Profile LP Vinyl-to-MP3 Turntable

Has one purpose and does it well. If you want a high quality turntable for djing, then go get one... for $350. This product records vinyl to computer. The real question is about the QUALITY OF RECORDING. Software included is crap. Configured Audacity to rip music and playback sound at the same time (so I can hear what I'm recording), then output to 320 kbps. Works great now. I play the tracks using extend stereo settings to 5.1 surround so I can really hear the quality at full volume. Studio headphones and dolby HDMI surround sound are really the only way to know the quality. I also tweaked the quick keys in Audacity to play, stop, record, zoom to track, zoom in, zoom out, delete blank sections, export tracks, etc.. so that recording, trimming, exporting is like lightning fast. The only reason I use the mouse is to select the sections for trimming, otherwise I don't even use the mouse. Pros: - Sound quality digitally converted from needle seems to be enough for 320 kbps VBR. If you're ripping to studio quality WAV files or other, I'm not sure. 320 is enough for me :) I'm not THAT much of an audiophile lol - USB connectivity, flawless and easy. Plug and play. - Sleek design. I have no problem with displaying this, not matter where it's sitting. - Has 2 speeds and a converter for those weird little records hahaha Cons: - Needle is pretty noisy. When the sound is just recording, but muted, you can hear the music clearly through the needle. It kinda makes me wonder how much sound from the room it's in, is being recorded also? Haven't noticed any yet... - Belt driven and Automatic. As a dj, of course I always hated the idea of belt driven automatic turntables, but in this case, it's not that bad, actually it can kind of helps if you walk away while recording in Audacity. It will automagically stop the record spinning and put the needle back on the mount for you once it's done. In this ONE case, automatic could possibly be a PRO. I just need this thing to make it through recording about 2000 records, average 3 songs each record (6000 songs). I bought it used (new condition) for like $57. If it makes it through 6000 songs and is still kickin, I would say it is more than worth it! Might have to replace the needle at 3000 songs. Will update in a few years when I'm done lol.

I don't usually go five stars, but this unit simply didn't have anything about it to detract more than half a star, so we round up to five. This unit was a great price (~$65) for what it is and how stylish it looks. Sure, it is all plastic, but it feels hefty and looks great. It has very large, stable, rubbery feet and a heavy turntable pad. Packaging was great, everything fragile was wrapped nicely, especially the needle area, and the shiny blackness was covered in a cloth-like sheath (cloth nice enough I used it to wipe the dust off the album I ripped). Operation: Just plug it in and run the USB cord (standard size and a cord is included) to your Mac or PC. I have a Mac, and while the provided software (on a CD-ROM) was rudimentary, it had me up and running literally within minutes. I opted to download the free Audacity, and it worked great to start recording. I will admit I was so out of practice with turntables that I was wondering where the "ON" button was, but all you need to do is lift the arm, move it over the album, and it spins up. Lower the arm and you've got sound. (When it is done, the auto shutoff appeared to work as you would expect). Signal appeared to be strong and clear, and I did not need to amplify the gain in Audacity to have resulting MP3s that sound like they are at the same level as various eMusic MP3 downloads of CD rips. It also wasn't overly amplified/distorted or compressed as far as I could tell, but I am not an expert in turntables enough to know how good the needle/head is. I ripped an album with no problem and it sounded good. The lid closes softly and snugly, so I assume that helps keep some noise off the needle, too. Other goodies. The RCA output is nice, though the cord is hard-attached to the back as opposed to being modular (jacks), but you can get adapters to make this pipe through a longer cord, a headphone jack, whatever. I didn't test that but assume it works. It's a nice add-on. An even nicer add on is the line IN. I didn't test that either, but theoretically that would let you pipe through ANY analog source and convert it to a USB audio signal. I realize most computers are already going to have an sound recording line in, but this USB input can be a secondary route to get pretty much any sound source you want sampled, all in one decent-looking package. One simply doesn't expect an electronics device (spanning decades from phonograph tech to USB signals) to come so cheaply or attractively. I sure don't, anyway.

I purchased this turntable because I wanted a second one for my bedroom. I already own a Sony PS-LX250H Automatic Belt-Drive Turntable that is in my living room. I decided to go with another brand for a little bit of variety. This model is very decent for the casual listener. I got it for $25 as an open box on here, which is amazing. Set up was one of the easiest, 15 minutes with no help from the manual. But the fact that my goal is not to use this unit to transfer vinyls to mp3 sped up the process. So I didn't need to download anything from my computer and didn't use the CD that came with the turntable. I just wanted to use this unit to listen to my records when I'm in my bedroom, with no plans of converting them (converting vinyls to mp3 doesn't make sense to me as I'm already subscribed to a music service. I would almost always find a vinyl album digitally). This seems to be a good unit although it does not have an automatic start like the Sony unit. You do have to manually push the arm towards the record for it to play. There is however a "stop" button to stop playback. I'm sure audiophiles would want something of a higher end with better sounds. Update: April 20013 - I read some reviews here -- not too many but a few -- about the arm returning to the resting position when you try playing a record. I've also had that problem about three months after purchase and, for a while, stopped using this unit all together. But I'm reading on the same reviews on here that the solution to that problem is to rewind the record (like a DJ, with your hand, as if you were scratching) to about two revolutions before playback and it would fix the problem. I did just that and it seems to work fine with music playing. I'm not sure if I have to do that every single time I'm playing a record or if it's once in a while. But I'm happy I'm back using the unit when in my bedroom. Thanks to those who offered this suggestion.

