Side by Side Comparison of: Numark vs Audio-Technica

I did not know much about Turntables and was a very cautious buyer. I was looking for a turntable to turn my fathers record collection digital. This Numark TTUSB Turntable with USB seemed to be the most affordable and best value. I gave it to my father's birthday 2 years ago and he loves it. The first few days he really went nuts uploading all of his records on to the computer, it worked well and it created decent quality soundtracks. I consider this a great purchase for people who are good with computers. If you are a little bit less computer literate, I would not recommend it.I initially didn't like the fact that there is no lid or protector over it, there is one you can buy separately. We haven't needed it and it sits right on top of our stereo system next to the computer screen, occasionally things get set on it but it has not effected the products performance.

I've been looking for a LP to MP3 converter for years. Every time I do research on them I found that people either loved or cursed the day they ever bought the converter. Most of the time it was the later. However, with this Numark it came highly rated so I ordered it as the majority of users had great experiences.Pros:Very easy to use and setup.Works great with iTunes.Splits the tracks.Cons:Track splitting isn't an exact science and I've found that it depends on the LP. I've converted several LP's with no problems, all the tracks are pulled in. However, I've converted LP's with long pauses in vocals were the software splits the track anyway. I've had a 12 track LP converted and split into 24 tracks. Sometimes it's just a few tracks split, but it's a guessing game on LPs that are very old, dusty, and with lots of instrumental/vocal breaks in the song.Despite the odd track splitting on a few LP I really am glad that I purchased this. If you go in with the expectation that you will have to do some song editing with split tracks you will not be disappointed with this turntable. However, if you are quick to get angry that this Numark doesn't split the tracks accurately then look elsewhere. I've discovered that the track splitting option in the software is not an exact science, I'm okay with that. I just want to get the music on digital and that's all that matters to me.

I was a little nervous about ordering this because I saw so many negative reviews, but I decided to plunge ahead and go for it anyway. I have to say that I am very pleased with this turntable- it is doing an excellent job of converting my old vinyl to digital. Right now, I'm converting a bunch of old 7" singles and there haven't been any problems.Actaully, that's a little fib- my first couple of attempts sounded horrible, and I was starting to get a little concerned that I had made a bad purchase. however, after about 20 minutes or so of fiddling with the counterweight of the tonearm, I got great results. I've converted about 50 7"s so far, and they all worked great- sound is wonderful, considering the age of the vinyl.My only beef is with the software- it installs quickly, and is very user-friendly, but it doesn't really allow you to do any sophisticated editing, and it only saves the music in Apple's iTunes format. Still, it's not enough for me to knock a star off the ratings.I would definitely say this is a must-buy for anyone looking to preserve their old records.

This is just what I've been wanting to convert my old LPs, 45s and Cassettes to CDs. I studied the reviews while waiting and downloaded all the documentation I could from Numark. As a result, I was able to see that most of the negative reviews seemed to be a result of not reading and following all the instructions clearly. A few were from faulty equipment which should be corrected by a return/new turntable. Those that complain about no sound? - Read the notes on Control Panel. Just reset your Playback default device!The most common negative comment given has been the lack of a dust cover. To me, this is minor. I had some old burgundy velvet fabric that (when trimmed to a rectangle) was just about the right size. I just cover the entire turntable with this fabric when I'm not using it.For me, everything boiled down to -Pros:Does exactly what it says it does. I'm not a audiophile. I just wanted my old recording in a more easily used format.Easy to use - I had no problem with Audacity. I did not use the CD. I downloaded the newest version prior to my turntable being delivered and just waited to install it. The assembly was simple and easily done.Split larger recording - Splitting a longer recording (in my test case, 6 songs) into the separate tracks AND naming them was very very nice!Stereo Input Jack - I did purchase the extra cable to be able to convert my cassettes and that adds to my enjoyment by being able to convert those to CDs as well. Of all the turntables I studied prior to purchase, this was the only one that that that feature.Cons - All minor (non serious enough to cost a star):No Dust Cover - Make your own with a piece of heavy cloth.Audacity missing one "preference" - It's a minor pain to have to specify "monitor input" every time!No clear information as to what setting the Phono/line switch on the back should be for use in USB mode. I left it in "Phono" (default) because the Line setting had warnings. I figured if it didn't work, it was easy to change.Non-removable RCA cables - Since this is NAMED "USB", it's kind of silly that these cables are not removable!Over all - I would give this 6 stars but 5 was as high as it went. I was very very happy with my first attempt.

