Phono to USB

I have a collection of vinyl that the record companies have never seen fit to re-issue on CD and would now like to transfer them. I need a plastic USB turntable like a hole in the head: I have a Garrard 301 /SME /Shure V15 deck plugged into a Quad 33/303. Fortunately I've found that audio adapters capable of interfacing a magnetic cartridge to a USB port are readily available. Most of the adapters come with a copy of Audacity for 'doze so grabbing a Linux d/l of Audacity solves the software problem. The adapters cost anywhere between 24 and 240 quid, so what I want to know is:

- where is the 'sweet spot' for cost vs usability
- are any adapters recommended? to be avoided?
- do any adapters work with a USB 1.0 port?

USB 1.0 compatibility, either due to low power requirements or because they use an external adapter, would be useful because my CD burner is upstairs while the record deck is downstairs: if the adapter works with USB 1.0 then I can stream the vinyl onto my USB 1 equipped laptop and then shoot it upstairs over my house LAN to the system with the CD burner: no trailing wires and no need to move the record deck.

I'd appreciate any pointers to adapter reviews as well as personal experience, both good or bad, with these devices.

TIA


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martin@ | Martin Gregorie
gregorie. | Essex, UK
org |
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