Is the Audio-Technica AT-LP120-USB Direct-Drive Turntable as good as it seems? Find out if it’s worthy of the extra attention in our expert review.
Audio Technica AT-LP120-USB Turntable Review: Is It Worthy of the Brand?
The Audio Technica AT-LP120-USB Turntable
The AT-LP120-USB Direct-Drive is a professional stereo turntable by Audio-Technica, a Japanese company known for designing and manufacturing superior high quality audio equipment like turntables, magnetic cartridges, noise-cancelling headphones, microphones, and much more.
Their commitment to customer service, innovation and design has made them one of the most trusted names in the world of audio products.
For more than 50 years, Audio-Technica has been delivering a wide range of high quality products. In this review, we will take a closer look at the AT-LP120 and find out how well it stands up to the expectations from this company.
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What are Customers Saying About the AT-LP120-USB?
Overview
The exterior design of the AT-LP120 reflects the company’s commitment to passion, creativity and expertise. It is a well-made and beautiful piece of hardware that complements any décor. The turntable boasts a compact framework and it is made from die cast aluminum and plastic material.
The removable hinged upper lid is transparent and made from plastic. It works like a protective covering over the vinyl record player.
The product is equipped with a high-torque direct-drive motor that helps to give your turntable a quick start. It also comes with a USB output that helps to connect the turntable directly to the computer.
You can play your music forward and reverse, and there are three speed options – 33/45/78. It comes with an internal stereo pre-amplifier which enables the turntable to be plugged directly to the components with no turntable input.
We like the ability of AT-LP120-USB to covert the vinyl records to digital audio files so that you can listen to your favorite numbers on the go. Users can download the Mac- and PC-compatible software by Audacity which can digitalize the records within minutes.
The operation is fully manual, and it comes with a well-balanced S-shaped arm with hydraulically lift control and easily lockable rest. It aids in anti-skate adjustment, adjustable counterweight and tone-arm height adjustment.
Setting up the music system is pretty easy, and the product comes with a user manual including step by step instructions to help you. You can also watch videos to get more information on set up and user guidance.
Sound quality is really good and much better when compared to other products in this category. If you still want it louder, you can always use it with a pair of high quality headphones.
Features of the AT-LP120-USB Direct-Drive Pro Turntable
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- Measures 13.9 x 6 x 17.8 inches
- Weighs 23.5 pounds
- 20-20,000 Hz frequency response
- Channel Balance within 2.0 dB
- Alloy tube
- Full manual operation
- 3-speed type
- Made from die-cast aluminum
- Power consumption 11W
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Setting Up the AT-LP120-USB Turntable
Pros and Cons
Audio-Technica AT-LP120-USB Turntable Review
What We Like
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- The external design looks classic and highly appealing
- Sound quality is good, not excellent
- It comes with an anti-skid base
- Although the chassis is partly made of plastic, it has a good weight
- It can be used to convert LPs to MP3s with ease
- Setting up the system is pretty simple and easy
- It boasts a sleek and sophisticated look but there aren’t many controls to confuse you
- The beautiful design of the hardware goes well with most decor
- It comes with a user guide and manual with step by step instruction on how to use the product
- The customer support is useful, friendly and quick to respond
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What We Don’t Like
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- It comes with a one-year end-user limited warranty
- The mode of operation is fully manual
- It is comparatively pricier than competitive products
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Read What Audio Technica AT-LP120-USB Owners are Saying >>
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Verdict: Is the AT-LP120-USB Worth Your Investment?
The AT-LP120-USB Direct-Drive Turntable is a well-made contemporary looking turntable that catches attention with its sleek, compact form and anti-skid base. The metallic gloss adds classiness to the product and makes it perfect for all types of décor.
If you really want to remove the dust accumulated on your vinyl records and give them a new life then this may be the right time to do it. Besides enabling you to listen to your favorite old songs, you can also convert vinyl records to digitalized audio files that can be listened on the go.
Despite its compact framework, the product has weight and does not look cheap. The sound quality is good and if you want to enjoy your music louder, you can easily connect external speakers.
While we would not call it the best turntable for audiophiles, this entertainment system is good enough if quality sound is what you are after.
The customer support is absolutely fantastic. Although it costs a few extra dollars, we feel the price justifies the quality it delivers.
What Do AT-LP120-USB Turntable Owners Think? >>
- Build Quality
- Sound Quality
- Value Factor
Summary
Overall Score:
Manufacturer Info:
Website: https://www.audio-technica.com
About: Winner of numerous industry awards, Audio-Technica was established in 1962 and is a worldwide group of companies devoted to the design, manufacture, marketing and distribution of problem-solving audio equipment.
Pasi Lahtinen
I have come to notice that today’s turntables even in reviews don’t give any reals technical specifications of the turntable itself like the not of frequency range is for the cartridge that can be changed and even that info was just general. If you have a so so cartridge in excellent turntable and as good as the turntable can handle in a low end turntable even reasonable quality, the cheap one wins in sound. The cartridge cost doesn’t count. Many come without just for the reason that buyer might already have a good one or prefer to get a quality one that will cost more than this turntable. If this one has any descent specifications it would work with a better cartridge and produce superior sound. Now you only practically gave info about the operation and cartridge specs and those without any range either. Like basically you said, it turns about right speed because the stroboscope on the platter said so and the cartridge is supposed to deliver, at least what the manufacture say 20Hz to 20kHz. +/- ? db maybe 6 distortion maybe 3 % +/- some, hum who knows, we didn’t hear any or did you. So you see, I don’t blame you alone as every, or almost do the same thing and that doesn’t help anybody. You just happened to have very easy reply form. Now that is positive at least.