Like many of my generation, I have a large collection of vinyl recordings. Many of the performances are historic but no longer available. For example, I have a live recording of a memorial Mass for John F. Kennedy with Joseph Cardinal Cushing as celebrant, the Mozart Requiem with choir and full orchestra. I have Anna Moffo's Traviata and Maria Callas' Lucia. I have a recording of the Mozart Horn Concertos by Dennis Brain. I have Van Cliburn, Miles Davis, and other performers no longer recording. These recordings, and others, are so rare that I am reluctant even to play them.I have a great JVC turntable to play them on but until the last few weeks, turntables had all but disappeared from the (non-eBay) market. So I was intrigued when I saw the Numark TTUSB advertised in a catalog. It promised me the ability to digitize these recordings. While they would never be modern reocordings and do show wear, the digital transcription will never get any worse.I immediately ordered the Numark but my order was never acknowledged or shipped. When I thought about it again, I Googled it and Google directed me to "Old Faithful." Three days later, I had it.First let me say that this is a very high quality turntable, at least as good as my JVC for which I paid three times as much in 1960 dollars. But of course the feature that distinguishes it is that it comes with USB output. While I might have been able to wire my JVC through the mic input on my PC, at my billing rate, I could not have done it for the price of this device.While it was clear that the package was supposed to include a shell and a cartridge, they were missing from mine. Again, at my billing rate, I could not afford the time to return it so I just used the ones I already had.The package did include the (free amatuer) Audacity software. This is a full-featured package but it is easy to learn and use. The documentation was charitibly short and clear. I did use it and it did save me some grief, mostly in setting up Windows on my PC. The software contains a dozen or more "effects" that can be applied to the audio, including a one-button one to remove vinyl "pops and clicks." While I expected to make MP3s and while the package does support MP3 at some level it requires a third component. Since I have iTunes, an iPod, and an Iphone, so far I have saved as AIFF and as Audacity "projects." The latter are editable and can be saved to other formats.I have done a dozen projects and have that many more queued up. It is not quite a new hobby but I have yet to tire of it. It has re-introduced to me some wonderful music. Try it, you'll like it.

I read SO many reviews before buying this turntable (comparing all the different ones I could find) and this one sounded like it was easy for people to use--even non-computer, non-audio savvy people, and it's TRUE! Yes, the included software is not intuitive (but you get used to it relatively quickly)and yes, there is no dust cover (major inconvenience, as I have a cat who likes to climb on things--yet, somehow, she's learned to stay away from it). But that said--when I got it, I promptly transferred my old Shaun Cassidy & Superbubble records (hideous scratches, pops, and all) and they sound GREAT (not to mention, I can't even find MP3s or even CDs of some of those tracks anywhere). It was easy to clean them up and eliminate some scratches and pops that I was sure I'd have to listen to forever, without damaging the quality of the song itself. And my Beasite Boys sounded just as good, too.I am comfortable around computer and audio equipment, but considering the non-intuitiveness of the included software, there was still a learning curve, but within a few hours, I felt like a pro (seriously!). And best of all: I have my record collection back! I feel like I've been let out of sonic prison, and it feels GREAT. And even better--the price of the turntable is amazing, considering that it has now given me the ability to transer my records (all 500+ of them--saving me easily $5,000 to digitize songs I may never hear again any other way). I cannot tell you how exciting it is to be able to listen to my records on my computer & ipod now. It feels ridicuously exciting and makes me SO happy! I'm so glad I made this purchase. Oh--and another plus--I now have the capacity to digitize my grandparents' 78s. Talk about a blessing--I'm thrilled!

Bought this as a replacement when my old, 30 years worth, turntable died, and have used it to convert my LPs to MP3s. It has performed flawlessly, right out of the box, as I would expect, given the price. It lacks auto-return at the end of the record, but that's OK with me, since that feature makes use of complicated mechanical connections that can go wrong. Hope I can get another 30 years out of this turntable.

Not my old Technics SL-1200MK2 (I wish I never trusted them to my so called friend), but a really good second if you are not interested in dropping major coin. It has been years since I was robbed of my beloved MK2s, so I do not have in depth recollection of their awesomeness, but the LP120s have all of the bells and whistles that I remember. I am sure there is some quality differences and the tone arm is porable not as good. But I cannot tell the difference now. The LP120 works and sounds great. I am not using the USB so no comment on the A2D converter.

