Technics SL1200GR2 with VM740ML cart.... which ADC and phono stage?

[Allsop]

Thank you everyone

I will try a rip with the Behringer, the Rega Fono mini and see how it goes.

If neither hit the spot I think I will go waxwing and the optical input as suggested.

Thanks again!

 

[Petrushka]

Perhaps I should just get over it and use the Rega Fono

It does look fantastic with all the options.

I cant see how it connects to a laptop and cannot see if it will output 96khz 32 bit?

The other thing that puts me off is my records are dance music, and most of these declick programs recognise the kick drum as a click, I prefer to apply my own settings in Izotope RX post recording. Cant see if this tries to declick as your recording but that would be an absolute no no for me.

I owned a Sweetvinyl Sugracube and that was a total waste of time for dance music.

People will spend thousands on equipment, but balk at a couple hundred for SoundForge.
Healing record defects cannot be fully automatic.

 

[somebodyelse]

I read from here - https://www.behringer.com/product.html?modelCode=0805-AAC
View attachment 388092
My unit is red. The sticker at the front says UCA222, the back says UCA202.

I've no idea why they say that. My old 202 with TI codec is certainly stereo in/out in linux, and one of the reviews on that page has the title "What I needed to record from my stereo to Windows 11" shows it still worked that way in 2022.

They just paint the same plastic silver (202) or red (222), and put a different sticker on the front. The internals look identical in all the pics I've seen. They just changed the software supplied with the 222.

 

[Allsop]

I've no idea why they say that. My old 202 with TI codec is certainly stereo in/out in linux, and one of the reviews on that page has the title "What I needed to record from my stereo to Windows 11" shows it still worked that way in 2022.

They just paint the same plastic silver (202) or red (222), and put a different sticker on the front. The internals look identical in all the pics I've seen.

Its a strange one isnt it, really took me back when I read that!

Im still waiting on my packages from Analog seduction here in the UK. Honestly the slowest company I have ever seen never again will I order from them unless I am stuck

 

[markstein]

Parks Waxwing (thread available on ASR).

+1

 

[Salt]

Ok, last one : RME ADI-2/4 Pro SE

 

[Allsop]

Ok, last one : RME ADI-2/4 Pro SE

yeah that looks amazing but way out of my reach, £500 for the waxwing is pushing it but doable.

 

[markstein]

Of course the RME is not only a very good MM phono pre with USB connectivity but as well your - probably final - solution for D/A conversion. Plus a very powerful state-of-the-art headphone amp.

The Waxwing on the other hand has a lot of useful DSP functionality (LF X-feed, rumble filter, PEQ, adjustable gain, clipping information - the RME offers all of this as well) and is IMO very reasonably priced for what you get.

 

[Allsop]

im going to try out the Rega see if I have any issues with it at 48kHz and if so will go with the bird and optical USB connection

 

[pogo]

the RME offers all of this as well

Algorithms such as Magic, ... are not intended for the RME in this quality.
Further restrictions are the five predefined analog gains (6dB step width). In between, digital trim can be used.
The Waxwing offers 77 analog gain settings with a step width of 1dB!

 

[DVDdoug]

"CD quality" (16/44.1) is generally better than human hearing and WAY better than analog vinyl.

But if you have a separate phono preamp there are LOTS of USB audio interfaces with switchable mic/line inputs and most support 24/96. Most have XLR/TS/TRS combo-connectors so you'll need the appropriate adapters. There are some Zoom interfaces and recorders that support 32-bit floating point. With floating point they can go over 0dB without clipping, but don't expect 32-bit "accuracy".

The lack of a recording level control can be an issue with the inexpensive Behringer interfaces if you clip the DAC.

...I bought an ART USB Phono Plus [link corrected] when the old receiver I was using as a preamp died. I was using a regular soundcard in a tower computer. I ended up not using it (yet?) because I found a digital copy of the record... Possibly the last record I'll ever digitize. It doesn't support high resolution and it was "not recommended" by Amir because of noise.

On another topic - I've used Wave Repair ($30 USD) to fix-up clicks & pops for a long time. It does an audibly perfect job on most (but not all) clicks & pops. It's manual which means it only "touches" the audio where you identify a defect but that also means it's VERY time consuming! Wave repair also does not support high resolution files. I also have Wave Corrector which is FREE and fully automatic but I don't have as much experience with it.

