turntable

Ion LP2CD turntable rips, burns, and rotates

Ripping vinyl to your computer is a huge hassle. First, you have to drag a turntable over to your computer (or vice-versa). Next, you have to make sure you have all the right cables for connecting everything together. Then you need to make sure your computer is up to the task (audio card, software, etc.). In the end, you'll be tied to your computer, spending the weekend watching dusty records rip to your computer in real time, and laboring with edits, song titles, and iTunes conversion.

To ease the unpleasantness, the Ion LP2CD ($399) offers a simpler, faster solution, … Read more

Stanton intros two DJ-worthy USB turntables

Turntables with USB output offer an easy way to rip your records to MP3s, but most models can't hold up to DJ abuse. If you need a USB-equipped deck that's tough enough to tumble in the DJ coffin, Stanton's latest t.55 and t.92 turntables may be the answer.

Both of these turntables take their cue from the Stanton t.90 turntable we reviewed back in 2007, but the pricing is more more palatable ($299 for the t.92 and $199 for the t.55). On the Stanton t.92, you'll find a direct drive … Read more

Vestax VCI-300 gives DJs peace of mind

One of the biggest arguments against laptop-based DJ setups is that they just aren't as reliable as a conventional turntable rig. For analog gear, the worst thing you have to worry about is a frayed cable or a warped record--unlike digital DJs who live with a constant fear that a software update may invalidate an audio-card driver or cripple their MIDI controller. The more components in the equation (external storage, USB drivers, software authorization dongles), the more you need a computer science degree just to diagnose the problem.

One way to tackle the reliability is to borrow a page … Read more

Angelis Labor turntable: Four arms are better than one

The Angelis Labor Gabriel turntable is a sight to behold with its impeccable blend of bronze, aluminum, and stainless steel finish. But its most striking feature are its tonearms flanking the vinyl table; you can attach up to four! These are supposedly decoupled from the rest of the kit via elaborate magnetic levitation suspension systems and are manufactured in Italy from the same factory that produces precision components for Ferrari.

According to Coolest Gadgets, the Gabriel comes with a whopping sticker price ranging from $27,000 to $64,000, depending on the number of tonearms attached. If you are not … Read more

Ion's bevy of turntables and iPod accessories

Vinyl may be a dead music format, but that's not stopping Ion from doing a brisk business with turntable sales. It may sound crazy, but Ion's found a nice, little niche with its affordable turntables made specifically for converting your dusty record crates into iPod-ready MP3 files.

Ion also does well with its unique iPod accessories. For 2009, it is planning a mini version of the Block Rocker iPod amp called the TailGater, as well as a wireless iPod speaker system, a portable iPod audio recorder, and some wireless digital DJ gear. Browse our slide show for more … Read more

Numark TTi rips vinyl direct to iPod

Need a quick way to rip your vinyl collection to your iPod? Well, that's exactly what the Numark TTi turntable is designed to do. Just plug in your iPod, get your vinyl spinning, hit a few buttons, and you're making a 16-bit, 44KHz stereo recording directly to your iPod--no computer required.

Before you start pulling your dusty record crates out of storage, you might want to read over my full review of the Numark TTi, where details such as construction quality, software usability, and overall performance are shown for what they are: mediocre.

Still, a turntable with a … Read more

Donald's favorite things of 2008

As a music technology nerd who makes a living criticizing gadgets, I'm not an easy guy to shop for. You do this work long enough and you get pretty jaded about the tech in your personal life. Still, there's always a handful of gadgets each year that pierce the armor and nuzzle their way into my audio geek heart.

A lot of mediocre products spent some time on my desk this year, but some of the gizmos I got to play with really raised the bar on my expectations. In fact, some products (like the Yamaha Tenori-On pictured … Read more

Diamond turntable sings a ladylike tune

This sexy turntable is, rather unusually, for audiophiles of the gentler sex. The Diamond by German Scheu Analog is designed specially for women. Not only is it shipped almost preassembled out of the box, it also features a sleek form factor, an "icy" acrylic platter, and a choice of colors including a semi-translucent pink hue as pictured above.

Performance-wise, you can be assured of its sonic credential as the 17kg Diamond is in actual fact a miniaturized version of the company's 35kg Das Laufwerk No. 1 flagship model. Just like any luxury product from fashion houses such … Read more

Numark takes you from vinyl to digital

We covered the Numark X2 Hyrbrid turntable back in 2007. Now, after adding some killer features, Numark announced that the PT-01USB turntable is now available for a MSRP of $149.

Chief among the new features is the ability to convert songs on vinyl straight to digital. You'll also get:

Plug-and-play USB connection to Mac or PC Protective dustcover and integrated carrying handle Fits inside a standard 12-inch record case Wall-powered with included AC adapter or battery-powered (six "D" cells, not included) Built-in monitoring speaker Belt-drive motor with 33, 45 and 78 RPM settings +/-10 percent pitch control … Read more