Paul C.
08-05-2002, 11:22 PM
I was just wanting to hear people's views on the requirements for transferring LPs to CD. I have been looking at suitable sounds cards for this process for a while, and was interested in:
- the Midiman Audiophile 2496
- the Marian Marc 2
I noted the recent comments about the Audiophile card, whereby someone said that they could not adjust the recording level on their LP-to-CD transfer without passing it through a line-out on a preamp. AT teh time, this sounded like a hassle. While chasing up the distributor for Marian cards in Australia, I was informed that if Ii wanted to use any card to ansfer LP to CD, I would need to pass it through a special preamp that would adjust the signal according to RIAA specs (whatever that is). I asked whether my good old integrated amp could be used for this, if I passed the signal from a tape or phone out or something, but I'm still not clear about this possibility.
They tried to sell me an ST AUDIO product called the DSP24 Media 7.1 (priced at AUD $799) - see www.staudio.com. It consists of a sound card, and external box. Aside from a whole lot of surround sound features, this product includes a pre-amp component with RIAA EQ that allows direct connection of a turntable to the sound card. It also has some software for doctoring LP sound. I'm sure it would do a good job, but I said to the guy that it was too expensive.
He suggested another solution: an Audiotrack Maya card (about AUD $200) and an XP Sound XP201 preamp (also AUD$200). I don't know anything about the Maya cards, and couldn't find much info on them. I think they are 18-bit cards, and I don't know how they would go as a general PC sound card. The XP201 looks like an interesting product, with RIAA EQ, as well as headphone amp and other goodies - and not a bad price (see www.xpsound.com).
I'd be interested in anyone's opinions or experience with any of the following:
- the XP201
- the Audiotrack Maya sound cards
- the ST Audio Media 7.1
- the Marian Marc 2
I am still not sure if the RIAA preamp business is entirely necessary, and if my own amp could do the job, then I like the look of the Marian Marc 2 a an all-purpose cheapish PC card (see http://www.marian.de/english/main.htm)
Thanks in advance.
- the Midiman Audiophile 2496
- the Marian Marc 2
I noted the recent comments about the Audiophile card, whereby someone said that they could not adjust the recording level on their LP-to-CD transfer without passing it through a line-out on a preamp. AT teh time, this sounded like a hassle. While chasing up the distributor for Marian cards in Australia, I was informed that if Ii wanted to use any card to ansfer LP to CD, I would need to pass it through a special preamp that would adjust the signal according to RIAA specs (whatever that is). I asked whether my good old integrated amp could be used for this, if I passed the signal from a tape or phone out or something, but I'm still not clear about this possibility.
They tried to sell me an ST AUDIO product called the DSP24 Media 7.1 (priced at AUD $799) - see www.staudio.com. It consists of a sound card, and external box. Aside from a whole lot of surround sound features, this product includes a pre-amp component with RIAA EQ that allows direct connection of a turntable to the sound card. It also has some software for doctoring LP sound. I'm sure it would do a good job, but I said to the guy that it was too expensive.
He suggested another solution: an Audiotrack Maya card (about AUD $200) and an XP Sound XP201 preamp (also AUD$200). I don't know anything about the Maya cards, and couldn't find much info on them. I think they are 18-bit cards, and I don't know how they would go as a general PC sound card. The XP201 looks like an interesting product, with RIAA EQ, as well as headphone amp and other goodies - and not a bad price (see www.xpsound.com).
I'd be interested in anyone's opinions or experience with any of the following:
- the XP201
- the Audiotrack Maya sound cards
- the ST Audio Media 7.1
- the Marian Marc 2
I am still not sure if the RIAA preamp business is entirely necessary, and if my own amp could do the job, then I like the look of the Marian Marc 2 a an all-purpose cheapish PC card (see http://www.marian.de/english/main.htm)
Thanks in advance.