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HydrogenAudio

CD-R and Audio Hardware => Vinyl => Topic started by: Knowzy on 2010-08-02 02:57:45

Title: Samples from USB Turntables: Stanton T.92 USB
Post by: Knowzy on 2010-08-02 02:57:45
Turntable Details
[blockquote]Stanton T.92 USB (http://www.stantondj.com/v2/prod_t92.asp)
Street Price: $300 (US)
Moving Magnet Cartridge
Direct Drive
Manual
Wow and Flutter: <0.15%
S/N: >65dB
Platter: Aluminum
Tracking force: 5g (Still not enough, details in this thread (http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=82073))
More (http://www.knowzy.com/Computers/Audio/Digitize_Your_LPs/USB_Record_Player_Turntable_Comparison.htm#StantonT.92USB) in turntable guide[/blockquote]

Photos
(http://www.knowzy.com/images/Stanton_T.92-USB-Above-Assembled-Lights_On-Sm.jpg) (http://www.knowzy.com/images/Stanton_T.92-USB-Above-Assembled-Lights_On-OrigL.png)  (http://www.knowzy.com/images/Stanton_T.92-USB-Cartridge-Close_Up-Cropped-Sm.jpg) (http://www.knowzy.com/images/Stanton_T.92-USB-Cartridge-Close_Up-Cropped-OrigL.png)

(http://www.knowzy.com/images/Stanton_T.92-USB-Front-Before_Assembly-Sm.jpg) (http://www.knowzy.com/images/Stanton_T.92-USB-Front-Before_Assembly.jpg)  (http://www.knowzy.com/images/Stanton_T.92-USB-Back-Before_Assembly-Cropped-Sm.jpg) (http://www.knowzy.com/images/Stanton_T.92-USB-Back-Before_Assembly-Cropped-OrigL.png)

(http://www.knowzy.com/images/Stanton_T.92-USB-500v3_Cartridge_And_Counterweight-In_Packing_Foam-Sm.jpg) (http://www.knowzy.com/images/Stanton_T.92-USB-500v3_Cartridge_And_Counterweight-In_Packing_Foam.jpg)


The Sample Clips
For background on the clips, see the "Preparation (http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=69140)" thread.

All samples are FLAC and under 30 seconds.

[blockquote]Music

Test Tracks

Different Signal Paths

T.92 USB vs. AT-LP2D-USB (Normalized Samples)

[/blockquote]


Musings
I had high expectations for the Stanton T.92 USB. It is superior to the turntables I've been testing in so many ways. But listening to the samples, I cannot tell the Stanton from the $100 Audio-Technica (http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=69601). Yes, I ABX'ed this claim.

I think the 500.v3 cartridge (http://www.stantondj.com/v2/cartridge/cartridges_500v3_specs.php) is keeping this turntable from truly shining.

Let me count the ways the Stanton is a better USB turntable than the previous four $100 turntables:

Despite all it has going for it, the Stanton sounds closed off at the high frequencies. I also had to use 5 grams of VTF (the top end for the 500v3 cart) and I still had trouble getting its spherical tip tracking properly (http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=82073).

Before singling out the cartridge for the lackluster sound, I eliminated the A/D converter and the pre-amp as the problem components. Hear the samples above.

IMO, the Stanton is no comparison to the two ceramic (http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=70774) cart turntables (http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=78069). The Ion TTUSB05 (http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=69979)'s sounds more opened up on the top end but the equalization just sounds goofy compared to CD.

But the AT (http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=69601), a plastic-bodied, budget turntable with an AT3600L cartridge is a pretty good contender to the Stanton T.92. I will definitely return with a better cartridge for the T.92 to see what difference it makes.

Another issue- the gain is set very low on the T.92. Perhaps it's done purposely to avoid clipping amidst DJ'ing acrobatics and among wild DJ cartridge designs.

Unfortunately, like nearly every other USB turntable on the market, the gain is not adjustable. Normalization is a must after transcribing with the T.92.

When I first cracked open the box, I felt like I had my first real turntable. While that may have been true, reality has shown me that it takes more than a solid plinth, a robust, steady motor and anti-skate adjustment to make music that truly stands out from its lesser brethren. It takes a good cartridge to complete the package.



ABX Results
ABC/HR Version 1.0, 6 May 2004
Testname: Stanton vs AT

1R = Steely_Dan-Peg_(Audio_Technica_AT-LP2D-USB_Turntable-Normalized).wav

ABX Results:
Original vs Steely_Dan-Peg_(Audio_Technica_AT-LP2D-USB_Turntable-Normalized).wav
    11 out of 16, pval = 0.105


----------------------------


ABC/HR Version 1.0, 6 May 2004
Testname: Stanton vs AT - Black Eyed Peas

1R = The_Black_Eyed_Peas-Dum_Diddly_(Audio-Technica_AT-LP2D-USB_Turntable-Normalized).wav

ABX Results:
Original vs The_Black_Eyed_Peas-Dum_Diddly_(Audio-Technica_AT-LP2D-USB_Turntable-Normalized).wav
    9 out of 16, pval = 0.402
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