6:59 "Playing digital tracks of vinyl records kind of defeats the purpose of buying vinyl records" True, but I have a hard time keeping the turntable from bouncing and skipping when I want to listen to my albums in the car.
7:00 I can think of atleast one benefit when transferring vinyl to the MP3 format. There are some vinyl recordings in existence that were never transferred to any other format (which is atleast ¼ of my vinyl collection). But having the option to transfer to MP3 allows me to enjoy the "vinyl only" music from my iPod and listen to that music when I'm away from my home/turntable.
I think he was saying Audio Technica turntables aren't really quality hardware either... Now Technics equipment is a different animal- they're at the high end of the market, very good machines -- but have no relation with AT.
No, technics is mid-fi at best. Get a clue. Over hyped dj gear. Upgrade to a good belt drive for audiophile. Something with a perimeter belt or string drive. Music Hall mmf7 minimum. Plan to spend $1600+
@@keithb6717 - are you joking? A Technics SL-1000R will set you back $20,000 USD IF you can find one being sold at cost. As far as fidelity goes, these are THE high water mark in the industry- at the bleeding edge of what's possible with our technology today. As far as SL-1200s being over-hyped; maybe today- but even being the entry level in Technics lineup- compared to all other direct-drive tables- they're the best you can get.
The ATLP120 was plagued with cheap hardware- a non working anti skate, along with an awful sounding preamp board. That said, as a beginner turntable on average audio equipment (as these are likely to be used as)- it's sonic shortcomings would not be a major issue. The ATLP120X is a better sounding unit, even if it has some cost-cutting employed by the removal of certain features. Honestly, any used Technics SL-1200 in decent shape- even one that's 30 years old- makes all of the AT turntables look like cheap garbage. Yeah the new 1200s are expensive but worth every penny.
Alan Sasek I spoke to the Audio Technica team at CES this year and they made the following improvements with the updated “x” line; they eliminated the motor noise, and bypassed the preamp when in phono mode.
I just got my Audio Technica LP120XUSB today in silver, I had to order it online, an average store doesn't carry it. I set it up and it sounds amazing. Thanks Jarred for all your pointers and insight, you're the reason I got this turntable. I'm listening to original vinyls of ABBA, Eurythmics, and Fleetwood Mac tonight, and they all sound awesome. Thanks again!
I just bought this turntable with Bluetooth connectivity as an option; and it is absolutely stunning. I’m upgrading from a Victrola suitcase player that my fiancé got me for my birthday last year, and it did the job, but I felt it was time for an upgrade, ajd it was so worth it :)
Just watched your review of the Fluance RT81 and now this one. Fluance RT81 is light, which is good! LP120 is heavy, which is good! RT81 is belt driven, so no rumble, which is good. LP120 is direct drive is consistent, which is good! I understand there are pros and cons for everything, but it would be useful to have an actual analysis of the benefits of each rather than raving about everything.
These are the positive aspects of these designs. There is no "analysis" of these benefits which will tell you which is "better". Proponents of each of these designs like the positive aspects more than the negative. You get to pick what you like more based on understanding these positive features, but it means you have to actively decide, not wait for an "analysis" to decide for you... If you really want to hear people rave, read about idler drives and the people who love those. Just remember that vinyl people are a little bit nutty sometimes. Don't be surprised when you can't hear what other people think they hear. Mostly people are just hearing what they want to hear :)
I am amazed at how affordable hi fi has become. Part of me is skeptical (owning lots of vintage audio), although part of me also wants to reach for my credit card.
I have been very happy with my AT-LP 120 turntable. I've had almost a year now and it has performed perfectly. One thing to consider once you're had the turntable a while is upgrading the magnetic cartridge. The AT95E is a good cartridge but a higher end cartridge will sound even better. There are many catridges out there so I would let you decide on which one to buy if you decide that you want a better cartridge. All that is strictly up to you. If you are satisfied with the AT95E there's no need to do anything.
So manually working the tonearm every time you want to start or stop a record is “magical” but the one time act of attaching the turntable to a preamp is too much work? Pushing a couple RCA cables into the back of a decent preamp is incredibly easy and it will make a big difference in sound quality over the cheap built in unit. Try it, it’s an easy test to do.
Bought mine Dec 2018. Anti-skate, balance, and height adjust work just fine. You forgot to mention synchronized pitch, pitch adjust, and line out option to bypass the pre amp. Works perfectly! Sounds great.
You mention the 4 parts of the setup a lot, but never the common option of an amp that has phono in. In that case you don't need a pre-amp, and don't use the built in pre-amp either... Lots of amplifiers have them.
Hi Jarrett (or someone else that might know the answer.) This might be a stupid question. When the last song is played on one of the sides and the stylus starts spinnin' near the label on the record and I don't get there in time before this happens - will it damage the record or the needle? (on a manual player) I want to be an active listener, but what if the music is so calming that I've fallen asleep? Love your videos! They are very calm, welcoming, funny and informative. - asked by a worried vinyl virgin.
Hi Sofia. sorry for this late answer. Don't worry, if your turntable is 100% manual like the Audio Technica LP-120 by example, you can let the vinyl disc spinning without any problems as long as you want... at the end of the face the needle will stay on the last groove till the day after if you desire it ;-) It has been studied for this case too :-) It will not damage the stylus or the engine (you will just use the stylus for nothing) The real problem is for your bill ;-) Electricity is not for free... If you want an automatic start of the arm at the beginning of the disc (such as an automatic stop at the end), you've got to buy a full automatic turntable. The semi automatics ones are the turntables which only stop at the end of the disc (you've only got to place manualy the stylus at the beginning of the track you want to listen to). Turntables such as Audio Technica LP-120 has been made for DJs. Automatics and semi automatics ones are more "comfortable" for people who want just to listen to the music. Lol I'm a bad example : I'm not a DJ but I decided to buy an Audio Technica because I was interested by the many possibilities this turntable offers (like choice between 33 45 of 78 rpm, control of the speed, calibration of the tone arm and of the anti skating, quartz, well-known robustness of the engine, pre-amplifier within...).
As someone who does this regularly with my own turntable, I can tell you that you will more likely do more damage to the vinyl than you will the needle. But generally, I wouldn't worry about it.
Would love you to review a nicer Audio Tehnica AT-LP7 with a nicer top MM cartridge like the VM760SLC to have a system for fraction of the money go against systems 3-5x more expensive. Wow and Flutter
Hello friend, your videos are very well explained and they've helped me a lot, I bought my first turntable, an Audio Technica LP120 four days ago and I love it!. thank you for your advices and recommendations. Sorry for my English. Greetings from Spain!
DONT BUY CROSLEY!!! I bought a cruiser deluxe at Christmas. A month ago broke and now the seller dont give my money back!!!!! I hate that sht. It cost me 140€ Are you going to risk????
Crosley are crap . I bought a entry level ION and they ard just as crapy . I played it about 20 times over a year and the next the tone arm seized and would lower about 2 millimeters from the record but never reach the grooves no matter what the tracking was . I tried lubricating it . I tried to give it to a vinyl junkie and he said no way !
Kind of expensive for me but I’m looking for the lp60 turntable for sure, I got a victrolla turntable, it is aight but the lp60 will definitely be better for me
I am very old school when it comes to turntables. My main table is a Denon DP 60L from 1980. Very few tables built today under $500 are, in my opinion, worth a crap. But I must say that your AT is an exception and for anyone one getting into vinyl today, would be a sound choice. At one time I was considering buying the non USB version of it. Great video Jarrett!!
Gotta ask - what were the improvements you heard with the upgrade? I appreciate the quality, and have been buying turntables since the 1970's - but I think a lot of readers here would like to learn more.
Alan Maier The anti-skate is worlds better on the Carbon, My Cue leaver was wearing out on the at-lp120 as well.. theres also no built in digital stuff in the carbon
If the switch on the back to bypass the preamp worked properly, folks wouldn't have to void the warranty and remove the preamp to get the best possible sound. Unfortunately, the direct "phono out" is not really a direct output. High frequencies are sacrificed using that signal path. 78rpm isn't important to me, so I would rather spend a little extra for a Pioneer PLX-500 rather than mod this AT.
