Customer Reviews

Ion Audio iPTUSB Portable USB Turntable with Software and Built-in Speaker

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

Don't be put off by the price of this little guy (cheap doesn't always mean bad). Perfect small turntable comes with two software programs for CD conversion of desired. Reasonable built in speaker (ok so it's not surround sound stereo!) allows for playback at record shows, while you're on vacation etc... Battery option allows sound-hounds to check quality at garage sales before buying... Alltogether a nice turntable for the price. I upgraded from the ITTUSB, and am very happy with my decision. Built in carry case makes this perfect in my book! Ok so not the kind of thing you'd buy to create your 'home theatre' system, but ideal for the hobbyist/small time vinyl explorer

I'm not sure what the deal is with the buzz in this thing. I have seen one or two other mentions of it, besides the review here. Some reviews specifically mention that there is no buzz whatsoever, another mentioned that there was a buzz specifically in the USB. In my case, I was getting a buzz from the headphone jack and the built-in speaker. I did not try the line out. I was all set to pack it up and send it back, but decided to just try the USB anyway. I was surprised to discover that there was no buzz in the USB output. Since my whole purpose was to convert vinyl to digital, and not to add a component to my stereo system, then the USB connection gives me all the capability I need. Even as a stereo component, the buzz might not be all that bothersome. It is not very noticeable on average-to-loud music, only comes forward on the softer passages. Indeed, I wasn't even aware of it until I brought up a digital recording (made from the headphone output) to edit. I saw the buzz on screen before I heard it, but once I was aware of it, it was intolerable for archival purposes. I wondered if the buzz might be caused by bad grounding or other interference in the AC circuit, but the buzz is still there even when running on batteries and nothing else whatsoever connected (i.e.--listening to the built-in speaker.)

Anyway, for what it does do, I am happy enough with this. I find the sound quality (from the USB!) to be more than adequate. I like the lightness and portability. It is very easy to set up and use temporarily, do a few records when time permits, and then close it up and get it out of your way when done, does not claim a dedicated chunk of real estate somewhere on your desk or on your shelf.

I would have done the "gain" knob for the USB a little differently. First of all, I would have placed it on the top surface (where the other controls--volume, tone, and speed) are, instead of recessed on the side where you can hardly see it (I have to use a flashlight!) and it's difficult to operate. Also, it would have been nice to have tick marks so that you can line up the notch on the knob with a specific gain setting. Also, it seems a little counterintuitive to turn the knob counterclockwise for increased gain.

I have only used this product a few times since I bought it. I have a newer (2008) iMac running Mac OS X 10.5. There are two software products which come with the turntable - one is supposed to be easier and one (Audacity) is supposed to be more feature-rich and capable. Well, I could not get the easier software to run properly, so I use the Audacity program.

The turntable works fine. No complaints. However, using the Audacity software makes recording a vinyl album very time consuming. You must stop after EACH TRACK to input the track information. With the simpler program, you could enter each track's info on the fly while the turntable continues to record the next track (but I could not get this program to actually record). If you don't care about the track information, I suppose you could record each side of an album as one mp3 file. But if you want to know which song you are playing and which album after you transfer the file to your iPod, you must do each track separately. Not difficult, mind you, but takes a while.

I did ALOT of research trying to find a usb turntable for my husband to record his favorite LPs. I read reviews from other people and finally decided on this one. Literally 2 minutes after hooking it up, he was recording the first song. This model also allows for listening while recording. I had read reviews that said with some models you couldn't listed while recording. This was a must for me. Also a GREAT price.

I did read the other review, and I completely disagree! My ION is fantastic*****. I have already transferred over 30 of my vinyl LPs (and a few 45s) to disc. I think the other guy is faking, or just does not know what he is doing. The ION is feature rich, plus it performs perfectly. From just my friends seeing mine in use, I know I got ION at least 3 more sales. Thank you, ION.

Fluttery uneven speed is a fatal flaw.

If you listen to music without any perfectly "constant tones", like rap (with no melody), there's nothing wrong with this turntable.

Otherwise, especially when you hear a piano or an orchestra, I'm annoyed by the flutter in the speed - a rapid repeating speedup-and-slowdown, real fast, maybe 10 times a second, that makes the music "flutter", like when you talk to yourself in front of the spinning blades of a fan. Subtle, but it's DEFINITELY there, and very annoying.

