Whistle Stopper - Audio-Technica AT-PL120 Professional Direct-Drive Turntable

List Price: $249.90
Our Price: Too low to display
Your Save: $ ( % )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Audio Technica

Average Customer Rating:

Batteries Included: 0
Binding: Electronics
Brand: Audio-Technica
EAN: 0042005132010
Feature: Selectable internal stereo phono preamplifier--choose from phono or line-level output
Is Autographed: 0
Is Memorabilia: 0
Label: Audio Technica
Legal Disclaimer: Warranty does not cover misuse of product.
Manufacturer: Audio Technica
Model: AT-PL120
Publisher: Audio Technica
Studio: Audio Technica

Features

Selectable internal stereo phono preamplifier--choose from phono or line-level output
Direct-drive, high-torque motor; includes professional cartridge and headshell
Selectable 33-1/3, 45, and 78 rpm speeds; +/-10 percent or +/-20 percent pitch adjust; high-accuracy quartz-controlled pitch lock
S-shaped tone arm assembly with adjustable counterweight, antiskate adjustment, tone-arm height adjustment and lock
Measures 17.8 x 6 x 13.9 inches (W x H x D)

Accessories
Phoenix Gold 3.5 Millimeter Mini to 2 Female RCA Adaptor Audio Cleaning Lab 11 Monster Cable MP AV 800 PowerCenter AV 800 with Surge Protection ZENITH ZN-745 7 Device Universal Learning Remote (ZENITH ZN745) Phoenix Gold ARX-620 True Balanced OFC Audio Interconnect Cables 6.5 ft (Phoenix Gold ARX620)

Related Items
Shure M78S Wide Groove Monophonic Cartridge Audio Technica AT440ML Dual-Moving Magnet Phono Cartridge Phoenix Gold 3.5 Millimeter Mini to 2 Female RCA Adaptor Shure M97xE High-Performance Magnetic Phono Cartridge Stanton H4-S Replacement Headshell

Spotlight customer reviews:

Customer Rating:

Summary: excellent
Comment: This turntable is everything we expected and more. It is very well built and easy to use. We are very pleased with the sound quality.

Customer Rating:

Summary: Best Bang For Your Buck
Comment: WOW! I really researched buying a turntable to not only play my old LP's, but that had a phono pre-amp that would allow transferring those analog recordings to cd or mp3 format. This is a fantastic turntable for the money. I remember all of those great turntables from the 70's and the AT-PL120 is just as good if not better. Assembly was straight forward, just follow the directions. I was playing the turntable in about 15 minutes. Sound is awesome, very heavy and well constructed.

Customer Rating:

Summary: Excellent value, excellent sound - SOME PROBLEMS
Comment: I gave it only 4 stars because of certain problems with the ATP-2 cartridge and a poor manual. I purchased the AT-PL120 because I needed a way to transfer LPs to CD with high fidelity, and it has a built-in pre-amp so I can connect directly to my computer sound card. It was also a bargain price and loaded with features including some I won't use because I am not a DJ. For instance, it has the ability to adjust the speed +- 20% using a slider. It can also play records backwards - in case you want to see if the Beatles really said "Paul is dead." The turntable has vibration damping legs, but for DJ use, please note that any finger taps to the turntable body WILL transmit a boom to the speakers.

It arrived promptly from Amazon in perfect condition. Setup was easy and straight forward, although the manual is not detailed and does not clearly describe all features and adjustments. The speed is dead on. After purchasing an RCA adapter cable I plugged it into my computer and cued up a record. SURPRISE - the music immediately began playing from the computer speakers. AND the sound quality was very good indeed using the included ATP-2 cartridge (but see below). As recommended by others here, I installed the free sound recording software, Audacity, and within a few minutes I had recorded the first track off the record (being careful the audio volume did not exceed the capacity of Audacity and cause clipping). It was just as easy as that, and the audio quality exceeded my expectations - even my hopes!

The AT-PL120 comes with an ATP-2 cartridge included free. Surprisingly, it turns out to have excellent sound. I compared it to an Ortofon M15 E Super and the Sure M97XE by first recording a WAV file from each cartridge using a track off Paul Simon's "There Goes Rhymin Simon." I used this album because of its clean sound and because I also have the commercial CD. Listening blind (on my medium quality computer speakers, headphones or Klipsch speakers), I can't reliably tell which track is which. The sound is also seemingly identical to that directly from the record, although the commercial CD does have a distinctly different sound. I also compared Copland's Piano Fantasy as played by William Masselos (on Odyssey) with similar results.

