January 9, 2008 11:03 AM PST

Ion introduces LP-to-CD ripper

by Donald Bell
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Photo of Ion Audio LP2CD turntable

The Ion Audio LP2CD turntable allows you to record your old records directly to blank CDs.

(Credit: Donald Bell/CNET Networks)

Ion Audio had a slew of new USB turntables on display at CES this year. Of all the new models, the turntable I'm the most interested to get my hands on is the LP2CD, a direct-to-CDR vinyl archiving solution.

The LP2CD includes an all-metal platter, an LCD display, a USB connection, a switchable line/phono audio output, and a front-loading CD player and recorder. At $449, the LP2CD turntable doesn't come cheap. There's something to be said, however, for paying a little extra to take a computer out of the vinyl archiving equation (although the LP2CD can be used with a computer as well).

The Ion Audio LP2PC should be available within the first quarter of this year.

Donald Bell is CNET Reviews' senior editor for MP3 players and portable audio, and one half of the MP3 Insider blog and weekly podcast. He also likes getting his hands dirty with digital audio tools for musicians and DJs.
Topics:

ces - Home audio

Tags:

Ion,

LP2CD,

Recorder,

CDR,

MP3,

CES 2008

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Add a Comment (Log in or register) (12 Comments)
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by joeltom January 9, 2008 11:43 AM PST
I would love to see reviews of these devices from true audiophiles. I have been disappointed in software solutions for the computer, such as Nero Wave Editor and Audacity. They just don't seem able to clean up the signal without either inducing their own distortions (aka Nero click and pop removers effect particularly on brass), or leaving noise behind, as in their noise removal algorithms (especially on old 78's!). In removing noises, they also seem to remove a lot of dynamic range, and they don't appear to handle distortion at all. I have even been horrified to listen to before and after samples of other, more expensive software packages. The dynamic range is gone along with the noise! It would be interesting to see if "all-in-one" solutions like these were any better, or worth the money they will cost.
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by moon_brain January 10, 2008 4:38 AM PST
There is no such thing as a filter that will "clean" up the recordings without having some impact on the music. You're much better off using a better table and cartridge and not filtering or altering the recording in any way!! No filters!! No!
by igotmine January 10, 2008 5:47 PM PST
For many years I have been using a Technics Direct Drive turntable, Shure cartridge, a Gemini PA-7000 Pre-amp, a dedicated 233MHz Pentium PC and CDex software to rip my vinyl to either mp3 or CDA, and it has worked exceedingly well for me. The results were excellent, clean, and without turntable rumble as with belt-driven turntables. The three-band equalizer on the Pre-amp can boost dynamic range where needed. I have also experimented successfully using two PCs to manipulate the sound quality by ripping an LP track to mp3(128Kbit or higher), then using WinAmp on one PC to manipulate the music during playback, while recording the manipulated music on a second PC using the soundcard analog input with CDex again. Works real good! I have been able to save my vinyl from The Ventures, The Fireballs, and The Shadows and many more artist no longer in press.
by January 10, 2008 6:59 PM PST
Isn't the real issue in such LP to CD conversion in that the LP does not assign any digital flags which identify the LP with all the info such as song names, singers/musicians ectc. etc. etc. This makes the completion of such a task a very time consuming affair if it has to be all added manually b4 the disc can be written.
by jtimouri January 11, 2008 4:28 AM PST
Ripping a few LPs is a pleasant distraction for a rainy day, so the task of inputting all the information is no obstacle. Ripping an entire large collection is another matter, that is work.
by gerrrg January 9, 2008 5:03 PM PST
So, does the RIAA condone the ripping of Vinyl? Or is the Vinyl-direct-to-CD the way Ion is getting out of the crosshairs of the RIAA???
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by moon_brain January 10, 2008 4:36 AM PST
Ripping LP's to vinyl is great. My issue with the Ion products is that they are very bad turntables that probably also have bad cartridges. There are going to be a lot of bad transfers floating around out there as a result. Anyone looking to make a serious digital copy of a record should use a quality table connected to a quality phono pre-amp to a quality sound card.
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by frag2 January 13, 2008 6:30 AM PST
MoonBrain - Help, need your suggestions converting LP to CD. Read your comment for ION-LP2CD turntable and would like your opinion on whether or not the components I already have is better than the ION to record LP to CD.

The components are a vintage 1984 Yamaha Linear turntable with a C-70 Preamp capable of Direct phono 1&2, MM&MC cartridge & Phono 1&2 for MM or MC connected to a M-70 Power amp.
The shortcoming is the 2001 Dell 4300 desktop which I don't think has the best sound card.

Unclear how all of this would connect to a computer.
Would you describe how to hook this up, additional components needed, software if needed to accomplish a good sound quality CD.

Your feedback & recomendations is appreciated. Thanks

Regards, Frag2
by frag2 January 16, 2008 1:44 PM PST
Not sure I know how to send this reply to you written on 1/13
Click the hide reply if you don't see it right away.
Anyway, if I hear from you I guess I did it right.
Thanks
Regards, frag2
by SITESONLY January 14, 2008 5:13 PM PST
kEEP YOUR VINYL BUT RIP TO DIGITAL KNOWING THAT THE COPY WILL BE INFERER.
AS FAR AS RIAA - REALLY WHO CARES?
Reply to this comment
by pqdina May 27, 2008 7:20 PM PDT
The Ion Audio LP2PC is so cool. I think it's difficult to do this work.

ipod movie converter
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by moninter June 9, 2008 8:56 PM PDT
The work is so great, but I haven't heard it now. dvd to ipod converter
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