Alpha Design Labs GT40α USB DAC

Purchased this on Tuesday from my good friends at Audio Advisor who shipped it out quickly arriving at my door on Thursday. I was happy with the Schitt Mani pre-amp but not completely satisfied with it so while I was off sick last week I did some research and came across the Furutech/ADL GT40a (Alpha). Since it has been around a while it has been tried and tested with great reviews. I decided to order it and give it a try, so far I am very pleased with it, the soundstage seems wide with clarity and great bass. There will be some burn-in time as it really gets warmed up and starts developing its sound as is the case with most audio electronics. I look forward to hearing your feedback on how you think it sounds. Yesterdays OMD post was the first one using the GT40a.

-Paul

The GT40α built for enthusiasts with growing music collections on their computer hard drives. It’s a high-performance 24bits/192kHz USB DAC that’s amazingly affordable. Looking to convert your LPs or other analog sources to digital? The GT40α will take you to the podium with every album you archive.

The seriously-shielded audiophile-grade GT40α features a low-latency USB 2.0 audio driver that plays and records at 24bits/192kHz. A likely first for this category, the GT40α includes a built-in low-noise MM / MC phono preamp! Record your favorite vinyl to hard disk via the USB output.

The ADL GT40α features L/R analog outputs, and switchable line or phono inputs with a vivid, captivating sound that is simply unheard of in this category.

The ADL GT40α (wired with ADL’s Formula 2 cable of course!) brings Furutech’s signature sound — smooth, detailed clarity — to desktop systems, especially with high-resolution 24bits/192kHz files, but even 16-bit/44.1kHz files sound impeccable and very musical.

FEATURES:

High-performance 24bits/192kHz “VIA VT1736 “USB chip and 24bits/192kHz “Cirrus Logic CS4270” DAC /ADC chip

Enjoy audio in high resolution at 24bits/192kHz surpassing conventional 16bit/44.1KHz standards

Incorporates the most trusted driver in professional audio for 24bits/192kHz recording and playback

External power supply: while a USB-powered device might be convenient, it won’t develop the power required for high-resolution playback, so we designed the GT40α with an external power supply to solve the problem.

Headphone Amplifier: It contains a high performance “Maxim MAX9722A” headphone amplifier with ample drive for good headphones

Analog-to-Digital Converter: The GT40α sports a high-performance ADC IC chip for high-resolution recordings via analog inputs including phono, AM/FM radio, or other analog signals.

Convenient Clip signal Toggle switch for Recording Attenuation: Adjust the recording attenuation to avoid any distortion during recording: 0dB, 6 dB, or 12dB (RecAtt/db signal light comes on when input level exceeds circuit Gain).

Phono Preamplifier: A first for this class, the GT40α features a phono equalizer for recording your precious LPs. Switch between Moving Magnet (MM) and Moving Coil (MC) or Line input

Highest Quality Parts: The GT40α features a high-quality amplifier and condenser supporting its high-performance analog circuit (NJM5532 OPAMP： for ADC,DAC,Line in and out and NJM2068 OPAMP： for Phono )

High-End Audio Grade Connections: The GT40α is equipped with gold-plated Teflon-insulated RCA jacks with an extremely high-quality aluminum chassis and machined volume knob

September 20, 2019

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – If You Leave (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1986

Brand NEW 2019 transfer using a new piece of equipment the Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC which I purchased a couple of days ago. I am still evaluating the GT40a but so far I am very impressed. This piece of equipment has been around for a while and has great reviews and won some awards along the way. Full specs and pictures coming over the weekend.

Originally posted March 15, 2012

“If You Leave” is a 1986 song by the British synthpop group Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD). It was recorded for the soundtrack to the film Pretty in Pink (1986), in which it is played prominently during the final scene. Along with 1980’s “Enola Gay”, the track has been described as the band’s signature song.

“If You Leave” is the group’s highest-charting single in the United States, where it reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in May 1986. The song was also a Top 5 entry in Canada and New Zealand and charted at number 15 in Australia. A distinguishing track of the 1980s, it has had an enduring presence on radio.

The band wrote “If You Leave” after John Hughes decided to change the ending to Pretty in Pink after poor test audience reactions. Hughes had asked the band for a song for the new ending two days before they were due to begin a tour, and “If You Leave” was written and recorded in under 24 hours as a result. The song was deliberately written at a tempo of 120 BPM, to match the speed of “Don’t You (Forget About Me)”, which the dancers in the scene had initially danced to. Despite this, singer Andy McCluskey later noted that an editing error meant the dancing appears out of sync regardless. The original ending featured another OMD song, “Goddess of Love”, which was released on The Pacific Age later in 1986.

** Vinyl appears to be standard black, but is actually pressed on very dark brown, barely translucent vinyl, sometimes referred to as “audiophile” or “virgin” vinyl, possibly unstickered Quiex II pressing, which A&M often used in the 1980s.

