Audio Technica AT-LP120USB Super Mod Thread
- Thread starter vincei
- Start date
vincei
aka MasterControlMedia
VinylRescue
Member
I realize I'm over a year late catching this post, but it was sent to me from a viewer on my YT channel. I've been doing mods to my AT120 since I bought it 4 years ago. First thing I did was spray the bottom of the platter with Flex Seal. The ringing of the platter was horrible. Initially used the felt mat for awhile, but added a cork mat that improved it. Later added a Herbie Foam pad. Latest mod to platter was buying a Achromat by Funk and putting it on top of the Herbie pad. Much better. I ordered a AT120e cartridge with it, but later replaced it with an AT440MLa and it sounded much better. Had tracking issues since the anti-skate was not working as advertised. Bought the Analog Test LP and got it set, but at 5.8. From reading this post it's the spring. I yanked the preamp in earlier 2014 and connected an RCA cable to the existing wiring from the PCB board. What a huge difference. Then in May I soldered a new pair of RCA cables to the PCB for better sound. Then a month later I went all out and bypassed the PCB board and soldered directly to the tone arm wiring. I have my turntable suspended using an inner tube between two boards hanging from brackets wrapped in inner tubes. Ropes are adjusted with turnbuckles to get the leveling set perfectly. I also replaced the stock counterweight with the Audio-Technica AT-LP120 Upgrade Heavy Counterweight AT-CW1 for better tone arm stability. After reading this entire post I now have some work to do. Looking to buy some sound coat, rewire the tone arm, stuff tone arm with cotton, and find some o-rings to slide over the tone arm. Some will say to just buy a better turntable, but I honestly can't afford that.
vincei
aka MasterControlMedia
It was a fun project. In the end I sold the table and the new owner was quite happy with it. This table would be a good value, if there was some changes made a the factory, including setting the arm lower in the plinth and getting a stronger spring for the anti-skate. A rubber mat would also be nice. Bearings could have been tighter too, but I fixed those myself. Good luck!
VinylRescue
Member
After much thinking (I do this too much when I get a new idea in my head) I'm thinking of getting new wiring for my tone arm, but with a different twist. Get a couple feet of Cardas wiring (http://www.partsconnexion.com/product1011.html) that's all wrapped in a shield and run it out to a pair of RCA connectors that I plan to install on the back of the case. Stuff cotton as you did on yours and plan on getting o-rings soon. I would then clamp the wiring down and leave plenty of slack for tone arm movement. It's a way of getting rid of the middle man (parts) between the cartridge and the RCA cable. Have to change the grounding, but that's easy. Gotta order up some Sound Coat too. Does this sound doable or am I just crazy?
vincei
aka MasterControlMedia
That is doable. I liked the addition I did of RCA jacks on the back, that helped. Damping it is always good, the sound coat works very well. I am not sure what you want to do with the shielded wire, would you run that just from the base of the tonearm to the RCA jacks?
VinylRescue
Member
I was actually looking to run it straight from the 5-pin DIN to the RCA connectors. It has the 4 wires for the DIN, but the ground is the outer mesh under the outer jacket that can be soldered onto the 5th pin on the DIN. 
VinylRescue
Member
From my experience, no. All the signals still go through the preamp's circuitry muffling the output. Here's a great video of someone who did a before and after sound sample of ripping it out:
It really makes a great difference as the preamp muffles the highs and makes the bass bland.
It really makes a great difference as the preamp muffles the highs and makes the bass bland.
VinylRescue
Member
I went out and bought 8 o-rings and put them on the tone arm. It added about 1 gram of weight so I had to break out the digital scale for a reset (I have the oversized counterweight). Did one recording afterwards and sounded nice! The size to look for is 3/8" inner diameter. Be sure to unclip the tone arm before putting them on as it requires a little oomph to get them over the headshell connector. Made a list of mods to do, but will take some time as I have to buy a few things at a time. Also have to make sure I get the correct things and also that I'm sure I can do them. Hate to tear it apart and not get it back to together?!
fingersmagoo
New Member
That was one of the best mods, and cheap you can do. I am the guy from you tube that turned you on to this link. I have my arm off my table and am ready to fix the anti-skate today. I will update you here on results. If I have to change the spring, I will have to dremel some of the plastic away from right above it. Looks doable. Between you and Vince, I am taking both of your ideas on my project. I probably should have just sold the table and bought a better one but now it became a I gotta make it the best it can be project. Who knows, I may be impressed with the results.
