• Samsung Galaxy Active Pro: Certified and tested to be military standard (MIL-STD-810G) for drops, shocks, vibration, rain, dirt, mud, sand, water, altitude, freeze & thaw, temperature range, temperature shock, and humidity
• Samsung Galaxy Tab Active2: Similar to the Pro, less expensive
• WinBridge S933L which runs Android and its rated at IP68 (this guarantees protection in water up to 1.5 meter deep for 30 minutes. It also ensures dust and shock resistance)
• Vanquisher 8″ tablet, which runs Windows and is IP67 rated (protection in water up to 1 meter deep for 30 minutes. It also ensures dust and shock resistance)

The Details: The Best Waterproof Tablet

Samsung’s Galaxy Active Pro is a ruggedized version the flagship Galaxy tablet. It is protected by protective silicone edging and a sturdy internal frame. It has an impressive IP67 rating, which means it has complete protection against contact from dust and is safe in up to 1m of water immersion.

I has some other ruggedized features:

• Water-resistant touch screen
• Glove mode for winter use
• Includes IP68-Certified Samsung S Pen
• Facial recognition for unlocking while wearing gloves

The Galaxy Active Pro is available on Amazon for around $745.

The post The Best Waterproof Tablets appeared first on Reactual.

HooToo updated its popular line of iPhone flash drives earlier this summer to incorporate the speed of USB 3.0 and improve design. The HT-IM003 model is housed in a durable aluminum alloy case and wins out in terms of functionality and design.

It’s slim, sleek, and sturdy. It weighs just a quarter of an ounce and is about 2″ long. On one end sits the standard USB 3.0 drive, with the lightning end on the other. This time around the lightning connected is protected by a cap that is attached by a key-ring. The connector is extended by 4mm which is just enough to work around thick protective cases. That’s a pretty important function, as it’s a pain in the ass to take off a phone case every time you want to use your device.

USB drives are not known for their fast speeds. But USB 3.0 technology gives the HooToo a significant boost over previous models. The drive hits 80 MB/s read and 30 MB/s write speeds on USB 3.0, with some user benchmarks surpassing advertised speeds. That’s good enough to transfer a full HD movie in less than a minute. Unfortunately, lightning port speeds are still stuck in the dark ages, with top read speeds of 30 MB/s and write speeds of 10 MB/s. That means moving large amounts of data from your Apple device to the drive will take a while, but still much faster than uploading to the cloud or sending via email.

HooToo uses a free app called iPlugmate to work on your device. The app has a simple interface that automatically segregates your files based into pics, music, videos, etc. It supports most common file types, including wav, mp3, avi, mkv, doc, pdf, and ppt. You can stream your files directly from iPlugmate while it is attached, which frees up valuable storage on your device. The app lacks any security features, which is disappointing.

Best 2-in-1 iPhone USB Drive: RAVPower Charging Cable

HooToo just released the RAVPower Charging Cable, a 64GB external storage device that doubles as a charging device. It’s the perfect 2-in-1 plug-in for viewing high-usage content like HD videos and picture slideshows.

The RAVPower cable delivers transfers files at a similar clip to the External Storage stick. That means the USB 3.0 port gets 80 MB/s 30MB/s, while the lightning port chugs along at 30 MB/s read and 10 MB/s write. It also operates on the iPlugmate app, which lets you stream most common file types directly from the drive.

The design differs in a couple ways. First, the metal USB 3.0 and lightning ports are connected by a soft rubber cord. This 5 inch long device is flexible, with no unwieldy clip. While the design is convenient, both ports are uncapped. This opens the possibility of them snapping in a purse or briefcase, which is a disadvantage compared to the standard drive. But its functionality as a charger offsets this restriction.

The post The Best USB Drive For iPhones/iPads appeared first on Reactual.

The Details

Projectors have moved out of the movie theater and into your apartment living room. Once the domain of houses with large media rooms, the new generation of short throw and ultra short throw projectors only need a few feet (or in some cases inches) to cast true HD image of up to 100 inches. Short throw projectors also include a host of wireless options and functionalities, making them an ideal way to eliminate claustrophobia-inducing clutter in small spaces.

So what do you need to know before you invest in a short throw projector? First, consider your needs. If you are really tight on space (say, living in a studio apartment in Tokyo or NYC) go with an ultra short throw projector. These devices can cast an image the size of widescreen TV from half a foot and a full 100 inches from just 2 feet away.