For years I've watched the ION USB turntable but could not afford it at $250. Finally the Profile Pro ION Profile LP Vinyl-to-MP3 Turntable fit my budget at just $49.95. I figured it was so well priced that if I couldn't get it to work I wouldn't be out too much. Well, was I pessimistic for nothing! This USB turntable provides exceptional quality. Connecting Hardware connection is a snap. Attach the USB cable from the back of the turntable to an open USB port. The EZ software that comes with it I didn't use. Instead I use the free program Audiacity, which I downloaded from the Audacity web site. Audacity includes a users manual. If you plan to record to MP3 you also have to download a small MP3 converter called LAME. Learning Audacity took me a few hours. Use it to adjust the incoming volume (the ION puts out a whopping big sound). Use it to view the spectrum of the recorded sound. The ION computer cannot play the music while recordingto avoid feedback. You have to unplug the turntable to hear how the edits sound, then plug it in for the next record. Recording LPs with ION and Audacity Record. The turntable starts automatically when the tone arm is over the edge of the LP. It stops when the tone arm rises and moves back to stowage position. Flip the record and Audacity automatically fits the second side to the first. Editing with Audacity The best editing tools in Audacity: Click removal has been perfect with default settings; Remove Noise is an essential second step especially when recording from very old vinyl; Normalize will set the output volume to the ideal level. There are about 25 editing options. For LP recording there are two VERY handy capabilities: set track label at selection lets you put the name of the track at the start of each selection on the LP. Do this after all editing is done, especially deleting sections of dead space. Use it with Explort Multiple and Audacity will record each track as an MP3 file with a track number added and album information entered through the metadata dialog box. If you have 78s, order the optional 78 stylus since 78s have different groove depth and width. Amazing! The ION folks made each stylus in a different colored housing for easy identification. I've even brought my parents and in-laws 78s from the 1930's back to life and they sound excellent! ION Profile Pro and Audacity software -- a great combination to bring your records back to life! I love it. Converting old records -- 33, 45 and 78 -- is my new hobby. Now I'm listening to music I haven't heard in 50 years. I can't recommend this combination enough, but the key is the ION Profile Pro.

I ordered this turntable to replace an old one because the price was right and the software sounded user-friendly. True in both cases, and the audio quality is genuinely good. I was very pleased with the purchase, until, about two months after purchase, it started malfunctioning. I would go to play a record, and as I was moving the arm to the record (there is no "start" button, only a "stop" one-- a definite issue that I wish I'd been aware of), I would feel something catch and it would push the arm back to the cradle. Time after time, it would keep pushing the arm back to the cradle, over and over, no matter if I lifted it high or low. It got, needless to say, very irritating. When I contacted the manufacturer, I was told that it was a mechanical issue and that I would have to return it to them for repair--on my dime, and which would take two to four weeks. Instead, I contacted good ol' Amazon, who of course sent a free replacement right away. That one worked for about two weeks, until I started noticing a decreasing quality in the sound of my records-- odd volume modulations, distortion, etc. At first I thought it was my speakers or receiver, but when I switched to radio or CD, they sounded great. Nope, it was my wonderful Ion turntable again. I'm returning it for the second time, this time for just a refund, which I'm applying towards the purchase of a Sony. What a POS. You get what you pay for, guys.

The turntable works well. The transfer of sound to my Apple iBook G4 is excellent. I down rated this unit for its less than optimal software. The feature "Automatic Track Splitting" does not work well for me. I'm transferring LP records of classical music. Any minute pause in the music, even if it is as short as a fraction of a second, is interpreted by the software as the end of the track. Useless!! I have to disable the automatic feature, and stay by the unit while the record is playing, splitting the tracks manually. Quite a loss of time. It's possible that the automatic feature works better with popular music. I haven't tried it yet.

