Audio Technica vs. Technics
I bought this Audio Technica AT-LP120BK-USB to replace my nearly 35 year old Technics SL-QX300. Had Technics currently offered a comparable turntable to my old one, I would be writing a review about that instead of this Audio Technica, because I've always been a fan of Technica stereo equipment, and almost all my component stereo gear is made by Technics (Tuner, one of my 2 Cassette Decks, one of my CD players, and my speakers).
Unfortunately, Technics seems to have abandoned this particular sector of the home stereo market, and their current offerings of turntables are quite expensive (over 1000 dollars). When I bought my old one in 1983, it was only about 150.00, and it was an intermediate model.
I have never been a fan of belt-drive turntables, so I wanted to replace my Quartz locked direct drive with another direct drive model. I found out quickly that apparently nobody offers a fully-automatic direct drive turntable (like my old one) any longer. You can only get automatic models in belt-driven turntables...which I didn't want. So, I have to get used to a manual transport model...which is a minor inconvenience.
This Audio Technica AT-LP120 is the black model (which goes well with the rest of my black components). The exterior chassis is a type of plastic, but underneath that, it's obvious there's some serious metal going on...it's quite heavy...heavier than my old Technics, which was pretty heavy in it's own right. This Audio Technica looks and feels very solid. I can't complain about the construction of the unit.
It's also physically bigger than my Technics...nearly twice as tall, and a tad wider for sure, and I think it may be a little deeper as well. I have a stereo rack with glass doors on the front and top. The top shelf, which is not adjustable, was designed for a turntable, but I never used it, because I could just barely get my Technics to fit inside, and would have had to raise that top, plus the dust cover on my old turn table both just to play a record. I've always just sat my turntable on top of the glass top. With this Audio Technica turntable, I physically can not put it on that top shelf...not only is it much taller, and the glass top of the rack would have to be removed, but the unit is just a tad too wide to fit down in the rack...but again...no big deal, because I never put my old turn table down in it either.
One of the first things I noticed about the AT-LP120BK-USB was that it DOES NOT have a ground wire like my old Technics, and most other component turntables I've seen have had. This may not be an issue...as it may not be necessary. I do know my old turntable would sometimes "hum" if you didn't have it grounded.
Now, with that in mind...one of the first things I Noticed about this AT model is that when I had my amp cranked up, it got some pretty bad microphonic feedback. Turning the volume down solved the problem, but sometimes you wanna blast the music, and this low end feedback is very undesirable. I used to like to crank up RUSH's "Moving PIctures" way up with my old Technics turntable, and never had this issue with it. With the Audio Technica, the first album I played on it was the remixed 50th Anniversary Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. I noticed the low end feedback between songs, and in quieter passages of some of the tracks. As I said, it went away if I either turned the volume down or rolled back the bass on my tuner/amp. If I had a graphic EQ in my stereo rack, I could probably notch out the offending frequency, but I've never had a need for one in the past...because I tend to listen to everything "flat". My tuner/amp has two controls...Bass and Treble. I leave both of then straight up at "0". Might be that I need to invest in an EQ for such reasons...but that really shouldn't be an issue in a well-designed system. I also noticed you can hear handling noises, such as bumping the exterior of the unit, or raising/lowering the dust cover, a lot more on this AT turntable than I did on my old Technics.
At $249.00 USD, with free shipping (which seemed to be a fairly standard price), it's a decent quality turntable. Aside from the low end feedback issues, and having to give up a fully-automatic transport, it's something I can easily get used to. It looks nice, and has all the other features that I'm used to, plus a couple I'll probably never use (the DJ features and the USB).
Considering you can't get anything close to what I once had any longer...I'd recommend this unit.
I do wish they'd use a rubber slip mat on it instead of the "felt" that comes with it. Although I have already tossed my old Technics in the trash...I saved it's rubber mat, just in case I get to the point I don't like the one that came with the AT.
Verified purchase: YesCondition: New