This turntable was an upgrade from an Audio-Technica AT-LP 60. I have been listening to my vinyl more and more lately and, while there wasn't anything wrong with my old turntable, I just kept thinking/feeling that I wasn't getting the best sound from it so I started looking around for an upgrade. I looked at offerings from Pro-Ject, U Turn and others... with most of those I would have ended up spending more for the turntable and then also have to purchase an amp to place between my turntable and my receiver (which doesn't have a Phono input).

I realize that many "audiophiles" aren't crazy about this turntable because of the built-in phono amp. I'm not one of those guys who sits around in a smoking jacket sipping brandy... analyzing the sound quality of my music. I am a guy who's listened to music all his life, loves great music and a great, big sound coming out of his speakers. This turntable delivers like Domino's for me and my needs. From a build-quality perspective it's definitely a step up from my old turntable. It is heavy (there is a large metal weight bolted inside the bottom of the chassis (I found this out by watching a couple youtube videos). Even though the chassis is plastic on the outside, the weight and feel of the switches/controls feels really good. Everything from the power switch to the start/stop button to the cueing lever feels like good quality to me. The hinged cover opens with a good, solid feel and stays put in the open position. There are a lot of features here that I'll probably never use... not a DJ so I don't know that I really need to change the pitch of my music or play a record backwards. If you're interested in doing any of these things they're here for you. I do really like the pop-up light tho. It keeps me from having to turn on brighter lights to line the stylus up with the beginning of the record.

I did spend a bit more to get the black version, but I'm happy with the way it looks with all the rest of my other components which happen to be black. If you are interested in upgrading components you can always get a higher-quality cartridge/stylus. I don't hate the one it came with which is the Audio-Technica AT95E (the green one). Apparently this turntable used to come with a lesser-quality cart that was white.

One last thing, and it's a very important note. My old Audio-Technica turntable's cover got scratched up really bad during a move. I contacted Audio-Technica support to ask about ordering a new cover. I fully expected the cover to cost a crazy amount of money and for it to be such a huge pain in the ass that I'd just say the heck with it. I contacted their tech support and got a reply from someone within 24 hours. He was incredibly helpful and told me the part number I needed and the price. I was impressed with how nice and helpful he was as well as the fact that they weren't gouging me for the replacement cover (I think it was around $20). I called him back and ordered the replacement, shipping was a very reasonable $4 and it was on my doorstep within 3 days. I was surprised and impressed with the service I got... something I don't think most people can say very often.

I love this so much. I've been using a Crosley record player for the last couple years even though I know they're low quality and actually damage your vinyl in the long run (didn't have the budget to upgrade) but since I received this turntable yesterday and started listening to all of my new and old records I can't believe how much they have come to life. It's like listening to music for the first time all over again. The sound quality is out of this world, even with my old speakers (still waiting for the new speakers to arrive this week). The player it's self is great quality as well. Everything is made of metal and is really great quality. It's heavier than I was expecting but that just goes to show that it's not made of cheap materials. Highly recommend this turntable!

Bought the Audio-Technica AT-LP120-USB to replace my Technics SL-1300 purchased in 1975. The Technics was still running great after many years, until the circuit board was cooked in a lightning strike -- lost lots of electronic equipment in that storm. The AT arrived in good shape; unpacking and setup were straightforward, no problems. I did swap out the cartridge supplied on the AT with the Ortofon VMS 20E I was using on the Technics. Ortofon tracks very nicely at 1 gram. AT has a great design feature in permitting selection of line or phono out for the analog audio output. My amp has phono preamp, so I chose phono. Would have liked the phone cables about one foot longer, but they just made it to the amp. Moment of truth came -- put a 33 on the turntable and listened. Great sound reproduction. Speed was rock solid. No problems with the stylus tracking. Everything worked well.

The AT is not a Technics SL-1300, but it's probably the closest thing to it in the market, at a price that is very affordable for the build quality. I don't have the option of automatic operation of the tone arm I had on the Technics -- all manual on and off the vinyl now, but other than that, this AT is a great turntable.

Time will tell how the build quality holds up -- will it last 37 years like the Technics did? I'll never know, because at 67, I won't live that long!

Highly recommend this turntable.

I really like this turntable. The only reason I didn't give it five stars is because it doesn't have a built-in dust cover (they over a cloth cover to throw over it, UGH!) and there's no place to put the 45 adapter that comes with it, so that will make it very easy to lose, but otherwise, it sounds really nice and works well. I hope that I will get years of enjoyment out of this.