I'm the proud owner of a vintage , ( circa 70's ) , Yamaha turntable . What's especially sweet about this particular model is that the tone arm needs to be placed on the record manually , via the cue stick , but automatically lifts when the disc is done playing . You make a good point about lowering and lifting the tone arm yourself , but , sadly , my hand tends to shake whenever I go that route .
Excellent! Our TT's are in the same family. Your's is just a lot nicer. I have to agree. It's amazing how they are so old, yet still so damn good today. I love mine (would love to have yours though!)
Thank you ! I know there's a lot of great turntables out there , but frankly , I'd loath having to replace mine , so I'm counting on it to out last me .... And , the way things are going , it probably will .
I bought this one a couple of years ago based on your recommendation. I love love love it. Only thing I'm sad about is there's no auto return. I can't go to sleep while listening to a record.
if it makes you feel any better, the needle in the groove doesn't hurt the needle or the record; but i'm sure you don't wanna hear the clicks & pops all night long
Brother the music fan I also bought this)))! I live in Russia! cool machine, can now listen to my favourite Bon Jovi, Michael Jackson and Dire Straits of course
The Anti-Skate doesn't work on most of them as I found out today when i tried to adjust mine... Some of the things I'm finding out about this turntable makes me want to return it since I just bought it today. 315.00 and some change isn't cheap for some simple problems.
Untrue, the anti-skate works very well on all non-defective models. This is a persistent myth about budget turntables. Even crosleys have anti-skate, even though you can’t adjust it.
The lp60 is ok, and sounds pretty good, but you can't adjust the tracking force, anti skating, or cartridge alignment. You also can't upgrade the cartridge and you're stuck with very few stylus options. The at-lp3 is another option, slightly cheaper than the at-lp120. It's belt driven, fully automatic, and does away with the DJ pitch slider and reverse playing. It has an adjustable tonearm with a real headshell so you can upgrade cartridges. I'd spend the extra and get one of those instead of the lp60.
My LP-60 suddenly started playing records faster. No noticable tempo change, but the pitch was higher. It started off slight, then got to the point where it was between normal and chipmunk. So if you have the money, LP-120.
Absolutely loved your review! I have the black LP-120 myself and I have loved it ever since I got it! I did upgrade my cartridge to the Ortofon 2M Red and it blew the stock Audio Technica cartridge out of the water! If you're considering this turntable, consider upgrading the cartridge to something nicer because the difference will be night and day.
Pois sincmente não gosto da Ortofon não canta nada audio técnica para mim é excelente qualidade musical e qualidade em tudo preço qualidade Mais nada nada melhor pêlo preço bate mesmo muitas Marcas famosas caríssimas viva a áudio técnica
I have tried a few turntables and the reason I like the LP120 over the U-Turn, Project or Fluance is the interchangeable headshell feature. My current set up is the LP120 with the AT95E cartridge an upgraded Dynaco SCA-35 and Elac Debut 2 speakers. Very happy with the sound of this setup.
@@thisnamedosntmatter2u352 well mine came with an issue on the tone arm i guess it was a manufacturing issue so antiskate doesn't work and the arm moves back in place by itself
I've been reading up on turn tables over the past 3 years. I have an lp60 USB. Honestly, the lp120 has so many faults being built in China. The antiskate often fails. The units have a bad track record of reliability. Just get a lp60 for 100 bucks or 130 with good Mackie speakers on eBay. If you want a direct drive just save for a technics. This video is biased because he sells through his description. The lp120 is NOT built like a tank. It is cheap Chinese plastic.
The A-T LP120 is not build like a tank!! The original Technics is! This thing is build cheap and the reason why its heavy is just because there is a plumb plate in it! This review is full of shit.
Nice review! I've had an LP120 USB-HC model for a few months now (comes with the newer headshell design), and it sounds fantastic! A few years ago, I had a Technics SL-1200 mkII that was an awesomely built thing, but sounded very dull - over damped. This AT is a much more natural and realistic sounding player to me (and I've been doing this HiFi/Turntable thing now for over 35 years - selling, and enjoying!). Great to see turntables like these less expensive Chinese versions being designed/tuned by larger vintage manufacturers like Audio Technica, and performing so well, especially at the price, and offering more than the original Technics model that they look like - and to me, manage to sound better; more open mids and vocals, better bass, and sweeter treble... and that's with the supplied AT95E cartridge (which has always been well regarded). So... nice review, and long-live the AT-LP120 USB turntable!! It's a good'un ;-)
Vinyl Eyezz TANK YOU SO MUCH. i love this channel.is it a brief or super in detail. by the way i love the little phrases you put under your name in the beginning of the video
I own the LPGO (Walmart exclusive LP60X BT) but one day, ONE day, I will buy one of these. But right now, after bringing in my Crosley Cruiser for the LPGO, I don’t regret that purchase one bit. Audio Technica offers lower end models, but one thing’s for sure, they don’t make garbage.
As someone new to the records and record playing, I admit that brands including Crosley and Vitrola did entice me with their portable, chic looking record players. However after doing some research I have decided on the Audio Technica AT-LP60BK Turn table as my first record player. It is just around the $100 mark, which is what I've been looking to spend for my first record player. Hope it works out.
I prefer the old school automatics from the 70's and early 80's. They are made beautifully and are just as fun to watch operate as they are awesome are to listen to.
I don't mind starting the record manually as I am a lot more gentle laying down the cue lever and needle than most tables, that said I do like auto stop but that can also be inconvenient too if you have any special records that have music under the label like that one jack white record.
Eh, double-edged sword to me. On the one hand, having a fully automatic one means less chance of accidentally moving the tone arm sideways while dropping the needle, and therefore scratching your records...However, an automatic mechanism means just another complicated mechanism that can break. So I think the more "dumb" the machine, the less it has to do, and therefore in theory, it should last longer.
I own a vintage audio / hi fi audio shop ... Ive heard 10k dollar turntables...ive heard 30 dollar turntables.. The 120 sounds AS GOOD as any table in the 500-4k$ tables without a doubt .
Can't beat the SL-1200 mkII. This is a copy of that original 1979 design with a few unnecessary upgrades. Matsushita canned their production of the Technics 1200 series as production was slowed to below 20,000 p.a right after the grand daddy M5g.
It is a nice copy. The Technics SL-1200 has a solid aluminum base while this has a plastic base (with with a large weight added to reduce vibration). However for the average user, this is just fine. Keep in mind that most of the vintage turntables "back in the day" were also made of plastic - so I don't want to downgrade this for that reason. The next model up, the AT-LP-1240 is made of cast aluminum and it is VERY heavy.
I own an AT-1240 and believe the Pioneer is either sourced from the same maker or at least uses a lot of the same parts as do so many of the super OEM turntables. I like the omission of the fluff on the Pioneer (how many people really want to adjust the braking action?) but I believe the AT is a bit more resonance resistant. My only complaint with the AT is the arm bearings, which to me seem a bit too sloppy however I can't say it degrades the performance. I do have a vintage audiophile cartridge installed (an Audio Technica AT-15Ea) which was a high end cartridge long ago. I actually do use the USB. I bought mine for easy archiving (accepting the ultimate fidelity loss) and yet still have a very solid build turntable that should last for years and also be resistant to feedback. But I also own 2 vintage audiophile type turntables so I can live with a little less perfection of what the preamp circuit might do to the cartridge loading. I can say the cartridge is live when the deck is off when the AT is set for phono gain, so the signal is not going through the preamp at all modes.
Alan Maier Wow, that's very interesting. If you had to say, which of the two decks do you believe is more true to the original engineering marvel, the Technics 1200?
Yet not everyone is an audiophile and therefore cares about any of these things. They want an inexpensive cool looking record player that sounds "good enough". The "snobbery", where people like this guy think their reason for valuing a record player is the only relevant one, are the ones who scoff at crosley because, for some reason, those vinyl fans don't exist or don't matter. "why's crosley bad? "Because it doesn't have the things we like" "what about the other people who's needs it suits just fine?" "what other people?.... well they don't count I guess, we don't cater to them." Before there's any retort. Yes, if he's not acknowledging that they're fine for people looking for a particular thing, then yeah, he's simply ignoring people. For being a vinyl oriented channel (as opposed to an audiophile channel) who people of all enjoyment levels and styles will go to for information its basically just saying 'this is why you should like vinyl' and therefore 'that isn't something you should like'. I get it, he's appealing to what is probably his developed fan base. But I think the echo chamber might be starting to effect him.
