TDK ETVT20102 USB review

USB connectivity makes archiving vinyl to a PC easy Tested at £300

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

It might not be a sonic superstar but it’s a really neat solution for archiving records

Pros

  • +

    Well made and very easy to use

  • +

    electronic speed change

  • +

    built-in phono stage

Cons

  • -

    Sounds lacks the transparency and insight of similarly priced separates alternatives

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

We haven’t been impressed by the general standard of USB turntables. Those we’ve seen have tended to been cheaply made and haven’t sounded particularly good.

This TDK is way better than most. Yes, it costs much more than most USB equipped rivals but the pay-off is vastly more solid build and an engineering integrity sadly lacking in cheaper rivals.

In simple terms, this is a belt drive turntable with electronic speed change and a built-in phono stage.

The on-board phono stage is no great performer, lacking the transparency and dynamics to worry Cambridge Audio’s £60 540P.

But, it’s workable and relatively balanced.

A decent degree of insight
The deck as a whole delivers a decent degree of insight with the likes of Fourtet’s There is Love in You and REM’s Man on the Moon.

There’s a good dose of fluidity, and the ability to keep instrumental strands separate and easy to follow.

In sound quality this TDK deck is eclipsed by the likes of Rega’s terrific RP1, and it’s tempting to suggest buying one of these plus a good USB phono stage such as Pro-Ject’s £130 Phono Box USB instead.

If performance were paramount, that’s the way we’d go – but we can’t help admiring the TDK’s build and ease of use.

This deck is a simple solution that makes the laborious task of archiving vinyl onto a computer easy. Whatever its shortcomings, that fact shouldn’t be ignored.

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What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

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