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RME User Forum → Miscellaneous → Turntable for ADI 2/4
So I'm looking to upgrade from my current ADI-2 DAC FS to the 2/4 Pro so that I can begin to digitize my vinyl library. I do not have a turntable so I'm looking to purchase that as well. Is there a particular turntable or aspects of a turntable I should be looking for?
Thanks!
You have a vinyl library and no table?
There are a zillion tables out there ranging from a few euros to more than 50000. All of them will do the trick.
Ha, yes, of course had one in the past but not one currently. I'm finding some discussions about unbalanced phono into balanced RME, adapters for ts/xlr, etc. Thought perhaps I could acquire a best-case turntable right out of the gate.
Otherwise I'm searching for something vintage, if there really is no best table for the ADI 2/4.
The main points, soundwise, about turntables, in order of importance:
• The pickup and needle. Fineline diamond is state of the art these days.
• For MM / moving magnet pickups the load capacitance is the treble-limiting factor.
This capacitance is usually too high, cutting the treble.
The capacitance adds up from:
Turntable internal cables, typically ca. 35 pF.
Cable 50 - 200 pf (here‘s your possibility for some influence).
ADI-2/4 Pro SE 150 pF.
Check with the pickup and turntable manufacturer‘s specs.
MC / moving coil pickups don‘t care about capacitance, but need an expensive step-up transformer.
• Pickup alignment:
A bad aligned pickup delivers higher distortions and asymmetrical left/right crosstalk, which is clearly audible.
• Tonearm quality and tonearm/pickup pairing:
The pairing has some influence on the bass quality and rumble noise.
Tonearm effective mass and needle compliance should fit.
Heavy arm - low compliance, light arm - high compliance.
• Transport:
The most common problem is damage of the table bearing due to rough handling and transportation, specially on exotic constructions.
This can cause rumble noise.
Always transport with the platter removed.
Awesome KaiS, thank you.
As you mentioned, I now see the ADI 2/4 does not support MC cartridges directly. https://forum.rme-audio.de/viewtopic.php?id=37966. Bummer.
I'm planning on using the 2/4 to digitize cassettes as well.
If I read the manual of ADI2/4Pro, it looks like MCpick-ups work without any transformer or preamp.
I have a Thorens TD320 from 1985 with the original tonearm, TP63.
Turntables are from hundred USD to over 300k USD available. However If I would by an new one I would look at the Technics SL1200 series (directdrive). There are similar models form around usd1000 to usd5000 if I am correct. Probably the cheapest Technics is good enough.
Pick-Ups: There is immense selection, equally prices are moderate to just ridiculously high.
I had a Benz Micro Wood, needle broren. Now I am going to an audio technica AT-OC9XSH or
AT-OC9XSL. Eur700-800.-
These are MC Systems with a Shibata needle SH or fine line needle SL.
I actually rip vinyl with an RME UFX II using a Yamaha preamp CX-1 with an MC RIAA Input. But with the ADI2/4 Pro you don't need that.
You see analog is bad in quality compared to digital and very costly 
I digitize only vinyl which is not digitally available. A lot of time needed to digitize.
If you look in Digicheck you are negatively surprised how bad the vinyl is, in singal to noise in frequency range, in distortion. (needs a test LP and analyzer software)
Low and medium output MC pickups need a step up transformer on ADI-2/4 Pro SE.
My (med. output MC) Dynavector Karat 17D2 has 0.26 mV output and needs one.
Ortofon T-30 set to 48 Ohm (gain +20 dB, 10x) works fine.
My (MM) Ortofon OMP40 has 4.0 mV output and can be connected directly.
ADI-2/4’s RIAA gain is +32 dB, one step below max.
So, ca. 2 mV output would be necessary for full drive at highest gain.
Very helpful. Looking at a high output MC right now.
Depends on how much you want to spend.
MM pickups have the advantage that the needle can be replaced when worn out, without changing the whole system.
The Ortofon “40” needle e.g. has an excellent sound, fits to lightweight arms like the ones from Thorens, and lasts very long due to it’s low tracking force.
https://www.thakker.eu/ortofon-super-om … er/a-5114/
At 420 bucks it’s more expensive now, compared to when I got mine.
But, for the money you get at least 95% of what is possible with vinyl.
The last 5% do cost quite some more.
