Ion Audio iPROFILE LP to iPod DJ Conversion Turntable Review

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(More customer reviews)I originally thought this would work with a set of powered speakers, but it does not. It only has the old phono output plugs, so it needs to go through an amplifier. That worked fine right away, but playing through a computer USB port took days to get working. One problem I found was that I had to unplug my webcam (which has audio input) to capture the turntable output on my PC. No settings on my PC worked until I unplugged the camera. Recording then worked fine. Integration with iTunes is great when recording.
Next problem was playing the iPod through the amplifier. ION help eventually explained that you have to set the turntable to LINE output instead of PHONO output (switch on the back) and then plug into the CD input of the amp instead of the Phono input. Then the turntable and the iPod both work. No mention of that in the manual though.
Would be 5 stars if manual explained configuration better.


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Numark TTUSB Turntable with USB Review

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(More customer reviews)I've been looking for a way to easily convert the old vinyl to iPod-ready MP3s. A bunch of my old LPs will never see the light of a CD so this looked like a great, one-step way of digitizing the old, round, black things with all the grooves.
Backstory: I'm a Mac guy, and I've worked with and taught audio production for a number of years so I more or less know my way around the audio world. That said...
This works quite well, but has a few limitations. Out of the box it plugged right in via the USB port and it also has stereo RCA jacks (such as would plug into the back of your tuner/amp) on the back. Drawback #1 is that the RCA jacks are hard-wired into the base of the turntable so if you don't use them (and are using the USB connector) there's no way to get rid of them. They dangle. This _could_ be causing a problem and I'll address that in a moment.
The turntable worked great, though I"m not sure why they put a pitch control on it if there's no strobe light to verify the speed of the unit. Sort of like putting a tachometer on a car with an automatic transmission. Why?
Beyond that, it has two speeds, 33 and 45 (with adapter) and the LPs sounded OK on the speed. If you are wanting to digitize your old 78s, you can record them at 33 and use the software (see below) to get them to the right speed.
Drawback #2: No tonearm cueing lever so you are manually dropping the arm onto the vinyl disk. Don't drink a lot of coffee before you cue your records, especially since it has a counterweight adjustment on the tonearm that make the tonearm almost wightless. It really tough (even without coffee) to drop that ultra-light arm onto the vinyl without bounce and shake. Be careful...
The audio processing software that ships with the unit is "Audacity," an open-source freeware that you can also download from the Web. If you are using an Intel Mac, make sure you download the new version, as the Mac software supplied on the disk is out of date. PeeCee users with Win2000 and XP should be ready to go. You can also use it with most other audio processing software apps.
Audacity software is a bit clunky, but it works OK for this task. I've used it for a number of years so I felt at home with it. If you are new to it you may not be comfortable with it for a while. But it does a good job and you can easily fix clicks, pops, and vinyl noise with the software. To make the final export to MP3 you also need to download MP3 conversion software (LAME...that's an MP3 encoder, not an opinion...and it's also free), as it's not part of Audacity. No biggie. Once it's downloaded and you link it once so Audacity can find it, you're done and it's forever invisible.
Drawback #3: There seems to be a very, very faint hum through the USB connection and I can't find the source. It may be a grounding issue but there is no grounding connection on this, a basically plasitc body and base. You don't notice the hum during the music, but if you listen it's there in the silence between the tracks. It may also come from those dangling RCA cables that you can't unhook. Until I can isolate and eliminate the hum, I'm just editing out the noise between the tracks with the Audacity "generate silence" command. Again, no biggie, but it's an extra step.
Once you've captured an entire side of a vinyl, you add "markers" to the recorded track to indicate the track breaks, hit Audacity's "Export Multiple" command, select MP3 (assuming you have downloaded the LAME software) and your ready for iTunes. It's slick.
Overall: The turntable works very well for my needs. A serious audiophile may scoff at it and be displeased with the minor hum problem or the lack of a cueing lever, but hey, the price is right. I'd give it a Five-Star rating if it had a cueing lever, detatchable RCA cables, and no faint hum between the tracks.

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The TTUSB is a unique, plug and play, USB compatible turntable that makes digitizing your vinyl record collection to your PC or Mac a snap. Packaged with all the necessary cables to connect with a computer or stereo playback system, along with software to remove clicks, pops, and other undesirable characteristics of vinyl, the TTUSB is a comprehensive package that breathes new life into older recordings.

