Technics SL-1200MK2 vs. Audio Technica AT-LP120 Blind Test
- Thread starter Greyson
- Start date
boreas
"If it sounds good, it IS good." E.K.E.
That's okay. I had a Cocteau Twins LP that was recorded at 45 RPM. I can't tell you how many times I listened to that before I figured out that it wasn't a 33! :twak:
John
Greyson
Super Member
js1138
Super Member
You can't hear the motor noise over the music. You have to turn the volume up in the silent, lead-in grooves.
But this suggests to me that a lot of the character of turntable could be due to [measurable] imperfections, particularly if they are not obvious at regular listening levels.
I feel the Technics SL-1200 did sound more open and dynamic. On the rock tracks, the AT sounded like there was a veil over the instruments. I was paying more attention to the wow and flutter. I wanted to see if I could hear this in the AT table. I have to say the AT was better than I expected.
se7enMMBsg
Active Member
. . . well, to put it bluntly - and I'll throw in the old "IMHO": The AT-PL120 *IS* better than expected which I *never* would have found out if I had not gotten one as a Xmas gift.
Of course the Technics will be better, look at the price difference and build quality! It says quite a lot to me that my backup system in my "den" contains the AT-PL120 as opposed to the "MCS-6602" which is currently in storage.
The best sounding TT - out of the three I have - is my "PSX-6" which is in my main system; that TT has a sherman tank-like build and great sonic characteristics. For me it's a testament to the vastly underrated - well, here anyway - performance of the AT. I disagree about the switches and buttons, etc. being cheap or cheesy; they certainly seem solid, very reliable, and on the whole on par with my other 2 Decks. There is plenty of plastic to be found but at a hefty 27lbs. or so, it can hardly be called lightweight.(not that anyone in this thread called it that.)
Got mine - or I should say, my wife got mine, for Xmas, for $222 at Amazon - the price there generally ranges between $209-$229, and one in a while $199 Been running it regularly for 3 years now, and with simply bypassing the internal phono-pre, getting a better platter mat and better cartridge - I recommend the "AT-120e" or a "Nagaoka-MP110" for this table - this table is a steal; no matter what the hell the naysayers who have never heard it have to say. (Having said that, that does not mean that I do not realize or understand that those who have truly high end tables who have heard this deck would naturally find it very much lacking, or those who have for whatever reason had problems with their deck out of the box. BUT, with most these days, I very much have a budget that has to be adhered to. I get the best that "my" money can afford, or in this case, my wife.) BTW: I would have NEVER/EVER bought this deck on my own because of the published specs and my overall preference for vintage Decks.
After all this time I still cannot reconcile this decks' specs Vs. its very solid and quiet - if you bypass the internal phono pre - performance. I keep wondering if the wow/flutter specs could be a misprint but I seriously doubt that. I have it hooked up to a very nice sounding flea-watt tube amp that gave me the soundstage - height, width, instrument separation and low end punch that I love so much in general.
Again I'll throw in the "IMHO": For the money this deck - with very few modifications - can be a great starter/back-up TT. I've never regretted, ever, owning one. This damn TT sells like hotcakes.
~Peace & Salutations,
Dave
Of course the Technics will be better, look at the price difference and build quality! It says quite a lot to me that my backup system in my "den" contains the AT-PL120 as opposed to the "MCS-6602" which is currently in storage.
The best sounding TT - out of the three I have - is my "PSX-6" which is in my main system; that TT has a sherman tank-like build and great sonic characteristics. For me it's a testament to the vastly underrated - well, here anyway - performance of the AT. I disagree about the switches and buttons, etc. being cheap or cheesy; they certainly seem solid, very reliable, and on the whole on par with my other 2 Decks. There is plenty of plastic to be found but at a hefty 27lbs. or so, it can hardly be called lightweight.(not that anyone in this thread called it that.)
Got mine - or I should say, my wife got mine, for Xmas, for $222 at Amazon - the price there generally ranges between $209-$229, and one in a while $199 Been running it regularly for 3 years now, and with simply bypassing the internal phono-pre, getting a better platter mat and better cartridge - I recommend the "AT-120e" or a "Nagaoka-MP110" for this table - this table is a steal; no matter what the hell the naysayers who have never heard it have to say. (Having said that, that does not mean that I do not realize or understand that those who have truly high end tables who have heard this deck would naturally find it very much lacking, or those who have for whatever reason had problems with their deck out of the box. BUT, with most these days, I very much have a budget that has to be adhered to. I get the best that "my" money can afford, or in this case, my wife.) BTW: I would have NEVER/EVER bought this deck on my own because of the published specs and my overall preference for vintage Decks.
