While talk abounds about the CD’s demise, vinyl is making a comeback. Major acts, including R.E.M. and Wilco, are releasing vinyl versions of their latest albums. Whether hopping onto the retro bandwagon or finally converting your LPs to iPod tracks, you might need a new turntable.
The American Audio TT Record ($280, various online retailers) doesn’t require a computer to do its digitizing. Simply insert a USB thumb drive or an SD memory card, play your records, press a button, and voilà!—you’ve ripped your old vinyl faves to MP3 files on a pocket-sized storage medium, ready to load onto a laptop or a portable music player.
ION Audio sells turntables (and cassette decks) that will convert audio from these old formats directly into Apple’s iTunes software. The LP 2 CD ($450) has a built-in CD burner, so you can send songs straight to a compact disc. With the LP Dock (shown, $250), you can rip tunes right to an iPod. Both available at major retailers like Best Buy and at ion-audio.com.
If playing the vinyl itself is your priority—and you want to spin in style—look at the Vestax Güber CM-02 USB Turntable ($499, djdeals.com). Old-school space-age looks combine with high-end specs geared toward DJs and other discriminating listeners. Several audio jacks and a USB port enable stereo-system hookups and computer connections.