This is a niche category without too many options yet, and it lags behind other classes of projector in terms of lumen count, which determines image brightness. Black out curtains reduce ambient light and can make them a viable option for most apartment owners.

Short throw projectors deliver more value, but usually require at least 3 feet to obtain full image size. They are brighter and more affordable, but do take up more space.

Best Overall Ultra Short Throw Projector: LG PF1000U

This recent offering from LG is the first quality ultra short throw projector that is at a price point affordable to most consumers. While it isn’t as bright as most standard home theater projectors, the PF1000U shines with a great design that can turn any reasonably dark room into a home theater.

Let’s start with the biggest strength of this projector: you can put it anywhere. It is about the size of a large shoe box and weighs less than 5 lbs. Just connect it to the power source and it is ready to go. It casts a 100″ screen when placed 15″ away from the wall. Move it as close as 5″ from the wall to get a 60 inch screen.

The PF1000U comes with an internal speaker, which is nice to have if you are in between sound systems, but you’ll want to sync up speakers via Bluetooth. It does have smart functionality, so expect access to the usual streaming suspects like Netflix and Hulu. There isn’t an app store, though, so you should get a Roku. Otherwise connect via Bluetooth, DLNA, Miracast, WiDi or through one of the 2 HDMI ports.

So how about picture quality and brightness? The PF1000U bright at 1000 lumens, but not as bright as standard home theater projectors at a similar pricepoint. Still, you don’t need a short throw projector to reach the same lumen count because it is less affected by ambient light at the short distance. The bulb lasts an impressive 30,000 hours.

It reaches 1920 x 1080 full HD at 100″ with a contrast ratio of 150,000:1. The LED bulb excels at delivering sharp, vivid colors. It falters on darker hues, so Game of Thrones and horror movies look a little washed out on dark scenes. The other major complaint is that the fan runs on the loud side. It’s not loud enough to be an issue for most people, but if you demand whisper quiet performance from your technology you will be irked by this.

Best Short Throw Projector: Optoma EH200ST

If your room is small and not particularly dark, you’ll do well with the  Optoma EH200ST. This short throw projector can cast a 100″ image from 3.5 feet away and delivers a bright 3000 lumens.

The DLP short-throw lens delivers ideal white and black contrast with a high native contrast ratio of 20,000: 1. It also performs well with colors. The EH200ST comes with BrilliantColor Technology which offers 6-color processing to create vibrant colors on the screen. It has full HD at 1080p and VESA 3D capability.

The EH200ST is a little bulkier than LG’s short-throw offering, but with dimensions of 4 x 12.4 x 8.8 you can still tuck it away in small rooms. You connect your devices via wireless connectivity, which works with laptops, smart phones, Roku, Chromecast, Apple TV, game consoles, and many other digital devices. Back ports include a USB mini-B, 2 HDMI ports, or a 12V out.

The post The Best Projectors for Small Rooms (Ultra Short Throw Projectors) appeared first on Reactual.

The Details

USB Thumb Drives use flash memory to store and transfer data. These little guys have been around for awhile, and are a quick and effective means of transferring data. There are a couple factors to keep in mind when purchasing a USB thumb drive. The first is speed. The era of slow-as-molasses thumb drives is gone but not forgotten, and many of today’s USB 3.0 drives still leave something to be desired.

You also want a drive with encryption. The sad truth is that USB drives are easy to lose, especially if you use shared computers. Get a device that can encrypt your files so strangers can’t access them if they find your drive.

Finally, you want a durable device. While the exact level of ruggedness you want may vary, make sure to get a well constructed product that doesn’t overheat or jam up in a slide.

The Best Overall Thumb Drive: SanDisk Extreme CZ80 64GB

For the pasts few years, California-based SanDisk has produced the best USB 3.0 thumb drive. Their 64GB Extreme CZ80 is fast, affordable, and secure.

This drive delivers read and write speeds at a significantly faster clip than most competitors. SanDisk advertises read speeds up to 245MBs and write speeds of 190MBs, and user benchmarks confirm that these speeds are mostly accurate. This means you can transfer a full-length SD movie in about 10 seconds. That’s 50x faster than old USB 2.0 drives (and double the speed of many 3.0 drives). This drive is ideal for transferring large files, both due to its capacity and speed relative to other options on the market.

