- Audio Technica is known for its high-end microphones and headphones
- But are their turntables any good?
- We compare two of their most popular turntables: the LP60 vs LP120
- While you’re here, check out our post on vinyl vs FLAC
Audio Technica is not probably the first brand that springs to mind when considering quality turntables. It’s more likely to be Technics (especially if you are a DJ) in the same way you associate Pioneer with CDJs.
However, if you have recently been looking for a new turntable, you have probably encountered the AT-LP60 and LP120 in most searches. One is a budget model, and the other is a more DJ-focused turntable.
Which one suits your needs best? Do you need to spend more money to get a better turntable? Let’s take a look!
AT-LP60 vs AT-LP120: Which Is Best?
As one would assume, the answer will be the more expensive of the two turntables, the AT-LP120. Not that more expensive means better, but the extra features go a long way. It has a better construction, more of a wow factor, more features for the DJ, and offers more potential for an upgrade with a user-replaceable cartridge.
However, the AT-LP120 costs, on average, between two to three times as much as the more wallet-friendly AT-LP60.
The decision comes down to whether you need the extra features of the LP120 or if the LP60 is just as good a turntable for you (while saving you some hard-earned dollars).
AT-LP60 vs AT-LP120: Side-by-Side Comparison
|
Feature |
Audio Technica AT-LP60 |
Audio Technica AT-LP120 |
 |  | |
|
Operation |
Fully Automatic |
Manual |
|
Speeds |
33-⅓, 45 RPM |
33-⅓, 45, 78 RPM |
|
Drive Type | Belt | Direct |
|
Pitch Control |
No |
Yes |
| Phono Preamp | Built-In |
Built-in |
|
USB Output |
No |
Yes |
|
Bluetooth Built-In |
No* | No |
|
Audio cable |
3.5mm to RCA |
Attached |
|
Cartridge Included |
AT Dual Magnet |
AT95E (User replaceable) |
|
Weight |
6.6 lbs |
23.5 lbs |
|
Price |
$ |
$ |
*The AT-LP60BT is available with built-in Bluetooth connectivity.
AT-LP60 vs AT-LP120: Breaking It Down
With the AT-LP60 sitting at the bottom of the Audio Tecnica range of turntables and the AT-LP120 marketed as a mid-range/professional turntable, there are bound to be some significant differences.
Let’s break it down below.
Build Quality
Both turntables are very modern-looking pieces of audio equipment. Both turntables come in a choice of sophisticated black or gunmetal silver finish.
Both turntables have a die-cast aluminum platter, ensuring resonance-free sound as you listen to your vinyl. That’s where the similarities end.
The LP120 is slightly larger and deeper and weighs a staggering 23.5 lbs. The extra weight of this sturdy turntable means the rubber feet suck to any surface, making it a real challenge to pick up or move about.
This is no bad thing, however, as stability is key in the performance of a quality turntable and preventing the needle from jumping out of those minute grooves on the record.
The LP60 weighs only a fraction of the AT-LP120 at 6.6 lbs, so the turntable’s weight won’t contribute as much to securing stability. Placed on a stable surface, this shouldn’t be too much of a big deal.
The build quality of the LP120 is quite amazing considering its usually sub-$400 price.
Although it’s made from composite plastics, it has the feel of many of its higher-priced competitors and will hopefully prove just as durable over the years.
By comparison, the LP60 comes across as a bit more plasticky. For its price of a budget turntable, it’s certainly no toy, but don’t expect the build quality of the slightly more expensive mid-range turntables such as the AT-LP40 with its medium-density fibreboard plinth which imitates the look of walnut wood or the sophisticated award-winning Rega Planar 1.
Winner: Audio Technica AT-LP120
Wow Factor
Just a quick one to touch on, but copying the look of the legendary Technics SL-1200, the AT-LP120 certainly wins in the cool or wow factor with its iconic design and DJ functionality.
By comparison, while the AT-LP60 won’t win any design awards, it has been created to look aesthetically pleasing when sat on top of or aside virtually any Hi-Fi unit.
Older versions of the AT-LP60 were available in other colors such as Red, Navy Blue, Brown, or White to better blend with any living room.
Occasionally some of these limited editions pop up on the sites of online retailers such as Amazon or Sweetwater Music.
Winner: Audio Technica AT-LP120
Unboxing and Ease of Installation
Both the AT-LP60 and AT-LP120 arrive with several parts needing assembling before you can use the turntable.
