BestTurntables.com

1. 

   Mail Debaser
   October 24th, 2009 - 17:40

   Initially I should mention I’m partial to Denon. I’ve owned their products for years, because they last for years. Recently I’d experienced trouble with my 20 year old turntable, and had been seeking a USB turntabe from a reputable brand. Viola! I located this Denon DP-200USB from a small stereo shop several months ago, right after it made its US debut.

   Although I’ve never run my LP’s on the turntable for dusting/cleaning, I haven’t otherwise noted a lack of power, or an unusual amount of skipping, as mentioned in another review of this item. Then again, I also don’t have a great knowledge of other brands for comparison, so only take that information at face value. I’m also very protective and caring of my vinyl, so I cannot relate how it may track even slightly scratched or otherwise marred record.

   As expected, the sound is fantastic. Listening to Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Rumors’ on vinyl sounds darn close to the recording on compact disc. The USB recording couldn’t be easier. I’m vaguely computer illiterate, yet was able to record severel live vinyl recordings without a hitch.

   I reviewed at four stars, as my 20 year old Denon turntable, which was manufactured for easy connection to mini componant systems, had a lever to lower the arm. (It was the base model at the time). I like this function and can’t understand why it wouldn’t have been included with this model.

   Overall, per usual, I’m very happy with my purchase and expect nothing less from Denon.
   Rating: 4 / 5
2. 

   Marcus Andre Lang
   October 24th, 2009 - 20:39

   I purchased this turntable after quite a long research.
   
   When I unpacked it I was at first a little put off by the somehow cheap design and making.

   But recording is just so easy )
   
   And the included software allows to easily split up into single songs and name them via grace-DB.

   As I always took much care in handling (and buying) my records I can enjoy them as they are without having to use noise reduction.

   I’m very happy

   Rating: 5 / 5
3. 

   Quicksilver
   October 24th, 2009 - 22:28

   This is the USB turntable for someone like me, who isn’t interested in researching and sorting sound cards, software and cabling, and who loves music but isn’t a compulsive audiophile.

   Here’s how it works: unpack and set up the turntable, connect it to a sound system, stick a flash drive in the port, put on a record (LP or 45), push a couple of buttons, and you’re in business. Records in real time, files are stored at a rate of 192kbps. The software for splitting files is easy to work with–however, Mac users need not apply (don’t know if there’s a workaround). “Auto splitter” works okay if the vinyl is pristine; I use “manual splitter” mostly to eliminate the sound of the tone arm drop at the beginning of each side. As another reviewer has noted, the Gracenotes option for naming tracks isn’t much use, as that database largely covers only CD era releases. I rename files after importing them into iTunes.

   So yes, labor is involved: You have to hang around while the record plays; you have to split and rename the files. Doesn’t seem like a LOT of labor (splitting and renaming an album’s worth of files takes about 10 minutes at most). If you want to eliminate/minimize clicks and pops, you can look online for other software.

   The turntable itself is pretty basic, and definitely not built for hard use. However, it’s of significantly higher quality than Ion’s USB turntables, and is adequate for use within a home entertainment system. The only annoying feature is, as another reviewer also notes, the lack of a tonearm lever.

   I’m perfectly happy with my purchase. Again, it’s not for high-end audiophiles or club dj’s, but if you just want to port your vinyl-only releases to your mp3 player, it’s a fine solution.

   Rating: 4 / 5
4. 

   Chepard
   October 24th, 2009 - 22:33

   I purchased the Denon DP-200USB to transfer vinyl LP’s to CD. It was to replace a TEAC P-A688 amplified turntable that I have had for some time and is due a needle replacement. I considered the Denon amplified turntable to be an upgrade. This did not work out as well as I had hoped. The method of transfer is through the line-in of my Creative Audigy sound card. I have used both Nero Wave Editor 2 and Audacity software. Upon connecting the Denon, I noticed a reduced signal based on what I had expected based on the TEAC. I connected both the Denon and TEAC to the aux input of my Bose Wave radio and confirmed that the TEAC had slightly more volume than the Denon. I had verified the Denon On/Off equalizer switch was in the correct (default) position. This in itself was not a showstopper. The major drawback to the Denon is the lack of a damped tone arm system for lowering the tone arm anywhere but at the beginning of the LP. I do not feel comfortable trying to pick up the tone arm and placing it at the correct spot on the LP if is other than the beginning. This manual “splitting” of the songs on an LP can be simpler than doing it with software splitting.

   The Denon DP200 has a USB port designed to allow recording to a USB storage device (thumb drive). The instructions are adamant about not connecting the turntable directly to a PC USB port. I don’t understand why, but it is Denon’s product and I did not try to do this. To record to a USB storage device and then manually connect it to the PC port is a bit of a kludge. This might be designed so that the Denon can be connected to a sound system as a traditional turntable and as an afterthought be used to record and transfer music to a PC. I reviewed the Trans Music Manager. This is pretty rudimentary software, which will probably do the basics. The Gracenote section of the software included for track identification is pretty useless. It requires a connection to the Internet so that it can compare the recording with their online database. However, if no CD exists to compare your LP to or the CD version is re-mastered, no match is possible. Since my LP transfers are primarily Jazz which are not available on CD or have been remastered, Gracenote is useless. The USB transfer method supports only MP3 and I prefer to use the Waveform through the sound card. I did not try the USB transfer method provided by this Denon turntable so I don’t know how well it works.

   Therefore, I cannot recommend this turntable if you plan to connect it to your soundcard to record LPs. You are paying for a USB recording system that I consider unusual at best. The lack of a dampening system for the tone arm is a showstopper and I have reconnected my old TEAC turntable to my PC.
   
   Rating: 3 / 5
5. 

   S. Trudgen
   October 24th, 2009 - 23:58

   I did quite a bit searching and waiting to find a decent turntable that I could both connect to my stereo system for LP playing, as well connect to my computer for digitizing of those same LP’s. Having owned and used a traditional Denon turntable for 20yrs, I thought I’d stick with a brand that I knew and could trust. My first impressions of this turnable have been mostly favorable….it works with well/sounds good playing LP’s and the digitizing is quite easy using a UBS drive and the provided software. Once you’ve recorded your music onto the USB drive, the “autosplitter” function breaks up your music into tracks. With a bit of renaming, the end result is good for both listening on an MP3 player or burning an audio CD. Things that are really annoying/dumb: 1)the recording function doesn’t stop when the LP has ended and the turntable has turned itself off..so unless you’re standing by the turntable you end up with a lot of dead air recornded. 2)the turntable belt drive is underpowered….lightly trying cleaning your LP with a Discwasher brush will bring the turntable to a stop. And 3)there is no tonearm up/down lever…so you must manually lift and place the tonearm onto the LP if you want to skip a track. 4) the tonearm feels very light and skips easily with slight scratch on LP or hard step to your floor. Denon should have put about $10-15 more into the turntable design to add basic features that anyone who grew up playing LP’s would expect. Overall, however, I like the unit.
   Rating: 3 / 5

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