USB Turntable Numark is known for their turntables, and this one lives up to the company name. Features include an adjustable Anti-Skate control for increased stereo balancing, 33-1/3 and 45 RPM speed playback (with 78 rpm support via software), line level RCA outputs with built-in preamp, and an adjustable pitch control of plus or minus 10%.
The USB output means a no-fuss, plug-and-play connection to your PC or Mac for easy archiving.
Stereo Line Input As an added benefit, the TTUSB also includes a 1/8-inch stereo mini jack input connector to facilitate the transfer of cassette tapes (or similar line level sources) to computer files-making this unit the perfect tool for archiving older recordings, regardless of their original format.
EZ Vinyl Converter 2 The included EZ Converter software quickly rips your vinyl collection directly to iTunes. MixMeister's software lets you easily designate each track with the click of a button, and retrieves track names and other info using Gracenote technology. Once it's in iTunes (or the playback software of your choice), make playlists, burn CDs, or transfer to your iPod or other media player.
Audacity For the editing of your transferred files, the included Audacity software (PC and Mac compatible) provides a wealth of easy-to-use features. Remove clicks, pops, and other vinyl surface noise. Export your analog music to popular digital formats such as WAV or MP3, and turn your old, forgotten records to the top of your digital music playlist.
What's in the Box TTUSB Turntable (Includes Pre-Mounted Cartridge, Platter, Counterweight, 45RPM Adapter, Slipmat), USB Cable, Software CD, User's Manual

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Ion Audio PROFILE FLASH LP to SD Card Conversion DJ Turntable Review

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(More customer reviews)INTRODUCTION:
Okay, so it's not perfect. $600+ would probably get you a turntable/recorder that is superior to this, but it won't be 5 times better.
CONS:
To continue in this negative vein before writing about the positive, it would appear that like most inexpensive turntables, the speed/pitch might not be absolutely perfect and there is no way to adjust it. That said, from looking at the timings given on the vinyl I have already recorded, I am guessing my particular unit is spinning LPs at approximately 34rpm, while 7" singles appear to rotating around 46rpm. That might be a big deal for audiofiles, and if so, spend $600+ to get perfection. Otherwise, I doubt anyone would notice such a minor variation. It certainly is vastly better than those TEAC or Crosley self-contained CD recorders, where not only is the speed up around 37rpm (for 33.3rpm LPs), but is also close to 50rpm (for 45rpm records). For those units, the pitch can be noticed by anyone and those products should be avoided.
Another quibble is the lack of useful documentation you receive in the box. It is limited to a "Quick Start" manual, which is all of 4 pages. There are no details with regards to how to use this unit... it is mostly trial and error, but user-friendly and intuitive.
PROS:
Now on to the pluses: For the money, you cannot do better. First off, it is a fully-functional turntable. Plug it into your stereo system's amplifier and off it goes. You now have a new stereo component! Please note, this unit already has a built-in pre-amp, so you cannot plug it into the jacks for "phono" as the double pre-amp scenario will cause distortion. That said, any other auxillary jacks will do, and for those amplifiers without phono jacks, this is actually a plus.
Recording to the SD or thumb-drive jacks is oh so very easy. Push record, which automatically puts the recorder in record and pause mode. Start spinning the vinyl and push play and the recording process begins. There is also a button to create new tracks as you are going along (as well as the pause and stop buttons). It is very easy.
The ION's tone arm is obviously inexpensive, but again, it works well enough... especially for a unit in this price range. It has a nice velvety lever to lower and raise the stylus too. Speeds provided are 33.3rpm and 45rpm. 78rpm and 16rpm would have been nice too, but especially in the case of the former, a different 78rpm-specific stylus would be required, which would have increased the very inexpensive price for this product. (Please note, those self-contained TEAC or Crosley CD-burning products will quite literally destroy your records with repeated plays as their tone-arms are way too heavy. Surface noise becomes prevelant after only a couple plays. In fact, do not even consider those as an alternative to the ION model.)
In general, the bass response is good enough and there is no need to equalize the results once in the computer or anywhere else for that matter. (The TEAC and Crosley recorder, other units I have owned, have wretched bass response, requiring considerable equalization to compensate.)
This ION unit also comes with a dust cover, which is a nice touch.
THUMB-DRIVE USE:
I first tried this unit with a 4MB thumb-drive, but found it could only record about 40 minutes of music onto that. Therefore, I recommend an 8MB drive to ensure you can record both sides of an entire long-playing record at a time. Or, if you want to record even more, try a 16MB drive (which is what I ended up getting for it). After recording, take the thumb-drive to your computer and download the newly created MP3s onto whatever CD burning program you may have (or for whatever other purpose you have in mind). This unit is also supposed to work with other various devices; however, I have not tried these yet, and therefore, cannot comment. I would assume however, the end result would be as successful.
SUMMARY:
Technically, this is a 4-star unit, for all of the negative reasons given above. I gave it 5-stars however due to how well it works and how good the sound is for the price. If you want a decent and servicable turntable/recorder for around $100, there is nothing better on the market. However, if you are an audiophile and can afford it, you may want to look into models that cost 5+ times as much.
In any event, I highly recommend this model to most people who want to add a decent turntable to their stereo system, while at the same time, to have the ability to archive their record collections, and at a good price.