I need your opinion if I should get the LP120 or the project essential 2, I've been on the fence about both and now that I've saved enough for one of them, I can ditch my current turntable and get one. Well this is a question for everyone too
You know, 6.5lbs out of those 25lbs come from a metal plate in the bottom of the table. It's not "build quality" per se, even though it will help to damp vibrations. Also, the heavier counterweight is meant to be used with heavier cartridges when the standard counterweight might not be enough to adjust VTF properly.
Was your first turntable a Crosley Cruiser? You whine about it like you had a bad relationship with it. Also, the Audio Techinca LP120 is a knock off of the Technics 1200, which is a turntable made of real quality.
+Jay P - "Also, the Audio Techinca LP120 is a knock off of the Technics 1200,..." - - All these Direct Drive DJ Turrntables are clones of each other, and despite current used prices being outrageous on Technics 1200/1210, they are no better than similar turntables available to day from Sony, Pioneer, Reloop, Stanton, Audio Technica, and others. In the day, the Technic 1200 was about a $300 to $400 turntable, today you can buy the equivalent or superior in the $500 to $600 range. The Equivalent would not be the Audio Technical LP120, which is low end, it would be the LP1240 ($450) - - www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-AUD-ATLP1240USB
I wouldn't say it is a knock off, more of a revival. My dad has a Technics SL-1200 but they have since stopped making them. Audio Technica have brought the design and features of that original turntable back which allows people who can't afford an original Technics one to still get effectively the same thing for a much smaller price tag.
Not Revival but Rival. These turntables are referred to as Super OEM. They are generally all made by the same company, and no one really own the rights to them. If you look closely at Reloop, Stanton, Audio Technica, Pioneer, and the old or the new Technics, they all appear very much the same. Typically with no more than slight cosmetic modifications. Though occasionally there are mods or improvements under the hood - speed control, motor quality, etc... But for the most part, they are all based on the same design.
Ugh........ok, the preamp in the LP120 is awful. Absolutely awful. You don't need to rip out the board though. Going through the board will arguably add a slight bit of resistance that may SLIGHTLY effect the high-end response of your cartridge (look up the measurements of different OHM loads on the 2m Red, its somewhat interesting), but if you don't remove it you are still benefiting from getting rid of that garbage. You can buy a $50 preamp that will sound better.....even a $20 Pyle is arguably built to better standards than what is a cheap throw in. Also, the counter weight thing-changing to the heavier counterweight will not give you better sound quality. Getting a heavier counterweight is to compensate for a heavier cartridge. I have a collection of 20 that I'm measuring now for an article, and the weight range of them is somewhat absurd. Getting the heavier counterweight will give you a wider range of weight available for the heavier cartridges, but even then it will not likely come into play as I'm guessing you aren't going to be using a very heavy cartridge any time soon. I appreciate the distinction when you call out Crosley, but even they have a couple high-end tables that are decent. For what its worth, the C200 is made at the same factory as the LP120, though with a lower-torque direct drive motor and cheaper tonearm/body, and the C20 is actually a very impressive little beast. I'm sorry if I come off as crass here, I've been going through channels to get some perspective on misconceptions, etc that are out there on the phono world. For what its worth, your channel is one of the better ones for the entry level person. Its more that when I see inaccuracies on a channel like yours they sorta pop out more than others.
Drew B Question; I know a lot of factors affect tracking of a stylus in the groove, does a heavy cartridge with a heavy counter weight improve tracking stability by adding mass to the tone arm assembly?
I have the Audio-technica model AT-LP120-USB black deck a little over 2 years and not going to change it for another model for quite a while. I also have 78 RPM records and use the cartridge for them. 78 RPM records are almost hard to find.. You find them get it and keep it....
A lot of people banging on about Technics SL-1200. Ok, back in the 80s I was the authorized dealer for Technics and the 1200/1210mk2 was the only show in town, it wasn't meant to be a DJ Deck, it just became that, yes there were others too like Pink Triangle, Linn Sondek, B&O Beogram and the Swiss brand, Thorens but the 1210mk2 was my favourite and the best cartridges were Audio-Technica followed by Shure and Ortofon. The absolute best was Koetsu signature which was £5000 THEN. Today if I had to choose between a Linn, Technics or an Audio-Technica, I'd pick the Audio-Technica in a heartbeat. See where Technics faded into obscurity in the 90s, Audio-Technica emerged as it's 'successor' and the LP120 is engineered like a Mercedes Benz 500SEL - though I still dig Technics, Denon and Sansui amps from that era of audio.
Excellent, informative video... what's more, very nicely presented. I've often looked at the LP120 as a second player. I currently have a Pro-ject Debut Carbon Esprit and I love it, but at some point I would like a second player with a S-shaped arm.
Great review, but yanking the preamp is the best option even if it voids the warranty. I did so over 2 years ago and just recently soldered in a pair of Blue Jeans Cables directly to the tone arm wires. Why so extreme? The preamp sucked by my standards, and now I get the best sound possible with my AT440MLa cartridge. Not all of us can buy a better built and more expensive TT so I learned many tricks here on YT to tweak what I have. The upgrade I did can easily be done if you have all the proper equipment and know how.
To anyone considering purchasing this turntable. There are a couple of things you should know first... I purchased one a few years back, right off the bat the platter was BADLY warped & the anti skate did not work AT ALL (which are two common problems with these tables). I mean it did absolutely nothing, it was useless. I called Audio Technica about the platter, they told me to take a video of the platter spinning & send it to them. I did that & they told me to send the warped platter to them & they would send me a new one, which they did. When the same model in glossy black was available to purchase (AT-LP120BK), I sold mine on ebay & bought the newer, black model because I definitely preferred the black finish over silver but mainly because I wanted this table with a WORKING ANTI-SKATE. After setting it up I found the anti-skate on this one also DID NOTHING AT ALL AS WELL!. I recently contacted Audio Technica telling them exactly what I have explained here, they replied with an AUTOMATED message. "Hi James, Thanks for the inquiry and contacting Audio-Technica U.S., Inc (ATUS.) The AT-LP120-USB was designed as a DJ turntable. Due to its excellent sound, quality and low cost, audiophiles started using and recommending it as an audiophile turntable. The AT-LP120 was designed with the DJ in mind and has features to meet that need such as being able to reverse the direction of the turntable and robustness for record scratching. According to one manufacturer of high end phono cartridges and tone arms, a somewhat weak anti-skate mechanism might be just right for low-compliance, DJ-oriented cartridges and one of our other competitors even recommends setting anti-skate to zero for DJ use. Therefore, the AT-LP120-USB does not have the same anti-skate adjustments that you would find on a high end (and high cost) audiophile turntable. You may look into the AT-LP5 which is more designed for audiophiles and has a stronger anit-skate." Basically, they are telling me if I want a WORKING anti-skate, I have to purchase their $500 table. They are also saying the table was designed with the DJ in mind & because of that the anti-skate was made "somewhat weak" on purpose. Firstly, the anti-skate is not weak, it is NON-FUNCTIONING. Secondly, this turntable has been modeled after the famous Technics 1200, which is a DJ table. Does anyone think that table has a worthless, "weak" anti-skate? I highly doubt it. I am not knocking the AT-LP120. It's a very nice table for the price but to reply with an automated bullshit response, especially to a customer who has purchased TWO of their tables like myself, is unacceptable.