SIDE A:
If You Leave (Extended Version) 6:00
Producer – Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, Tom Lord-Alge

SIDE B:
La Femme Accident (Remixed Version) 5:35
Producer – OMD*Recorded By [Re-recorded By] – OMD*, Tom Lord-Alge

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

CHARTS:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1986	If You Leave	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#4
1986	If You Leave	U.S. Billboard US Hot Adult Contemporary Chart	#24
1986	If You Leave	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play	#31

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: A&M Records ‎– SP-12176
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Single, 45 RPM, R
Country: US
Released: 1986
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Design – Caz Hildebrand
Written-By – OMD*

NOTES:
“If You Leave” Original version appears on the Motion Picture Soundtrack “Pretty In Pink”
“La Femme Accident” Original version appears on the A&M album “Crush”

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon 2M Bronze
Isolation: Auralex Acoustics ISO-Tone Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
DAC/Phono Pre-amp: Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner

SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2, ocenaudio
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

Username: btg
Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by making a donation using PayPal. Thank you for your help.

September 19, 2019

Billy Idol – Hot In The City (Extended Version) (UK 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1982

“Hot in the City” is a 1982 song by Billy Idol, released on his self-titled album. It charted at No. 23 in the US and No. 58 in the UK. A re-release of the song in the UK in 1987 reached No. 13.

There are two versions of the video. The first version (the 1982 version) starts off with a girl walking into a record store. She picks up a Billy Idol record and the song starts to play. The video features scenes from New York City, interspersed with stock footage of nuclear bomb tests. The second version (the 1987 version) was banned by MTV because it showed Idol’s then-girlfriend Perri Lister bound to a cross toward the end of the video. The later version was included on the DVD edition of The Very Best of Billy Idol: Idolize Yourself.

Although the released version of the song has Idol shouting “New York!”, other versions of the song were recorded for various radio stations, including ones for such cities as “Amarillo”, “Boston”, “Minneapolis”, “New Haven”, “Chattanooga”, and “Sioux Falls”.

The song, with a remixed synthesizer intro, was used as the introduction
for Booker, the TV series spin-off of 21 Jump Street. It is also featured in the 1988 hit film, Big, starring Tom Hanks.

The song was used by the NBA’s Phoenix Suns during the introductions of the visiting team at home games during the team’s run to the 1993 NBA Finals.

SIDE A:
Hot In The City (Extended Version) 5:18

SIDE B:
Dead On Arrival 3:52

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1982	Hot In The City	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#23

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Chrysalis ‎– CHS 12 2625
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1982
Genre: Rock
Style: Pop Rock

CREDITS:
Producer – Keith Forsey
Written-By – B. Idol*

NOTES:
Both tracks taken from the album ‘Billy Idol’

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VIMYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon 2M Bronze
Isolation: Auralex Acoustics ISO-Tone Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Schiit Mani
Soundcard: ESI Juli@ XTe Audio Interface
Monitiring: Novation Audiohub 2×4 Audio Interface
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner

SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: iZotope RX Advanced 2, ocenaudio
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

September 18, 2019

The Rolling Stones – Harlem Shuffle (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1986

“Harlem Shuffle” is an R&B song written and originally recorded by the duo Bob & Earl in 1963. In 1986 it was covered by The Rolling Stones on their album Dirty Work.

The Rolling Stones’ cover version, with Bobby Womack on backing vocals, appeared on their 1986 album Dirty Work and went to #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and #13 in the UK. Keith Richards had been looking for songs to possibly include on the album and had been working up songs with Ronnie Wood and Womack while waiting for Jagger to return to the studio in Paris after doing promo work on his solo album. To Richards’ surprise, Jagger liked the feel and cut the vocals quickly. It became the first cover song the Stones had released as an opening single off a new studio album since 1965.

SIDE A:
Harlem Shuffle (NY Mix) 6:35
Remix – Steve Thompson & Michael Barbiero

SIDE B:
Harlem Shuffle (London Mix) 6:19
Remix – Steve Lillywhite

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1986	Harlem Shuffle	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#5
1986	Harlem Shuffle	U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks	#2
1986	Harlem Shuffle	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play	#4

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Rolling Stones Records ‎– 44 05365
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1986
Genre: Rock, Funk / Soul
Style: Rock & Roll

CREDITS:
Producer – Steve Lillywhite, The Glimmer Twins
Songwriter – Reif*, Nelson*

NOTES:
Original version appears on the LP “DIRTY WORK”

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon 2M Bronze
Isolation: Auralex Acoustics ISO-Tone Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Schiit Mani
Soundcard: ESI Juli@ XTe Audio Interface
Monitiring: Novation Audiohub 2×4 Audio Interface
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

Username: btg
Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by making a donation using PayPal. Thank you for your help.