The Numark TTUSB is a great product. It comes well packaged with all the parts you need to record 33 vinyl records (45 adapter not included, but I knew that when buying). It is easy to assembly and software download is easy. The downside is the EZ software is not compatible with iTunes versions 11.0.3 and higher on the MAC. I went to the Ion Audio (EZ software maker) forum and other folks were having the same issue. Ion Audio is aware of the issue and stated that they are looking to upgrade the software but unsure when that will be. Those on the forum who have PCs found a work around using ripvinyl. Luckily my partner had an older version of iTunes and is able to export all the records to iTunes without any issues. The product itself is great but just want to warn folks about the software issue.

This turntable is excellent. There are many adjustments that are very useful. I like the fact that I can easily change cartridges and keep my needle fresh. The quality of the recording is top. In this turntable, you will pay for solid engineering to record your vinyl (or 78's).The only con I wish was different is the tone-arm lift. I have to do that manually as well as watch the for the end of the record. Since I am recording a whole side, the end of the record is not a big deal as I have to manually stop recording anyway.The software con is the software. It does not work well at all. However Audacity works great - so I use that. Another review here has lengthy instructions on how to use it with this turntable. Though, lengthy, it is simple to set-up and use. With Audacity, I can totally bypass ITunes since I don't care for that software either.If this had better software, it would easily be 5 stars. I can easily see why the price was several hundred dollars higher when it came out. To the people who bemoan not having a dust cover: use an old sheet or some piece of cloth.

I read all of the reviews prior to making the purchase. The two things I would have liked that I knew I would not get are a dust cover and a lift for the arm. Currently a hard dust cover is listed on Amazon for more than the cost of the turntable. Too expensive -- I'll settle for making something or just putting a towel over the unit. No practical solution for the lift arm. But I knew about these issues before the purchase. Still, had either the lift arm, or a quality dust cover been included, I would have given five stars.I had some concerns with the software but it seemed like enough options were available that I could get along. My primary purpose for purchasing this is to put my vinyl on the hard drive (and then to CDs). The only software that came with my TTUSB is EZ Audio Converter. This is a very simple program and serves my needs quite well. The one additional feature I would like would be a pause option next to the new track button. This would be helpful when turning the record over to avoid the long lead in on the first cut of side two (or 20 seconds of silence at the end of the last cut from side one). It is easy to trim that excess for playback purposes in iTunes, but it is still on the hard drive and I'd rather not have it there at all.The turntable was very easy to set up. Again, I had the advantage of having read the reviews and knew in advance about some of the problems others had. The instructions were good enough that anyone reading them carefully should have seen the solution to any problems they encountered.It would be nice for the RCA cables to be removable. I have my Numark TTUSB on a shelf above my iMac. I ran the RCA cords up and secured behind the next shelf up and have had none of the problems that others wrote of regarding these cables. Note that at present I have no use for them and don't expect to attach the turntable to anything but my computer and that, of course, is via the USB cable.I have had little problems with static or excess noise. Note that I do not consider myself an audiophile. Others might be fussier than I am.

I am fairly typical of someone who buys a USB turntable. I have about 350 albums that are too good to throw away but I don't play them anymore because playing LPs isn't very convenient compared to CDs. I am not all that well versed in acquiring and managing MP3s, and I'm not a techie audiophile either. So, for me, the Numark TTUSB turntable is perfect for my needs and requirements, especially at the Amazon price.I unpacked the unit, followed the very clear instructions, and had my first MP3 recorded in about 30 minutes using the EZ Vinyl Converter program provided by Numark. EZ Vinyl reads the USB input and uploads the music into iTunes to produce the MP3 files. However, I had two problems with EZ Vinyl: 1) It's too simplistic, and 2) It often failed to upload any songs after the first one on an album side. It's too simplistic because you have no control over the results, such as correctly dividing an album side into separate tracks. So then I had resort to using Audacity, and, after learning it, I never looked back. It is fairly easy to use, and the Numark instructions to get you started are effective. Afterward I had much better control over the production, and I have yet to learn all of Audacity's features and functions.After recording a few albums, I figured out that the pickup cartridge that comes with the unit is likely to be inferior. I remember from my stereo days of the 1970s that having a good quality cartridge is essential. The best speakers, receiver and turntable in the world won't result in good sound if you have junk for a cartridge. So I drove down to one of the last remaining stereo stores in my area and bought a $49 Ortofon OM 5E -- not expensive by any means -- but what a difference it made compared to the Numark stock cartridge. So spend the extra money a get decent cartridge.So I went to town recording 3-5 albums per day and then figured out that the software tools I was using (Windows Media Player, Windows Explorer, and iTunes) were insufficient for managing all of these MP3 files I'm cranking out. I want to correctly set the ID3 tags (e.g., song title, album title, artist, genre, year, etc.) for all my MP3s but what I was using was cumbersome. So I found a very useful program called Mp3Tag. It's free software and it can be found at [...]. It lets you very easily set all of your ID3 tags for your MP3s, including attaching album covers to songs. I get the album covers from the web site [...]. In all, it wasn't that difficult to reach the point I'm at now, efficiently converting my LPs to MP3s.As for the TTUSB unit itself, it seems to be of very good quality, but don't expect it match the quality and features of good turntables from your past. Compared to my 1979 Technics SL-3200, the TTUSB is missing a dust cover, cueing control, automatic return at the end of the record, and a timing strobe. The TTUSB is very basic, but if all you're doing is using it temporarily to convert your albums to MP3s, it's more than acceptable for that purpose. Though having cueing control would be nice.So for the money I spent, and the results I'm getting, I'm quite happy with the Numark TTUSB.