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Technics SL1200MLK2 TurnTable Review

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(More customer reviews)I've known some people to still own a manually operated Technics that has lasted over 25 years (the beauty of a manual is no extra gizmos or electronics to break down or mechanically and annoyingly affect pure playback) ! If you want proof just look at how many Denon or other top brand name turntables listed on E-Bay will often carry a disheartening claimer by the seller that reads something like, "turntable works fine except automatic tonearm or speed chip sensor does not work properly".Lesson learned is to stay away from turntables with a lot of "computerized-electronic sensing automatic features". So, no, this 'table is not an automatic nor is it for the lazy listener who will fall asleep only to wake up and find the needle has been scratching and bumping at the end of playing. Once you damage your needle in this fashion you will never make the mistake of falling asleep again while playing it.... But, again, the trade off or sacrifice is worth it versus having an automatic tonearm malfunctioning with time. It was first and foremost designed back in the 70's as a mid-priced audiophile turntable for home consumer use and later incorporated as the reference or standard dj equipment for radio stations and then dj/scratching venues. Over the years Technics has fine tuned and tweaked what was already, in my opinion, an almost perfected machine. While audiophile purists and snobs gasp at the thought of using a direct drive 'table to hear their precious vinyl collection, I for one don't mind a direct drive over a belt drive. Advantages of a direct drive is no belt to replace, wow & flutter are almost non-existant (since the platter is driven by the spindle shaft motor directly), speed accuracy is on target. Some purists have pointed out that this 'table is not "dead" sounding enough and may produce some rumble or motor vibration noise when listening to extreme quiet passages on classical disc pressings. So far I have tested some classical records and cannot hear any unwanted vibrations coming from the motor or disturbing noises.In fact, Technics makes one of the best turntables with a very quiet and smooth running motor. The plinth is heavily weighed down and isolated from unwanted vibrations that would otherwise be picked up by the cartridge.Over the years I have owned a fully automatic-remote controlled Kenwood table, a Pioneer 'table, and an el cheapo Sears LXI 'table...All of these turntables ended up in a junk pile in Siberia due to their cheap plastic nature and gamut of so-called bells and whistles. Technics is the only one for those, like myself, not yet to make it into the higer end audiophile arena with 'tables costing from $1000.00 and beyond price range realm. I have used everything from a cheap Audio Technica cartridge to a mid priced Shure cartridge and finally a Grado Prestige cartridge (the Grado being the best in sound quality, price and workmanship).Whether you decide to use an Ortofon DJ cartridge/needle for DJ/scratching purposes or a Grado audiophile cartridge for in home listening you will be thrilled of the workmanship and sound quality of this finely crafted and engineered product ! As a plus, the Technics is an aesthetically pleasing piece of audio gear to look at and realize some solid materials were used to produce it...Finally, who would have thunk decades ago that the Technics 1200 would carry the distinction to be used as a "DJ instrument" for scratching (the motor is that strong) as well as being dubbed the honorary title of the true "Wheel of Steel"!

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Stanton T.80 Turntable With Cartridge Review

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(More customer reviews)Bought the T80 in Dec 2005, have used it to transfer hundreds of 78s (I have a correct cartridge for 78s), 45s and 33s to computer. Immediately upon getting this turntable (to replace a worn out Onkyo), I found the tone arm was too short to track properly. It would commence to skip, that is, it would stay in the same track over and over, before it reached the inner part of platters. The "stop" averaged 3-1/4" to 3-3/8" from center and no attempts to change tracking weight or otherwise solved the problem; it would not complete any platter of any sort. My analysis was that the tone arm was about an inch too short and needed to be angled rather than straight. As I had not yet disposed of the Onkyo, I used the Onkyo pickup-head mount and modified it to: (a) extend the arm by 1.125", (b) preserve the Onkyo's pickup angle, (c) hold the Stanton pickup-head/needle, and (d) used the Onkyo quick-connects to extend the Stanton wires. That solved the problem and the turntable has, since, performed without any problems of any kind. I since made a drawing with a CAD program of an "extension" made with 1/8" plexiglass would enable using the Stanton pickup shell.
One other thing, it came with a cloth dust cover but no hard-shell cover. I had a "smoke" plexiglass cover made at TAP Plastics that fits turntable and dust cover perfectly. The only "maintenance" has been new "LP" or 78 needles as required.
ADDENDUM
After I posted this review, I found another forum comment that says Stanton makes two types of tonearm. One type is "DJ" and the other is "audiophile"; they are not the same. I was not made aware of this fact when I bought this turntable; it has the DJ tone arm, thus the original tracking problem. The audiophile tonearem should not have the tracking problem I experienced. THEREFORE, NOTE that "my fix" is ONLY for Stanton DJ turntables, not their audiophile turntables.