James Zee those Idiots at Audio Technica😡 screw them! If I had $500 bucks to spend, I Definitely would Not get an Audio Technica! I would get a Rega Planar 1!! I
"Kill your Crosley and buy quality" LOL.... Audio Technica LP-120 (and the rest models) considered to be "quality" turntables ? Well, my dear friend ...i really like your channel and your advices also. You have analyzed almost everything about this particular model BUT...you NEVER said a word about its anti-skate ..which is a HUGE fail! Actually this anti-skate feature it is there ONLY as a decoration!!! So..when you reach your goal (10.000 subscribers)..do yourself a favor and don't break only the Crosley ..but the ATLP-120 as well !
thrashwar From what I heard from someone is that since 2017 Audio Technica fixed the anti-skate issue, and since then I've been seeing less people complaining about it.
there is nothing magical about a manual turntable or listening to pops and crackle from the record...i get the point of a low cost turntable to get started . but there,s lots of better tables to choose from.new and used. i would not advise on a manual turntable .once(all the fun is gone) it,s a pain in the ass to get up and take the arm off at the end of the album play. i recommend good older direct drive fully automatic .with a new needle (stylus) a good small amp (can be used) or a new or used receiver .and two good bookshelf speakers ,there again can be used or new . remember quality in sound cost money...but there is a ton of good used equipment out there to find.-------we all know that audio technica is a low cost copy of the sl-1200 by technics ,that being said it will do the job of playing albums.....for most of us older guys playing vinyl records is the best way to listen music .why do you think vinyl is on a big comeback . and the sl 1200 mk 2 technics turntable has never gone out of style .....remember this is a great fun hobby
Great info. Have you looked at the U-Turn? It's hard for me to imagine the AT LP being better. I don't like the built in pre-amp. It doesn't give you the flexibly in upgrading. The upgraded needles w/ the UTURN, the Grado Labs Black1 or Blue, both provide amazing smooth sound. And starting at $179.00 - it a fun rig to start with imho. Just my thoughts. Enjoy your videos! Thanks.
The Audio Tecnica LP60 is an OK turntable. It won't hurt your albums, but it has a poor tonearm, and is only good for very minimal systems. That's OK, that's all some people want. But I would only recommend it to someone on a starvation budget. Generally, the LP120 is the minimum I would go. Again, if you intend your system to be very limited and your budget is also very limited, the LP60 will do no harm. But there are certainly better turntables out there for a reasonable price. It is all about budget and perspective. On a limited budget, the LP60 is just OK.
Myah Kip yes it is a great turntable for someone looking into beginning a collection. it's simple to assemble and set up, the tone arm is even automatic if you don't want to set the stylus on the record manually. it's great for the price you are paying for it.
I mean no disrespect, but you have a very low end system. That is, low end for quality equipment. If we break it down, you have $250 to $300 in the turntable, about $150 in the amp, about $100/pr in the speakers, and best guess $200 in the Sub. So, $300 + $150 + $100 + $200 = $750. That is the entry level of a decent Stereo system. If you are more into CDs, then a CD Player is going to cost roughly the same as the Turntable, so the price is virtually the same. If you prefer to Stream your music, both locally or over the Internet, that typically costs about $500, though the range is closer to $150 up to about $1500, with options in the roughly $300 range. But the standard Streaming systems are about $500. I'm not criticizing this system, simply helping people gather some perspective. Today, in today's market, $750 is roughly the starting point for a Separates. He has upgraded his speakers so I suspect he has well over $1000 into his system now. Plus he as added a better cartridge, a new mat, and other upgrades, so most certainly over $1000. Again, nice system, just adding perspective. He has chosen very high value in every category, and come out with a very nice system.
The anti skating knob doesn't work on the LP-120 at all and height adjustment for the tone arm is wrong. Sound quality wise it is "ok" with the AT120E cartridge at least. If I would be in the market for a turntable, I'd probably spend a little more on the Pioneer PLX1000 or get a 2nd hand Technics.
I have a bit of a question about mine if anyone can help. When spinning I can hear a slight wiring coming from my turntable. I don't think I can hear it through my speakers but is this something that's likely to get worse? Should I be worried?
6:59 "Playing digital tracks of vinyl records kind of defeats the purpose of buying vinyl records" True, but I have a hard time keeping the turntable from bouncing and skipping when I want to listen to my albums in the car.
Have you considered installing springs under your car? Then it would be floaty and records wouldn't skip anymore.
perkl1234 Wooooosh
Transferring the songs to a computer file would be very good for enjoyment in the car.
Seamus McKeon I think you got woooooshed lmfao
@@perkl1234 its good to have so you can rip the tracks from the record incase its a rare record and youd like to share it with somebody digitally
Do yourself a favor and buy this turn table if you’re serious about sound quality and vinyl collecting in general. This thing is a dream
Just bought it today 🔥
Code plo same! About to set it up how are you liking it?
how much it cost cuz i got the LP60x
Beastly Hippo I got it for $280 after taxes
Code plo not bad maybe when i get more LPs ill get it
7:00 I can think of atleast one benefit when transferring vinyl to the MP3 format. There are some vinyl recordings in existence that were never transferred to any other format (which is atleast ¼ of my vinyl collection). But having the option to transfer to MP3 allows me to enjoy the "vinyl only" music from my iPod and listen to that music when I'm away from my home/turntable.
oh? UPLOAD THEM!!
There’s also the purpose of sampling records if you are a music producer (hip hop, pop, electronic, etc)
That's especially true with a lot of 78 records. Tons of that hasn't been transferred.
@@atombriones1805 If I still had my PC I totes would but for now those vinyl only MP3's are confined to my iPod and external hard drive.🤷♂️
@@smallsthetimelord4066 Absolutely!
“Kill your crowsly and buy quality,” that should be on a t shirt.
So no AudioTechnica either!
Keith B why not My technics mk1210 is Pretty good
I think he was saying Audio Technica turntables aren't really quality hardware either... Now Technics equipment is a different animal- they're at the high end of the market, very good machines -- but have no relation with AT.
No, technics is mid-fi at best. Get a clue.
Over hyped dj gear.
Upgrade to a good belt drive for audiophile. Something with a perimeter belt or string drive.
Music Hall mmf7 minimum.
Plan to spend $1600+
@@keithb6717 - are you joking? A Technics SL-1000R will set you back $20,000 USD IF you can find one being sold at cost. As far as fidelity goes, these are THE high water mark in the industry- at the bleeding edge of what's possible with our technology today. As far as SL-1200s being over-hyped; maybe today- but even being the entry level in Technics lineup- compared to all other direct-drive tables- they're the best you can get.
I just went out with my dad to go get this for Christmas and I’m hyped
Is it worth it?
@@tomjackson7193 yeah its been great, I say go for it
@@piercethxchris what speakers did you get?
@@michaelsilvestri202 I got black kanto yu2 speakers
The lp 120 is actually made by Hanpin in China. They also make the Crosley C-100.
All junk!
We'll said.
Ha ha, Ion is a joke
The ATLP120 was plagued with cheap hardware- a non working anti skate, along with an awful sounding preamp board. That said, as a beginner turntable on average audio equipment (as these are likely to be used as)- it's sonic shortcomings would not be a major issue. The ATLP120X is a better sounding unit, even if it has some cost-cutting employed by the removal of certain features. Honestly, any used Technics SL-1200 in decent shape- even one that's 30 years old- makes all of the AT turntables look like cheap garbage. Yeah the new 1200s are expensive but worth every penny.
Alan Sasek I spoke to the Audio Technica team at CES this year and they made the following improvements with the updated “x” line; they eliminated the motor noise, and bypassed the preamp when in phono mode.
I kept my Crosley around just to clean my vinyls on xD
I just got my Audio Technica LP120XUSB today in silver, I had to order it online, an average store doesn't carry it. I set it up and it sounds amazing. Thanks Jarred for all your pointers and insight, you're the reason I got this turntable. I'm listening to original vinyls of ABBA, Eurythmics, and Fleetwood Mac tonight, and they all sound awesome. Thanks again!
What speakers do you have?
I just bought this turntable with Bluetooth connectivity as an option; and it is absolutely stunning. I’m upgrading from a Victrola suitcase player that my fiancé got me for my birthday last year, and it did the job, but I felt it was time for an upgrade, ajd it was so worth it :)
I was like “I’ll get this one!”
But…
When I saw the price… $1,000
Jarrett, your the reason I got my LP-120 and I love it. I also love your videos, keep them coming.
thank you for watching! :D
Just watched your review of the Fluance RT81 and now this one. Fluance RT81 is light, which is good! LP120 is heavy, which is good! RT81 is belt driven, so no rumble, which is good. LP120 is direct drive is consistent, which is good!
I understand there are pros and cons for everything, but it would be useful to have an actual analysis of the benefits of each rather than raving about everything.
These are the positive aspects of these designs. There is no "analysis" of these benefits which will tell you which is "better". Proponents of each of these designs like the positive aspects more than the negative. You get to pick what you like more based on understanding these positive features, but it means you have to actively decide, not wait for an "analysis" to decide for you...
