Turning to the analog to digital conversion performance, I used a heavily modified Technics SL1200MkII turntable with a Goldring 1042 cartridge and a Cardas USB cable. The first vinyl record that I converted to digital was the Weather Report album titled “Sweetnighter”. This is one of my favourite albums from this highly revered jazz band and it has the infectious rhythm, explosive dynamics and incredible soundstage that make it an absolute joy to listen to.
I kept all the Audacity controls at flat but chose the highest resolution offered by the MM-008 which is 24/96 and set all the controls offered by Audicity for the best quality, in the hope of getting a digital copy that is as true to the original as possible. With bated breath I began playing the digital file and “poof”, what an incredibly underwhelming feeling. The digital copy was not even close to the original. The bass was flabby, the mid range was thin and the high frequencies were almost totally without the sparkle that this album is so loaded with.
My first thought was that perhaps the ADC part of this component needed more break-in to reach its optimum performance level and so I put it through a further 100 hours of break-in before once again converting the same album from analog to digital. My instincts were spot on. This time the digital file was a whole lot better, especially with regard to the bass, which was a lot tighter, deeper and more tuneful. The mid range also gained a lot more saturation and smoothness. The treble, while definitely better than before, was still not exactly on par with the original.
Since the MM-008 does not have any controls to tweak the sound for MM cartridges, I turned my attention to the plethora of controls offered by Audacity. I tried various levels of treble boost on the Audicity “effects” option and through trial and error I finally found that an 18% to 20% treble boost brought the treble resulted in performance a lot closer to the original vinyl analog reproduction.
With one of my vinyl records digitized to my satisfaction, it was time to turn my attention to digitizing other albums in my collection. Next in line was my Supertramp, “Breakfast in America” record. This digital file also turned out quite satisfactorily save for the dynamic range, which was quite a bit diminished from the original. I tried various ways to rectify this but to no avail. However, even without the incredible dynamic range of the original, the digital file of “Breakfast in America” was still very enjoyable to listen to.
I then went on to try out many of my favourite rock, jazz, soul and blues vinyl albums and in every case, the resultant digital file proved to be quite satisfactory. I now have dozens of my records stored in my computer as digital files and for non critical listening, they provide me with the pleasure of listening to my favourite tunes in a manner that is a lot more convenient than going through the required vinyl playback rigmarole.
At $450, the Thorens MM-008 is one of the great values on offer in the world of high-end audio. If you have a good sized vinyl record collection and listen to them only occasionally because you could not be bothered with the numerous intricate steps that you have to go through, the MM-008 is just what you need to add to your system. Besides transcending the hassle-ridden rituals of listening to vinyl, the MM-008 will also extend the life of your stylus, lessen the wear on your record grooves and motivate you to listen to your vinyl tunes a lot more often. In addition, this little jewel of a component will allow you to carry your vinyl based tunes as digital files with you when you are on the go, on your laptop or smart phone. Now, any way you look at it, the MM-008 is definitely worth the price of admission.
Thorens
www.thorens.com
Distributed in Canada by
Rutherford Audio Inc.
www.rutherfordaudio.com
604.418.7622
Thorens MM-008 Analog to Digital Converter
Price: $450 CAD
About the Author: Malcolm J. Gomes
