Entered CNET Catalog: 11/16/2006
SKU: ITTUSB
Manufacturer: Ion Networks, Inc.
User opinions
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User Rating: 
6/10
Handy to use for lovers of rare music
Pros: Easy enough to connect, set-up and use. Works well. Input jack to record from other sources ie: reel to reel or cassette deck.
Cons: No cuing lever, output level control under the unit cannot be adjusted while playing, No dust cover. Light platter.
input jack does not cut off pick-up cartridge.
I could not figgure out how to use Audacity. Needs to be more user friendly or better instruction. I tried to record from 78 rpm records but unable to convert speed.
A front mounted level adjust control would be great or at least a software adjustable control in EZ Vinyl Converter. I would have been willing to pay a little more for that as well dust cover and cuing lever.Needs a pause abillity on next track funtion to accomodate flipping the LP over to the other side or to clear accumulated dust from stylus.
Overall it is a decent product and I enjoy using it. If it had the features mentioned above it could be a great product.
User Rating: 
1/10
Out of box plastic platter is warped. Cheap plastic.
Pros: None - conceptually great, thus far a complete bust.
Cons: Platter is plastic and too light - part of the quality of record playing is the steadiness of the platter - which when properly weighted smooths out play.
User Rating: 
2/10
piece of you-know-what
Pros: very little. would have liked transferring my lps to digital.
Cons: bought new. one month ltr the speed it played at was a little off, this seemed to correct itself.then in the middle of recording it started making strange noises on the recording,sounded like static or interference. arm and table broke. owned 14 mos.
User Rating: 1/10
JUNK! Avoid like Plague!
Pros: None, worse than poor.
Cons: Doesn't work, Junk!
Ion/Numark customer service is an insultingly poor excuse for a joke.
User Rating: 
8/10
Excellent addition for my Vinyl Collection
Pros: Very easy to use. Set up was a breeze and MixMeister Software was easy to install and easy to use.
Cons: Audacity Software lacks documentation.
User Rating: 2/10
known bugs (NOISE/DISTORTION); cheap materials
Pros: nice concept, if the recording worked reliably
Cons: cheap material, noise/distortion when recording, bug with software
My wife purchased this for me and it has been nothing but trouble. And the most significant issue I've had (sporadic distortion/noise while recording) has been reported by hundreds of people on the ion web site, with no resolution.
Some customers were told to downgrade their CODEC, others were told to modify the sample rate, etc. - which didn't work for anybody.
When I called support - they simply emailed me a document claiming I either have a poor quality USB cable (I'm using the one they shipped), a bad quality USB port (Mac known for poor quality USB/audio? I don't think so), or that I have interference between my laptop power supply and the USB interface. Was this TESTED before they went to market with a mass market audio device (how many customer have laptops?)
Needless to say, very disappointed both with the lack of quality and with the poor support.
User Rating: 
9/10
Put me back to listening to LPs EVEN IN MY TRUCK
Pros: Works fine
Cons: Takes a little time to set up
User Rating: 
4/10
Ion Turntable Review
Pros: Lightweight and Simple - Great for Casual Listeners
Cons: Not Enough Features fo Audio Geeks
I currently have an improvised old school turntable-to-computer set-up using a pre-amp that I have used successfully for years. I was, however, looking for a less invasive method of extracting my invaluable music data from the vinyl. Maybe a Doppler enhanced optical laser system that could magically probe my precious vinyl without imparting any more damage than my mega-dollar mechanical cartridge and stylus has already done. Instead, what I got was a plastic body turntable with a $20.00 cartridge and free software that I can download anytime. I actually could hear my vinyl shriek with terror when I found the cartridge and stylus duct taped to the internal Styrofoam packing. I at least hoped that the software would be useful to extract noise (or actual damage) from my vinyl. The Audacity software that comes with this package is a very good tool that I have used in the past, however it was less that I was expecting. One additional feature of the software that I have never used is the ability to record vinyl albums at higher speeds and then via software slow them to normal tempo. So you could save time by recording your 33RPM albums at 45RPM and then use the software to restore the sound to normal. Although an intriguing concept, I would never subject my vinyl to the searing temperatures of a stiff inexpensive stylus trying to keep up with complex musical structures moving at 45rpm. You might as well mount a hot 10-penny nail to extract your data. Whenever the manufacturer refers to a stylus as a NEEDLE, you should be wary.
Thanks for trying ION, however I will keep collecting, and wait for some genius to develop a less destructive way to extract my valuable data. Until then, I will keep my vinyl as pure as possible.
Come on? how hard can it be? We can detect planets moving around distant stars by viewing the minute movements of the star, so I know we can decipher the vinyl tracks of a 1950?s Hank Mobley album! Right??? .js
User Rating: 9/10
Too EASY to use
Pros: User Friendly
Cons: Tech Support
User Rating: 8/10
A welcome solution to preserving my vinyl
Pros: Works first time!
Cons: Not as precision made as my old Pioneer PL-518
That said, the gimbal or bearing mounts on the tone arm don't seem as precision made as my old Pioneer PL-518 hi fi turntable.
I'm using the TTUSB-10 with a Mac, and find the software intuitive and easy to use, although I had to look through the Audacity manual to get all the right do's and don'ts (Mac users hate manuals).
Suggestions to Ion for changes: (1) Include a 15' USB cable - we all can't put the turntable next to the computer; (2) Make the arm lift mechanism raise the cartridge higher off the record.
Summary - a good unit at a reasonable price, produces good sound and excellent (but still simple) editing capabiltiy. Highly recommend!
User Rating: 6/10
Good concept with some shortcomings...
Pros: Easy to install and to use.
Cons: Too light and no cover
This unit needs to be heavier (especially if you have children running around the house) and should have a cover.
User Rating: 9/10
Great recording device - A++++
Pros: Easy to use
Cons: Instructions not great
User Rating: 
5/10
A USB equipped record player ... you've seriously got to be joking, right?
Pros: What's next ... a USB equipped 8 track player?
Cons: How many of these things do they really expect to sell ... 3? Apple and their iPod better look out.
User Rating: 6/10
mmmm...ok....flaws
Pros: works good when it works
Cons: still trying to diagnose the problem
User Rating: 9/10
Easy to use, lightweight and does the job.
Pros: Easy set up, simple to use.
Cons: Not found any yet.
This is lightweight and only needs a spare socket nearby. £120 to relive my youth!!!! bargain.