This Numark USB turntable addresses a very old problem for me... that of easily creating digital files from selected tracks- from my 2000+ licorace pizza albums and vintage 45's.There are good points to this turntable, and some negatives. The parent company (Numark) also markets the "ION 'iTTUSB" turntable. The differences (besides graphics & price) between the Numark and ION are: the ION has a PLASTIC platter; the Numark has a DIECAST & MACHINED ALUMINUM platter (better mass, for more consistent disc speed). The Numark TTUSB has an "S" shaped "tone arm," where-as the ION has a straight arm; the cartridge on the ION has a non-replaceable needle in the cartridge, where-as the needle IS replaceable on the TTUSB; the TTUSB has a rather rudimentary "speed control," which they call "pitch control," which the ION does NOT have. Here is where the differences end. BOTH are of (nearly all) plastic construction. BOTH are "belt-driven," as opposed to "direct-drive." NEITHER has "cueing" ability (which makes it easier to place the needle on an album, and selecting EXACTLY where you wish to place it), and both have an adjustable tone arm "mass weight," for placing the correct pressure on the needle (or stylus). The Numark TTUSB also has an "anti-skate" adjustment. There is NO (factory) dust cover available for either. Weight between the ION & Numark is nearly identical (12 lbs; shipping is about $1 per pound).They both will come with a CD- which has "Audacity;" this is the software which IS the "go-between," and makes it possible for you to save your (digitized) audio tracks; it also helps you to edit any flaws out.While the "TTUSB" is not a perfect solution, is IS a better solution than the ION; I found an ION for $106; the Numark I found was $120. While the dollar amout may seem expensive for what you are getting, what you are paying for here, IS convenience.ONE OTHER thing: IF you do opt for the Numark TTUSB, do yourself a favor- invest in another headshell and buy an Audio-Technica cartridge with the elliptical, nude diamond stylus. IF you are going to record your prize music, do it right. The AT magnetic cartridge is superior to what you are furnished. You CAN swap pick-ups, and you WILL need a separate set-up (cart & needle) for your 78's. REASON? The 78 groove IS MUCH larger than the groove on the 33's & 45's. And also- they say that the cartridge comes "pre-installed" on the headshell... all well & fine, BUT you will NEED a special gauge to align the cartridge (on the headshell) for 0 (that IS "ZERO") degrees tracking error at 2-1/2" radius (from the spindle). The "jig" or gauge CAN be had. I'm glad that I readjusted the "factory assembled" headshell & cart, and have purchased the Audio-Technica cart & needle. My other 2 turntables are direct-drive (beltless), have cueing and an adjustable speed control. BUT they lack the USB connection.Have FUN, and ENJOY.

This turntable is amazing! I bought this about 9 months ago, and it is a machine that never gets old. It is easy to use once you get in the swing of things, and sounds fantastic on my sound system. The only downside is the internal preamp. The problem is that the preamp seriously limits the capabilities of this turntable! It creates a weird digital sound when switched on, and even when off you can tell that it is there (according to many people). Luckily this turntable is built pretty simply, so removing the preamp should be a breeze! This is also a great turntable to hotrod into the perfect machine. I highly recommend getting the heavy audio technica counterweight as the stick weight has to be set very far from the pivot point. The heavier weight makes for better tracking. Also after 9 months of fairly constant use, I am starting to get the urge to upgrade my cartridge. While AT makes a good beginner cartridge, I know that this turntable can produce better sound. For those reasons I'm knocking off one star, but do not despair this is a great product!!