Raves for ION Profile & EZ-Vinyl Converter software! It not only works, it works flawlessly! Can't beat it. I'm a old-timer recording studio and audio equipment techie head, and this is a simply wonderful converter kit. It converts my old 45's and albums, and lets me tweak out any startup troubles with a disk or a track, before recording, without loosing my place in the track lineup. I highly recommend this product & software for anyone thinking about moving your old records to iTunes. Update After 3 weeks of use -- I have had 0 troubles with this setup. Just upgraded the Mac software from version 10 to 11 and 0 hiccups there. I have noticed some reviewers saying they are dissatisfied with the turntable construction and/or level of technology. So I lined up something better. My test of course pertains to my Ion Profile Pro but would be applicable to any Ion turntables with auxiliary line inputs like the Profile Pro, I tested with a Stanton T.62 / Shure M97 cartridge, using an inexpensive Pyle Audio preamp into the Tape-input of the Ion Turntable. Guess what? Works great, which for all the audiophile types out there if you have high-end preconditioning gear it's all still a snap. The Ion Audio USB vinyl conversion system is just the best going, for ease of use and bang for the buck, if all you want to do is get that precious vinyl onto a Mac or PC.

I want to get my favorite tunes from vinyl to digital. The turntable is pretty simple to use--I am not a professional at computers or gadgets. The albums I've transferred sound great when played from the computer. I have just downloaded Audacity to remove the pops and crackling of old records which is also simple to use and works very well. The turntable itself does not give the impression of something that will last forever or be a work horse for recording 100's of albums, but it will serve the purpose I need. Worth the money if you have more than 10-12 albums to transfer and don't want to buy them again from iTunes. Does not take much time to set up, is not aggravating, and you can listen to the albums while they transfer. Be prepared to stop what you are doing to flip over the album and make a few clicks on the keyboard to start again. I wash dishes or dust or other must-do mindless chores while it plays.

Elegante y a buén precio. El complemento ideal para tu equipo de música. Y además, puedes convertir tus vinilos en MP3 para escucharlos donde quieras!!!

Bei der Flut der Plattenspieler in der Preiskategorie von 60 bis 90 Euro war es nicht einfach, sich einen davon herauszusuchen. Ich habe neben diesem auch einen anderen von Ion ausprobiert ("Ion Audio LP dock" mit überflüssigem iPod-Dock) und dieser hier hatte eindeutig die Nase vorn. Was bietet das Gerät? Hier einige Features, die ich von einem Plattenspieler erwarte, und die der Ion Audio Profile LP erfüllt (und die der Ion Audio LP dock NICHT erfüllte!): - Der Drehteller dreht sich, sobald der Arm über ihm ist (und stoppt auch, wenn der Arm weggenommen wird) - Er hat eine Stop-Automatik, wenn die Platte zu Ende ist - Es gibt einen Absenk-Hebel, der die Nadel langsam auf die Platte absinken lässt Eine Startautomatik bietet er leider nicht, aber das muss ja auch nicht sein. Ansonsten gibt es nicht viel zu sagen, was in der anderen Rezension nicht schon geschrieben wurde. Die Cinch- und Stromkabel lassen sich übrigens nicht austauschen/abnehmen, was bei dem kurzen Cinch-Kabel auf jeden Fall auf eine Verlängerung hinausläuft, falls die Anlage nicht direkt daneben steht. Außerdem müsste man bei einem Kabelbruch das Gerät wohl öffnen. Zum Sound kann ich nur sagen, dass ich sehr zufrieden bin. Allerdings bin ich auch weder Tontechniker noch ein Audiophiler, ich höre einfach gern Rock und meine uralten Hörspielplatten - und beides klingt in meinen Ohren echt gut auf dem Ion. Die USB-Fertigkeiten habe ich noch nicht ausprobiert, stehen bei mir aber auch eher im Hintergrund. Wer seine alten Platten im Schrank mal wieder auflegen möchte und einen neuen Plattenspieler sucht, kann meiner Meinung nach zugreifen. Er bekommt ein hübsches Gerät, das kann, was es soll: Platten spielen. Ich bin zufrieden und kann den Ion nur weiterempfehlen. Es gibt mit Sicherheit bessere Geräte, aber auch in dieser Preisklasse?

Considered one of the many very expensive turntables before deciding on this one. I'm delighted with all aspects of this purchase. Delivered in two days and well packed. Setting up is a breeze and took a minute. Plug into your amplifier and go. I bought this as I wanted to go back to the heady days of the seventies when putting on a new LP was an event. So the ability to transfer to PC was a bonus. The software works very well so far. Anyway, back to vinyl. I've recently bought some re-issue albums on vinyl which now use superior quality vinyl and technology to produce amazing quality sound reproduction. I can now say that LP's never sounded so good. The music has a depth to it that seems lacking in CD and Mp3. My 40 year old records also play brilliantly. So I'm reliving my youth and T.Rex never sounded so good. Is it like the seventies? No. The music's brilliant. Playing records again is a blast but thankfully I'm not wearing platform shoes and flares !!

Best buy and very easy to use.

non ho mai avuto un giradischi, ma devo dire che mi sono trovato veramente bene con questo prodotto,. l'estetica e ben curata e i dischi suonano da dio. consigliato a vuole un ottimo prodotto ad un prezzo decente.