Q & A
The Age
Thursday March 7, 2002
I'm thinking of buying a CD recorder for about $1000 to record old LPs. Apart from
a turntable, what equipment do I need?
You'll need an amplifier with a phono input. If there is no phono input you'll need a phono pre-amplifier, available from about $150 at shops that sell turntables. Lately, some turntables have them built-in. Plug the turntable into the pre-amp, the pre-amp into the amp, the amp into the CD recorder and, with a heap of blank discs, you're in business.
It's possible that your current CD player won't handle home-recorded CD-Rs or CD-RWs, in which case you can use the CD recorder to play back your recordings as well as make them. There are CD recorders for less than $1000. Philips has one for less than $500 and although it's no longer in the catalogue there are still units on sale at retailers. Call 1300 363 391 and tell them you're looking for a CDR570. About the only item you're likely to find second-hand is an amplifier with a phono input. Cash Converter stores often have second-hand amps in stock; just look around the back of the unit for an input labelled phono.
© 2002 The Age