I get around this problem by putting a MASSIVE thick 12-inch clay Victrola record from the 1920's on the turntable, underneath the record I'm playing. That acts as a "flywheel" to add weight and mass to the turntable, and even out the speed, eliminating the flutter. You can stack a couple heavier-weight LPs under your record. (Or, if you're using this to play Victrola records - problem solved right there.)

Then the turntable sounds OK.

But when I turn up the volume, on the loud parts, the amp tries to drive itself harder than it's capable of, and "sucks power" away from the turntable motor, and the speed slows down in the loud parts of the music. That REALLY SUCKS when the orchestra swells then the pitch goes flat.

So, if you DON'T PLAY IT LOUD (connect it to an external amp if you want it loud, don't try to use the internal speaker), and you PUT A COUPLE HEAVY RECORDS ON THE TURNTABLE underneath the one you're playing to even out the flutter, it's fine.

The ION Audio Portable USB Turntable works as advertised with my Mac computer running OSX 10.5.6.

Unlike other models of ION, this one has a dust cover lid and a carry handle so it's more "portable." It comes with a software installation disc that includes EZ Vinyl Converter (windows only), EZ Audio Converter (Mac only), and Audacity.

The EZ Audio Converter is a very simple software to use to convert your vinyl records to an MP3. After it converts the vinyl music, it automatically transfers the music to iTunes. Although it's very simple to use, its downside is that you have very little control to clean up the noise before it's transferred to iTunes. The EZ Audio Converter would be good for someone with perfect vinyl music. Unfortunately, I don't have any perfect vinyl and I don't know anyone who does.

Audacity gives the user more options to clean up the music noise. There is a steeper learning curve compared to the EZ Audio Converter. I had to print out the instruction and I use it every time to make sure that I'm following the easy step-by-step instructions.

For Mac users, Audacity will ** not ** export the music as an MP3. You have to download a 3rd party MP3 converter. I had problems with its recommended MP3 converter so I don't use it. Instead, I export music from Audacity as .wav onto my desktop. I then drag the .wav into iTunes. It'll play on iTunes, but won't upload onto an iPod. To overcome this, I highlight the .wav song on iTunes and go to the "Advanced" tab at the top of iTunes. I then click "create ACC version." Wait a couple of seconds and an ACC version is created. I then delete the .wav copy. Now the song is playable on my iPod.

Audacity is good, but it's ** not ** a miracle worker. If you've got a badly scratched vinyl record, it won't remove or mask the scratch noise. The better condition of the vinyl record, the better the sound quality that's convertered. When I do copy a scratched vinyl, it's very noticeable on my Bose headphone; however, less so on my computer speaker and my cheaper headphones that I use when I exercise.

Luckily for me, I still had my "discwasher" brand record care system to clean the dust off my vinyl records. This is helpful.

If you've got lots of vinyl records, it can be time consuming to convert them. If the same songs/albums are available at the iTunes store or as CDs, it's probably smarter to buy it. However, if you've got more time than money, or a rare vinyl, I wholeheartedly recommend the ION if your vinyl records aren't badly scratched.

One other thing, the ION is not a suitable stand alone record player. The needle arm does not automatically go on or return from the record so you have to be there at the beginning and the end. You can't go wandering off or fall asleep.

I bought this product to convert my Dad's old LPs into CDs. It was the best $95.00 I have spent. It plays 3 speeds, 33, 45, 78 RPM. The speaker is okay, sounds like a 2 watt speaker. The unit is built well. It has an input so you can also convert old cassettes or 8 tracks by connecting the players here. The software is very easy to use. You can record straight to mp3 or raw data where you can play with the sounds and eliminate some of pops and crackles. I choose to leave those sounds there, they remind me of the age of the songs and remind me of my Dad. The mp3 can go automatically into your iTunes folder. Gracenote provides labeling of tracks, artists, and artwork if available.

Software takes about 10 min. to set up. Don't install the CD rom, instead follow the directions provided in the added Pink paper with set up Instructions. It has a website to install the latest software and tells you the necessary changes you must make with the microphone and speaker setting. Im not too computer savvy and still managed to get this puppy going. It was fun listening to old songs and converting them. Thank Ion.
I srongly recommend this product for the nostalgia.

Just wanted to add that I was able to successfully replace the stylus with a 78 rpm stylus that I got from LP Gear (ordered the one for the Ion iPTUSB turntable), so the turntable's playing 78s just fine. Also, I didn't have any problems with buzzing. Thanks.

I haven't heard anything this bad since my Close N Play. Maybe their upscale turntables are better, but this portable one really has a problem with speed variations.The addition of a pitch control knob marked +10% is silly when the pitch is floating around alot more than that.