OK...I don't normally write many reviews. But I felt compelled to write about this turntable. First of all, I will start out by saying I grew up with TT's most of my life. I did have a pair of Technics 1200s way back in the day and worked in every Dance club within a 50 mile radius at one time as well. Then as I got older and the digital world caught on...I won't say I lost my passion for vinyl...but did find myself amused by CD technology and was hooked. And like many other people my age, the crates of vinyl got stored and rarely played. I had also gotten married and no longer worked in the club scene, so I sold the 1200's. And opted for a single Direct drive Auto Technics Turntable just to always have one available. But it only got turned on a few times in many years. Well, recently while going through some old keepsake items, I kept looking at those old crates of records and caught a new vinyl bug. Little did I know...I was already behind the 8 ball and Vinyl has been all the rage. So I began playing the records again. But that old Technics unit had sit so long...it just wasn't working right. So the search was on and I ran into this one. Read all the rave reviews about it and for the money, felt it was a good deal. Besides the fact that it looks almost identical to my old 1200's...so it was a no brainer. I'm not going to be Djing with it but I already knew my way around it. It came delivered in perfect shape. I did an extensive set up on it. Plugged it in and gave it a whirl.
Well...It tracks great and is a very heavy duty build quality. I did pick up an extra stylus head and opted for an Audio Technica AT440MLB cart and now this thing really sounds good. The AT95E that now comes stock is pretty good as well but it has it's drawbacks. First off, this TT has a built in Pre amp and usb port. It comes with Audacity software to load onto your computer so you can just plug the unit into your computer and archive all your vinyl to MP3, etc. But it is a known fact on these Turntables, this built in Pre amp, even when not in use tends to darken or muddy up the overall sound or your records. Many people have pulled the pre amp out and experienced a much brighter sound. Many youtube vids showing this done. I plan on keeping mine stock just in case I ever want to archive all my vinyl one day..and have worked around the whole "Muddy, Dark" sound issue with the use of the AT440MLB cart and a little ol thing called an EQ. Yes...an EQ does wonders on any analog type equipment. A little EQ adjustment for Vinyl...store the setting in one of the six pre sets on the Technics EQ and all done.
All in all...if your looking for an audiophile turntable...keep looking. There are great ones out there. But your going to spend double the price just to get in the ballpark. Not including the cart. But if you just want to play your records with a quality unit that will sound great, not tear up your records and looks fantastic I highly recommend this unit. Of course though...the set up is crucial and very important. They make this unit in Silver and Black and I wore myself out trying to decide which one to get. But I finally opted for the Black one and so glad I did. It is a High Gloss Black and looks fantastic. Very classy looking.
I gave it four stars because I did have to make a cart change to get the audio quality I was looking for. But in all fairness, that is a personal thing and you may find the one that comes with it is perfect for you. Pick one up and try it out, everyone should have at least one Turntable !

This is a really cool, reasonably priced turntable that's fun to use and sounds very good, but it's not without its faults. First of all, my table arrived with a cracked dustcover lid. I contacted Amazon for a replacement lid and ended up having to return the whole turntable. Amazon made the return painless and the replacement table arrived before I even shipped the other one back! Not an inherent flaw maybe, but just thought I'd share my experience.

Of greater concern are the markings on the supplied counter weight which I found to be inaccurate. After balancing the tonearm (something I've done many times with various turntables) and rotating the knob to "2", I checked the tracking force with my digital gauge and found that it measured about 2.4 grams instead of the intended 2 grams... quiet a discrepancy! I tried rebalancing the tonearm several more times but the resulting tracking force still measured much too high. Potential owners should be aware of this and be prepared to verify the tracking force using their own gauge.

And last but not least there's the sound quality. Like I said, it's very good... but not great. As an experiment, I swapped the universal headshell with the mounted cartridge over to a couple of vintage tables that I own and listened. The time required to balance the other tonearms and adjust the tracking force made an immediate comparison impossible. But despite the lag, I'm pretty certain that both of the other tables sounded more dynamic and involving with the supplied AT95 cartridge. The AT-LP 120 sounds slightly canned in comparison, possibly the result of having an onboard phono preamp although this was bypassed for listening.

But despite these minor foibles, this is still one of the coolest and adjustable turntables I've ever owned. Don't pay attention to the reviewers who criticize it for not being "automatic" (it doesn't claim to be), or for the cables being too short (mine are plenty long enough), or the built-in preamp not sounding the best (it's actually quiet decent). Warmly recommended!

