Analogue to Digital convertors

[flood2]

Actually this is wrong, muddled mind.  I've got a new toy on the way which is basically a DAC with a built in Raspberry Pi.  Given that is a computer it should recognise one of these A to D convertors.

Found these which might be a cheap and cheerful way of testing the concept.

https://www.project-audio.com/en/product/record-box-e/

...and this

https://www.project-audio.com/en/product/ad-box-s2-phono/

Neither of those will do what you want - they are intended purely to interface with a computer (via USB) with an analogue output loop through to a conventional analogue preamp/integrated amplifier.
The NAD PP4 is the same deal. The HRT is also not suitable since they are (again) intended to be controlled via a computer
As I understand your original requirement, you need an ADC that converts your analogue device (phono preamp) with a digital output to connect to the digital hub.

If you wish to enjoy your analogue device to the same quality as you would have enjoyed through your analogue preamp, then you will only be disappointed with the lower end products.
I would suggest you reconsider what the ultimate goal is - if you want to do it "properly" then you are looking at something like this (in terms of price point), but you are getting professional quality:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RME-ADI-2-FS/283948296396?hash=item421ca328cc:g:bjMAAOSwdRVfDdVb

If you want to go the whole hog then you could replace your DAC as well with an RME ADI-2 Pro FS which would then simplify the whole integration of your vinyl front end with a high spec DAC and mastering studio quality. The DAC and ADC will give you 32bit 768kHz or native DSD 256 capability for both record and playback, but that will be more than doubling what the ADI-2F S price is (on the ebay link)

[stratokaster83]

Up until about 10 years ago I used to hear about people using minidisc decks purely as adc's. I guess some care was taken to enable good recordings.
Now, I don't have a minidisc deck and I haven't followed the development of adc's over the years so I don't really know if this is a valid option anymore.
Could be worth doing ang a bit of research though? Look for Sony's top of the line decks. Also portables from the end of the MD era (HiMD) with microphone inputs should have good adc's.
A DAT deck (or probably a DCC deck) could be used in the same way, but they're not as readily available.

I used to be a MiniDisc enthusiast and used my deck as a DAC with my computer, it never occurred to me to use it as an ADC.

But I recorded quite a lot from analog sources and the quality was very good, at least in the SP mode. I guess late-era decks (with ATRAC Type-R and Type-S) could still be competitive with inexpensive ADCs today. Bear in mind that the maximum bit depth and sampling rate you would get with an MD deck is 16/44.1.

[paulfromcamden]

I guess one question is how much to spend and how much that will impact sound quality.

Amazon has affordable ADC converters with S/PDIF outputs:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/LINDY-Analogue-Stereo-Digital-Converter/dp/B002AL4XVO

These Sonifex units are common in broadcast studios but not cheap and probably more than you need!
https://www.canford.co.uk/Products/95-662_SONIFEX-RB-ADDA-A-D-AND-D-A-CONVERTER-Audio-AES-EBU-or-S-PDIF-1U-rackmount-24-bit-96kHz-capable

edit: I think a minidisc player is a great idea - and they can often be had for cheap 

[flood2]

I used to be a MiniDisc enthusiast and used my deck as a DAC with my computer, it never occurred to me to use it as an ADC.

But I recorded quite a lot from analog sources and the quality was very good, at least in the SP mode. I guess late-era decks (with ATRAC Type-R and Type-S) could still be competitive with inexpensive ADCs today. Bear in mind that the maximum bit depth and sampling rate you would get with an MD deck is 16/44.1.

I still have my JA-30ES which I used as my first ADC for transcribing my vinyl - the digital output has always been capable of at least 20bit (for ATRAC v2 to ATRAC v3.5 machines) with 24 bit output being offered for the latter generations - the 16 bit was a settable option to maintain compatibility with Redbook. The quality was very good indeed on the ES models. Not so great on the standard line especially on the ATRAC3 (MDLP) models - I have a JB-930 and it was clearly inferior to the JA-30ES
These are not cheap - a quick search on ebay UK has prices for a JA-3ES at about 400GBP. Prices for my JA-30ES range from 600 GBP upwards. The later generations are well above 1000GBP!!

A JB-940 is still close 400 GBP.
None of these are a patch on my Benchmark ADC1 USB (which will do exactly what the OP wants except that it is now discontinued and still very expensive second hand)

The ADCs in the MD recorders are grossly inferior to what can be had for similar money in the pro ranges from RME, Tascam and the like. I would strongly advise reconsidering the requirements - a good ADC will be transparent and offers the option of digital recording via USB as well as SPDIF. It doesn't make sense to buy a cheap ADC to see if the idea works, because you will only be disappointed with the sound which doesn't prove anything that isn't to be expected! It is the same as saying you would buy a cheap phono stage just to see if vinyl can sound good....

[ian]

Thanks guys, all food for thought 

[willbewill]

Thanks guys, all food for thought  

More like a minefield in a rabbit hole  

[ian]

Indeed. If I'm going to have to spend more I might go for the Pro-Ject Phono Box DS2 as this is a phono stage and ADC with optical out.

[paulfromcamden]

More like a minfield in a rabbit hole   

Wrapped in an enigma...

 

[Antonio.A]

Anybody know of a decent but affordable A to D convertor.  This is not to archive records but to connect an analogue output to a DAC.

Hi ian!
To record my LP into digital format to my PC I choosed to buy the Phono Box E, from Pro-ject Audio Systems https://www.project-audio.com/en/product/phono-box-e/.
This ADC has both MM and MC input to its RIAA preamplifier and output both USB and analog.
Here you can find all technical specification: https://www.project-audio.com/en/product/phono-box-e/

[the-stones]

Anybody know of a decent but affordable A to D convertor.  This is not to archive records but to connect an analogue output to a DAC.

I recently bought a Swissonic Converter AD 24/192 to connect the turntable to a Bluesound Powernode Edge. It's around 40€ on Thomann. I like it, it takes RCA in, and does optical out at 24bit 192 kHz. Only downside is there is now another component to switch on before listening to Vinyl...



The result is transparent to me. Delay is around a few hundred milliseconds, not too bad, though you will still notice a slight delay between putting down the needle and audio output. Compared to the regular "analog input" of the Bluesound, which is nothing but a cheap AD converter on its own, the difference is stark. On the Bluesound the conversion results in ~ 2s delay, and conversion quality is mediocre at best. In essence this elevates the Edge into an amplifier system that currently gives me the best of both worlds. This was well worth the investment for me. Might work for you, too?