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Technics SL-1200MK2 vs. Audio Technica AT-LP120 Blind Test

Bookmarking this for later:

Do you think that the latest version of Foobar played through an Audioengine D1 usb dac will suffice?
 
Greyson said:
Blind Test - SL-1200Mk2 - AT-LP120
The same copy of each record was played on each turntable.
Click to expand...

do you mean, same record or 2 similar records.?

(B) Are you 100% shure...
Electronic - Thievery Corporation.
is
Turntable #1 SL-1200Mk2
Turntable #2 AT-LP120
?
(C)
do you have a Time Coded Vinyl? "NI Tracktor or Rane CV02"
or an Ultimate Analogue Test LP ?

if Yes,
can you record 1 or 2 minutes of the Time Code at 44.1Khz or 48khz,
or record the 1KHz tone Track1 Side1 of the Ultimate Analogue Test LP.-?

with both turntables? or minimum with the AT-120.
 
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I almost dont want to post in this thread

I did say almost...lol

Hey, forgetting comparisons to ANY table and just on its own merits. I the budget category, the AT is pretty damn good. If someone cant get above $200 or so then this would have to be highly recommended as a decent purchase, just on its own merits.

I only use mine as a office table but it has an AT440Ml/OCC cart and I dampened the platter..its cooler than one would expect.

I know it may not mean much but this is a needle drop from that combo and I am sure a newbie would be very happy with this sound...yes?

Long Needle Drop file
 
blah

I played along - listened to the first 2 files (miles) and could distinguish right off during the silence the turntable. I'm not impressed by the Audio Technica at all. That's unacceptable rumble/motor? noise. It sounds worse than a Garrard I own that was built in the late 60s and that's the idler wheel system (friction city). I normally am impressed by Audio Technica products but I would not recommend this turntable because the price point is not terribly different than a 1200mk series. Good job with the test though, it was enlightening, as I was considering a AT-LP120 for a gift for someone but I will avoid, especially with quite a few technics sl1200mk's I see on the used market. Interesting there is a built in pre-amp in the AT . What is the point of this? For the USB connection , or for Amps without a Phono stage?
 
freqazoidiac said:
That's unacceptable rumble/motor? noise
Click to expand...

While I appreciate the experiment, I would like to note that the test was done with an AT-LP120 that might have been defective. I own an AT-LP120 as a backup TT and have not experienced the same "rumble/motor" noise issue. I'm not saying the table is better (or even equal) to a Technics 1200, but perhaps you are being too quick to judge. For the money, it's a nice starter turntable, IMO.
 
freqazoidiac said:
For the USB connection , or for Amps without a Phono stage?
Click to expand...

Both. Even if you put it into 'Line' mode the signal is still passing through the circuitry.

hhjack said:
I would like to note that the test was done with an AT-LP120 that might have been defective.
Click to expand...

I don't think so, it seems to run fine and I used it for nearly a year prior to the test. It may be less noticeable in person but comes out upon critical listening.
 
This test

Greyson said:
Both. Even if you put it into 'Line' mode the signal is still passing through the circuitry.

I don't think so, it seems to run fine and I used it for nearly a year prior to the test. It may be less noticeable in person but comes out upon critical listening.
Click to expand...

Has been done to death...The unit may run fine but if you are hearing motor noise, it may still be defective..Mine (and others) don't experience that.

And the comparison is just for visual and function only...the SL is a better table, no doubt.

The AT is a starter table, period. Perhaps you could try an Orbit as I hear it is quite good ..?
 
ODS123 said:
Track #1. Prefer the 2nd Table (huge difference b/w the two)
Click to expand...

Ditto. Although there is a motor noise, #2 is surely the better sounding of the two, which I'm guessing is the Technics but hoping wrong.
 
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We have to give Rob a lot of credit for going the distance on evaluating the AT LP120. He took some flak from AK members myself included so it wasn't a free ride. In the end if your honest you will look at it for what it is, a $200 turntable. In the world of turntables that price is just above the Crosley and EON USB turntables so to think your going to get state of the art build quality and performance your dreaming. If the features like 78rpm is something needed and around $200 is all you can afford you did about as good as can be expected in todays new turntable marketplace. If your willing to forgo 78rpm and a cueing lift you might want to take a look at the U-Turn Orbit. It's bare bones but by all accounts U-Turn concentrated on quality/performance and managed to keep the price tag under $200 where Audio Technica seems to be hit and miss on quality/performance.
 
Good post...

majick47 said:
We have to give Rob a lot of credit for going the distance on evaluating the AT LP120. He took some flak from AK members myself included so it wasn't a free ride. In the end if your honest you will look at it for what it is, a $200 turntable. In the world of turntables that price is just above the Crosley and EON USB turntables so to think your going to get state of the art build quality and performance your dreaming. If the features like 78rpm is something needed and around $200 is all you can afford you did about as good as can be expected in todays new turntable marketplace. If your willing to forgo 78rpm and a cueing lift you might want to take a look at the U-Turn Orbit. It's bare bones but by all accounts U-Turn concentrated on quality/performance and managed to keep the price tag under $200 where Audio Technica seems to be hit and miss on quality/performance.
Click to expand...

And its sad but true, seems the quality shipped on the AT is hit or miss. I myself received the first one DOA. Amazon replaced in 24 hours but it is still a pain. Second one was awesome. Its sort of like ordering the Beatles Box set. You might get the warped ones or the prefect ones...LOL

If someone doesn't need specific features (78)..I would probably say try the new (upgrade model) Orbit...The price differential is small and from what I have observed (from others) the quality much better.
 
You guys aren't even paying attention lol. According to the answers, the better sounding deck with the motor issue was the AT.
 
Raynie said:
You guys aren't even paying attention lol. According to the answers, the better sounding deck with the motor issue was the AT.
Click to expand...

The answers so far weigh about 4 : 1 in favor of the Technics, but it's interesting to see how different people interpret the samples. ODS posted before I fixed the first audio file, in which the Technics was off-pitch.
 
if your digitizing music into a DAW like Reaper or PT then its easy to remove motor noise without effecting fidelity of the recorded file. And one can eq the file as one prefers. And the EQ's that come with these DAW's are quite good. Everyone has different taiste when it comes to eq. If your using Audacity or some generic recording software that came with the soundcard, give Reaper a try. Its free to try and the trial versoin is the full blown version and its uncrippled. Reaper is based on the honor system. Try it and if you like it then pay them the $60 or not.
 
majick47 said:
We have to give Rob a lot of credit for going the distance on evaluating the AT LP120. He took some flak from AK members myself included so it wasn't a free ride. In the end if your honest you will look at it for what it is, a $200 turntable. In the world of turntables that price is just above the Crosley and EON USB turntables so to think your going to get state of the art build quality and performance your dreaming. If the features like 78rpm is something needed and around $200 is all you can afford you did about as good as can be expected in todays new turntable marketplace. If your willing to forgo 78rpm and a cueing lift you might want to take a look at the U-Turn Orbit. It's bare bones but by all accounts U-Turn concentrated on quality/performance and managed to keep the price tag under $200 where Audio Technica seems to be hit and miss on quality/performance.
Click to expand...

And, if you're a clever sort (and a machinist to boot), you could make a replacement 3-step pulley for the Orbit.

John
 
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