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Audio Technica AT-LP2D-USB Fully Automatic Stereo Turntable with USB Output, Includes Recording Software and Dual Magnet Cartridge Review

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(More customer reviews)First, I'm not sure if the previous reviewer had his sound card input set correctly, or if he forgot to switch this turntable's pre-amp switch to the correct setting, but mine sounded great. Also, I elected to use the RCA output on this and not the USB... maybe he was having audio-quality problems with the USB part? Many users seem to have an issue with static and otherwise poor audio when using the USB connection. Instead, I suggest using the RCA output on this unit connected to your PC's audio-in jack for the best sound quality. Please read on...
I've never even owned any LPs before, but I recently got a real craving for some mixes that only appeared on DJ-only LPs. So I purchased a few, along with this turntable so I can rip them into MP3s.
Everything arrived on the same day, so I was like a kid in a candy store. All I can say is HOORAY!
There are two versions of this Audio-Technica turntable... one has USB capabilities, and the other (which is a bit less expensive) does not. However, even with the USB output, there are also good old RCA outputs on this turntable. The turntable also comes with two RCA to stereo 3.5mm mini-plug adapters: one male adapter (for connecting to stereos, powered speakers, or a mixer with 3.5mm mini jack inputs), and one female adapter (for connecting to amplified speakers or other devices with a mini-plug). Basically, you can connect this turntable to almost anything without having to go out and purchase additional cables or adapters.
The unit has three buttons on the front: start, stop, and up/down. I'm sure you can guess what each of these does. This is an automatic turntable, so the arm is controlled by the buttons (no need to manually lift and place the needle back down).
The turntable also has a pre-amp switch, for either "line" or "phono" output. This way, you can connect it to most devices, whether they have an amplifier or not.
The setup of the turntable itself is pretty easy. Follow the instructions to easily place the platter onto the turntable and pull the drive belt onto the motor spindle (illustrations are included).
I elected to connect the RCA cables to one of the adapters, and connected that to the "line-in" mini-jack input on my digital sound card. Technically, I didn't need to purchase this more-expensive USB version of the turntable since I am not using the USB output, but that's beside the point :)
There are two CDs included in the package: one for Cakewalk Pyro 2004/2005 (commercial software), and one for Audacity (open source software). Cakewalk Pyro is NOT compatible with Windows Vista, so I installed Audacity (check their website for newer versions if desired).
After installing Audacity, I selected my input source ("line-in"), put the first LP on, and heard exactly what I was hoping to hear... high quality music and sound. So I restarted the LP, hit the record button in Audacity, and waiting for the song to finish. Then I hit the "stop" button in Audacity to stop recording, quickly and easily trimmed a bit of the dead space before and after the song, and exported it to a high-quality, high bit-rate MP3.
For the money, I couldn't have asked for anything better. Everything sounds crystal clear, and couldn't be easier. I highly recommend this product. If you have a line-in jack on your sound card (which most do), and would like to use that, save yourself a few bucks and go with the model that doesn't have the USB output. I'm not sure if the other model comes with a CD for Audacity (maybe only Pyro), but Audacity is an open-source free download on the web anyway. Either way, you won't be disappointed.
Happy ripping! :)
The non-USB version of this turntable appears here:
Audio-Technica AT-LP2DA LP-to-Digital Recording System


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Numark LP2CD Vinyl To PC/CD Turntable Review

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(More customer reviews)Just got mine today. So far, I give it 5 stars.
Very easy to use, seems high quality. Ive recorded 4 LPs, and burnt 4 CDs from the recordings. Works great as a stand alone unit for transferring LPs to CD. It includes software for more advanced recording using your computer to edit and fine tune the recording. I just plugged it in, and used the supplied audio leads to plug into the face of my home stereo so I could listen to the music while it did the recording. After it records the LP, you just insert a blank CD and press the burn CD button, its that simple. Quality of the record playing and the playback of the finished CD were both excellent. I looked at many of the lower priced LP2CD players, and most all had bad reviews. I think paying a little extra for this model was a wise move. I`m VERY impressed. After much searching, I found mine new on ebay for $340.00 delivered, and it was at my door in 3 days. Some assembly was required, just putting the counterweight on the tone arm, and adjusting it properly. Had to put the platter on, and the drive belt, but it was all very easy and allowed me to fully appreciate the quality. I have not tried the computer software yet, so I am unable to comment on that at this time.
Pros: Quality workmanship, easy to use, good solid unit.
Excellent sound quality.
Cons: $500 list price is too high, you can get it cheaper if you shop around
The Bottom Line: I highly recommend this one, for overall quality, ease of use.
Both the record player, and the CDs it burnt, sound was perfect.