UNFORTUNATELY, the ATP-2 cartridge has 2 major problems: 1) It requires a tracking force of 3-5 grams (rather heavy); and 2) MUCH WORSE is that it tracks VERY poorly at the recommended 3.5 grams (with the recommended 3.5 on the anti-skate dial). The first time I tried it (and using the cuing lever), the needle did not set down exactly in a groove. Much to my distress, it then proceeded to skitter across the record surface like an angry monkey (luckily no damage to the LP). It did not even stop at the last groove, proceeding onto the record label!!!! However, by experimentation, I found that this problem was correctable by merely setting the anti-skate dial to 6-7 rather than 3.5. I detect no audible sound defects at this much higher than recommended anti-skate setting (the sound comparisons were done at the higher anti-skate level).

The Sure M97XE cartridge (cheap from Amazon), when mounted on a Stanton head shell (cheap from Amazon) works well with the AT-PL120. It tracks beautifully when set to the recommended 1.75 grams tracking force (with the stabilizer brush down) and the anti-skate dial set to 2. It can also be set to 1.25 grams with the stabilizer brush up, but I detected no improvement in sound quality. REMEMBER that the Sure cartridge is not rated to play backwards, so use the ATP-2 cartridge if you need to do that. Changing head shells is easy and only means unplugging the old head shell from the tone arm, plugging in the new and then resetting the tracking and anti-skate forces.

NOTE 1: The weight dial on the AT-PL120 tone-arm for setting the tracking force is accurate at 2 grams, but when set at 3.0 grams, it is actually producing 3.5 grams (as checked with the Sure SFG-2 Stylus Force Gauge).

NOTE 2: There is definitely something more romantic and magical in listening to an LP, and watching the record go round than plopping on a CD. And the quality is better than I remembered so I am not sure I will actually transfer the music to CDs after all!

Customer Rating:

Summary: Nice piece of equipment
Comment: I received my AT-PL120 turntable in a very reasonable amount of time and found the packaging to be outstanding. I have used it to transfer many of my LP's to CD with great success. The quality of the product is excellent and I am pleased with my purchase.

Customer Rating:

Summary: Made by Technics as good as Technics
Comment: These things are solid well built and can perform with the best tables on the market. They are well worth the price and from a DJ perspective meet all of the demands a DJ places on his equipment.

I have owned them for almost a year and a half and they still operate like brand new.

The only thing that might turn some people off is the pitch control. The slider is really solid but sometimes tweaking speed just right can be tricky. However thats not the table's fault as much as the need to practice. While other tables are superior in this feature I have noticed they vibrate more than the Audio Technica. Because these don't vibrate even with the speakers right next to them you can set your needles pretty light.

More Reviews

Editorial Reviews:

Audio-Technica's AT-PL120 direct-drive, high-torque professional turntable is perfect for DJs and other music enthusiasts, especially in an era that many would call "postvinyl," when it's no longer the norm for audio/video receivers or even integrated amplifiers to offer a dedicated phono input. A selectable internal stereo phono preamplifier lets you plug the turntable directly into any line-level input, even your PC's (when used with a stereo RCA to minijack "Y" adapter cable, not included). Alternately, you can use the player's phono output and an outboard, higher-quality phono preamplifier for even better sound quality.

The AT-PL120's S-shaped tone arm assembly comes with an adjustable counterweight, an antiskate adjustment, a tone-arm height adjustment and lock, a tone-arm lift with hydraulic action and lift lever, and a tone-arm rest with a locking mechanism to keep the arm stable during transport.

The turntable uses a DC servo motor to maintain accurate rotational speed at either 33-1/3 45, or 78 rpm, governed by a selectable, high-accuracy quartz-controlled pitch lock--all of which gives new life to 7- and 12-inch singles you may not have played for years.

Unleash your inner DJ with the 'table's pitch-adjustment feature, with variations ranging from either +/-10 percent or +/-20 percent. A pop-up stylus target light and stroboscopic platter speed indicator offer visual assistance in queuing and playing your favorite tunes. Forward and reverse play options unlock countless creative doors (and haven't you always wondered what Prince is saying at the end of "Darling Nikki"?).

The 'table comes with a cast-aluminum record platter, a slip mat, and a professional cartridge and headshell (model ATP-2) that plugs directly into the tone arm. Adjustable, antivibrational feet keep the platter level, regardless of your environs.

A start/stop button with remote start/stop input lets you integrate the player with your more sophisticated DJ tools. The player also includes a 45 rpm adapter with storage receptacle for the adapter and for a surplus or replacement headshell (sold separately).

What's in the Box
Turntable, removable hinged dust cover, slip mat, headshell/cartridge (ATP-2), AC power cord, 45 rpm adapter, and a user's manual.