The drive also protects your files with AES 128-bit encryption and a secure access vault that works on both Macs and USB. It also includes RescuePRO data recovery software. The Extreme is made with durable plastic, not the most rugged USB drive on the market, but it is solidly constructed and comes with a limited lifetime warranty. It’s also not the most discrete, coming in at 2.8 inches long. But the speed and value of this device cannot be beat for most users.

The Fastest USB Thumb Drive: Lexar 128GB JumpDrive P20

USB drives get a bum rap for their slow speeds. Earlier models had read and write speeds in the low teens, while even many of today’s USB 3.0 drives take twice as long as an external hard drive. But the Lexar 128GB Jump Drive P20 delivers an impressive read/write speed of 400/270MBs. That speed is fast enough to transfer an HD movie in less than the time it takes a Netflix video to load and buffer.

The JumpDrive P20 is housed in a sturdy metal alloy case with a glossy black mirror finish. It’s a retractable drive, which made me suspicious at first, as retractable drives are prone to jamming or otherwise breaking. But the P20 slides along solidly (if not a little stiff) and is protected by a lock mechanism that keeps it safe when extended. At 25 grams, it has a nice heft to it. Lexar includes a limited lifetime warranty. I also like the 256-bit AES encryption via EncryptStickTM Lite software.

The main draw is the drive’s USB 3.0 capacity. This drive runs faster than many external HDDs. While it doesn’t touch SSD speeds, it gets the job done fast enough to be a viable option for large data transfers. Transfer 1000 photos in 1 minute 15 seconds or a full-length HD movie in 36 seconds.

The Most Secure USB Thumb Drive: Apricorn Aegis Secure

The Apricorn Aegis Secure Key is the perfect storage device for a small amount of data. There are two steps to protect your data. First, it requires you to enter a 7-15 digit code on an alphanumeric keyboard.

The second layer of security comes from 256-bit AES Military Grade Hardware Encryption. The Secure Key is tested by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and receives a FIPS 140-2 Level 3 cryptography specification. It doesn’t need any software or firmware to run. That means there’s no risk of a firmware hack. Finally, it protects against brute force attacks with a mechanism that deletes the encryption key if an incorrect PIN is entered too many times.

You can set up an Admin PIN as well as individual user PINs, so companies can recycle the keys if they are granted to new users. The keypad is powered by a battery and is convenient to use. It also resits dust and water ingress. The rest of the device is also solidly constructed in water-resistant aluminum casing. This version uses USB 2.0. A USB 3.0 version exists, but has a few issues (like overheating) that this version doesn’t have.

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• The Fastest External Hard Drive: Samsung T3
• The Fastest Mechanical External Hard Drive: Seagate Backup Plus Fast

In our mobile world it is more important than ever to be able to move large amounts of data at quick speeds. Right now there are three popular methods of moving and storing files: flash drives, cloud storage, and external hard drives. Of these options, external hard drives are your best bet.

While affordable, USB Flashdrives are just way too slow for all but the simplest of file transfers. And while cloud storage is an increasingly viable option, it does require an internet connection and opens you up to security threats. The Dropbox hack proves that sensitive data should be stored on physical hard drives. Finally, it takes a long time to transfer data over the cloud. External hard drives have the advantage of both speed and security. I looked at the recent generation to determine the fastest external hard drive.

The Fastest External Hard Drive: Samsung T3

The Samsung T3 combines solid state drive technology with a USB-C connection to provide the fastest read-write speeds of any external storage unit. It achieves 450MBs read/write speeds, which puts it on par with many internal SSDs. But it really shines when compared to even the fastest mechanical external hard drives, which sustain speeds around 230MBs. The T3 isn’t just the fastest external hard drive, it delivers the best overall experience, albeit at a very high price tag.

So why is this drive so fast? First, it benefits from Samsung’s experience as the industry leader in the internal SSD market. Samsung’s 850 PRO and EVO SSDs use V-NAND flash memory to store data, 32 vertical NAND cell layers that have a higher density and better efficiency than regular flash memory. The T3 uses this technology as well, allowing for a capacity of up 2TB in a small case.

It also incorporates a USB-C connector that supports USB 3.1 gen 1, which offers a transfer rate of 5GBps. USB 3.1 gen 2 reaches 10GBps, but is not yet supported by any external SSDs. The T3 also supports UASP, a USB protocol that speeds up data transfer. Reviewer benchmarks found that the T3 excelled at transferring incompressible data such as HD video files.