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PYLE PLTTB9U USB Turntable with direct-to-digital USB/SD Card Encoder and Built-in AM/FM Radio Conversion Review

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(More customer reviews)The price was fantastic, the sound quality is great, no external speakers, so no mess... a real pleasure. I don't know if a true audiophile would agree, but for the casual listener, the Pyle is great!

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Ion USB Turntable with Built-in CD Recording Review

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(More customer reviews)The ION LP turntable was much better than I thought it would be for the following reasons:
1) First of all, the sound through the headphones was nice, full, and deep - much better than I expected.
2) Recording directly to a CD made it much easier than dealing with software since I don't have the time to figure out how to effectively use the software (maybe later I will take the time to see if it makes it any better).
3) Recording to the CD was simple because the tracks are automatically separated. It also allows to manually separate tracks if for some reason the turntable missed separating a track (especially when an artist does not space out time between songs because they want the effect of a continual track).
4) It comes with a cover which many others don't (this may seem not important but it really is if you live in an environment where dust is prevalent).
5) Here's what I didn't expect which was a bonus - it comes with an internal hard drive to be able to record around 2 albums. This is very helpful because it allows you to correct any mistakes or skips that occurred before recording it on a CD. It also allows you to rearrange or erase any of the tracks very easily before recording it on a CD, so you can personalize your tracks compared to the album in a simple, easy way.
6) I am a musician and audiophile, so the most important thing to me is the quality of the sound that is recorded on the CD. Upon hearing the CD through my car CD player, the sound remained full, rich, and deep. This was very pleasing to me as I have tried other brands and the sound was always a disappointment, being very thinny and poor in quality.
6) Finally, the price on Amazon, along with free shipping makes it worth the money. I compared it to Brookstone which would have charged me $200 more in the store.
I personally believe that ION got all of the best features placed into this model which was more than I had expected. This is a good buy and the best model I have experienced so far. It is a 5 star product!

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LP 2 CD is the fastest, easiest way to convert your vinyl records to CDs with none of the hassle of connecting a computer. Listen to your music in the car, at home, on your computer, or any place with a CD player.

The LP 2 CD Turntable The included turntable is belt-driven, with a premium tone arm and cartridge to get you the best sound from your vinyl. It's as great for simple playback as it is for conversion. 33 1/3 and 45 RPM vinyl are both supported, and you can also record 78 RPM albums using the included software.
Record Directly to CD-R/RW LP 2 CD features an on-board CD burner that lets you record one or more CD copies of a record with ease. Just place your record on the turntable and insert a blank CD. Play your vinyl, hit the record button and let LP 2 CD do the rest.
Records on blank CD-R/RW discs.
USB Interface Thanks to the LP 2 CD's USB interface, you can also connect your computer and easily transfer your music to your iTunes, iPod, or MP3 player. LP 2 CD comes with software for fast, easy importing to your iTunes library. Mac and PC compatible.
Conversion Software LP 2 CD includes a software CD with EZ Vinyl Converter for PC (with auto track detection) and EZ Audio Converter for Mac. They are the simplest way to record and convert vinyl directly to iTunes. Before you know it, you'll be listening to songs you haven´t heard in years in iTunes or on your iPod. A free download version of EZ Vinyl Converter with Gracenote MusicID is included for automatic track naming.
What's in the Box LP 2 CD turntable, Dustcover, Cartridge with stylus, RCA audio cable, AC adapter, Quick start guide

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Beginner Dj Turntable Package Review

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(More customer reviews)It's very easy to use. All the controls are very simple and are ideal for the beginner Disc Jockey. This is a must buy from Numark for anyone that wants to jump start their DJ career or hobby.
Fantastic!

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Numark CC1RS Stylus Review

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(More customer reviews)I've been using this needle with my stanton t-62 turntable to listen to my record collection for about a year now. The difference is easily noticeable in comparison to other needle's I've used, and, overall, sound quality is superb.

