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i don't know a whole lot about turntables - but the set up is fairly easy - i looked on Youtube where A-T gives instructions on how to set up the tone arm and with the counterweight and the anti-skate. There's also prevalent old information out there that says the Anti-Skate doesn't work on the LP120 - the internet has a way with keep some seriously old info out there - as well as Youtube. The anti-skate does work - no i didn't perform a blank CD test or a blank test with a blank vinyl - i know the anti-skate works because when i was setting up the counter weight for the tone arm (my anti-skate was dialed in at 2 per A-T instructions) - i was supposed to dial the counter weight back to 2 grams (that is the recommended weight for the cartridge) but i forgot to do that - i was going to play a record but when i try to place the needle right above the start groove - it kept swinging right and would not lower because i had my anti-skate dialed to 2 but i neglected dial the counter weight to the 2 grams necessary for the proper set up. Once i did adjust the counter weight it was fine. The supplied pre-mounted cartridge was already aligned at the factory so all i needed to do was to insert the cartridge and tighten the mount and i was ready to go.
Alot of negative opinions on the build quality - i found it nice and pretty solid - it's not a chintzy feel - it doesn't feel cheap to me. feels fairly hefty given its size - as it should be for stability. body is made of plastic but the platter is aluminum and it is solid.
Sound quality is decent - of course it also depends the pressing of the vinyl as well - but i did notice some distortion at the higher frequencies - i listen mainly to movie scores and my collection is going to be just predominately movie scores - i would say that the higher frequencies are somewhat muddy - maybe my set up is wrong or i could use a upgrade in stylus and/or cartridge - Bass and midrange no issues- sounds great.
It plays 33,45,78 - for this iteration they got rid of playing reverse so i'll never know if "Paul is Dead" since i cant hit the reverse on this one. i don't have any 78 records but it's there if i need it.
The TT is direct drive (no belt) and it is quiet - Zero motor noise - i turn up the volume on my receiver (Yamaha R-N803) and all i hear is the noise floor - i'm really impressed with how quiet this thing runs.
they do not include a disk for the free Audacity freeware - the site you need to go to download this freeware is audacityteam.org -- in the youtube instructions A-T gives it as AudacityTeam.net - that being said it is given correctly in the instruction manual. if you to rip vinyl and use audacity please note that on the Lp120 you have to switch in the back to say "LINE" - unless of course you're already switched to LINE (instead of PHONO) because either you are running it with active (self-powered) speakers or you are using an amp/receiver that does not have a dedicated PHONO input.
I was going to go with Sony PH-x500 (400) because of the hi-res ripping capability but decided against since you'll also be recording the pops and clicks in hi res - figured the LP120xusb would be more than adequate. plus it left me a bit of money to actually buy some vinyl.
i love this turntable - looks good - sounds good - if you're looking to discover or rediscover vinyl - this is a good place to start.
thanks for reading
Edit: after about a month using it. I found myself just listening to the limited amount of records I have and I haven’t touched any digital music file. I have listened to CDs though. I’m not sure what it is about it that has captured my attn.
Also on another note. Now having more experience listening to records. I feel that these new vinyl are getting pressed directly from a digital source- I have no problem with that however they really should remaster it specifically for vinyl. The medium is different each with it own subtleties. I think the last Tomb raider score by Junkie XL was not mastered correctly for vinyl so the high end sounds “crunchy” still a good score however.
You might take the above edit with a grain of salt I don’t know anything about producing music or any aspect of it. I do like to listen though!
Edit 7/6/19. I find myself not really using the usb audacity rip function. It’s like I’ll listen to the vinyl rather than ripping it and using that recording digitally. I just rather listen to the vinyl.
Edit 7/15/19 - this weekend i listened to 4 movie scores on vinyl on headphones - running the yamaha r-n803 receiver headphones (sennheiser hd650, beyerdynamic dt770 250Ohm, beyerdynamic dt880 250Ohm, - the 650 was on the warm side and so was the dt880 - it paired well with the DT770 giving it a bit more on the high end.
edit 8/12/19 - this weekend i found 3 records from 30-40 Years Old- an old stash of mine from the 80s. (don't judge haha) 2 debbie gibson EP (1988, plays at 33.3RPM) - Foolish Beat EP and Staying Together EP -- and The Empire Strikes Back LP (1980). oh boy Foolish Beat it sounded exceptional - 30 year record - some surface noise and a bit dusty but oh boy serious fidelity - this thing sounded like it was pressed yesterday i swear.. The Empire strikes back - the vinyl was warped but it tracked well and playable - a bit tinny but overall for a 40 year old record it sounded good on the Audio Technica 120XUSB - seriously ZERO regrets on going with Audio Technica 120XUSB. great bang for the buck.
Edit 8/20/19 added new “medley” video. Remember that the music has been compressed and also it was taken with the iPhone X.
Edit 10/21 last weekend by brother dropped by. He was just staring at my system - I was playing daft punk discovery and he said whats this? They record is pressed exceptionally- He couldn’t believe it was vinyl. I mean he hadn’t heard vinyl for 40 years- he was surprised but I don’t think I conveRted him to vinyl due to the insane prices.
edit 10/28 - someone mentioned a wobble on the comments section - i see what may have cause it to look like a wobble is the dots on the side of the aluminum platter that may not have been manufactured straight perhaps or the record itself may not be 100% flat. i'm 100% satisfied with this player - 250 - not alot of "investment" but a whole lot of joy - i wish they pressed the records with better precision and with less dust......
11/7 edit. I’ve been paying closer attn to the platter. There is a bit of a wobble yes - but it hasn’t affected the sonic performance
Most of the records here I used the supplied felt mat which was not 100% flat. I have since replaced with a Hudson acrylic mat.
11/26/20 - i'm listening to this right now.. still going. at some point ill have to change the needle... I releveled my turn able and while the platter is flat and level some of my records are badly pressed. Still love it tho!
5/12/21 - im still listening to it - just got an outboard phono stage for it iFi zen phono. still sounds good!
5/26/21 - I upgraded the cartridge and stylus at-vm95ml. Good stuff.
