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Should I get a balanced turntable when it's next to my computer?

Yes or No?

  • Yes

    Votes: 1 14.3%

  • No

    Votes: 6 85.7%
  • Total voters
    7
  • This poll will close: .
S

slidesurfer

New Member
There's a meter (3.2 feet) between the TT and the computer. Going to run a cable from the RIAA amp (that's next to the TT) to an external soundcard that's on my computer table. The computer is beneath.
 
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Beobloke said:
You'd actually need balanced between the phono preamplifier and the computer, not from the turntable to the phono preamplifier.

Anyway, it does't matter - 1m will be fine.
Click to expand...

Thank you! There's a distance of 2m to 2.5m (6.5 to 8.5 feet) between the RIAA amp to the external soundcard. Should get a balanced amp I guess?

Edit:

Ordered:
Pro-Ject Phono Box DS3 B
Pro-Ject Debut PRO B
 
Last edited:
slidesurfer said:
Thank you! There's a distance of 2m to 2.5m (6.5 to 8.5 feet) between the RIAA amp to the external soundcard. Should get a balanced amp I guess?

Edit:

Ordered:
Pro-Ject Phono Box DS3 B
Pro-Ject Debut PRO B
Click to expand...

Maybe more important than balanced vs. non-balanced is getting the A to D conversion out of the computer. Its a very noisy environment. If your budget will allow perhaps consider an outboard A to D, then once converted run the digital signal into the PC via a USB or AES.
 
mcgjohn said:
Maybe more important than balanced vs. non-balanced is getting the A to D conversion out of the computer.
Click to expand...
OP said that it was an external soundcard. Who knows what bit depth/rate it supports?

A quick search found a Creative Labs Sound Blaster 3 USB external sound card that does 24-bit @ 96 kHz DAC (play) but only 24-bit 48 kHz ADC (rec).

I prefer going with at least 24-bit @ 96 kHz ADC such that post-processing (noise reduction, etc.) have more to work with. Still might be overkill since I'm old and my hearing ain't as good as it used to be but, given current processing speed and storage space why not. I recall having to use 3 full size ISA cards with 1 MB of memory a piece to capture single color video frames - yikes. You can always downsample but going the other way ain't so easy.

I use a Behringer UMC204HD that is 24-bit 192 kHz ADC but I'm not a big fan of the input type (uses 1/4 jacks from preamp necessitating RCA <-> 1/4 cables or adapters) r location (front of unit). However, that's the world we live in. ADC seems to be geared towards home studio recording and podcasters with mics and not to people who digitize analog music. On the flip side - I do find it handy to use the Behringer to do speaker tests with a microphone that needs XLR and phantom power so go figure.
 
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