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Technics SL1200MK5 DJ TurnTable Review

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(More customer reviews)Basically a carryover of the SL 1200 M3D table (1999-2002) with a few friendly DJ minor adjustments (brighter,long life L.E.D. stylus pop up light, more antiskating for non-skipping during scratching and adjustable braking speed)...Is this Technics 'table worth it's weight in gold (I think between 30 to 35 pounds)? Without a doubt !It's built like a Sherman Tank to withstand vibrations from speakers or the dance floor which would otherwise cause the needle to skip around or transfer unwanted noise to the tonearm and out the speakers; an enclosed loop of unwanted noise. Heavy, heavy, construction of the anti-resonant plinth/chasis, platter speaks in volumes about the craftsmanship Technics puts into the "Wheel of Steel". Other than the build quality, what's the sound quality like?It can yield either professional (DJ use), near-audiophile (for that sound purist who wants to just listen to records or transfer to cd-r format) or club-quality scratching top grade sound (the direct drive motor and torque is built Chevy or Ford tough for the use and abuse).
HOWEVER, the sound quality also significantly depends upon the application the 'table is used for, whether you use a cheap $20 cartridge or the serious high quality type. Is this table going to be used for scratching, regular DJing, or just in-home use? All these factors have to be taken into consideration in getting the most out of the MK5. It is illogical to install an audiophile high end cartridge/stylus normally used for casual listening(jazz, classical, some pop/rock) if you're gonna scratch (vice versa). Simple rule of thumb---you use a DJ needle for club play and scratch and a good to excellent high grade cartridge and stylus for normal playback.It is impossible to tell you which cartridges are of substantial quality to high end because it can sometimes boil down to personal individual sound preference (some yield tight bass, some yield clear high frequencies, some sound neutral, musical, or colored---or a combo of these sound qualities)This can be costly and sometimes aggravating to figure out what to use.It takes trial and error and a bit of set up and experimentation and sound comparisons. Oh, yeah, feed the 'table some decently clean-dirt free records. Some will appreciate the dustcover sans hinges. Others would prefer actual hinges for the cover if used mostly at home.As for aesthetics, it's still the same high tech look that came about in 1979 (forget about the regular wood or mdf plinth and chasis look of the '70s so many other manufacturers used (Denon and Pioneer being the exceptions).Technics was way ahead of it's time in 1979 when creating the "looks" for this table. The same design still looks good in it's somewhat contemporary-modern design to this day.
Now listen up Panasonic/ Technics...the ONLY one request that I have is that SOMEDAY you will really and truly upgrade this particular turntable by giving it high end and fully automatic functions or features that so many in home couch potatos crave.Then, if the turntable is to be used in a dj set up, allow the owner to switch off the automatic functions to perform as a manual.Afer all, anyone who knows the history of the Technics 1200 series, this turntable has it's roots in being first designed as an in-home playback system; The clubbing,dj-ing, radio broadcasting applications came about by pure accident or simple choice! I'm not asking for much am I...Technics came close to making this turntable a successful and brilliant automatic with the SL 1700MK2 and the SL 1600MK2 back in the late 70's (semi-automatic,fully automatic).Now and then you will see these beauties on eBay up for grabs(but usually with a" buyer beware, automatic arm does not work" disclaimer. The only design flaw was a belt that controlled the auto return mechanism which would deteriorate after so much use and render the auto function useless (costly repair)...With all the focus on Technics "subtlely" upgrading about every 2 to 4 years the 1200 series they can finally use some of this state of the art modern technology for a high quality automatic/manual with no design or function issues !!!
P.S. I also highly recommend this website on Techics past and present products. It's an unofficial website that carries some awesome information on their turntables at www.vintagetechnics.com. My personal favorites and after owning some of these models over the years is anything in the SL 1200 series, the SL Q3, and the SL-5300 (this one built in 1979 was loaded with all the sweet full automatic features, bells and whistles for it's time---all of it's controls were on the outside of the cover) !

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ike all Technics gear, the 1200MK5 is built to last. It comes with all the features you ve come to know and love in earlier Technics models, plus a few extras tailored to the needs of the pro DJ. Easy To Adjust Breaking Speed It s simple to set the breaking speed to suit your liking with the SL-1210MK5. After removing the slip mat, all it takes is a few twists of a screwdriver to go from a slow winding down to an instant halt, or anywhere in between. Non "Click" Pitch Control Smooth sliding, quartz locked, non "click" continuous pitch adjustment +/-8% and +/-16% Recessed Power Switch Recessed Power switch to avoid accidental turn off. Pitch Reset Instantly reset pitch to zero at the touch of a button. New LED Stylus Light New LED stylus light lasts longer than earlier models.