After all this time I still cannot reconcile this decks' specs Vs. its very solid and quiet - if you bypass the internal phono pre - performance. I keep wondering if the wow/flutter specs could be a misprint but I seriously doubt that. I have it hooked up to a very nice sounding flea-watt tube amp that gave me the soundstage - height, width, instrument separation and low end punch that I love so much in general.
Again I'll throw in the "IMHO": For the money this deck - with very few modifications - can be a great starter/back-up TT. I've never regretted, ever, owning one. This damn TT sells like hotcakes.
~Peace & Salutations,
Dave
Last edited:
Greyson
Super Member
They are, when compared to the Technics. Espically the pop-up light and start - stop button.
se7enMMBsg
Active Member
. . . yes, but I wasn't comparing it with the Technics, I'm comparing it with the two other decks that *I* own.
~Dave
~Dave
Greyson
Super Member
Fair enough, but the LP120 is a 1200Mk2 clone, so my observations were on how it compared to that turntable, not to other turntables as a whole.
royphil345
Well-Known Member
Yeah... I'd agree with the first person who posted...
Jazz, turntable #1 is Technics?
Rock, turntable #2 is Technics?
Electronic, turntable #1 is Technics?
They do sound closer than I expected. I wouldn't say the brighter tone of the Technics is necessarily "right" if I'm correct. I think it can sound a bit too bright with the stock wiring, so that's what I went by.
Jazz, turntable #1 is Technics?
Rock, turntable #2 is Technics?
Electronic, turntable #1 is Technics?
They do sound closer than I expected. I wouldn't say the brighter tone of the Technics is necessarily "right" if I'm correct. I think it can sound a bit too bright with the stock wiring, so that's what I went by.
LostTurntabl
Member
The ATLP-120 could sound spot-on perfect compared to the 1200, but it won't for long. Those things are not built to last.
royphil345
Well-Known Member
It's direct-drive. But yes, I would say the noise is ultimately going to limit what you can get out of this table... wow and flutter may contribute as well. The Technics does sound considerably more open and transparent (if I was right in my guesses... lol). I have another table that sounds a bit darker than my Technics and I like that, but it does not sound as closed in as the AT table. Are we sure it's motor noise? Could completely bypassing the turntable's PC board possibly help?
Last edited:
js1138
Super Member
http://www.ersimages.com/ecards/Sound 1.mp3
http://www.ersimages.com/ecards/Sound 2.mp3
OK. I've applied a band pass filter to remove rumble and hiss that was on the record, and I've highly magnified the result to emphasize what sounds to me like a dry bearing.
This is a lead in groove, so all of this is noise. But one recording is of noise that is on the record, and one shows noise contributed by the turntable.
They don't line up perfectly, so I've circled reference points, two blips that appear to be dust or something on the record. If you look at the left side of sound 1, you can see a couple of blips that don't show on sound 2. This visual method is sensitive enough to reveal dust that accumulates on a record between playings.
http://www.ersimages.com/ecards/Sound 2.mp3
OK. I've applied a band pass filter to remove rumble and hiss that was on the record, and I've highly magnified the result to emphasize what sounds to me like a dry bearing.
This is a lead in groove, so all of this is noise. But one recording is of noise that is on the record, and one shows noise contributed by the turntable.
They don't line up perfectly, so I've circled reference points, two blips that appear to be dust or something on the record. If you look at the left side of sound 1, you can see a couple of blips that don't show on sound 2. This visual method is sensitive enough to reveal dust that accumulates on a record between playings.
Catcher10
Prog-tastic!
I do believe it is motor noise....I have one of the AT LP120 and I can hear the motor noise occasionally. I have not opened up the TT to see if it can be corrected with some lubrication. I think it is just a lower end motor based on the price point of this TT.
I have compared mine to a Project entry and the sound is as good if not better in some cases. What I have yet to hear or identify is the higher W&F number this AT has...I have dampened the tonearm with rubber o rings and also use a series of 4" round cork mats, these small tweeks have helped quite a bit. And the Nagaoka MP110 seems to match very well with this table.
It was easy for me to pick which one was the AT table...but I was very surprised at in some musical passages both sounded the same.
Clearly the 1200 had a more open musical sound overall.....but for the price the AT held its own, and for someone who des not want to spend $500-$800 for a better TT setup, it should do the trick and allow the user to have a vinyl experience.
Great comparison!
I have compared mine to a Project entry and the sound is as good if not better in some cases. What I have yet to hear or identify is the higher W&F number this AT has...I have dampened the tonearm with rubber o rings and also use a series of 4" round cork mats, these small tweeks have helped quite a bit. And the Nagaoka MP110 seems to match very well with this table.
It was easy for me to pick which one was the AT table...but I was very surprised at in some musical passages both sounded the same.
Clearly the 1200 had a more open musical sound overall.....but for the price the AT held its own, and for someone who des not want to spend $500-$800 for a better TT setup, it should do the trick and allow the user to have a vinyl experience.
Great comparison!