Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB review
Audio-Technica upgrade the hugely successful AT-LP120 DJ turntable. Greg Scarth finds out how the new version builds on the winning formula.
Founded in 1962, Tokyo-based Audio-Technica have learned a thing or two about turntables over their six decade life so far. The brand has become well known for good value hi-fi and DJ turntables as well as headphones, microphones and the premium styluses and cartridges which make up their flagship range. The Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB reviewed here is a replacement for the original AT-LP120USB, a wildly popular model first released in 2009. The LP120 was a huge hit not just because it arrived almost perfectly in time with the discontinuation of the classic Technics SL-1200, but also because it offered classic DJ features mixed with a few nice modern touches. For what must now amount to hundreds of thousands of owners, the LP120 represented an affordable and reliable alternative to vintage Technics turntables, hi-fi products or pricey DJ decks.
As if you needed further proof that the LP120 was important, it’s one of only 11 turntables considered sufficiently noteworthy to merit its own Wikipedia page. The formula is simple: this is a turntable which builds directly on the tried-and-tested Technics formula but adds 21st-century features: a built-in pre-amp meaning that you don’t need a separate phono pre-amp or DJ mixer in order to connect it to powered speakers; built-in USB interface and bundled software for digitising vinyl.
The 120X model doesn’t really mess with that winning formula so much as add a few little changes to bring it up to date for another decade or more. The key points are a new motor, some minor changes to the construction of the plinth in which the motor and platter are housed, a change of cartridge and some small tweaks in terms of functionality. The 120X is available in the silver finish shown in the main photo above or a forthcoming black version, while there’s also a Bluetooth-equipped AT-LP120XBTUSB model on the way which allows you to stream audio directly to Bluetooth speakers. The latter model is less useful for DJs, but has its appeal if you want to be able to stream vinyl to Bluetooth speakers.
The basic setup of the LP120X remains very much Technics-inspired like the original LP120, with a few little upgrades. The speed buttons allow you to choose between the standard 33 rpm and 45 rpm plus vintage-style 78 rpm when both are engaged. A quartz lock button allows you to lock in the exact tempo in the centre of the pitch control, but the pitch range has changed slightly from the original LP120’s ±10%/20% to the new options of ±8%/16%. This hints at a move towards blending and listening rather than scratch DJing, which is backed up by the slightly lower starting torque of the new motor. There are better specialist scratch turntables on the market if you’re a turntablist, but the 120X is designed more for hi-fi listening and conventional mixing.
The usability of the 120X remains as impressive as it ever was, particularly with the tried-and-tested combination of built-in phono pre-amp and USB audio interface, which allow you to connect the turntable in the traditional way, via a DJ mixer (the most likely choice if you’re planning to DJ with a pair of 120Xs), plug directly into a powered speaker or hi-fi amp, or connect to a computer and digitise your vinyl collection using Audacity, the free software which Audio-Technica recommend. Whichever of those approaches you take, sound quality is good. The turntable comes with Audio-Technica’s excellent AT-VM95E cartridge (worth £50 on its own) and setup instructions are comprehensive via YouTube videos and the brand’s website.
Build quality isn’t quite on a par with premium turntables like the Technics SL-1200MK7 or Pioneer PLX-1000, but it’s a good match for similarly priced models like the Pioneer PLX-500 or Reloop RP-4000 MK2. In real life, turntables at this price level are unlikely to be used in a professional setting with all the heavy use and potential abuse that entails; they’re much more likely to be used in a home DJ setup, where they’re more than strong enough to stand up to regular, careful use.
Overall, it’s very hard to pick fault with the AT-LP120XUSB, especially at a price under £250. This is a new iteration of a turntable which has been proven over more than a decade, offering excellent value as well as decent build quality and features which work just as well for home hi-fi listening as they do for DJs. The design is clearly inspired by classic DJ decks, which is no bad thing. Don’t be surprised if the LP120X proves just as successful as its predecessor.
Greg Scarth
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