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ION Audio Profile Pro USB DJ Turntable (Non Factory Sealed) Review

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(More customer reviews)Rec'd this turntable for christmas and haven't stopped using it. It does exactly what it was made to do, convert vinyl to mp3s or cds. I don't understand why someone would buy this item to be used as a turntable to listen to their records. The product is a USB turntable to Convert. Oh well, the only part I wasn't thrilled with was having to download itunes software. The "ez vinyl" that comes with this transfers the recorded media to itunes. Not a problem, I just dragged and dropped to windows media player and either burned cds or sync to my mp3 player (it is not an ipod). The additional software in the box, "audacity" took out the clicks and cracks without much work on my part. You can also convert 78's with the audacity software.
This item looks great (with it's smooth black piano finish) and so far has done a wonderful job. I can finally get some real oldies transfered to my mp3 player. I can honestly say this is the best gift I rec'd this year and recommend it highly.

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Ion Audio Profile LP USB DJ Turntable Review

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(More customer reviews)I had to download the installation file from their website rather than from the CD (outdated) but once that was installed, I was golden. I wasn't prepared for the mp3's to sound as good as they did. Very, very easy to record songs & they sound great!

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The PROFILE series of LP-conversion systems is designed with contemporary, low-profile looks and is finished in sleek, piano black. Each model is designed to capture the music from your vinyl records and turn it into portable, flexible, digital MP3s that you can enjoy at home and on the go.

The PROFILE LP Turntable The PROFILE LP is an LP-conversion system based on a multi-speed USB turntable. When not converting records, you can simply enjoy your classic vinyl records using PROFILE LP as a standard record player.
The belt-driven PROFILE LP features 33 1/3 and 45 RPM settings, a high-quality tonearm and cartridge, a raise/lower lever for the tonearm, and a standard RCA output (in addition to the USB port) for use with normal stereo setups.
USB-Enabled The turntable has simple USB output that enables you to capture music from records onto your computer. No drivers are necessary, simply plug it in to your Mac or PC and the audio will be sent via the USB port.
Conversion Software Included The PROFILE LP includes a software CD with EZ Vinyl Converter for PC (with auto track detection) and EZ Audio Converter for Mac. They are the simplest way to record and convert vinyl directly to iTunes. Before you know it, you'll be listening to songs you haven't heard in years in iTunes or on your iPod. A free download version of EZ Vinyl Converter with Gracenote MusicID is included for automatic track naming.
Audacity Software for Advanced Processing Audacity (PC and Mac) is intended for the advanced user. This application allows for advanced audio editing and processing, such as normalization, noise removal, 78 RPM speed conversion, and automatic track separation.
What's in the Box PROFILE LP Turntable, USB Cable, Slipmat, Software CD, 45 RPM Adapter, Quickstart Guide, Safety Instructions & Warranty Information

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Tascam CDRW901SL Slot-Loading Pro CD Recorder Review

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(More customer reviews)I am in my mid 40s and the last 30 yearts I have accumulated a lot of music in LPs and Cassettes that I would love to have in my car or MP3 player on trips. I tried using my computer to record them but all the complications and file covnersion in order to make just one new CD was tiresome to me. When I found out about the Tascam CD-RW901SL I just fell in love with the idea of having a recorder that pretty much works like the Cassette decks and Reel to Reel recorders of times past. After doing my due diligence and reading everything I could find on the Tascam and competitive players I finally took the jump and bought one.
The CD-RW901SL is a very good looking machine and it feels very well built. The buttons and knobs have a "positive" feel in them that make them a pleasure to use. The looks are, well, professional. It does strike out as a shore thumb in my Hi-Fi rig but I like it none-the-less. One thing that I just love on the Tascam is the lack of a CD tray. The unit is Slot Loading pretty much like the CD player in your car. In this way reliability is improved substantially as there is no CD tray to break.
The unit comes with pretty much every possible connection one could ever need. Digital inputs and outputs in Optical, SPDIF (RCA) and AES/EBU. Analog inputs and outputs in both Balanced and Unbalanced and the Balanced outputs also can be adjusted for output level via a couple of rear panel, user accesible pots.
The front has pretty much all the controls you need to work the unit and it also comes with a pretty good headphone amp AND the reason I actually bought this model: A PS2 computer keyboard connector for inputing Disc and Title tittles instead of using the buttons on the front of the unit (very cumbersome operation).
Finally the unit comes with a wired remote control (according to Tascam because that's what professional asked for...). I would have also like to see a wireless RC or at least the possibility to add one if one would like to. The cord is very long and I found this minor quirk easy to live with.
With just a short overview of the owner's manual I made all the connections to my system and started making some short recordings. Please make sure you buy some CD-RW so that you can re-use them and correct any mistakes before trasfering them to more permanent CD-Rs.
The quality of the Tascam's ADC (analog to digital converters) and DACs (digital to analog converters) is pretty good and more than adequate for my use. I use an external DAC and a professional might consider to use an external ADC to achieve the highest quality recording possible. I recorded some old LPs and tapes and the quality of the recording was very good indeed. Much better than the copies I could make using my Onkyo TA2800 or Nakamichi Dragon tape recorder. The sound of the copies could not compete directly with LPs playing on my SOTA Cosmos but pretty much nothing Digital can anyway.
Overall, the built and operational flexibility of the Tascam are very good. My only complaint and it is a fairly big one is this:
The present software is pretty limited in editing a disc after it is recorded. I do love the fact I can "Un Finalise" CD-RWs and do some more editing on them but I can not make two tracks into one, or split a track after it is recorded. Another disturbing "quirk" is that once you have recorded a number of tracks you can not go and erase just one track unless it is the last one. You CAN erase any number of tracks from the track to the last but you can not erase just one track by itself. I used to have a SONY MD recorder and you could do pretty much anything with the tracks after you recorded them. One would expect that for a Pro recorder like the CD-RW901SL this would be a given...
One last issue I have with the Tascam is that for inputing tittle to tracks using a keyboard you have to press SHIFT F8 every single time you want to input a tittle. In other words, you press SHIFT F8 and input a tittle of a track. For inputing the tittle of the next track you must press SHIFT F8 again, a very silly repetitive task.
I give the Tascam 5 stars for built and overall sound quality but only 3 for flexibility and thus the 4 star rating. I would love to see Tascam adressing the issues with Editing and Tittling in a software upgrade and this could become the best player around to transfer your music from LPs, Tapes or 8track cartridges.