In addition to speed, the T3 outperforms external HDDs in both portability and durability. The palm-sized device is truly portable, letting you carry 2 TBs in your pocket without a second thought. It’s a lightweight 1.8 ounces, and has a dimension of 2.9 x 2.3 x 0.4 inches, making other SSDs seem bulky. And unlike a mechanical hard drive, a SSD has no moving parts. That makes it shock resistant and protects your data against accidental drops or magnetic fields. The T3 has rugged aluminum casing and an internal frame that is shock resistant up to 1500G force. You can accidentally knock it off your desk without having a heart attack.

In addition to safeguarding against clumsiness, the T3 protects your files against digital threats. It includes AES 256-bit encryption algorithm. It is compatible with Windows, Mac & Android OS.

The downside is that you need to pay for speed. The T3 costs about $0.4 per gigabyte, which is 10x more expensive than the fastest HDDs.

The Fastest Mechanical External Hard Drive: Seagate Backup Plus Fast

The major advantage mechanical hard drives hold over SSDs remains their price. The truth is that they deliver way more storage for a fraction of an SSD’s cost. So if you want both value and speed, go with the 4TB Seagate Backup Plus Fast. It is the fastest external HDD on the market and costs the same as a 500GB T3.

The Backup Plus Fast delivers transfer speeds that top off at 230MBs. That’s about half the peak performance of the T3, but 2x faster than most external HDDs. Inside the black plastic casing you’ll find two hard drives stacked on top of each other. This design accounts for the fast speed and immense memory, but makes the drive very bulky. In fact, it weighs nearly a pound and is almost an inch thick. You definitely won’t be carrying it around in your pocket.

It hooks up to your Mac or PC via a USB 3.0 cable and comes with backup software. Unfortunately, you might need that backup software because the drive is susceptible to RAID0, a type of data loss that occurs if one of the two drives should fail.  The Backup Plus Fast comes with a 3-year warranty, but its best to use the drive as a backup for important files.

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The Details

3D printing has been around since the 1980’s, but the prohibitive price and size of most units kept them out of consumer hands. Over the past decade, 3D printer manufacturers have made a concentrated push to get the devices into consumer hands. Predictably, a flood of cheaply produced models that deliver low quality prints hit the market. These lower-end models aren’t capable of much more than churning out the odd novelty. Luckily, a few professional grade desktop 3D printers are now available at a fraction of the cost of larger industrial units. I’ve detailed the two best to come out in 2016.

Best Overall Desktop 3D Printer: Formlabs Form 2

Formlabs got its start at MIT back in 2011. Since then they’ve graduated to become one of the most innovative companies in the 3D industry. In 2014 they released the Form 1+ SLA Printer. It delivered professional-level printing at a price that small businesses and private consumers could actually afford. This year Formlabs improved on the success of their first effort with the release of the Form 2 3D Stereo Lithography printer.

Stereo lithography differs from most desktop 3D printers, which use ABS or PLA thermoplastics fed from a spool into a heated nozzle then set to cool. Stereo lithography employs a laser to harden resin distributed from a vat. It builds up one layer at a time and solidifies the resin on contact with the laser. 

The process is much slower than using the filament spools. It takes the Form 2 12 seconds per layer, which means you might have to wait 20 hours for your product to finish. But the longer time is well worth the wait, especially if you are producing detailed medical equipment. Once your project is done, it needs to be finished in alcohol. Formlabs included an isopropyl alcohol finishing kit with the printer, but be warned that the finishing process should take place in a well ventilated area.

Let’s get into the details. The Form 2 can print 5.7 x 5.7 x 6.9 inches. That’s larger than most desktop printers, but still smaller than industrial competitors. But the real draw is the 25 micron layer thickness, 4x more fine than the latest Makerbot replica. The detail is precise and stunning.

This time around the resin and print area are removable. Each resin tank goes through about 2L of printing before they have to be replaced. The process is simple, and you can switch between types of resin with ease. Each cartridge is quite pricey compared to ABS and PLA- between $150 and $300.

Another big upgrade is a level sensor that guarantees you are printing on a level surface. To level the printer, you have to manually adjust four leveling legs underneath. It also comes with a leveling tool to help in this process. The Form 2 has a touchscreen, and supports Wi-Fi and USB, setting it apart from most desktop 3D printers. Formlabs continues to release firmware and software upgrades to improve the process.