The AT-LP60 is far easier to assemble, with you just needing to attach a rubber belt to connect the motor and platter before placing the turntable platter. All you have to do then is connect the cables, and you are ready to play.
The LP120, on the other hand, needs a few more steps to assemble the turntable.
First, you must assemble the tonearm and headshell, then assemble the turntable platter and slipmat, set the tone arm balance and tracking force, set the anti-skate, and then set the tonearm height.
If you are a little tech-savvy, the extra assembly steps shouldn’t present too much of a problem. For those of you who are super non-techie, it could be wise to ask someone for a little help, or failing that, choose the LP60.
Winner: Audio Technica AT-LP60
Ease of Use
The AT-LP60 is a fully-automatic turntable meaning the simple push of a button automatically lifts the tonearm and places the needle where the first song begins, and when the last song is finished, returns the tonearm to its cradle.
There’s even an integrated headphone amplifier and 3.5mm jack, so you don’t have to connect it to any Hi-Fi or mixer. Instead, just plug your headphones straight in and adjust the volume dial on the front of the turntable.
On the other hand, the AT-LP120 is a fully manual-operated turntable. You have to manually move the tonearm and place the needle above where you want the record to begin playback before manually lowering the tonearm onto the vinyl.
When the last song ends, the needle continues to spin in the inner grooves until you manually lift the tonearm and return it to the cradle.
For ease of use and beginner vinyl enthusiasts, the AT-LP60 is much easier to use and can help minimize the risk of damaging the stylus or the vinyl.
However, many people, myself included, prefer the charm of doing it all manually – it is a matter of personal preference.
Winner: Audio Technica AT-LP60
DJ Functionality
If you want to try a bit of scratching or practicing to become a DJ, you must choose the AT-LP120.
With an adjustable pitch control and a high-torque direct drive motor, the LP120 will work perfectly for scratching and listening to music.
However, one of Audio Technica’s compromises on this mid-range DJ turntable is that the torque isn’t quite as high as some of its more expensive competitors.
If you are a heavy-handed beat-juggler, you may experience lag time when mixing speed.
To compensate, you must lighten your finger pressure or look at the next model up in the Audio Technica range, the AT-LP1240 professional DJ turntable.
The AT-LP60, on the other hand, is unsuitable for scratching as it will make the belt of this belt drive turntable wear out quickly and break.
In addition, there is no variable pitch slider, an essential for beat-mixing, and also it lacks the reverse playback feature of the AT-LP120, which many DJs find useful.
Winner: Audio Technica AT-LP120
Speed
Although not a huge consideration nowadays, the AT-LP120 can play 78 RPM records in addition to the 33 ⅓ and 45 RPM discs, while the AT-LP60 can’t.
Remember, if you want to playback 78 RPM discs with thicker grooves, you must buy a ticker stylus suitable for 78 RPM discs.
Most records made after 1960 will normally be 33 ⅓ or 45 RPM, so other than antique vinyl collectors, the 78 RPM function will be rarely used.
Winner: Audio Technica AT-LP120
Drive/Motor
The LP60 features a belt-drive DC servo motor, while the LP120 uses a high-torque DC-servo-controlled direct drive motor.
A direct drive motor sits under the turntable platter and connects directly to the platter with magnets, while a belt motor connects to the platter using a rubber belt.
Belt turntables are lower in torque and better suited for basic music listening rather than DJing. In contrast, a magnet-based direct drive motor gives the spinning platter a significantly higher torque.
Some audiophiles argue that belt-drive turntables are known to have less noise than direct-drive turntables and give a beefier sound. Still, the difference will usually be small unless you listen through high-end audio equipment.
Although belt drive turntables have an ease of use factor more suitable for novices or simple music listening, the belt can also be a problem.
Belts are known to stretch, dry out, or snap. It’s always advisable to purchase a few replacement belts when you purchase a belt drive deck to avoid interruptions to your listening.
Winner: Audio Technica AT-LP120
The Cartridge
The cartridge is often thought to be the very heart and soul of a quality turntable, as it is part of the device which turns the physical grooves of the vinyl into an electric music signal.
Fun fact: Audio Technica started its business as a leading innovator in the design of cartridges for turntables.
The LP60 comes with an integral Audio-Technica AT3600L cartridge which is fixed.
You can’t replace or upgrade the cartridge on the LP60, but it is possible to replace the stylus or needle if it becomes worn or gets damaged.
The LP120 comes fitted with the ATVM95E, considered one of the best cartridges at its price, and a much better cartridge than the AT3600L, which is supplied with the LP60.
