Anyone have any experience with these?
Any suggestions on decent ones that won't cost an arm & a leg?

I have the ION USB Turntable...


http://www.amazon.com/Ion-TTUSB-Turntable-USB-Record/dp/B000BUEMOO

I don't think it can be beat for the price...works and sounds great!

I second the Ion. just make sure you balance it properly.

I also have the Ion, but the CDs I burn from my old vinyls sound terrible. Does everyone else have this same problem?

what are you using to rip the albums with? I know that there are some different options out there for software and Nero, I believe, also has an options for vinyl.

I've been really curious about these since a large selection of my collection went out of print at least 15 years ago if not more.

I was looking at USB turntables last weekend b/c my old Denon (like all non-usb turntables) does not have a built in pre-amp & I wanted to connect to a home theater w/ no phono jacks.
Compared to my old turntable (or any turntable above a close 'n' play), the quality was terrible. Everything was cheap, lightweight plastic. If you are getting something just to burn your collection once, they are probably fine. But if you primarily want something to play vinyl, I would avoid them.

definitely true,,their sole function is to convert records to digital files...

i do not think they are even being marketed as an alternative to a proper rack system turntable..

I am thinking about just getting a pre-amp for my existing turn table. Anybody know much about these?
http://phonopreamps.com/#Preamps

I also have this...agree all the way. It cannot be beat for the price or efficiency. Initially, I was let down when I found out that the player is TRULY made for being hooked up to your computer. This means that you cannot hook up speakers directly to it. UNLESS, you go and by a two dollar male-female connector at Radio Shack. Now, I use this as my primary turntable at home, and hook it up to my JBL Monster. It works fab!!

If you're just planning to play vinyl for the sake of listening, invest in the best quality turntable you can afford. Your ears will thank you for it.

You may even stop listening to CDs once you've truly heard the difference between analog and digital. But that's a whole other argument!

Oh, and remember a hi-fi set up is effectively as good as its weakest link, so it helps to have good components throughout also.

... Perhaps straying off topic here (especially if we're talking converting records to digital files), but anyway for all you Gen Y people, records will always rule!

Years ago I used a program - I think it was Toaster - to copy my records over to my computer. I think all I had to do was run an RCA from my amp to an RCA-1/8" jack adapter and plug it into the mic port on my computer. So if you already have a turntable/amp you don't need to buy a USB table just to copy stuff over.

I did this before I got the ION. It worked fine, but the sound quality was so so. The sound quality is far superior with the usb ION.

I've used the ION with the computer and also thru my home stereo. It's good for both! I would suggest upgrading the needle, but other then that it's a good turntable for the price.