If you really want to hear people rave, read about idler drives and the people who love those. Just remember that vinyl people are a little bit nutty sometimes. Don't be surprised when you can't hear what other people think they hear. Mostly people are just hearing what they want to hear :)
Whenever I have my first job interview, the only thing I’m gonna be able to remember is “Turntable, preamp, amplifier, speakers”
“KILL your Crosley” that’s all i needed to know
I am amazed at how affordable hi fi has become. Part of me is skeptical (owning lots of vintage audio), although part of me also wants to reach for my credit card.
I have been very happy with my AT-LP 120 turntable. I've had almost a year now and it has performed perfectly. One thing to consider once you're had the turntable a while is upgrading the magnetic cartridge. The AT95E is a good cartridge but a higher end cartridge will sound even better. There are many catridges out there so I would let you decide on which one to buy if you decide that you want a better cartridge. All that is strictly up to you. If you are satisfied with the AT95E there's no need to do anything.
That was super helpful, thanks!
no problem!
So manually working the tonearm every time you want to start or stop a record is “magical” but the one time act of attaching the turntable to a preamp is too much work? Pushing a couple RCA cables into the back of a decent preamp is incredibly easy and it will make a big difference in sound quality over the cheap built in unit. Try it, it’s an easy test to do.
Kids play with Juul cartridges, men play with turntable cartridges
I have this turntable and it's great! My childhood love of LPs has been revived!
Avatar610 I'm getting an Audio Technica LP60
Can you tell me what speakers you have?
Yea I gotta say listening to this dude gets a bit annoying, but he does give good information
agreed
I was thinking about getting this turntable, but I decided that i'm getting the Project Debut Carbon instead.
So what happened? Please share your impressions, thanks
I have this turntable and it's awesome
Best money I ever spend on an audio device
HUGE upgrade, good call. I had a DEBUT CARBON but then I upgraded to the new X1, also by PRO-JECT. Great company, great ‘tables
Yuck. The Rega 1 is the cheapest decent table.
Bought mine Dec 2018. Anti-skate, balance, and height adjust work just fine. You forgot to mention synchronized pitch, pitch adjust, and line out option to bypass the pre amp. Works perfectly! Sounds great.
I actually like Garbage's sound... they stood out in a time when the whole angsty alternative scene was getting very crowded.
Their last album 'Strange Little Birds' (2016) is probably one of their best since their 90s releases.
Never heard of them until Captain Marvel lmao but I’m glad I did
@@elmandarin1002 Lol! Check out their album 'Version 2.0' 👌🏽
One of my top 5 bands of all-time!
They had a cool sound
You mention the 4 parts of the setup a lot, but never the common option of an amp that has phono in. In that case you don't need a pre-amp, and don't use the built in pre-amp either...
Lots of amplifiers have them.
I got the lp120x for christmas. It is the best record player i have ever listened to. It sounds much better than the victrola turntable i had.
kill your turntable and buy quality with a cd player half the prize of the at-lp 120,because IMO cd is the superior format.
Or if you are smart scour ebay for a vintage turntable that works and sounds musical
If you put more weight on your cartridge than it recommend weight your records will will wear up!
Hi Jarrett (or someone else that might know the answer.)
This might be a stupid question.
When the last song is played on one of the sides and the stylus starts spinnin' near the label on the record and I don't get there in time before this happens - will it damage the record or the needle? (on a manual player)
I want to be an active listener, but what if the music is so calming that I've fallen asleep?
Love your videos! They are very calm, welcoming, funny and informative.
- asked by a worried vinyl virgin.
Lol I found the answer to my "problem". I'm gonna leave the comment here if someone else is worryin' about falling asleep ---> www.thequp.com/
Hi Sofia. sorry for this late answer. Don't worry, if your turntable is 100% manual like the Audio Technica LP-120 by example, you can let the vinyl disc spinning without any problems as long as you want... at the end of the face the needle will stay on the last groove till the day after if you desire it ;-) It has been studied for this case too :-) It will not damage the stylus or the engine (you will just use the stylus for nothing) The real problem is for your bill ;-) Electricity is not for free... If you want an automatic start of the arm at the beginning of the disc (such as an automatic stop at the end), you've got to buy a full automatic turntable. The semi automatics ones are the turntables which only stop at the end of the disc (you've only got to place manualy the stylus at the beginning of the track you want to listen to). Turntables such as Audio Technica LP-120 has been made for DJs. Automatics and semi automatics ones are more "comfortable" for people who want just to listen to the music. Lol I'm a bad example : I'm not a DJ but I decided to buy an Audio Technica because I was interested by the many possibilities this turntable offers (like choice between 33 45 of 78 rpm, control of the speed, calibration of the tone arm and of the anti skating, quartz, well-known robustness of the engine, pre-amplifier within...).
As someone who does this regularly with my own turntable, I can tell you that you will more likely do more damage to the vinyl than you will the needle. But generally, I wouldn't worry about it.
Do you have a video comparing LP120 vs LP120x?
Is the turntable running backwards at 7:17 or did I drink too many beers?
yeah I spun it backwards lol
@@vinyleyezz The LP120 has a reverse feature which was not mentioned in the video. Great video though, I would also recommend this turntable.
I'm sp tiered of "The vinyl audio set up"😅
Song of the Day: Rods and Cones by Blue Man Group
Would love you to review a nicer Audio Tehnica AT-LP7 with a nicer top MM cartridge like the VM760SLC to have a system for fraction of the money go against systems 3-5x more expensive. Wow and Flutter
Hello friend, your videos are very well explained and they've helped me a lot, I bought my first turntable, an Audio Technica LP120 four days ago and I love it!. thank you for your advices and recommendations. Sorry for my English.
Greetings from Spain!
+jonathubes no problem man! Your English is very good! Thank you for watching my videos! More on the way! :)
This turntable is garbage.U can't even dj with it
dude, you look like my band teacher
DONT BUY CROSLEY!!!
I bought a cruiser deluxe at Christmas. A month ago broke and now the seller dont give my money back!!!!!
I hate that sht. It cost me 140€
Are you going to risk????
Crosley are crap . I bought a entry level ION and they ard just as crapy . I played it about 20 times over a year and the next the tone arm seized and would lower about 2 millimeters from the record but never reach the grooves no matter what the tracking was . I tried lubricating it . I tried to give it to a vinyl junkie and he said no way !
Why are they make those things????
Ma bro i took my money back and bought Tehnics
Kind of expensive for me but I’m looking for the lp60 turntable for sure, I got a victrolla turntable, it is aight but the lp60 will definitely be better for me
KUASIMOTO. I'm getting an Audio Technica LP60 soon
Absolutely agree. It's a phenomenal player while not destroying your wallet.
I am very old school when it comes to turntables. My main table is a Denon DP 60L from 1980. Very few tables built today under $500 are, in my opinion, worth a crap. But I must say that your AT is an exception and for anyone one getting into vinyl today, would be a sound choice. At one time I was considering buying the non USB version of it. Great video Jarrett!!
You are so right, vintage tables are so much better, I have a Pioneer PL-530 and it sounds awesome.
What about lp60
The only thing I hate about modern record players is that non of them feature 16 RPM and I have some records that run at 16 RPM
Need to buy an old school turntable. $$$ td124 etc
I was going to biy this turntable but I decided to go with the Debut Carbon Esprit SB
I moved from the LP120 to a Debut Carbon :)
Damn, that's like minimalistic as it gets.
Yeah but believe me it's worth it
Gotta ask - what were the improvements you heard with the upgrade? I appreciate the quality, and have been buying turntables since the 1970's - but I think a lot of readers here would like to learn more.
Alan Maier The anti-skate is worlds better on the Carbon, My Cue leaver was wearing out on the at-lp120 as well.. theres also no built in digital stuff in the carbon
In australia it costs like 600$
You know that this turntable is a Technics SL1200 MK2 clone, right?
Without the Technics price! (and metal body)
Thank god for you. This guy keeps on recommending poorly made Japanese clones
Or build quality, or reputation...
