Audio-Technica AT-PL120 Professional Direct-Drive Turntable | List Price: $249.90
Discount Price: $204.00
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Brand: Audio-Technica
Binding: Electronics
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)
Everything described and more! [Posted on 2008-10-24]
The biggest problem with modern turntables is that modern receivers can't usethem without a pre-amp. I was attracted to this item because it has an internal pre-amp, which means I can connect it to any audio connection in the back of my receiver. What's more, it also has the option to use an external pre-amp if you wish. It takes a while to set up properly, but any one can do it by following the simple manual step by step. When I played my first lp, I couldn't believe the sounds I'd been missing all these years. Regardless of the cost and inclusiveness of the sound system you have, this turntable is the only one you'll ever need to buy. I'm very happy with it's performance and quality and recommend it highly!
Simply a must! [Posted on 2008-11-01]
If you are a vinyl beginner, don't be fooled by the bargain bin $100 turntables with automated arm action. You will suffer in a world with bad surface noise and no way to replace the stylus or change the adgustments (all which are vital to the vinyl experience!). This turntable, only around $200, is the perfect for a budding vinyl enthusiast! The build is great and everything works (that's a first!). The direct drive motor is perfect for easily cueing the record, as well as having high torque for speedy starts. This baby can even play 78s! But more importantly, it has a built in pre-amp for those lacking a proper phono input, as well as a modest cartridge. It's only faults are in the manual. If you have never even touched a turntable, it can be very confusing to figure out exactly how to set the tracking force to 3.5 grams. Another thing to note is the hum in the background. This turntable does lack a grounding wire, but the hum is barely noticeable with music playing anyway. For it's price and ease of use, the AT-PL120 is a must!
Do you feel lucky...? [Posted on 2008-11-08]
There are a lot of customer reviews on the AT-PL120. Many cite it's virtues, a few highlight it's vices. I am inclined to assume that the ownership experiences of each reviewer are valid. And that leads me to assume that the build quality of the PL120 varies. How can some reviewers have tone arm skating issues and some do not? How can some reviewers be plagued with annoying hum while others find none? After nearly a year of ownership I am left with a strong suspicion that the PL120 is not coming to market designed well enough nor built consistently well enough to excel in all usage environments. In short, I do not trust it enough to buy another or out-and-out recommend it to someone else. Hence, a one-star rating.
Don't get me wrong. The platter spins, and speeds are stable. That half works fine. To a small degree I have had skating issues, mostly at the beginning of a spinning record while lowering the stylus onto the record. Sometimes the tonearm will skip inward a few grooves before settling, and no possible anti-skate setting will eliminate this tendency all the time. (Could it be that the cueing mechanism lowers the tone arm a little too slowly?) I have learned to lower the stylus onto a stationary record, then spin the platter clockwise until the stylus finds a groove, and then start the platter. I also put up with the hum problem. The PL120's included cartridge picked up a hum. Trying to replace it with a Grado Blue cartridge made the hum a little louder. I finally discovered that connecting my very first cartridge, a 1980s vintage ADC Integra XLM-III tamed the hum. I found a replacement stylus for it, and that's what I'm now using. I have it's worst vices tamed for now exactly where it sits. Who knows what will pop up if I try to move it?
To those who found no problems in your ownership experience: congratulations, and enjoy. To those who found problems, I understand your frustration. To those contemplating purchasing an AT-PL120 I advise reading ALL the reviews, not just the favorable ones. Prospective buyers might want to address the question, do you feel lucky?
It is better than I imagine [Posted on 2008-11-29]
I have read all the reviews on Amazon and frankly I was worried about hum people talking about. But I decided to take a risk and finely order one after waiting couple of month. But I don't hear it. Even at full volume on my receiver I think I got good piece lucky me. It is better then I imagine. I have some old records and I have same songs on CD I played them on my Yamaha receiver one after another and there is no competition CD is more clear but its flat you hear vocal and instrument all at same level but on record everything popes out and sound is more detailed and its pleasant to hear the music. And it's not me I had friends over and they don't know anything about turntable and I played same song on CD and then switch it to record and I ask them which they like better and every one said record. And it is not only one song I played lots of different song on CD and on record one after another and record won every time. It is very good turntable and I will recommend to any one who wants buy one. You can't go wrong it is very easy to setup. I wish they gave RCA connection instead short wire. And cartridge is very good too. I am going to wait and use for 500 hours and then buy new one the one everybody is talking about Shure m97xe. And I have budget Aiwa automatic turntable. Don't waste your money on those 60 to 100 dollars turntable. They don't sound no where near as good as this one does
BACK TO PLAYING MY OLDIES [Posted on 2008-11-30]
I have only had this turntable for a few weeks. For much of that time, it was packed in preparation for my move. However, as soon as it arrived, I took it out of the box and assembled it for a test run. I had no problems with assembly. However, I will caution you to look carefully at the foam packing pieces before throwing anything away. Some small pieces are attached to that packing. Also, I had a little trouble in figuring out where the power cord was to be attached. The location is at the back and slightly recessed.
The unit is heavy and a little wider than I thought. I had to take the glass door off my entertainment center in order to place it on the shelf. This was a minor problem which more accurate measuring on my part would have foreseen.
Before purchasing this turntable, I did a lot of online research and compared the features and prices of a number of units. I am not an audiophile, but I became knowledgeable about the features that would give me what I wanted and, in this case, a lot more. This unit consistently came up as my likeliest candidate.
It is a good looking piece of equipment. I am not planning to use this as DJ equipment; yet, I can see where it would make an excellent choice for a DJ because it has some of the bells and whistles that they use, such as tracking, forward/reverse play. For me, it was purchased strictly for my home use and 40+ years of 45's and LPs. The sound of the unit is wonderful, even on my old records. I might make a few minor tracking changes after I listen to more records, but for now, I am very pleased. I consider this to have been an excellent buy.
My sole reason for awarding four stars (actually, 4-1/2) and not five is based on a complaint that other reviewers expressed: the built-in RCA-type audio cables. I would have preferred that the cables be a little longer and detachable. Everything worked out for me, but those two features could limit where some users are able to place the equipment. Despite that I am quite pleased with the purchase.
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