Should a person using a cheap-o Sony ps-lx250 plastic TT consider buying an Audio TEchnica AT-PL120 in like new condition for $100? Is it worth it as an upgrade? I hate the sony... it is really cheap, and skips forward on a lot of my newer albums (apparently it has this problem by nature (cheap) So, I think this AT is a lot nicer table, and seems to work fine. I am spinning some vinyl on it now :music: so far, it looks fine, sounds fine, etc. Anything I should be looking for? I know the dustcover got broken in shipping, but aside from that, it looks fine, and plays fine..... any suggestions? is this table an upgrade? worth the money? thanks

It sounds like you've already bought the turntable, so your decision has pretty much been made at this point.

For $100, you could do a ton better.

An upgrade over the Sony? Yes.

Can you get a very nice TT for $100 that would be even nicer? Yes.

I'd pay $50, maybe $75 tops for one.

yeah, I have not purchased it, I always ask here first. Maybe ebay then? I am looking right now, but I am worried about shipping. I work at a place that gets shipping damaged items, this is one of them. I guess on goes the hunt... How come the at120 is so bad? And, how about a SL-DP20D technics for $70?

yeah, I have not purchased it, I always ask here first. Maybe ebay then? I am looking right now, but I am worried about shipping. I work at a place that gets shipping damaged items, this is one of them. I guess on goes the hunt... How come the at120 is so bad? And, how about a SL-DP20D technics for $70?

I would say its the cheap materials used in the AT that make it less impressive than other tables. It is an improvement from the Sony for sure but like a couple of small steps up the ladder. I think the AT new is not a whole lot more than that. You really want to take a bigger step and with 100.00 to spend, I would hold out for something better :)

yeah, I have not purchased it, I always ask here first. Maybe ebay then? I am looking right now, but I am worried about shipping. I work at a place that gets shipping damaged items, this is one of them. I guess on goes the hunt... How come the at120 is so bad? And, how about a SL-DP20D technics for $70?

The AT 120 isn't terrible by any means, but I see nicer TTs go for less.

Quality belt drive vintage japanese decks, and even vintage Japanese DD decks sell for $50-$150 all day long, and sometimes less.


If you can, look for a nice budget DD like the SL-D2 for around $35-$50 (though seeing them sell up to $75 lately).

There will be other excellent suggestions too.

I can get an Technics SL-BD20D on the bay for $70 shipped? is that one a bit better? kinda looks nice..

I can get an Technics SL-BD20D on the bay for $70 shipped? is that one a bit better? kinda looks nice..

It's your money but not a table I'd suggest.

Not bad but not one of Sony's better efforts- a belt drive (BD) table maybe not on par to what you already have, but not leaps better.


Spend some time reading here at AK about the various tables and I'm sure you'll find your answer as to what to look for....:thmbsp:

Avoid eBay and check your local Craig's List instead. There are always tons of decent and cheap turntables on my local CL.

A few months ago I got a FREE vintage BIC 980 from a CL ad, and it just needed a new belt and lube job to work. It sounds terrific.

I can get an Technics SL-BD20D on the bay for $70 shipped? is that one a bit better? kinda looks nice..

I bought one new 13 years ago and it has served me well enough. I probably paid about $150 for it new. Doesn't hold a candle to my '70s Thorens TD 160 that I paid only $50 more for, though.

If you want a Technics table, go for one of the SL-1x00 models (SL-1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700 or 1800). They were all built like a tank with quality parts that last a long time. I just bought an SL-1600 last week on eBay for $75 that smokes my AT-PL120. The SL-1200 is going to be priced quite high compared to the other models I've mentioned because of its appeal to DJs.

I had a AT-PL120 for a little while. it was a pretty decent entry level table/starter table/very casual listener table. i only had it for maybe 4 months before i made the inevitable plunge to the Technics SL-1200. but it still works perfectly fine. so a friend is buying it off me.

the stock cart/stylus isn't the best for just listening, so that needs a upgrade pretty much from the start. the built in pre-amp is decent for listening, but shows its downfalls in needledropping, so for serious listening that needs a upgrade.

honestly, even having it 4 months, i wouldn't see it really lasting more than a couple years before something broke or burned out or shorted out or something.

there is NO comparison is built quality from the AT-PL120 to the Technics 1200's.

if i could have done it all over again i would have saved up a little more and went for the technics sl-1200 right off the bat.

when i had it paired with my at-440mla on the stock preamp it sounded decent.

The biggest sonic drawback of the AT-PL120 is its wimpy bass response; it sounds thin. A much better sounding TT can be had for the same $$.

