Q. Earlier this year you highlighted the TEAC AD-850-SE Cassette Deck CD Player, which also has a USB port for recording to USB flash drives. I am considering buying one, but do you know if it possible to use it with a turntable and record to the USB port, like you can record to USB from the integrated cassette deck and CD player? I would like to record my vinyl records to digital without using a computer.

—M.F., Irwin, Pennsylvania

A. Yes, you can record from the TEAC AD-850-SE audio input to a USB drive. If you do not have a receiver or amplifier with recording outputs, you can connect the turntable directly to the AD-850-SE rear input as long as the turntable has a phono preamp built in or you have an external phone preamp. This will record your records as MP3 files on a USB flash drive. You can also play back from the USB port as well.

The AD-850-SE also records from the CD player to cassettes or a USB drive, or from a cassette to a USB drive. There is also a microphone input that can be used for recording and karaoke. It is an interesting added feature, but I think most owners will use the AD-850-SE to copy their records and CDs to cassettes and USB so they can listen in their cars and on computers, and to make mixtapes using the cassette deck.

I was able to test the AD-850-SE recently and it really is a great component with a lot of capability and flexibility, well-suited to anyone who has cassettes and CDs or wants to be able to record across multiple formats. (As I said before, making mixtapes!) When I had a unit to review I realized how easy it is to get lost in all the recording capabilities and forget that it also makes an excellent playback component for any stereo, given it comes from high-end audio specialist TEAC. If you have a component system, need a CD player and happen to own some cassettes as well, the AD-850-SE will put them back in play for you. (Pun intended.) Vintage car owners with cassette players in their vehicles will find it very useful as well, as will anyone frustrated with their new car’s lack of a CD player. The AD-850-SE sells for $549 and you can visit teacusa.com to learn more.

Q. Phones are one thing, since most boomers have and can use them, but it makes me furious that now almost all products, from cars to TVs to appliances to smoke detectors to toothbrushes, are programmable. I do not want to program everything! Do they still make thermostats that are not "smart"? The default temperature settings are extreme and seem to have a mind of their own. I don't want to have to get out the instructions every time the power goes out or it's daylight savings time. I just want a simple, reliable thermostat that I can adjust easily up and down, or not at all. Can you recommend one?

—C.O., Pittsburgh

A. I understand your frustration with smart thermostats. Even though I am very technically adept, my smart thermostat gets on my nerves sometimes and I find myself longing for a simple, manual model. I suggest you check out the Emerson Electronic Non-Programmable Thermostat model NP110, which is under $30 at Lowe’s. I have used this model in the past and it works perfectly with no fuss or frustration, and it gets good reviews from owners too.

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