So is the extra money worth the price? Depends on your needs. Professional artists, architects, and doctors benefit the most from the added precision. If you are a hobbyist or new to 3D printing, you can probably stick to ABS for now.

Best Filament Printer: Lulzbot TAZ 6

Colorado-based AlephObjects delivers quality 3D printing with an opensource ethos in the TAZ 6, the latest gen model of  its flagship printer line. The TAZ 6 is a rugged fused filament fabrication 3D printer that looks and operates like something you’d see in an engineer’s warehouse. It doesn’t have the futuristic aesthetic of other consumer-oriented 3D printers. This is a printer that is built with quality parts and the clear intention to last. And it’s all the better for it.

The TAZ 6 printer focuses on reliability and quality over speed. This is a large unit with a 12 inch bed that prints objects up to 250 mm tall. The frame is a combination of aluminum with metal brackets and plastic parts parts printed at AlephObject’s massive print farm. The Z-axis is a giant spindle, while the X and Y axis use 2mm pitch belts. The TAZ 6 uses 3mm filament which comes out of hexagonal hot end on a 0.5mm nozzle. It has an LCD screen and SD card reader hooked up to the company’s RAMBo motherboard. The power supply and computer are cooled off by fans, and every wire is crimped and grounded. These extra touches show that AlephObjects care about the electronic components on this unit and have put in the effort to make them

One of the best features is that the TAZ 6 comes nearly ready to use right out of the box. Just fasten the extruder on with a single screw and then attach the surface and you are up and running within 15 minutes. Another plus is the auto-leveling feature which uses the washers at the four corners of the to establish a level surface before each and every print. It also has a reliable auto-cleaning feature that cleans the print head after every use.

The weakest part of the TAZ 6 is the glass bed, which has heated silicone underneath. The heat tends to dissipate away from the center, making it harder to pry the finished product off if its near the edges and achieve a smooth bottom. Other than that the prints are very high quality for a FFF 3D printer, and you can decide between “fast” “strong” and “high detail” profiles.

Finally, AlephObjects prides itself on its opensource policy. The company uses freely licensed designs, specifications, and documentation to make sure your software is never obsolete and you have access to free designs.

The post The Best Consumer Desktop 3D Printers of 2016 appeared first on Reactual.

• The best micro projector currently available is the iCODIS CB-300 Pico Projector. This two pounds device is high portable yet it produces impressive video and sound. It delivers 1800 lumens projection and Android functionality with built-in speakers.
• The most portable micro projector that is still worth considering is the Coocheer Pocket Projector.

The Details: Micro Projectors

Micro projectors, also known as pico projectors or pocket projectors, have benefited from recent advancements in LED technology. When they first appeared on the market, pico projectors were a neat parlor trick but ultimately useless in all but the most ideal conditions. Lumen count and contrast have since increased, leading to clearer picture quality and larger projection sizes.

Micro projectors are ideal for work presentations and impromptu movie nights, but be realistic in your expectations before purchasing one. Many micro projectors do not come with built in speakers or HD video quality. These tend to be cheaper and smaller, fine for casting an Excel spreadsheet but useless if your goal is to play video games in the dorm room. I’ve found that a high lumen count is the single most important factor to consider when choosing a micro projector. Without enough brightness, its utility is seriously limited. Other factors to keep in mind include whether the projector requires an external power source, screen resolution, portability and audio.

A Micro Projector That’s Quite Bright: The iCodis CB-300

No matter what you want need your micro projector to do, iCODIS CB-300 can handle it. Not only is it among the brightest micro projectors currently available at 1800 lumens, it features a slew of smart features that make your life easier.

It has Bluetooth connectivity, a Micro HDMI port, 2 USB ports, and a mini USB port. It has a 6000 mAh internal battery that can last for 2 hours, and a 12V plug for an external power source if you require longer performance.

CB-300 acts a lot like a tablet or smart TV, thanks to Android OS 4.4 powered by built in CPU. You can watch videos from Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu directly from the projector, a unique and incredibly convenient feature.

Best of all, your movies will play in HD. The CB-300 is a 720p projector that can play 1080p files and has as a 16:9 screen ratio. It can focus up to 18 yards, but is better at closer. The screen display gets to around an impressive 75.”

Apple users have reported some difficulty streaming through the HDMI. Also, the device is a very portable 2lbs and 5″ by 5,” but it is not exactly pocket sized.