Glenn
fingersmagoo
New Member
Vincei
Thanks so much for posting this. I did everything you did, followed you through your journey. All the way to the female jacks. I needed 8 hockey pucks, I have a Cambridge cp-2, needed just a bit more height. I just can't believe the difference in this table now. I also took mine just one step further and wired mine straight to the Belden 1505f coax, eliminating the board completely in the wiring. Like you said the female jacks are a nice clean look. I love the results. So between you and Vinyl Rescue I used both your ideas. I ended up buying a spring kit at Harbor Freight for 4.99 and cut that down and now my anti-skate actually works. I put the technics headshell on it using an AT440Mlb cartridge and changed wires out on it to gold plated. The soundcoat, the shrink tube, the cotton really make quite a difference in the sound. I still want to get a weight for it. I guess they would make still a bit more diffenence, I don't know, what is your experience with your weight?
All this and to think I bought my table on an auction site for 45 us dollars. I have for the money a table worth way more than I have in it.
Again thanks so much
Glenn
fingersmagoo
New Member
I thought I read you adjusted the bearings in the tone arm, can I ask you if you remember, how you did it?
Thanks in advance
Glenn
vincei
aka MasterControlMedia
I used a homemade spanner screwdriver to loosen the outer locking screw and then and a jewelers screwdriver to carefully adjust the the bearing screw so the bearings have no play, but no binding either, a very careful balance! YouTube may have some tutorials for the SL-1200MK2, which is the same principal. Just be very careful, you don't want to make things worst. If in doubt, leave it as is unless it's really loose.
VinylRescue
Member
I ordered and received 4 sheets of Sound coat the other day. Waiting to strategically apply it for the sound dampening, but waiting on a new tone arm wiring harness I'm going to order next week. Found one from AudioQuest (Wildcat https://www.amazon.com/AudioQuest-W...9819&sr=8-1&keywords=audioquest+tonearm+cable) at Amazon for $89 to replace from the Din with 4 feet of cable to the RCA and ground terminal. Was going to buy wiring and a DIN and make a soldering project out of it, but my soldering gun is big and bulky. Having carpal tunnel with arthritis would make it a very difficult project to complete. I recently posted on my YT channel Reasons Not To Buy An AT-LP120 USB Turntable that I've gotten quite a few views and comments (
). I will update and post a new video on YT showing my last mods with results. Just wished I had a sample of before I started this journey of when I first bought this TT.
fingersmagoo
New Member
Yeah, not the greatest turntable but with all modificatios mentioned it is doeable. Mine sounds ok. Anti-skate actually works now. Just bought Johnny Winters record with one blank side . Amazon gave me a 20 dollar credit for amazon music and I have taken advantage of. Great deal for 76 bucks. I got both my turntables on an auction site. 165 bucks for both. Not bad. I could sell one and get most of my money back but I am not totally displeased with the results of upgrades. I would make money if I sold them both and got a different table but the quality of vinyl says keep what you have and make the best out of the situation. Recording engineers back in the late 60's and 70's weren't the best at what they did. Invest in a better iron. I did and am very happy with the results. I make my own cables now, I used it on turntable and god knows what else, oh yeah, my guitar jack. Great investment. I just bought 50 more feet of belden 1505f wire and connectors, rca and guitar jacks for more cables. Enjoy the music. Sorry about having carpal tunnel. That sucks.
fingersmagoo
New Member
fingersmagoo
New Member
Watched your video. LOL. All so true. But most of the stuff you bought would go on your next table. I stayed budget but invested in a good cambridge like you. It will go with my next table nicely as will my table weight. I can always sell my mat, 1/4 inch technics so no problem there. So can I reuse my at-440mlb cartridge. But table is useable so I will keep.