Audio-Technica AT-PL120 Turntable

Pros: Rich sound, looks great, manual control on everything for tons of customization.
Cons: Manual control means you have to do it all yourself.

I choose to blame Crap From the Past for this purchase. CFtP is a radio show out of Minnesota on KFAI that does retro pop music with a focus on obscure, forgotten, or overlooked recordings. - a graduate level course in pop-music, as Ron "Boogiemonster" ...

Pros: Professional features, heft, ease of set–up and use, price, sound.
Cons: None.

Those under thirty or so perhaps won't understand. A few semi – 'Luddite' audiophiles just might. Call me crazy, sentimental, silly, whatever, but I've decided to return to the aural joys of vinyl. Yes, vinyl, as in ...

Pros: Quality, versatility, features, sound and price!!!
Cons: Interconnects are a little short.

I'm so excited about this product that I just don't know where to start! I've been storing my vinyl collection for about 20 years and just couldn't bring myself to part with any of it. When times and finances changed to where I could actively look for ...

Pros: All negatives considered, it's still a useful product.
Cons: Flimsy construction; lack of internal damping.

Until I found and purchased this model, I was foiled many times in my search for a turntable that had an easily-changed headshell and 78 RPM and a wide-range pitch control.I have, and like to use, various DUAL turntables ...

Pros: Cost, quality, arm, direct drive.
Cons: The professional cartridge is not recommended for personal or critical listening.

This is an excellent turntable, competing against many more costly other brands. I don't like the "professional cartridge", for use in nightclubs where abuse is the first order. There are many good optional cartridges available. The possible feedback from the motor can easily be eliminated by using a felt platter mat, instead of the rubber mat that comes with the machine. For those not familiar with turntables, the light airy sound comes from the quality cartridge, not the turntable itself. I highly recommend this turntable for those that do not wish to deal with turntables with belt drives.

Pros: Great value includes such as 78 speed, reverse speed, built in phono-preamp.
Cons: Does not have the detailed sound of the big brother the Technics SL 1200.

This is the near perfect mirror image of the famous Technic 1200/1210 but at half the price. The turntable is some 3 pounds less of the Sl-1220 but has added features such as a 78 speed, reverse speed and an included cartridge. It also includes the choice of using the built in phono pre-amp. All in all, a very good deal for the money. The cover also has hinges that the newer SL does not.
The only major difference I found is that the platter is very light and the speed control mechanism is more elaborate on the SL-1220 than on the Audio Technica.
I did in short order listen to the SL-1200 and you can actually hear the difference in the sound because of the more precise speed of the SL-1200. The SL-1200 has more air and detail but many will be very satisfied with the Audio Technica at half the price and made by the same company.
Is it worth the difference in price? It’s up to you but it remains a super value

Pros: good sound, good quality, good controls
Cons: all manual - have to be there to lift the needle off the LP

I listen to LPs, and I find this a very good turntable, especially for the price.   It has a variable pitch control that permits me to adjust LP speeds to a musical instrument if I want to play along - I don't use that much, but very good when i do.    Good controls, good sound, all around good quality.  Its downside is that it is all manual, and I have some LPs that don't 'catch' correctly when they reach the end of the side - the needle drags across the center.   Other than that, it's perfect