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Numark CX-1 Tony Touch Signature Model Review

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(More customer reviews)this is a great product the best sound i ever heard playing my olds LP, i ordered for my numark TT1650 and it fits perfect i really recomend this product

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Ion Audio TTUSB 10 Vinyl Recording USB Turntable with Audacity Software, Dust Cover and Analog Stereo Input Review

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(More customer reviews)Now I know why I saved all those old 33 1/3 rpm records. Short of a NASA-quality machine, the Ion USB and associated Audacity software is the answer to the dreams of vinyl-savers. I went for the slightly higher-priced Ion rather than the Numark and was glad I did -- the heavy duty dust cover and tone arm lever are well worth it.
The software is awesome, especially to a dummy like me. Though it took me and my computer-wise grandson a few hours to figure it out and get a track recorded, a little fiddling with it will produce your own ritual procedure that will allow you to record tracks and export them as WAV or MP3 files to the desktop, from whence they can easily be dubbed to a CD. The instruction manual, I'm sure, is easily understood by those more in tune with the phrasing, but I found that about three commands do all I need or want. The click and pop removal feature is incredible, and will remove all but the most prominent clicks.
This is a high quality unit with excellent software. I recommend it strongly to any wanting to transfer old records of any speed to CD.

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Digitize your vinyl LPs and 45s the easy way with the high-end Ion Audio TTUSB10 turntable, which enables you to transfer music from your records to your Windows- or Mac-based PC via USB. Additionally, you can connect the TTUSB10 to your home stereo via RCA audio output cables, and you can connect it even if your stereo doesn't have a phono input--no preamp required.
The TTUSB10 also has a line input jack so you can connect other music sources such as cassette decks, and turn your other music into MP3s. You can also adjust the gain depending on whether audio from the turntable is too quite or too loud. Its built-in dust cover protects your turntable from dust and dirt.
It comes with everything you need to turn your music into digital MP3 files. ION's exclusive software suite makes transfer and editing your music easy. EZ Vinyl Converter provides an easy way to transfer your music and import it into your iTunes music library. Windows users can download a version of EZ Vinyl Converter with Gracenote MusicID technology for free. It automatically adds album, artist, and song information for you.
Key Features
Turn your records into MP3s
Play records on your home stereo
Plug and Play USB connection: no drivers needed
Adjustable anti-skate control for increased stereo balancing
33-1/3 and 45 RPM settings
Switchable-level RCA output
1/8-inch stereo line input digitize music from cassettes or other sources
Included software quickly transfers your music to iTunes
Built-in dust cover
Dimensions: 14.5 x 17.75 x 6 inches; weighs 8 pounds

What's in the Box TTUSB10 turntable, dust cover, slipmat, 45RPM adapter, cartridge with pre-assembled stylus, USB cable, audio cables, power cable, software CD, quick start guide
Computer Requirements
PC running Windows XP (32-bit or 64-bit) or Vista (32-bit or 64-bit)
Mac running OS X 10.4 or higher
One available USB 1.1 port or higher

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