@@talktalk3269 it's not poorly made. And for this price probably the best you can get
@@Rezje84 no you're right they are well made copies but with functions that don't work properly
If the switch on the back to bypass the preamp worked properly, folks wouldn't have to void the warranty and remove the preamp to get the best possible sound. Unfortunately, the direct "phono out" is not really a direct output. High frequencies are sacrificed using that signal path. 78rpm isn't important to me, so I would rather spend a little extra for a Pioneer PLX-500 rather than mod this AT.
I'm the proud owner of a vintage , ( circa 70's ) , Yamaha turntable . What's especially sweet about this particular model is that the tone arm needs to be placed on the record manually , via the cue stick , but automatically lifts when the disc is done playing . You make a good point about lowering and lifting the tone arm yourself , but , sadly , my hand tends to shake whenever I go that route .
Sounds a lot like mine. I too have a Vintage Yamaha YP-B2 turntable. Love it to death. What model is yours?
YP - D8 . It's an incredible turntable , and the fact that it's roughly 40 years old , never ceases to amaze me .
Excellent! Our TT's are in the same family. Your's is just a lot nicer. I have to agree. It's amazing how they are so old, yet still so damn good today. I love mine (would love to have yours though!)
Thank you ! I know there's a lot of great turntables out there , but frankly , I'd loath having to replace mine , so I'm counting on it to out last me .... And , the way things are going , it probably will .
Partial auto - like the Technics SL-1400, SL-1700, or SL-1401.
Wtf ?! A new mat will not improve the sound quality!
I got the Audio Technica LP-120 based on your advises and im pretty happy with
though i wanted to be diffrent i bought the piano finish version lol
+Acid4Blood nice! That black version looks awesome! 😄
just got mine two days ago I've been following all your set up videos too! Keep it up! Awesome job!
I bought this one a couple of years ago based on your recommendation. I love love love it. Only thing I'm sad about is there's no auto return. I can't go to sleep while listening to a record.
if it makes you feel any better, the needle in the groove doesn't hurt the needle or the record; but i'm sure you don't wanna hear the clicks & pops all night long
get a q up
chill with the crosley disses dude
Brother the music fan I also bought this)))! I live in Russia! cool machine, can now listen to my favourite Bon Jovi, Michael Jackson and Dire Straits of course
The Anti-Skate doesn't work on most of them as I found out today when i tried to adjust mine...
Some of the things I'm finding out about this turntable makes me want to return it since I just
bought it today. 315.00 and some change isn't cheap for some simple problems.
Untrue, the anti-skate works very well on all non-defective models. This is a persistent myth about budget turntables. Even crosleys have anti-skate, even though you can’t adjust it.
Damn now I'm not sure which turntable to get the lp60. Or lp120. Help. This will be my first turntable
LP 120 is moooore better than lp60. Ip60 is for children.
(In the same price take a look at PRO-JECT DEBUT CARBON)
Keisha Chan My LP60 sucks... but I am upgrading to the LP120 for Christmas!
The lp60 is ok, and sounds pretty good, but you can't adjust the tracking force, anti skating, or cartridge alignment. You also can't upgrade the cartridge and you're stuck with very few stylus options. The at-lp3 is another option, slightly cheaper than the at-lp120. It's belt driven, fully automatic, and does away with the DJ pitch slider and reverse playing. It has an adjustable tonearm with a real headshell so you can upgrade cartridges. I'd spend the extra and get one of those instead of the lp60.
My LP-60 suddenly started playing records faster. No noticable tempo change, but the pitch was higher. It started off slight, then got to the point where it was between normal and chipmunk.
So if you have the money, LP-120.
Is the cartridge pre aligned
Youre name (Jared+Garrett=Jarrett) says you're from US, your face and haircut says your a civilised Gopnik :)
Lol
You're means you are... Jesus Christ, stay in school..
But can he squat
Active speakers ussually dont have volume control...
Absolutely loved your review! I have the black LP-120 myself and I have loved it ever since I got it! I did upgrade my cartridge to the Ortofon 2M Red and it blew the stock Audio Technica cartridge out of the water! If you're considering this turntable, consider upgrading the cartridge to something nicer because the difference will be night and day.
Pois sincmente não gosto da Ortofon não canta nada audio técnica para mim é excelente qualidade musical e qualidade em tudo preço qualidade Mais nada nada melhor pêlo preço bate mesmo muitas Marcas famosas caríssimas viva a áudio técnica
I have tried a few turntables and the reason I like the LP120 over the U-Turn, Project or Fluance is the interchangeable headshell feature. My current set up is the LP120 with the AT95E cartridge an upgraded Dynaco SCA-35 and Elac Debut 2 speakers. Very happy with the sound of this setup.
I'm getting this as an early Christmas gift i can't wait
Yikes! How is it?
@@thisnamedosntmatter2u352 well mine came with an issue on the tone arm i guess it was a manufacturing issue so antiskate doesn't work and the arm moves back in place by itself
Yikes! Man that sucks
Great pfp
Automatic turntables with a built in preamp are best - not this dud, dude. 😑.
Hi there, now its 2019, Is it still good to buy Audio Technica LP120?, Can anyone answer me please? Thank you very much
Absolutely, I like mine better than my Pro Ject debut carbon!
I've been reading up on turn tables over the past 3 years. I have an lp60 USB. Honestly, the lp120 has so many faults being built in China. The antiskate often fails. The units have a bad track record of reliability. Just get a lp60 for 100 bucks or 130 with good Mackie speakers on eBay. If you want a direct drive just save for a technics. This video is biased because he sells through his description. The lp120 is NOT built like a tank. It is cheap Chinese plastic.
Yes do it .
may i use another preamp with the LP120 without have to take the built-in preamp off???
The A-T LP120 is not build like a tank!! The original Technics is! This thing is build cheap and the reason why its heavy is just because there is a plumb plate in it! This review is full of shit.
automatic record players sucks.. I have broken couple of them.. manual is good for hypos ;-)
Nice review! I've had an LP120 USB-HC model for a few months now (comes with the newer headshell design), and it sounds fantastic! A few years ago, I had a Technics SL-1200 mkII that was an awesomely built thing, but sounded very dull - over damped. This AT is a much more natural and realistic sounding player to me (and I've been doing this HiFi/Turntable thing now for over 35 years - selling, and enjoying!).
Great to see turntables like these less expensive Chinese versions being designed/tuned by larger vintage manufacturers like Audio Technica, and performing so well, especially at the price, and offering more than the original Technics model that they look like - and to me, manage to sound better; more open mids and vocals, better bass, and sweeter treble... and that's with the supplied AT95E cartridge (which has always been well regarded).
So... nice review, and long-live the AT-LP120 USB turntable!! It's a good'un ;-)
I just bought LP120XUSB, tried it today, Barbra Streisand voice is just DIVINE!
can you make A. video on everything you need for a. proper set up and prices ? Please I real?y want to start a set up but I'm lost
already working on it! :D
Vinyl Eyezz TANK YOU SO MUCH. i love this channel.is it a brief or super in detail. by the way i love the little phrases you put under your name in the beginning of the video
haha I'm glad you like those! :D
I own the LPGO (Walmart exclusive LP60X BT) but one day, ONE day, I will buy one of these. But right now, after bringing in my Crosley Cruiser for the LPGO, I don’t regret that purchase one bit. Audio Technica offers lower end models, but one thing’s for sure, they don’t make garbage.
Just curious, does the LP-120 come with the cartridge pre-aligned?
As someone new to the records and record playing, I admit that brands including Crosley and Vitrola did entice me with their portable, chic looking record players. However after doing some research I have decided on the Audio Technica AT-LP60BK Turn table as my first record player. It is just around the $100 mark, which is what I've been looking to spend for my first record player. Hope it works out.
I have the lp-60 and love it.
Wes Peoples I'm gonna get an Audio Technica LP60 too
Can I buy this record player without using and buying extra product like setup???
I prefer the old school automatics from the 70's and early 80's. They are made beautifully and are just as fun to watch operate as they are awesome are to listen to.
My father still has an old technics sl-1900 which is still in perfect condition , a masterclass in engineering that one
I don't mind starting the record manually as I am a lot more gentle laying down the cue lever and needle than most tables, that said I do like auto stop but that can also be inconvenient too if you have any special records that have music under the label like that one jack white record.
