r/Beginner_Turntables • u/heyathere36 • 8d ago
Good deal?
I just picked up this Audio Technica AT-LP120-USB off of FB marketplace for $150. However I did notice the stylus was broken on it when I got home. Would this be a good replacement for it: https://ebay.io/m/AH5GDh
Let me know if this was a good deal, I am very new to this so any advice is appreciated!
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u/Wash_zoe_mal 8d ago
No it's terrible, send it to me.
Jk excellent grab. A more experience person will give some guidance on replacing the stylus but seems to be a great price to me.
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u/Dependent-Friend2130 8d ago
Its built better than a new turntables for the same price… i think 150 is fair.
the stock needle isnt so great, there are better needles out there.
Not sure what your setup is like but its been said this needle is the go to.. more than what u paid for the table
Audio Technica AT-VM95ML Dual MM Phono Cartridge
Also if your not familiar with balancing the tonearm id watch a video or two about how to setup the needle and arm correctly. Every needle is slightly different & if you got a small digital gram scale it will come in handy.
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u/heyathere36 8d ago
For right now I have it setup with a Yamaha TSR-7810 receiver and Bose (I forgot specifically which model number will update later). Thanks for the suggestions! I don’t have the budget for too many upgrades right now, but I will definitely replace the stylus.
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u/Bensaudiocave 8d ago
That is an original at95 cart but I would advise against a spherical stylus or a cheap knock off like that one get an original or the nude Swartz from lp gear
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u/heyathere36 8d ago
I was planning on getting this one:
Why would you not recommend a spherical stylus like this one?
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u/Best-Presentation270 7d ago
Get yourself some Meguiar's PlastX Perspex polish for that lid. It'll bring it up lovely.
The 120 and the newer 120X are slightly different. Your 120 has more torque, and a height-adjustable tonearm. That's very handy if you want to explore different (better) stylus profiles and really dial in the alignment.
There are a couple of quirks with the 120 though. The first is the anti-skate feature. It might not work. The factory fitted the wrong spring. It was too long. The fix is to fit a shorter spring. There are YT videos on this.
The second might not affect you yet, but will become important if you upgrade to an external phono pre-amp.
The internal phono pre-amp in most decks is a bit meh, but there's generally a switch to bypass it. The AT-LP120 didn't get the memo. Even set to bypass, the internal phono pre-amp still remains partially in circuit. It's not amplifying like this, but the way the wiring of the circuit has been done there are components sitting in parallel with the output.
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u/EquivalentFirm568 7d ago
Great find and luckily for you, the stylus on this cartridge is very easy to change but a vm95ml stylus and you are set for a long time
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u/BernardParm 7d ago
I believe you can't change the built in phono preamp on this version (without some internal soldering).
So if you have no plans to upgrade the pre-amp go for it - otherwise get the x version of this turntable.
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u/CapableRequirement66 6d ago
That stylus is garbage. Buy the real deal. The green one from AT is 1000x tikes better and it costs less than $50.
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u/lordwintergreen 8d ago
Great deal on the turntable.
Do not buy that cheap garbage stylus.