Unlike other budget turntables (like Crosley and Victrola, and most of the other ION turntables), this is actually a decent "stereophile" turntable, for the following reasons: This employs a genuine moving magnetic cartridge, unlike other budget turntables, which use cheaper ceramic cartridges. The headshell is removable, and will accomodate any standard 1/2-inch head-mount cartridge (if a cartridge upgrade is desired). Tonearm counter-weight is adjustable. Anti-skate is adjustable. Tone-arm is s-shaped, made of metal, for superior tracking and resonance-suppresion. Output is user-selectable for line-out or for pre-amp (if you wish to use an outboard pre-amp). All-in-all, one of the better budget turntables you can buy! Will be shipped double-boxed.