Eh, double-edged sword to me. On the one hand, having a fully automatic one means less chance of accidentally moving the tone arm sideways while dropping the needle, and therefore scratching your records...However, an automatic mechanism means just another complicated mechanism that can break. So I think the more "dumb" the machine, the less it has to do, and therefore in theory, it should last longer.
TheTarrMan me to and they are auto and also on springs and playing stacks of 45
I have no problem with my SL-1600 from the 70s. It’s a fantastic table, not to mention you can always cue manually if you so choose.
I own a vintage audio / hi fi audio shop ...
Ive heard 10k dollar turntables...ive heard 30 dollar turntables..
The 120 sounds AS GOOD as any table in the 500-4k$ tables without a doubt .
This is basically a Technics 1200, right?
Can't beat the SL-1200 mkII. This is a copy of that original 1979 design with a few unnecessary upgrades. Matsushita canned their production of the Technics 1200 series as production was slowed to below 20,000 p.a right after the grand daddy M5g.
It is a nice copy. The Technics SL-1200 has a solid aluminum base while this has a plastic base (with with a large weight added to reduce vibration). However for the average user, this is just fine. Keep in mind that most of the vintage turntables "back in the day" were also made of plastic - so I don't want to downgrade this for that reason. The next model up, the AT-LP-1240 is made of cast aluminum and it is VERY heavy.
Alan Maier
Thanks for your reply. Do you think the USB feature is worth anything? How do you think the AT-LP-1240 stacks up to the Pioneer PLX-1000?
I own an AT-1240 and believe the Pioneer is either sourced from the same maker or at least uses a lot of the same parts as do so many of the super OEM turntables. I like the omission of the fluff on the Pioneer (how many people really want to adjust the braking action?) but I believe the AT is a bit more resonance resistant. My only complaint with the AT is the arm bearings, which to me seem a bit too sloppy however I can't say it degrades the performance. I do have a vintage audiophile cartridge installed (an Audio Technica AT-15Ea) which was a high end cartridge long ago.
I actually do use the USB. I bought mine for easy archiving (accepting the ultimate fidelity loss) and yet still have a very solid build turntable that should last for years and also be resistant to feedback. But I also own 2 vintage audiophile type turntables so I can live with a little less perfection of what the preamp circuit might do to the cartridge loading. I can say the cartridge is live when the deck is off when the AT is set for phono gain, so the signal is not going through the preamp at all modes.
Alan Maier
Wow, that's very interesting. If you had to say, which of the two decks do you believe is more true to the original engineering marvel, the Technics 1200?
We get it, you don't like Crosley. Get over it? It's quite snobbish.
Yet not everyone is an audiophile and therefore cares about any of these things. They want an inexpensive cool looking record player that sounds "good enough". The "snobbery", where people like this guy think their reason for valuing a record player is the only relevant one, are the ones who scoff at crosley because, for some reason, those vinyl fans don't exist or don't matter.
"why's crosley bad?
"Because it doesn't have the things we like"
"what about the other people who's needs it suits just fine?"
"what other people?.... well they don't count I guess, we don't cater to them."
Before there's any retort. Yes, if he's not acknowledging that they're fine for people looking for a particular thing, then yeah, he's simply ignoring people. For being a vinyl oriented channel (as opposed to an audiophile channel) who people of all enjoyment levels and styles will go to for information its basically just saying 'this is why you should like vinyl' and therefore 'that isn't something you should like'. I get it, he's appealing to what is probably his developed fan base. But I think the echo chamber might be starting to effect him.
I need your opinion if I should get the LP120 or the project essential 2, I've been on the fence about both and now that I've saved enough for one of them, I can ditch my current turntable and get one. Well this is a question for everyone too
I'd highly recommend the LP-120, it's a great upgrade turntable that'll last you a really long time and sounds great!
You know, 6.5lbs out of those 25lbs come from a metal plate in the bottom of the table. It's not "build quality" per se, even though it will help to damp vibrations. Also, the heavier counterweight is meant to be used with heavier cartridges when the standard counterweight might not be enough to adjust VTF properly.
Was your first turntable a Crosley Cruiser? You whine about it like you had a bad relationship with it. Also, the Audio Techinca LP120 is a knock off of the Technics 1200, which is a turntable made of real quality.
+Jay P - "Also, the Audio Techinca LP120 is a knock off of the Technics 1200,..." - - All these Direct Drive DJ Turrntables are clones of each other, and despite current used prices being outrageous on Technics 1200/1210, they are no better than similar turntables available to day from Sony, Pioneer, Reloop, Stanton, Audio Technica, and others.
In the day, the Technic 1200 was about a $300 to $400 turntable, today you can buy the equivalent or superior in the $500 to $600 range. The Equivalent would not be the Audio Technical LP120, which is low end, it would be the LP1240 ($450) - - www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-AUD-ATLP1240USB
I wouldn't say it is a knock off, more of a revival. My dad has a Technics SL-1200 but they have since stopped making them. Audio Technica have brought the design and features of that original turntable back which allows people who can't afford an original Technics one to still get effectively the same thing for a much smaller price tag.
Not Revival but Rival. These turntables are referred to as Super OEM. They are generally all made by the same company, and no one really own the rights to them. If you look closely at Reloop, Stanton, Audio Technica, Pioneer, and the old or the new Technics, they all appear very much the same. Typically with no more than slight cosmetic modifications. Though occasionally there are mods or improvements under the hood - speed control, motor quality, etc... But for the most part, they are all based on the same design.
I'm getting The Audio Technica LP120 Record Player for Chrismas i can't wait for tow more days until Chrismas.
Ugh........ok, the preamp in the LP120 is awful. Absolutely awful. You don't need to rip out the board though. Going through the board will arguably add a slight bit of resistance that may SLIGHTLY effect the high-end response of your cartridge (look up the measurements of different OHM loads on the 2m Red, its somewhat interesting), but if you don't remove it you are still benefiting from getting rid of that garbage. You can buy a $50 preamp that will sound better.....even a $20 Pyle is arguably built to better standards than what is a cheap throw in.
Also, the counter weight thing-changing to the heavier counterweight will not give you better sound quality. Getting a heavier counterweight is to compensate for a heavier cartridge. I have a collection of 20 that I'm measuring now for an article, and the weight range of them is somewhat absurd. Getting the heavier counterweight will give you a wider range of weight available for the heavier cartridges, but even then it will not likely come into play as I'm guessing you aren't going to be using a very heavy cartridge any time soon.
I appreciate the distinction when you call out Crosley, but even they have a couple high-end tables that are decent. For what its worth, the C200 is made at the same factory as the LP120, though with a lower-torque direct drive motor and cheaper tonearm/body, and the C20 is actually a very impressive little beast.
I'm sorry if I come off as crass here, I've been going through channels to get some perspective on misconceptions, etc that are out there on the phono world. For what its worth, your channel is one of the better ones for the entry level person. Its more that when I see inaccuracies on a channel like yours they sorta pop out more than others.
Allegedly Pro-Ject actually makes one of Crosley's high-end tables.
Drew B Question; I know a lot of factors affect tracking of a stylus in the groove, does a heavy cartridge with a heavy counter weight improve tracking stability by adding mass to the tone arm assembly?
I have the Audio-technica model AT-LP120-USB black deck a little over 2 years and not going to change it for another model for quite a while. I also have 78 RPM records and use the cartridge for them. 78 RPM records are almost hard to find.. You find them get it and keep it....
I just ordered one
+lennon Krane awesome! You're gonna love it!
A lot of people banging on about Technics SL-1200. Ok, back in the 80s I was the authorized dealer for Technics and the 1200/1210mk2 was the only show in town, it wasn't meant to be a DJ Deck, it just became that, yes there were others too like Pink Triangle, Linn Sondek, B&O Beogram and the Swiss brand, Thorens but the 1210mk2 was my favourite and the best cartridges were Audio-Technica followed by Shure and Ortofon. The absolute best was Koetsu signature which was £5000 THEN. Today if I had to choose between a Linn, Technics or an Audio-Technica, I'd pick the Audio-Technica in a heartbeat. See where Technics faded into obscurity in the 90s, Audio-Technica emerged as it's 'successor' and the LP120 is engineered like a Mercedes Benz 500SEL - though I still dig Technics, Denon and Sansui amps from that era of audio.
How much you get paid to plug this?