I've never noticed wimpy bass on my AT-PL120. Were you using the built-in pre-amp?

I too had decent results (and better bass response) on my PL-120, which is still in service as a "do it all" unit that I use for convenience. The internal preamp is not a hi-fi piece of engineering and neither is the ATPXN cartridge. If at all possible, get an inexpensive better cartridge and bypass the internal preamp and use your receiver's phono stage.

I've never noticed wimpy bass on my AT-PL120. Were you using the built-in pre-amp?

No, I was not using the internal preamp. My SL-1200MK2 puts out much more bass, using the same AL440MLa cart.

Just to put things into perspective, the lowliest Technics SL-BD20D lightweight, belt drive turntable has much better specs than the AT PL-120. ANY vintage turntable made up until perhaps the mid-80s would be a significant improvement.

This table has been covered extensively here...if you would bother to do a search, you'd find a wealth of information...mostly confirming what has already been said in this thread.

About once a month someone brings this table up...and the same responses are recorded.

Just to chime in a bit, the published specs seem to be related to using the PL120 with the built in phono stage, which I have said over a few times is a no-no. It's noisy and lifeless. The rest of table is not bad at all. Run it straight into a receiver or pre-amp with a decent phono stage and it can work quite well. You do get what you pay for, but as a second table, one to spin 78's or to test play thrift store vinyl, the PL120 is a decent work horse. I've been spinning one for over a year now with a LOT of headshell swaps and all is still fine :)

I can get an Technics SL-BD20D on the bay for $70 shipped? is that one a bit better? kinda looks nice..




don't buy BD20....you'd be going backward instead of forward.

the AT-PL120 is a perfectly fine table....it just needs some minor tweaking.

and i totally agree with brocluno.....DON'T use the crappy built-in preamp.

I have an AT-PL120 so I get to say this: If the AT-PL120 was a lady it would look like the evil witch in "The Wizard Of OZ". To it's credit it does some things right like having accurate platter speeds. The tone arm moves freely and smoothly throughout it's required range of movements. It's included cartridge, intended for DJ usage, needs to track too heavily (@3.5 grams plus), so choosing a lighter tracking cartridge is necessary. Shure's M97xE sounds fine and is not excessively affected by the PL120's biggest vice, an annoying hum which it's included ATP-2 cartridge seems to pick up. I am routing my PL120's output into receivers with dedicated phono inputs. I have never tried it's built-in pre-amp.

Many PL120 owners do not report problems with a hum. I seem to be in the minority that has one to deal with. Some of my cartridges that I have tried on my PL120 have output levels high enough to keep volume at a low enough setting at comfortable listening levels that the hum is just barely audible. The Shure M97xE and ADC Integra XLM-III are on that short list that makes happy listening possible with my AT-PL120. My Grado Blue requires more volume dialed in for a comfortable listening level which drags all background noise - including the hum - into increased prominence, which means I cannot use it on this turntable. There is an upgrade hint for the included ATP-2 cartridge making the rounds which suggests replacing the DJ stylus with a lighter tracking 205-DET stylus. Being curious I tried this combination. (From this point on this paragraph has been edited.) In my original evaluation I said that I had to dial in too much volume to get the same listening level I got with my other better cartridges. I discovered tonight that I did not have the 205-DET stylus installed all the way. The ATP-2 cartridge body seems to require a more determined pull to remove a stylus assembly and a more determined squeeze to properly seat another stylus than I obviously am used to. Once I got the 205-DET stylus assembly properly seated I discovered that this really is a nice pairing of parts. Presence of hum is very low, on par with my Shure and ADC Integra cartridges, and I am pleased with that quality. The top end is slightly brighter than my Shure M97xE, which I like. Cymbals splashing about on the top of my rock 'n' roll is a nice touch. This cartridge/stylus combo is a keeper. It now needs some breakin time, and then we'll see what it's really got. If anybody actually reads anything I post, I apologize for any misinformation imparted in my original post. I messed up, and I learned something from the mistake.

With a cartridge it likes, my AT-PL120 can be a nice sounding turntable. But as soon as I wade through some looming budgetary issues I may again try buying the turntable I should have gotten in the first place.

With a little luck, you might actually get a very nice SL-1200 for what you wish to spend. It can happen, my SL-1200 MK II cost $50 in nice shape. The SL-BD 20 isn't much better than the Sony you have now. It's kind of frail in build quality. Some Technics to look for are the SL-D2, SL-Q2, SL-1600, SL-1700, and SL-1800 and relatives. Craigslist and used outlets are your friends here.