Just ordered an ION USB Turntable from Costco for $99 Good quality unit?

[cyclemax]

I purchased one from Amazon for myself back at Christmas. I have converted 20 or so LPs to CD thus far( would have done more but haven't had the time). Mine came with a fairly cheap Numark GT cartridge, but for the price, I think the audio quality is good. I save the files as AIFF, filter out the noise using Audacity, then run the files through Click Repair. Sounds like CD quality to me when I'm done. I have over a TB of disk space, so the large AIFF files don't bother me.

[GeneL]

Super, cyclemax!

Thanks for the detailed info.

Does it make sense to change out the cartridge for something better and can that actually be done?

[cyclemax]

The cartridge is mounted on a standard headshell, is user replaceable and according to the manual, is compatible with a variety of standard cartridges. I'm not an audio expert, so I don't know if the quality of the rest of the turntable justifies a higher quality cartridge. Once you get yours, try it out and let us know what you think.

[cyclemax]

[quote GeneL][quote Filliam H. Muffman]I would save them as high bit rate MP3's on a hard drive.
I don't ever use MP3s.

I'd like to save them in the highest quality possible.

Also, I'll to check if there's any decent "processing" freeware or cheap shareware to get rid of clicks and scratches?

Any suggestions?
Audacity does a good job of removing background noise. The shareware ClickRepair does an excellent job with pops and clicks, although it's not cheap at $35 for a one-trick pony.

[GeneL]

What is troublesome to me is that ION's other turntable has more specific info about the features such as the removable cartridge shell, anti-skate, etc. while there is nothing described for this model.

Another question that's raised by its description is that it only mentions making MP3s from its output. This wouldn't be satisfactory to me.

Is this a built-in limit?

[cyclemax]

I have the iTTUSB model. It has the anti-skate and removable cartridge shell, but no dust cover. I don't think that only MP3 is an issue. My units description says the same thing. The recording software for Macs that comes with the turntable is Audacity and I believe that the storage format is a function of the software.

[cyclemax]

Looking at the quick start manuals on ION's website(under support), it would appear that the model you bought, the iTTUSB05, does not have the anti-skate or removable cartridge like the iTTUSB model I have or the iTTUSB10 model.

[GeneL]

You are right about the model that I bought. It is the iTTUSB05.

I'm beginning to think that I sprang for the wrong model

At least I can return it locally.

My biggest concern would be that playing my irreplaceable LPs with a poor quality needle and cartridge could ruin them.

I wonder if there's any way to find out if it's safe to use, in order to see how an album can sound on a disk?

I think that I should be doing more research into what is an adequate set up to preserve my LPs and, perhaps, spend a bit more.

[cyclemax]

By the way, the turntable shown in BGnR's linked article, is the same one I have, the iTTUSB. Other than not having a dust cover, it appears to be similar to the iTTUSB10. The iTTUSB05 and 10 appear to be new models.

[GeneL]

cyclemax, it sounds as if you are satisfied with the quality of your ION model.

Do you feel that using the stock cartridge won't damage my albums? If so, I should return this purchase and buy the iTTUSB10.