The Most Portable Micro Projector

If you need a micro projector that is truly pocket sized, go for Coocheer’s DLP Projector. While some micro projectors are as small as coins, they are worthless for projecting an image worth seeing. Coocheer gives you a respectable 100-200 lumens using an Android 4.4 OS in an ultra-thin design that will fit in your (large) pocket. It also has a built in 5000mAh rechargeable battery.

The post The Best Micro Projectors Of 2016 appeared first on Reactual.

The reputation that USB tables are junk doesn’t have anything to do with the fact that they are USB. It has everything to do with the cheap materials that they are made from. A turntable consists of many precision parts, including the arm, the platter, the plinth, the motor and the cartridge. Most USB turntables are all about style (or budget) over substance. So long as it looks good in a sepia-filtered Tumblr photo, does it really matter how the thing sounds? The problem isn’t just that they look and sound cheap (many play music at an abysmal 128Kbs). But some of these players, like the Crosleys you see at Urban Outfitters, use non-changeable ceramic cartridges that have a heavy tracking force that damages records. Why even spend the extra money?

In other words, most USB turntables are not made with the audiophile in mind.

Best USB Turntable For Digitizing Vinyl: Sony PSHX500

So what happens if you are sitting on boxes of vinyl that need to be converted to digital for posterity’s sake? That’s where the Sony PSHX500 Hi Res USB Turntable comes in. Its cartridge isn’t the best on the market and it isn’t packed with a ton of features, but this is the first device that converts to digital in high resolution.  The PSHX500 is also almost completely customizeable, a fact that sets it apart from most other USB turntables.

So how good are the recordings? Sony uses a patented circuit that the takes the record’s signal and converts it into a digital audio data stream using a Burr-Brown PCM4202 analog to digital converter. You can record files in everything from WAV to  double DSD (although good look finding a vinyl that will rip at 5.8MHz).  After you rip a track, the file appears on Sony software, which lets you choose the file format. It also lets you do some basic manipulation, like rearranging the tracks.

Now, you don’t always get a perfect recording. Some reviewers noted a faint humming in the background. But this is bar-none the best commercial option available for getting those rare options off wax and onto silicon. The process is also incredibly streamlined. You just plug the USB from the device into the computer, drag the needle, and hit play. Finally, you can digitize your records.

I like the minimalist matte black design for home use. It’s modern and goes well with polished dark wood cabinets and exposed brick and all the other staples of 2o10s interior decorating. The bare-bones approach means you are forgoing DJ staples like reverse function and pitch range. You get two speeds: 33 and 45 rpm(78 is missing, so don’t plan on converting those).

The Sony PSHX500 is outfitted with a moving magnet cartridge that is fit at the top of the arm. It is a fine cartridge, but audiophiles will want to switch in their preferred one. It also has a built-in phono preamplifier with RIAA curve, which is a nice feature for a turntable in this range. If you would rather play through your own phono EQ, just switch off the built-in one. It also has a removable lid and and integrated shell for solid stabilization.

All in all it is a durable piece of equipment, with a belt system that uses spindle-bearing construction. The platter is aluminum die cast and the mat is rubber, so that’s good. The spindle hinges are worrisome. I don’t recommend this unit for DJs who are going to be transporting their equipment around, but it will hold up in a stationary environment for a long time.

Best USB Turntable For DJs: Audio Technica AT-LP1240

Hauling a turntable around to parties and shows necessitates a device that can withstand wear and tear. The Audio Technica AT-LP1240 is a professional quality DJ turntable that is equipped with an internal stereo phono pre-amp and a high-torque motor. The thing is built to last and weighs like it.

If you are drawn to turntables for their retro aesthetic, then the blue LED lights and the slick pitcher and controls on the LP1240 won’t appeal to you. The turntable platter is made with die-cast aluminum, an S-shaped tone arm with counterweight, and anti-skate adjustment. These quality components are held together in a futuristic black and silver design. The LP1240 is a 3-speed fully manual and comes with plenty of ways to keep your speed accurate. It also has a a high quality brake. DJs also get a target light for dark clubs, two start/stop buttons, a reverse function, and a pitch change that goes to 50 percent over or under record speed.

You can plug right in to your laptop via USB and record using Audacity software. It doesn’t come with a cartridge so you will have to supply your own. You won’t find a better turntable in this pricerange, USB or otherwise.

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