The AT-VM95E is also compatible with any VM95 Series replacement stylus offering a wide choice of options for every budget and application.
You can upgrade the cartridge with a standard AT-HS6 universal mounted headshell for better sound.
Winner: Audio Technica AT-LP120
Sound Quality
With the higher quality sound cartridge provided in the box, a more stable tonearm and chassis, and a professional grade anti-resonance, die-cast aluminum platter, the AT-LP120 will provide a better sound to your records than the AT-LP60 – just as you would hope for a turntable costing nearly three times more!
If you are just connecting your turntable to an affordable pair of powered speakers, you may not notice a huge difference in sound quality.
But when connected to a high-quality Hi-FI or a larger PA system, the LP120 will sound much better than the LP60.
The ability to upgrade the AT-LP120s cartridge to a better one means you can make that difference in sonic performance even greater.
Both turntables feature a separate AC power adapter that handles the AC/DC conversion outside the chassis to reduce any potential electrical noise in the signal.
And both the AT-LP60 and AT-LP120 feature switchable phono preamps for phono or line-level output.
If you are picky about the sound quality of your audio equipment, the LP120 is a better choice. But if it’s just for a student in their small dorm with average-powered speakers, the LP60 won’t disappoint too much.
Winner: Audio Technica AT-LP120
Bluetooth Connectivity
While neither of the turntables comes with Bluetooth built-in, for many years, there was also the option of purchasing the AT-LP60BT, which does include Bluetooth Connectivity.
In the past year, Audio Technica has also brought out a model of the LP120, the AT-LP120BT, which has this feature.
You’re looking at an extra fifty bucks if you want to upgrade to either model on top of the base price of the turntable.
Bluetooth connectivity allows you to connect the turntable to wireless speakers or headphones without a signal cable – a pretty cool feature almost essential in audio equipment nowadays.
Winner: Draw
USB Connectivity
If you have a large vinyl collection that you want to digitize for use in other applications, the AT-LP120 comes with a built-in USB port that enables you to connect the turntable directly to your computer to record the music.
The AT-LP120 comes with this feature as standard and includes the cables needed to connect your computer and the free software, Audacity (PC or Mac) for recording those tunes.
You can, of course, use any other recording software of your choice if you prefer.
There is a version of the LP60 available with a USB out, but it will cost around 120 bucks more than the standard AT-LP60, so you are getting close to the cost of the superior AT-LP120.
Unless you really want a belt drive turntable with no pitch controls, it is better to shell out a few extra bucks for the AT-LP120.
Winner: Audio Technica AT-LP120
Modifications
If you’re one of those tech-head musos who like modding their setup, the AT-LP120 offers far more potential for upgrades.
The LP120 has proved to be a very popular “project turntable,” with many forums online where lively discussions detail the upgrades and mods other users have performed.
The low cost of the LP120, compared to other DJ “decks,” makes them the ideal turntable for growing with you as your skills and styles progress.
Popular upgrades often include a cartridge upgrade, removal of the preamp (or replacement with a more powerful preamp), slip mat upgrades, and upgrading the counterweights.
I’ve known some owners of the AT LP-120 spend more on the upgrades than the original cost of the turntable – but they have ended up with an awesome turntable still at a fraction of the price of larger brands like Technics or Pioneer.
Unfortunately, there’s not much room for the modding of an AT LP-60 as the cartridge and tonearm and fixed (not changeable or adjustable), and you are limited to just one type of replacement stylus.
Winner: Audio Technica AT-LP120
Final Thoughts
Both these turntables from Audio Technica are top-notch devices. You can’t go far wrong with either of them.
If you are new to the world of vinyl, or you want to introduce somebody to the joys of old-school vinyl records, the AT-LP60 is a great turntable for under $200.
People who have previously used other brands will undoubtedly feel and hear the difference.
Although it’s a budget turntable, Audio Technica hasn’t skimped on quality. The simplicity of use and low price point make it the ideal purchase for the casual listener or a great gift to any music lover.
However, the AT-LP120 is great in another league and the better turntable. It’s an affordable turntable with features that would cost an average of $300 more than most competitor turntables.
The extra money you spend will be worth it as you get so many more features. The digital to analog features of this turntable will come in handy and budding DJs can have a lot of fun with it when practicing their scratching and beat juggling at home.
It has a more durable build quality which, while maybe not up to the bumps and falls of taking out on the road like a Technics or similar higher-priced competitors, should last many years of house parties.
