[Dixielandjazz] A Player That Trasfers Cassettes & LPs

[Ulf Jagfors]

Ginny
It will most probably work as they say. And it is easy to use for its
purpose. However, note that you seems only to be able to covert to CD which
in the future (ten years or so) also will be an obsolete format. CD also
have a recording time of maximum 80 minutes. Thus you cannot convert both
side of a 2x45 minutes full cassette on one CD disc. If the system also
could convert to MP3 and perhaps the WMA format and  those could be stored
via an USB port connected to a computer or a built in memory reader for USB
or SD sticks then it should be very versatile and worth it´s price. ´

However for the same sum you can buy a separate vinyl player, $125 and a
separate cassette player, $125 with the above storage facilities. But in
this case if you want to have the analogue recordings on CD you need to
access them throw the USB output to an a computer with a CD burning soft
ware. That is of course more complicated. The advantage is that you can wash
the analogue recordings from cracks and noise with the free software
Audacity http://audacity.sourceforge.net/. It is all up to the use of the
systems. For the job to convert your vinyl/cassette collection the last
option is better from sound quality point of view. For general use as a
player with limited digital recording facility the first system is more
versatile and simpler.

Also remember that the needles for 33/45 vinyl discs are not suitable for
playing 78 rpm records. They are to narrow and pick up a lot of noise from
the bottom of the groove. They also will be quickly destroyed by the more
rough shell lack discs material compared to the soft vinyl plastic. To play
78 rpm you need a separate pick-up or a 78 rpm replacement needle, if
possible with a diamond needle.

I should Google around for some more systems with similar features before a
chose. Please let me know what you find on the US market which is not
relevant for what you can find here in Europe. I will give you my opinion as
a radio and TV engineer.

Ulf Jagfors 

 

>>Does anyone have any experience with this product? 
Without any computer connection it says it is a AM?FM stereo radio, plays  
45s, 78s, 33s, cassettes & CDS.  Copies cassettes & records to  CDs.  Price 
$299. 
 
(http://www.firststreetonline.com/Electronics+amp+Gadgets/Audio/LP+Saver+II.
axd?keywords=01736&results=1&index=1)>>

 <
 
Ginny