I was asking the same
Excellent, informative video... what's more, very nicely presented. I've often looked at the LP120 as a second player. I currently have a Pro-ject Debut Carbon Esprit and I love it, but at some point I would like a second player with a S-shaped arm.
My apologies but the legendary Technics SL1200 MK2 is much better than this
FÈRNAN GARCÍA Well. In the UK, this costs £250. The SL1200 is about £1000 used. So no wonder the Technics is better .
YES.
I Cannot believe that they didn't mention the original legendary technics of which the audio technica is a blatant copy
Much better, but also much more expensive.
Great review, but yanking the preamp is the best option even if it voids the warranty. I did so over 2 years ago and just recently soldered in a pair of Blue Jeans Cables directly to the tone arm wires. Why so extreme? The preamp sucked by my standards, and now I get the best sound possible with my AT440MLa cartridge. Not all of us can buy a better built and more expensive TT so I learned many tricks here on YT to tweak what I have. The upgrade I did can easily be done if you have all the proper equipment and know how.
To anyone considering purchasing this turntable. There are a couple of
things you should know first...
I purchased one a few years back, right off the bat the platter was
BADLY warped & the anti skate did not work AT ALL (which are two
common problems with these tables). I mean it did absolutely nothing, it
was useless. I called Audio Technica about the platter, they told me to
take a video of the platter spinning & send it to them. I did that
& they told me to send the warped platter to them & they would
send me a new one, which they did. When the same model in glossy black
was available to purchase (AT-LP120BK), I sold mine on ebay & bought
the newer, black model because I definitely preferred the black finish
over silver but mainly because I wanted this table with a WORKING
ANTI-SKATE. After setting it up I found the anti-skate on this one also
DID NOTHING AT ALL AS WELL!.
I recently contacted Audio Technica telling them exactly what I have
explained here, they replied with an
AUTOMATED message.
"Hi James,
Thanks for the inquiry and contacting Audio-Technica U.S., Inc (ATUS.)
The AT-LP120-USB
was designed as a DJ turntable. Due to its excellent sound, quality and
low cost, audiophiles started using and recommending it as an
audiophile turntable. The AT-LP120 was designed with the DJ in mind
and has features to meet that need such as being able to reverse the
direction of the turntable and robustness for record scratching.
According to one manufacturer of high end phono cartridges and tone
arms, a somewhat weak anti-skate mechanism might be just right for
low-compliance, DJ-oriented cartridges and one of our other competitors
even recommends setting anti-skate to zero for DJ use. Therefore, the
AT-LP120-USB does not have the same anti-skate adjustments that you
would find on a high end (and high cost) audiophile turntable. You may
look into the AT-LP5 which is more designed for audiophiles and has a
stronger anit-skate."
Basically, they are telling me if I want a WORKING anti-skate, I have to
purchase their $500 table. They are also saying the table was designed
with the DJ in mind & because of that the anti-skate was made
"somewhat weak" on purpose. Firstly, the anti-skate is not weak, it is
NON-FUNCTIONING. Secondly, this turntable has been modeled after the
famous Technics 1200, which is a DJ table. Does anyone think that table
has a worthless, "weak" anti-skate? I highly doubt it.
I am not knocking the AT-LP120. It's a very nice table for the price but
to reply with an automated bullshit response, especially to a customer
who has purchased TWO of their tables like myself, is unacceptable.
James Zee what a Piece of 💩 this lp120 is❗️
James Zee those Idiots at Audio Technica😡 screw them! If I had $500 bucks to spend, I Definitely would Not get an Audio Technica! I would get a Rega Planar 1!! I
Planar 1 doesn't have a pitch control!
Do you know if their are any other affordable turntables that don't have these issues?
Look into the Fluance RT-81, great looking TT and great reviews
Singing chipmunks do you mean king diamond?
"Kill your Crosley and buy quality"
LOL....
Audio Technica LP-120 (and the rest models) considered to be "quality" turntables ?
Well, my dear friend ...i really like your channel and your advices also. You have analyzed almost everything about this particular model BUT...you NEVER said a word about its anti-skate ..which is a HUGE fail! Actually this anti-skate feature it is there ONLY as a decoration!!!
So..when you reach your goal (10.000 subscribers)..do yourself a favor and don't break only the Crosley ..but the ATLP-120 as well !
thrashwar From what I heard from someone is that since 2017 Audio Technica fixed the anti-skate issue, and since then I've been seeing less people complaining about it.
Just got my black LP120 in December 2018 and it works perfectly 8) no anti skate, humming, or warped platter like I hear people complain about...
Wish your videos were around when I started collecting vinyl. They are so helpful and informative! keep up the great work!
there is nothing magical about a manual turntable or listening to pops and crackle from the record...i get the point of a low cost turntable to get started . but there,s lots of better tables to choose from.new and used. i would not advise on a manual turntable .once(all the fun is gone) it,s a pain in the ass to get up and take the arm off at the end of the album play. i recommend good older direct drive fully automatic .with a new needle (stylus) a good small amp (can be used) or a new or used receiver .and two good bookshelf speakers ,there again can be used or new . remember quality in sound cost money...but there is a ton of good used equipment out there to find.-------we all know that audio technica is a low cost copy of the sl-1200 by technics ,that being said it will do the job of playing albums.....for most of us older guys playing vinyl records is the best way to listen music .why do you think vinyl is on a big comeback . and the sl 1200 mk 2 technics turntable has never gone out of style .....remember this is a great fun hobby
Great info. Have you looked at the U-Turn? It's hard for me to imagine the AT LP being better. I don't like the built in pre-amp. It doesn't give you the flexibly in upgrading. The upgraded needles w/ the UTURN, the Grado Labs Black1 or Blue, both provide amazing smooth sound. And starting at $179.00 - it a fun rig to start with imho. Just my thoughts. Enjoy your videos! Thanks.
+ShawnCIA yeah from what I've seen, the U-Turn looks like a fantastic turntable as well. In fact it's on my Top 5 picks video!
is the audio Technica lp60 a good record player also?
ΔΨβ|DeltaGroupVlogs I love mine!
DeltaFilmAdventures yeah, i got one about a year ago! a pretty great quality player for a good price.
tobinheath 17 is it good for beginners?
The Audio Tecnica LP60 is an OK turntable. It won't hurt your albums, but it has a poor tonearm, and is only good for very minimal systems. That's OK, that's all some people want. But I would only recommend it to someone on a starvation budget. Generally, the LP120 is the minimum I would go. Again, if you intend your system to be very limited and your budget is also very limited, the LP60 will do no harm. But there are certainly better turntables out there for a reasonable price. It is all about budget and perspective. On a limited budget, the LP60 is just OK.
Myah Kip yes it is a great turntable for someone looking into beginning a collection. it's simple to assemble and set up, the tone arm is even automatic if you don't want to set the stylus on the record manually. it's great for the price you are paying for it.
I mean no disrespect, but you have a very low end system. That is, low end for quality equipment. If we break it down, you have $250 to $300 in the turntable, about $150 in the amp, about $100/pr in the speakers, and best guess $200 in the Sub.
So, $300 + $150 + $100 + $200 = $750. That is the entry level of a decent Stereo system.
If you are more into CDs, then a CD Player is going to cost roughly the same as the Turntable, so the price is virtually the same.
If you prefer to Stream your music, both locally or over the Internet, that typically costs about $500, though the range is closer to $150 up to about $1500, with options in the roughly $300 range. But the standard Streaming systems are about $500.
I'm not criticizing this system, simply helping people gather some perspective. Today, in today's market, $750 is roughly the starting point for a Separates. He has upgraded his speakers so I suspect he has well over $1000 into his system now. Plus he as added a better cartridge, a new mat, and other upgrades, so most certainly over $1000.
Again, nice system, just adding perspective. He has chosen very high value in every category, and come out with a very nice system.
The anti skating knob doesn't work on the LP-120 at all and height adjustment for the tone arm is wrong. Sound quality wise it is "ok" with the AT120E cartridge at least. If I would be in the market for a turntable, I'd probably spend a little more on the Pioneer PLX1000 or get a 2nd hand Technics.
I have a bit of a question about mine if anyone can help. When spinning I can hear a slight wiring coming from my turntable. I don't think I can hear it through my speakers but is this something that's likely to get worse? Should I be worried?