And it spins at 78RPM. =D
So...
I was a little spooked by some of the reviews but I had to see for myself. I'm glad I took the chance.
It is so close to a Technics, but has a different name badge. Only a couple clues give it's Chinese heritage away from the outside, plastic hinges and a thinner platter that has a belt rim underneath so it can be used on the belt drive models. The spindle has a little play in it, but it's close enough for this price level.
Most everything else checks out fine by me. The platter is straight, the tone arm is too.
I like the features. A start button with a brake that starts and stops the platter in about a quarter turn, height adjustment for the tone arm assembly, target light, switch-able pitch control (20% and 10%) pitch bypass button, slip mat and cartridge is included, a pre amp and a digital/analog out via USB.
And did I mention a noise gate?
I put on my headphones and turned the volume up to check out the noise floor, flicked the tone arm to see if it was passing a signal and the pre amp jumped up in volume then right back down. It took me a couple tries t get a feel for the actual noise under the gate. It is well below the rumble and groove hiss of a record.
You may have noticed I pulled a star off though, here's why.
The USB out clipped horribly on my test 78 recording. I've posted pictures of the waves. The first is from the analog out.

Oh well, at least it has an analog out, and that sounds fine.

1. Packaged in an Amazon Box with Bubble wrap on One side ( out of Possible Eight ) . No Damage to TT so good
2. TT itself tightly boxed in Styrofoam, bring a utility knife
3. Instructions were fine 15 minutes to assemble ( went online to adjust arm weight as I have never done that before )
4. Patch cord is ridiculously short so buy some RCA couplings and a RCA cable as long as you'll need for your installation.
5. This thing is big and heavy so plan ahead, I would imagine that this WILL bend fiberboard entertainment center shelves.
6. Unpacked 1 of my 2 records, Pink Floyd-Wish You Were Here, which has never been played. There was a lot of crackling
I then used the Carbon Fiber Brush I got when I ordered TT, and I cannot recommend that thing enough. Reduced crackling 90%
7. There is no ( or Very, very low ) rumble however, in-between songs you can hear the " Cogging " of the sling-type Direct drive
Motor which is normal from what I've read. It completely disappears when even the quietest music starts, but if things like that
bother you look elsewhere. Most people listening under normal conditions wont notice it, with headphones and in super quiet
conditions audiophile types will.
8. Sorry, didn't use usb

Went to half priced books blew 40 bucks on 10 albums ( Including 3 Doubles ) and This thing does sound nice, tight punchy bass
good highs and Midrange. Sade-Diamond Life was great her voice has this nice little rasp and Jethro Tulls - Living in the Past
the flute sounds really cool.

I debated buying one of those record cleaning things for 80-129 bucks, because I plan on buying most of my stuff from used
places, but chose to hold off. went to youtube looked under washing records by hand. I tried it and it looked like a new record
and sounded fine. just get some good quality microfiber towels.

I use this for transferring my dads old LO's to digital music. The item does what it says but the software is a bit clumsy and hard to get used to but it gets the job done. What would make this a lot better is a better software program to run it and do the conversions.

shipped with really old software that was dependent on itunes, required several attempts to get the applicable software and editing software. Setting output level to match output of purchased mp3 file took some fiddling. Couldn't find a way to set it as default, always had to resetthe levels when I started recording. The final file has extra background noise that needs to be filtered out. Haven't figured out how to do that yet. I can live with the extra hissing and scratching until then. It says you can filter those noises out, but could not find an easy way to do it that was intuitively obvious.

This OK but I was really disappointed to learn that there is no kind of queuing mechanism for the tone arm. Not even when the record id over. I have to manually place and pick up the tone arm, which of course is always an opportunity to scratch the vinyl.Also the digitizing software does not work out of the box. I have downloaded the latest version but I haven't had a chance to test it out yet.

