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After Hours

A first look at the DAK GLI Pro turntable system

By Mark W. Kaelin September 27, 2007, 5:47 AM PDT

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A first look at the DAK GLI Pro turntable system

In earlier first look and cracking open galleries, and in a Practical Gadgetry blog post, TechRepublic took a close look at the iTTUSB Turntable. Drew Kaplan of DAK Industries and several TechRepublic members suggested we take a comparative look at the GLI Pro turntable system, available on the DAK.com Web site. And that is exactly what we are going to do. This gallery is our first look at the GLI Pro Professional Belt Drive Manual Turntable, Model BD-1600 and the mixer (Model GLX-2800) that comes in the DAK configuration.

A first look at the DAK GLI Pro turntable system

Gli Pro

Gli Pro

The system arrives in one large box containing three smaller boxes: one contains the stylus, one contains the mixer, and the other contains the actual turntable.

A first look at the DAK GLI Pro turntable system

Where it all starts

Where it all starts

The stylus is very similar to the one that came with the iTTUSB turntable.

A first look at the DAK GLI Pro turntable system

Mixer

Mixer

One key difference between the iTTUSB and the DAK system is this mixer which sits between the turntable and the computer.

A first look at the DAK GLI Pro turntable system

A closer look at the mixer

A closer look at the mixer

The DAK mixer (GLI Pro Model GLX-2800) converts the signal from the turntable and prepares it for input into your computer’s sound card.

A first look at the DAK GLI Pro turntable system

Mixer connections

Mixer connections

The mixer can handle two separate inputs.

A first look at the DAK GLI Pro turntable system

The GLI Pro BD-1600

The GLI Pro BD-1600

DAK Industries uses a turntable from GLI Pro. The turntable is obviously more sophisticated than the iTTUSB turntable.

A first look at the DAK GLI Pro turntable system

Turntable pad

Turntable pad

The obligatory disc pad.

A first look at the DAK GLI Pro turntable system

RCA connections

RCA connections

The GLI Pro turntable from DAK uses standard RCA jacks — no USB found here.

A first look at the DAK GLI Pro turntable system

The belt drive

The belt drive

The belt that drives the turntable is just a rubber band that you stretch over to the drive shaft in the upper right corner.

A first look at the DAK GLI Pro turntable system

The platter

The platter

The platter is aluminum and is much sturdier than the iTTUSB platter which was all plastic.

A first look at the DAK GLI Pro turntable system

Aluminum

Aluminum

Yep! that’s aluminum alright. You can see the belt on the middle spindle.

A first look at the DAK GLI Pro turntable system

Platter is mounted

Platter is mounted

The platter mounted onto the turntable drive system without much trouble.

A first look at the DAK GLI Pro turntable system

The pad

The pad

The pad which supports the vinyl albums as you play them is properly soft yet sturdy.

A first look at the DAK GLI Pro turntable system

The connections

The connections

The only connections on the turntable are the right and left RCA outputs and a ground connection.

A first look at the DAK GLI Pro turntable system

Well grounded

Well grounded

Some may not know this, but grounding can be very important in clean vinyl playback.

A first look at the DAK GLI Pro turntable system

Dust cover

Dust cover

One glaring difference (at least in this image) between the iTTUSB and the DAK GLI Pro is the dust cover. I prefer a dust cover myself — you see my home is dusty.

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A first look at the DAK GLI Pro turntable system

Ready for action

Ready for action

The GLI Pro BD 1600 is an impressive looking turntable.

A first look at the DAK GLI Pro turntable system

Pitch

Pitch

There is a slider for adjusting the pitch, but I never had to use it for any adjustments.

A first look at the DAK GLI Pro turntable system

On/Off and Star/Stop

On/Off and Star/Stop

Just basic switches here – on or off and start or stop.

A first look at the DAK GLI Pro turntable system

Target light

Target light

A holdover from its disc jockey roots is the pop-up target light. A feature most of us will never use except to impress our friends.

A first look at the DAK GLI Pro turntable system

Insert stylus, play music

Insert stylus, play music

The stylus is almost identical to one that came with the iTTUSB turntable, but when I began to actually play some vinyl albums the stylus proved to be superior.

A first look at the DAK GLI Pro turntable system

Stylus lift lever

Stylus lift lever

One feature I lamented being absent on the iTTUSB turntable was the lever that lifts the stylus just above the album so you and move it into position. When you release the lever, the stylus drops gently onto the vinyl surface.

A first look at the DAK GLI Pro turntable system

The complete system

The complete system

The complete DAK turntable system has a few more pieces than the iTTUSB turntable, but nothing that cannot be managed easily.

In a few days I’ll post a complete review of the DAK GLI Pro BD 1600 and mixer system. But I will give you a hint based on what I have recorded so far — the DAK system is superior.

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By Mark W. Kaelin
Mark W. Kaelin has been writing and editing stories about the information technology industry, software, hardware, gaming, finance, accounting, and technology geekdom for more than 30 years.
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