Archjive LP to Hi Res Digital - Worth It?

I gave up turntables about 15 years ago, but your proposal sounds like the future to me.

Good luck,

Oh yeah, it's worth it. This is my solution. I have Rega P3 (soon to be a P5) on a stand by my computer (iMac). When I have some free time and am in the mood, I'll grab several albums, a glass or two of wine and rip them to digital while I'm working on the computer. I've given up obsessing about the "perfect" copy as there are so many variables, but I get "very good" copies. I have settled on the P3-P5 because it is simple, sounds good and is reliable. I use a Benz cartridge. I use an iVinyl phono preamp to USB out into my iMac. I rip at 24 bit 96 KHz with CD Spin Doctor and store the AiFF files on a big hard drive with a backup copy (I'm only doing this once). I then import my albums to iTunes with Apple Lossless, then stream them to my systems wirelessly with Airport Express, using my iPhone or iTouch as a remote control.

Since last summer I've ripped 68 albums. I started with my best and favorite albums. I've really enjoyed having them play instantly when I want, shuffled up in different playlists and even burned to CD's for the car. The wireless aspect is terrific. Granted, 16 bit, 44KHz Apple Lossless isn't "high res" but I've been surprised how great these sound. I've tricked several of my audio friends into thinking they are listening to the actual LP or to High Res rips. And, I still have the high res AIFF files for future use when iTunes goes high res or if I buy Amarra software or something similar. I'm hoping someday there will be higher resolution wireless available as streaming is really the way to go I think.

Anyway, I've had a lot of fun with this, it hasn't been too expensive, too time consuming, and if you don't stress over every little detail it works well, actually amazingly well. Good luck with your adventure. While I've been working on this note, I've been ripping a David Crosby album. Can't wait to listen to it. Hope this helps.

Oh yeah, it's worth it. This is my solution. I have Rega P3 (soon to be a P5) on a stand by my computer (iMac). When I have some free time and am in the mood, I'll grab several albums, a glass of wine and rip them to digital while I'm working on the computer. I've given up obsessing about the "perfect" copy as there are so many variables, but I get "very good" copies. I have settled on the P3-P5 because it is simple, sounds good and is reliable. I use a Benz cartridge. I use an iVinyl phono preamp to USB out into my iMac. I rip at 24 bit 96 KHz with CD Spin Doctor and store the AiFF files on a big hard drive with a backup copy (I'm only doing this once). I then import my albums to iTunes with Apple Lossless, then stream them to my systems wirelessly with Airport Express, using my iPhone or iTouch as a remote control.

Since last summer I've ripped 68 albums. I started with my best and favorite albums. I've really enjoyed having them play instantly when I want, shuffled up in different playlists and even burned to CD's for the car. The wireless aspect is terrific. Granted, 16 bit, 44KHz Apple Lossless isn't "high res" but I've been surprised how great these sound. I've tricked several of my audio friends into thinking they are listening to the actual LP or to High Res rips. And, I still have the high res AIFF files for future use when iTunes goes high res or if I buy Amarra software or something similar. I'm hoping someday there will be higher resolution wireless available as streaming is really the way to go I think.

Anyway, I've had a lot of fun with this, it hasn't been too expensive, too time consuming, and if you don't stress over every little detail it works well, actually amazingly well. Good luck with your adventure. While I've been working on this note, I've been ripping a David Crosby album. Can't wait to listen to it. Hope this helps.