Teac LP-R660USB Review

The Teac LP-R660USB CD Recorder with Cassette Turntable is a compact system that features a turntable, CD player, cassette player, AM/FM tuner and it even supports a USB audio interface.

Its strength is the ability to record from vinyl, cassettes and radio to either CDs or a computer or external drive via USB.

The LP-R660USB comes equipped with high-quality built-in bass reflex stereo speakers that bring just the right amount of boom.

It has headphone jacks for a solo listening experience and RCA outputs, so you can connect the unit to external speakers.

It also has RCA inputs, so you can connect external audio equipment and play it through the Teac’s internal speakers. It does not have an auxiliary input or Bluetooth capability, so you can not play music from your smartphone or other device, unless you have a cable that enables you to connect it via USB or RCA inputs.

The turntable plays three speeds (33-1/3, 45, 78rpm) and the stylus has a cue arm so that you can place it gently on the record to prevent scratching. It returns automatically once it hits the end of the record. Should the needle break, a replacement stylus is easy to order from Teac dealers or directly from the Teac parts department.

 

Teac LP-R660USB Turntable Review

The Teac LP-R660USB Turntable is one of the most versatile units on the market, which is pretty amazing, considering the price. It plays vinyl, cassettes, radio, CDs and external sources via RCA or USB. It can also record all of those sources to CDs or to an external drive.

The internal speakers are quite good for a unit in this price range, but naturally are no match for a good pair of external speakers (which you can use via the RCA outputs). The sound quality is great and the included remote control is a nice bonus.

If you’re looking for an all-in-one record player to play any format of music you might have, the LP-R660USB is one of the best options on the market. Sure, there are better, but they cost, much, much more. It scores a Top Record Players rating of 4.1 out of 5.

 

Teac LP-R660 USB Features

• 15.3 by 18.5 by 9.5 inches — quite small, considering all that’s included
• Weighs 24.3 pounds — heavier than normal turntables, but quite light considering all the components
• Plays vinyl, CDs, cassettes, radio — any format of music
• Internal bass-reflex stereo speakers — great sound quality from a player in this price range
• RCA outputs — connect to external speakers
• RCA intputs — connect external players and play them using the internal speakers
• CD-R/RW Recording — record from vinyl, cassette, radio, external source via RCA
• USB port —  record from vinyl, cassette, radio, external source via RCA to external drive
• Plays vinyl discs at speeds of 33 1/3, 45 and 78 RPM — plays any record
• Remote control — run everything in comfort from your couch

 

Comparison

The two most popular alternatives to the Teac LP-R660USB CD recorder cassette turntable are the Crosley CR2413A-BK Memory Master II and the 7-in-1 Boytone BT-21DJB-C.

The Crosley record player is very similar to the Teac and costs about the same, too. It also plays vinyl at 3 speeds, cassettes, CDs and radio and records each of those sources to CD or to an external drive or computer via USB.

It comes with a software suite to assist in audio recording and a remote control to make your life easier. This makes converting vinyls to CDs as easy as possible.

It does not have RCA inputs or outputs, so can not play from external sources or hook up to external speakers (unless you do it via the headphone jack). In terms of sound quality, the Crosley lags behind the Teac unit.

The Boytone BT-21DJB-C costs considerably less, but there’s a reason. It is a much lower quality player, especially the turntable component.

It also records the same sources to the digital format, but it does not record to CD. Unlike the other two players, it has an auxiliary input, so you can play music from you smartphone or other device. The internal speakers are pretty weak, but you can connect to external speakers via the RCA outputs. It does not have RCA inputs.

 

Teac LP-R660USB Turntable Review: Final Verdict

The Teac LP-R660USB is the best player of the three. It is the highest quality and it performs the most functions. It plays music in any format and records it to CD or to an external drive or computer via USB.

The Crosley is very similar, but inferior to the Teac in terms of quality. It would still be worth considering if you prefer the look to that of the Teac.

The Boytone costs less than half as much as the other two record players, so it is the best choice if you’re on a tight budget. You’ll definitely be sacrificing quality and a some function, though.