Aldi USB turntable

rosy

Does anyone know anything more about the Aldi USB turntable on sale from this Sunday?
http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/2827_10015.htm
I've been looking for one for ages - was going to check reviews for this before I bought it but can't even see a make or model on the ad.

espresso

I would think that it would perform much the same as any other USB turntable.

I like the (Laptop not included)

Osborne676

I don't like the laptop and I have it (although in all fairness my laptop from Aldi is like nearing two years old) lol

scotsbob

espresso wrote: »

I would think that it would perform much the same as any other USB turntable.

Not quite.

The main thing you need to check for is does the turntable have a pre-amp or is it a line level input.
If it doesn't have a pre-amp then you need to run it off your hi fi amp.

You would then check if it has a tape input. If it has then you can convert your tapes onto digital as well. Not all have this feature.

For the best quality you need to check the transfer bitrate, you shouldn't look at anything less than 320kbps which will give you indistinguishable sound compared to the original


Lastly, check if it has track separation or do you need to do tthat through the software. If it doesn't have this feature then one side of an LP will be considered one track, rather than 10 separate tracks (if there are 10 songs for example.

The better quality turntables will have all these features, cheaper ones won't.

The pre-amp is the most important to check if you no longer have your hi fi unit

£$&*"($£&(

scotsbob wrote: »

Not quite.

The main thing you need to check for is does the turntable have a pre-amp or is it a line level input.
If it doesn't have a pre-amp then you need to run it off your hi fi amp.

Definately not quite! It's a USB turntable - not much point making one of those if you can only run it into a HiFi amp pre amp or not.

Of course having a normal phono or line level output would allow additional use as a normal turntable.

£$&*"($£&(

Aldi supply Tevion products and indeed it is a Tevion USB Turntable. It has a line out if needed.

http://www.unisupport.net/lang/au/usb_turntable.html

espresso

scotsbob wrote: »

Not quite.

The main thing you need to check for is does the turntable have a pre-amp or is it a line level input.
If it doesn't have a pre-amp then you need to run it off your hi fi amp.

Yes quite! Notice that I said "as any other USB turntable". It would not be a USB turntable if a pre amp was not included.

:rolleyes:

I have seen the same turntable on sale at £79.99 and any software can be used to edit recordings, although the supplied Audacity software is well regarded with plenty of support including tutorials available on-line. e.g. here.

timbim_2

I've seen tips that weighing the arm down with a blob of blu-tac with a coin, or the like, at the end helps the quality of the recording on the cheaper arms, as they're really not heavy enough. Worth a try if you go for it.

Taffybiker

Money can be saved if you already own a turntable and amplifier with line out sockets. This could be separates or an all-in-one system.

Just connect the line out of the amplifier/hi-fi to the line in on your PC. Ok, you may have to buy or make a new lead for this purpose but it is still much cheaper. In addition, you can record directly as a .wav file and burn to onto CD without losing quality, or compress to mp3 (or whatever) at the bitrate of your choice.

If your hi-fi plays cassettes these can be transferred just as easily, again with no additional compression.

I have been using this method for years, long before USB turntables/cassette players were a glint in the manufacturer's eye.

el_gringo_3

timbim wrote: »

I've seen tips that weighing the arm down with a blob of blu-tac with a coin, or the like, at the end helps the quality of the recording on the cheaper arms, as they're really not heavy enough. Worth a try if you go for it.

You can actually buy weights that are made for this very job. some of the more expensive decks will have two or three holes in the arm or cartridge that allow for the weights to be properly placed.