BTW: don’t buy used MC pickups, it’s money burned.
I scored a VPI Prime Scout turntable with a Hana EH High Output MC Cartridge. The VPI has RCA out and a ground wire. I've done some searching here in the forums and it looks like I should use RCA to ts cables, placing the ground wire on the red input into the ADI 2/4. Correct?
Otherwise I could use RCA to XLR cables but then I have the question of the ground wire.
Yeah, it's a bit like asking, "How long is a piece of string?" I don't think there is a "perfect" turntable for the Pro 2/4, just the one that suits your ears and budget. Spending time researching, setting it up, and tweaking things for better sound is all a part of the fun/hobby.
I'm using a heavily modded Rega RP6 I bought about a decade ago, with an Audio Technica AT 150 MLX moving magnet cartridge (with a Microline stylus). Works excellently with the Pro 2/4. But everyone will have a different recommendation!
I will say getting a great sound from a turntable that rivals a good digital front end is likely to be considerably more expensive and time consuming, but for me it's worth it as I've been collecting vinyl since the early 80s.
I scored a VPI Prime Scout turntable with a Hana EH High Output MC Cartridge. The VPI has RCA out and a ground wire. I've done some searching here in the forums and it looks like I should use RCA to ts cables, placing the ground wire on the red input into the ADI 2/4. Correct?
Otherwise I could use RCA to XLR cables but then I have the question of the ground wire.
No XLRs, they have the wrong impedance.
The ground wire goes anywhere on ADI-2’s chassis, or I even clamp it between the RCA and the TS adapter sometimes.
The D-Sub connector‘s locking screws are a good place too.
If you don‘t have a fitting screw ( UNC 40/4 ) use the supplied break out cable.
Depends on how much you want to spend.
MM pickups have the advantage that the needle can be replaced when worn out, without changing the whole system.
The Ortofon “40” needle e.g. has an excellent sound, fits to lightweight arms like the ones from Thorens, and lasts very long due to it’s low tracking force.
https://www.thakker.eu/ortofon-super-om … er/a-5114/
At 420 bucks it’s more expensive now, compared to when I got mine.
But, for the money you get at least 95% of what is possible with vinyl.
The last 5% do cost quite some more.BTW: don’t buy used MC pickups, it’s money burned.
I am purchasing the ORTOFON Super OM40, do you know the Height, Width, Depth? I can't seem to find the dimensions
It‘s Ortofon, so it’s relatively standard.
Screw width is slotted 1/2”, so there’s some space to play with.
Depending on your arm you can use shims or use arm’s height adjustment to balance front to rear horizontally.
On most arms it just fits.
At only 2,5 g it‘s very light weight, so it doesn’t unnecessarily add to arm’s effective mass.
This fits well to it’s high compliance and tracking ability of 80 µm.
They even supply an extra 2.5 g weight for some arms with limited tracking force adjusted range.
I have the Technics 1500C
It‘s Ortofon, so it’s relatively standard.
Screw width is slotted 1/2”, so there’s some space to play with.Depending on your arm you can use shims or use arm’s height adjustment to balance front to rear horizontally.
On most arms it just fits.
At only 2,5 g it‘s very light weight, so it doesn’t unnecessarily add to arm’s effective mass.
This fits well to it’s high compliance and tracking ability of 80 µm.
They even supply an extra 2.5 g weight for some arms with limited tracking force adjusted range.
I have the Technics 1500C
The arm is fully adjustable, even height.
The 1500C‘s manual describes the mounting and adjustment procedure, for a turntable it‘s really simple.
According to the specs you might need ca. 1 g of extra weigh to achieve a correct tracking force.
But - first do a course mount and adjust and try without, might do.
With no exception, alway keep the stylus protection on the pickup during all mountings and adjustments, to avoid expensive damage.
Thanks Kais.
metal4ever wrote:I have the Technics 1500C
The arm is fully adjustable, even height.
The 1500C‘s manual describes the mounting and adjustment procedure, for a turntable it‘s really simple.
According to the specs you might need ca. 1 g of extra weigh to achieve a correct tracking force.
But - first do a course mount and adjust and try without, might do.With no exception, alway keep the stylus protection on the pickup during all mountings and adjustments, to avoid expensive damage.
RME User Forum → Miscellaneous → Turntable for ADI 2/4
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