Jukebox Machines

Brady says:

UPDATE: After about 3 months of rare use, the unit stopped responding to remote commands; due to the limited controls actually on the unit, I can no longer operate the CD player (at all) or change the volume. I’ve tried new batteries, and even an additional remote; very disappointing. The lights are still working, but without audio, it’s almost pointless.
2nd Update: The unit DOES still respond to remote commands; but I had to unplug the unit for a few minutes, then plug it back in. Now it’s working again. I don’t know why this happened, or why it worked, but I’ve used this “fix” twice already.
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
I bought this Crosley Bubbler iJuke CR-16 after seeing a similar Crosley in a store locally last Holiday season, but was gone when I went to buy one. I did a lot of research deciding which one to purchase; mostly within the Crosley line.
What I wanted (so you know the basis of this review): a pretty speaker set-up for a new Zune mp3 player which could also play CD’s, and ideally be controlled by my universal remote.
What this is: Very pretty, unobtrusive when the lights are off, OK quality machine.
How it works:
The built-in radio is controlled by a dial tuner which is usually hidden behind a flip-down piece of decoration.
The CD player is hidden within the “Crosley” slide-out tray.
There is a 1/8″ (mini stereo / standard TRS connector) input on the back for connecting mp3 players, etc.
A mostly-full-function remote, in 50’s styling, can be hidden/stored inside the back of the unit to help it from getting lost (nice touch).
There are auxiliary speaker output wiring jacks, which I haven’t tried, which I would assume from the data sheet would be OK but not very powerful.
Options/controls:
There is a toggle switch on the back where you can select to have the led “infinity” lights steady on, or flashing.
There is a toggle switch on the back by the mini jack input where you must select whether the radio/CD player are active – or the mini jack. (see complaint # 1 below “control”).
The push-button switch which turns the lights on or off is hidden behind the flip-down radio control display (see complaint #2 “control”)

Opinion / Review:
I wanted to put all of that information first, because it’s hard to find out the specifics of each of these units – and one should know what one is considering purchasing.
Sound Quality: “Good”. You must keep your expectations real; if you want a 700watt surround-sound speaker system; this is not for you. If you just want to be able to play a little music or listen to the radio – and don’t mind not having heavy bass; this can handle it.
Lights: “Great”. They claim there’s neon – but I’m a designer and I don’t believe them. I think there are either fluorescent tubes or LEDs behind there – which is fine with me. The lights are pretty exciting, and the bubbles are fun.
Bubbles: “Very Good”. When you turn the lights on, it takes about 15 minutes to “warm up” before the bubbles begin to bubble. Before then, they look just like one of the regular light tubes. I’m OK with that, not always patient, but physics are what they are. The challenge here is that often (about 40% of the time, informally) one side or the other doesn’t begin to bubble. You can usually hear an audible “chung” when the bubbles begin; to unstick the side that’s stuck, you lightly tap (brush-punch) the bottom housing of that tube. Not wonderful, but it does work easily every time.
Control: “Poor”. I purposely got this unit because it has a CD player and a mini-jack for my zune. The radio was a bonus – unfortunately, you have to flip a manual toggle switch (black by the way, surrounded by black) on the rear of the unit to go between auxiliary input OR the CD/radio. Why couldn’t this be a switch on the front? Better yet, why not make it electronic so it can be controlled by the remote?
The lights – let’s face it: that’s why you buy a mini juke box…for the light “show”. Otherwise; there are better speakers for you out there. My #1 complaint is that to turn the lights on, you have to flip-down the front of the unit, push a button, and flip back up the decoration. Not hard, but very inconvenient. Again; why not an electronic switch so it can be controlled by the remote?

If not for the poor control choices, this unit would have gotten 5 stars.

Beauchamp says:

I was amazed at the great sound that boomed from this little Crosley Radio ijuke Jukebox. The bubbler is just like the ones on larger expensive sizes. The colors are great fun, and the size perfect. If you love music and like to dance you will go crazy over this jukebox. It makes me feel happy. Nonie