" turntable, because on a Crosley the fidelity is so low that you wouldn't be able to hear it. But other tests have disproven this

There are certain tracks that were never released on CD for some weird reason - biggest for me was the SINGLE version of Belladonna Moonshine by early 70s band Audience. The LP was fabulous (Friends Friends Friend - look for it on YouTube) but THAT version wasn't quite as good as the single. Ive got the single, but no turntable. I may get this for that

Dad's Crimbo box sorted, thanks OP!

12.50 instore now

Anyone else get this item canceled from them??

I have the ion bluetooth turntable and have been very pleased with it and my tibo speakers.

Analog to Digital = missing the point of vinyl. You might as well listen to hi-res files.

Smartypants.
I suggest you look up these terms: elastic deformation and plastic deformation. then apply them to the vinyl plastic used to produce records. then read about tracking forces on elliptical stylus' then read about "cartridge compliance"
BTW an oscilloscope will only show gross distortions usually in the region of >20% and minimum of 10% clipping and It is actually the wrong instrument to measure distortion on. (if you can see it on a scope you know it will be painful to listen to) Believe me your ears will hear what cannot be seen on a scope.
And don't forget you don't listen with a scope but your ears -thats the point of converting it, isnt it!
My suggested solution would be a decent "audiophile" turntable and a separate ADC. both obtainable on ebay and similar sites for a reasonable price. And sell it back there when you've converted everything. Or you could use your soundblaster 128 ,Audigy, X-Fi, Z-series, card and a say a Project or similar turntable.
It you want a in one then you could use Sony PS-HX500 Audio-Technica AT-LP120, but i would drop below an AT-LP60.

Personally I send a lot more on just a cartridge than the cost of that whole ION turntable.

For comparison price is 39.99 on Amazon lightning deal for red version https://www.amazon.co.uk/ION-Audio-Compact-LP-Conversion/dp/B01F73LCU6

It does have analogue RCA outs to connect to an amplifier if you so wish.

Kind of defeats the purpose of playing analog though

"No idea what it is like but at £30..."

As a turntable it's complete sh*te.

These are nasty plastic pieces of junk that is likely to rip the grooves off your classic vinyl as to play it.

All of these cheap turntables are simply dreadful, whether Crossley, Lenco or other brands. If they don't have a full size platter made of something other than wafer thin plastic then it's basically a child's toy.

Thank you.

Thank you. Not sure I'll go for this particular model after the comments, but I will check out the cables you recommend.

The cheapest turntable with a decent stylus and tracking force that won't erode vinyl is probably the lenco l84 or l85 for about £89, or the Audio Technica LP-60 for similar money.

these things are so bad it will ruin your discs first play. there are record grinders
So totally cold from me

Does anyone know if this would work connected to a soundbar via USB?

I owned a different model of Ion record player (a more expensive one than this) but it skipped on every record I played. They were all pristeen condition vinyls but there was no way to adjust the tonearm weighting. Poor build quality too...just felt cheap. Just my experience but may be worth looking at a DIY option instead. It's what I've opted for and despite being second hand kit it was under £50 with pitch control, too.

Very true. In last few years the original Audience got back together (with some new younger members helping out needless to say) with Howard Werth singing again locally around Southern area love to have seen them but I live up other end of the country - ditto with Gentle Giant. They did too. Called themselves Three Friends or somesuch doing concertsa in the South doing old GG numbers and some new stuff. Even had a couple of original members there too Not unfortunately the wonderful Shulman brothers. One of whom - the superb singer Derek is now one of the top dogs in music producers and talent spotters in USA. Another wonderful band that deserved to be 100 times bigger than they were.
Listen to "Nothing At All" - it STILL sends shivers down my spine so many plays and so many years later

There are certain tracks that were never released on CD for some weird reason - biggest for me was the SINGLE version of Belladonna Moonshine by early 70s band Audience. The LP was fabulous (Friends Friends Friend - look for it on YouTube) but THAT version wasn't quite as good as the single. Ive got the single, but no turntable. I may get this for that

Much prefer this one and it's portable, in a choice of 3 colours and has a headphone socket. http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4369431.htm?cmpid=APP003

Everyone to their own I would just prefer to put it on with my headphones on.

Not really, the thing's designed to be connected to a computer via a USB cable, once connected you then plug your headphones into your PC/Laptop. You don't even need a power cable. Even best-selling budget turntables costing over £100 such as the Sony PSLX300 don't have a headphone socket.

Bit of palaver is it not.

This is only any use if you have a sound system to connect it to. No headphone aux connection on this product.

Dad's Crimbo box sorted, thanks OP!