It's time to dust off those old LPs and get them into your iPod. Please, don't try folding the vinyl. Instead, try Parasound's Zphono·USB. This newly announced phono preamplifier makes it easy to turn all of those old albums into digital tracks for use on your Mac or PC, and even on the go.
The compact component supports preamplification for both moving coil and moving magnet (MC/MM) phonograph cartridges as well as line-level analog sources. It converts these analog sources to digital using its integrated analog-to-digital (A-D) converter which connects to your Mac or PC via a USB connecting cable. That USB is key, making it possible to store every one of your albums (or just the choice cuts) on virtually any computer.
Parasound says that the Zphono·USB uses precision RIAA equalization, which boasts both low levels of noise and distortion and accurate frequency response. It also has an adjustable USB gain control and USB clipping indicator designed to deliver the best signal-to-noise ratio with all recording software programs.
If you're partial to a particular digital music software program with its own software-based phono EQ, you can use the rear-panel RIAA defeat switch to bypass the internal hardware-based RIAA phono equalization.
Other features include a stereo input for an MC or MM phonograph cartridge, two stereo line-level inputs, a single pair of fixed-level line-level outputs, a headphone output, and rear-panel settings for MM-47 k, MC-47 k or MC-100 cartridges. The front has both rumble-filter and mono/stereo switches to give older LPs and mono LPs a little boost.
Parasound says that the Zphono·USB will start selling the first week of September. Expect to see the product listed with an MSRP of $350.
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