And since you are probably using Audacity, it has Click Removal (automatic) and Repair (manual). Audacity also has regular Noise Reduction which sometimes works on the constant background noise. But if the noise is bad you can get artifacts and "the cure can be worse than the disease", so it's something you have to experiment with.

 

[Snoopy]

I love the waxwing and I also use a Technics and AT ML cartridge. The waxwing really cleans up LPs nicely but it will not remove IGD or super loud pops and surface noise.
Mild clicks go away, loud ones turn into mild pops.. and surface noise gets reduced. Especially if you are listening with headphones you still notice those things.

But I wouldn’t want to listen to LPs without the waxwing anymore


The waxwing also works as line in, so you could still connect a traditional phono stage with lots of headroom to it or a SUT, a tube phono stage… I see it more as a add-on phono DSP that just happens to be a great phono stage for whatever MM ML cartridge I will able to afford

 

[Balle Clorin]

Yes Parks Audio in the best thing that has happened to vinyl. I have the Puffin and use its Toslink out and a Toslink to USB converter from HifiMe for recording.
Get the Waxwing and you will never regret it, a fantastic tool to set up your cartridge and optimise vinyl playback. 24 bit 96k

I use mine with MM and MC and MC+SUT . My Denon AU-320 SUT allows we to switch between my MM TT and MC TT..into the Puffin.

You will not go wrong with a waxwing. I you want more loadin options get some RCA T connectors and loading plugs . DB system has some.

 

[markstein]

Algorithms such as Magic, ... are not intended for the RME in this quality.
Further restrictions are the five predefined analog gains (6dB step width). In between, digital trim can be used.
The Waxwing offers 77 analog gain settings with a step width of 1dB!

You are right with "magic", however, I did not state the RME would offer this functionality.

The RME on the other hand certainly has much much better technical spec of the AD conversion. Probably greater headroom (to be measured). More powerful PEQ.

Which device will be subjectively better in everyday usage? I think everybody has to decide based on the individual usecase and budget.

 

[pogo]

In the end, what counts is what is audible and the Waxwing will have an advantage here. The PEQ of the RME is no longer SOTA and even my M33 offers better possibilities here.

 

[markstein]

I doubt that the Waxwing clearly will have an audible advantage over the RME. Depends on how good the "magic" works.
Not sure why you are now throwimg your 5.800 Euro NAD into the discussion...

 

[pogo]

Depends on how good the "magic" works.

The Waxwing not only has this correction function on board.
If you look at the manual, you can immediately see what the RME has not implemented. After all, the RME was not specifically designed for phono operation.
And since you mentioned the RME PEQ, I was referring to its performance. The new Bluesound Node or Node Icon in combination with the Waxwing can do more here than an RME.

 

[Salt]

The Waxwing not only has this correction function on board.
If you look at the manual, you can immediately see what the RME has not implemented. After all, the RME was not specifically designed for phono operation.
And since you mentioned the RME PEQ, I was referring to its performance. The new Bluesound Node or Node Icon in combination with the Waxwing can do more here than an RME.

Correct.
The RME is, in first place, an excellent AD and DA device, and, because of this, is also suitable to handle MM cartridge signals. No more, no less.

 

[markstein]

The Bluesound Node which was reviewed here measures pretty bad. Maybe the new devices are better? Are there reviews available?

Bluesound Node Review (Streamer)

This is a review and detailed measurements of the 2021 Bluesound Node wired and wireless streamer and DAC. It is the next generation from Node 2i which I reviewed a while back. The Node costs US $549 and was kindly drop shipped to me by a member. In case you don't know, Bluesound is from the...

www.audiosciencereview.com

The Waxwing also does not measure well, has quite high distortion for a phono preamp, however, as discussed in another thread, it's performance probably is sufficient for vinyl playback. A lot of people seem to really really like the Waxwing.

For me personally, feature set and convenience are less important than technical excellence. But I understand that this is a totally subjective view, so will stop the discussion now

 

[pogo]

I assume that the new ones sound better, e.g. Dual-mono DAC design with 2 x ESS Sabre ES9039Q2M DAC (Icon), better PSU, ...
I will test the Waxwing and provide measured values when the opportunity arises.