Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems digitize my vinyl

I have recently rebuilt my system around a 568.2 and am impressed. I have also just rebuilt my old Pink Triangle LPT deck and am enjoying vinyl which I haven't heard in years.

I'd like to digitize the vinyl and put it onto my server to be played back through my squeezebox.

I only want to do this once and want to do it right. I have three options

Use an SPDIF out from the Meridian into my pc equipped with an old RME soundcard.

Use the sound cards 24/96 ADC

Use a portable digital recorder like an edirol r9 or korg mr1. In thery the korg should be best as it can record upto sacd standard. But then again theres only so much data on an LP

I like the idea of the recorder as its functionally simpler. I'm curious to hear what others have done? Also I'm unsure how the 568.2 older ADC compares to more recent designs. In theory a more recent recorder may out perform the actual playback of the vinyl through the 568.2.

Of course recording with the speakers off should bring dividends too

how about a mpmax 221 this would take the analogue feed and convert it into 24/96 and pass this to the soundcard no ADC needed then in the soundcard. less pc noise and the knowledge the 24/96khz stream was done to the best you can get.

about �225 I think.

Michael

Yes the mpmax is another option to look at. Anyone tried one? How does it stack up to the competition, or the ADC in the 568.2?

EDIT

actually this looks like 24/96 only. I think the best squeezebox will play is 24/48 from memory. I understand that nit rate is more important than sampling frequency?

I've been using Xitel's USB ripping suite with pretty good results. Rip to .WAV, chop the LP into tracks (optional) and declick (optional), Really easy to do and when played via the SB+ it's a blast.

Interesting what Meridian gear do you have. Do you think the xitel is better than the 568.2 ADC's for example?

Here are my thoughts so far

External recorder like the korg mr1. Depending on the implementation, in theory this should have the best sound qulity. I couldnt use its dsd modes though as the SB and 568 cant handle them. Its future proof and small. I can record away from my lapop then use USB to upload the data. No jitter issues.


568.2 digital out to pc (rme sound card) The 568's ADC's are probably not state of the art but maybe the implementation makes up for it? Its less convenient to use

phono stage into RME ADC's of my sound card. Possibly better converters. Still less convenient than the korg/edirol recorders.

Various USB sound cards - edirol/xitel etc. Again less convenient

Now if I could find a top quality digital recorder that could also act as an ADC into the 568.2 that would be interesting.

I don't mind trading a little convenience for sound quality. But if theres little to chose between them I'll either use the hardware I have as its cheaper or I'll get a korg as its simpler

The Xitel rips are played via Slimserver to G68 / 8k's. The deck is only a Project with an external Phono stage. I didn't want to expense anything more simnply to rip the vinyl. The Xitel and related s/w certainly leaves the FLAC files sounding as if I'm playing the vinyl 'live', but, I get all the convemience of the server. Ultimately when I have ripped the vinyl I need, I'll probably pack away or sell the deck on.

Is the Xitel better that a Meridian ADC ? Good question...don't know. But it's about the ability to rip easily for me in a fashion that puts it all to my server library. Any difference there may be with the ADC is probably lost with a) the SQ of my very old vinyl, b) the lack of hi-end deck/arm. YMMV.

Thanks Nick