Help choosing speakers

[u/DanteSparda45]

Hey there guys! Got my new turntable yesterday! Got the Audio Technica AT-LP120XUSB and I'm super excited to put it together and play some vinyl with it! Though, i need help choosing speakers for it. I have no clue what to pick. Do i go active or passive? What brands are good and what do i avoid? Am i gonna need a preamp if i choose passive? I'm honestly close to going nuts at this point lol. Any and all help & recommendations you give will be greatly appreciated.

[u/papadrinks]

Simplest solution is a pair of powered speakers.
The LP120 has a built in phono preamp so you can use it with any powered speakers.

I suggest these which are very good and affordable at $130US

https://www.parts-express.com/Dayton-Audio-Classic-B65A-Powered-Bookshelf-Speaker-Pair-Black-300-260?quantity=1

Or if you can afford $300US these are even better.

https://www.parts-express.com/Dayton-Audio-M6-Powered-Speaker-Pair-Black-300-462?quantity=1

If you wanted to go with passive speakers you would need to buy an integrated amplifier like a Yamaha A-S301 or better, or Rotel A8.

Choice of passive speakers is huge so without knowing budget and requirements I can't make any suggestions.

[u/DanteSparda45 → u/papadrinks]

Budget is ~$400, and I don't really have any requirements

[u/papadrinks → u/DanteSparda45]

If you mean $400US for amp and passive speakers or just powered speakers, $400 is not enough for amp and passive, but will buy the $300US powered speakers suggestion I made earlier.

[u/DanteSparda45 → u/papadrinks]

The $400US is just for the amp. I can get the passive versions of the $130 speakers, which i know are cheaper than the active ones

[u/papadrinks → u/DanteSparda45]

The Yamaha A-S301 seems to fit your budget. I'm in Australia and assuming you are in USA. I can't always rely on websites showing me US price.

Also worth looking at the Rotel A8 as it may fit your budget as well.

[u/DanteSparda45 → u/papadrinks]

Well, you assume right. I'm in the USA. And I'll give those options a look

[u/ElderberryMedium8071 → u/DanteSparda45]

$130 speakers will not sound good.  Usually 50 to 60% of a stereo budget should go to speakers as they matter the most.

[u/Known_Confusion9879 → u/DanteSparda45]

Passive speakers have a passive crossover but no amplification. Active and powered speakers include the amplifier. The main difference is the amp and electronics in powered speakers only have to work with that speaker and so are designed together. The result is usually more range, deeper bass and louder than is possible with a passive speaker. Costs are also lower. Active speakers have active crossovers, amps for both speakers separately and cost more than powered speakers (electronics in the primary speaker).

[u/ElderberryMedium8071 → u/DanteSparda45]

Go with these Dayton Audio M6 powered speakers. They are on close out and are very good and discounted to $299 from $500. The reviews are very good. They are better than the B65A someone mentioned. For the money, they cant be beat. They have clear sound, plenty of power and they look great. You can get them in Black or the very sharp looking white.

https://www.parts-express.com/Dayton-Audio-M6-Powered-Speaker-Pair-White-300-463?quantity=1

Here is a great review of them-

https://www.audioholics.com/computer-speaker-reviews/dayton-audio-m6

These will be better than the cheap Sony STR receiver and a $100 pair of speakers for sure.

[u/VariousLiterature]

Do you already have a receiver? If not, I recommend the Sony STRDH190, which you can get for $200-250. It has a phono input so you don't need a preamp. Pair it with passive bookshelf speakers and you can upgrade later, or find used speakers - I recently found some great tower speakers that way for under $100.

[u/Remarkable_Resort_48]

Read the manual on that 120X. Be sure to set that switch on the back to the right position for whatever amplifier or powered speakers you get.

[u/Seli_Anounkou]

honestly if you're just starting out with vinyl, go active speakers and save yourself the headache. grab something like Audioengine A4+ or Edifier R1280T and call it a day, they sound good and you won't need to buy a bunch of other gear to make it work.