I purchased this turntable so my boyfriend could listen to records at my place. I am strictly a digital girl and haven't had a turntable since 1986. We chose this model based on the reviews, price, and our need (nothing fancy). The set up instructions were minimal and there are lots of confused folks on the Internet posting questions. I may not write these tips in the techie jargon, but I think some of you may benefit:Computer set up:-Download EZ Vinyl Converter (free-available online and a disc came with mine; online version may be more recent then the version in the box) [...]-Download Audacity (free). 2.0.1 is latest version [...]-Input/Output settings. I use a Mac. I'm sure PC input/output settings are similar. HAVE THE TURNTABLE PLUGED IN TO THE COMPUTER WITH USB - That way the computer will recognize the device for sound settings. Lots of ways to get to audio-I go, applications>utilities>audio midi. Some computers default to the wrong settings. Set it to:Default Input to USB Audio CodecDefault Output to Built In AudioTurntable set up:This was pretty straightforward (belt, platter, on/off buttons, etc) except for the tonearm instructions. There are numerous posts on the web about this that get really deep. This is the down and dirty-there is a dial and a counterweight at the end of the tonearm (after you put it together per the manual). Turn the dial with numbers on it to Zero. Just the dial, keep the counterweight still. Then rotate the dial AND the counterweight to read 3.5.Now you are ready to play a record:-Have EZ Vinyl open (I don't get it, but that is the only way mine will play even though I am not recording)-Have Audacity open (make sure the input and output settings are the same as I listed above. Mine defaulted to the settings I had done in Midi.-In Audacity look for the left and right input and output level meters (next to a microphone icon). There is a black arrow that points down. Click the black arrow and select "start monitoring" from the drop down.I gave it 3 stars because of:- The amount of time it took for us to set up. I am not sure why the company does not put together simple, step-by-step instructions. There are multiple posts from both Mac and PC users that have experienced difficulty with the set up.-It doesn't come with a dust cover. I totally missed that when I made my purchase. I just ordered one on Amazon for 25 bucks.-The sound is just okay. (I do realize that this turntable is less that $100.)I hope this helps keep someone from experiencing the frustration of getting this turntable to work!As for arrival and condition of the product-very fast and packing was great.

It amazes me that most all of the USB turntables lack a cue control. It must be a conspiracy to get you to buy more styluses than you should need. No dust cover, either, but rather than spend almost $30 for one, I use a bandana.Although it's second nature to old folks like me, remember that this is a turntable. They can skip if you don't put it on a stable surface or if you stomp around too much. You also have to clean your records, and record cleaning supplies aren't so easy to find at your local Best Buy or whatever.I found that the gain default at 0 isn't satisfactory for recording, and the gain needs to be adjusted upward. This needs to be done at the start of each session with the unit, since it defaults back once you disconnect the unit.It's simple to use and gets the job done o.k. I have the remnants of what was a large and esoteric LP collection, and buying the unit is enabling me to digitize some stuff that is otherwise hard or impossible to find. It will be cost-effective for me, because I have enough stuff that I can't easily find on CD or on iTunes, so super duper fidelity is not as much an issue as just getting the tunes on a computer or CD.I'd buy it again.

I am completely satisfied with the Numark digital turntable. Minor assembly was easy - just use care when assembling the tonearm and make sure you get all the small components out of the packaging before you toss anything away! It is compatable for 33&1/3rpms and 45rpms (not all units offer multiple speeds).The unit is light and has easy-to-use controls. The large Start/Stop control buttons are placed in two easy-to-reach positions on the hardware.The Audacity software is easy to install and use. Even better it has several features providing for noise control and sound manipulation that more advanced users will enjoy. With the correct input device you can even transfer audio tapes. Software allows full control over meta-data. Last but not least the sound quality is great! The great mixing levels you can only enjoy on vinyl are well-preserved!The glaring downside is that the unit does not come with a dust-cover. I use the wrapping plastic to the same effect but it lacks aesthetics. Anyway, for someone with a lot of vinyl that is unavailable on any other format, I'm a happy camper. Long live my punk rock LPs!

Just had it stop working not but a couple of hours ago......had it for about a year and a half, and about six months after the warranty runs up, the spindle stops spinning. I take it apart and notice a sort of burning smell, so I'm guessing the motor went ka-put on me.

Loved it before it stopped working. If you pick one up, look into an extended warranty or something. I know the reviews are mostly positive, but sometimes, things like these happen.

I bought 2 of these. With one i'm very happy with the other in less de 35 days I had to send it back for repair (the turntable turn on but the plate would not move) and this is a item that you don't used everyday maybe on weekends so it was practically New. Amazon didn't cover the warranty of 30 days because it was 35 days. So I had to send it to Audiotec and had to pay $80.00 for shipping. So you see I am not to happy.

My sister ordered this as a Christmas present for her boyfriend. It came in fine however a few weeks after we got it, it broke. Amazon was a little difficult in the return process because it didn't come as a "gift" but we were able to get it taken care of pretty easily. Overall, he says he likes it now. It plays well and the speakers project good sound. I feel like for the money, it's not as nice as I would have liked but I am not unsatisfied in my purchase.

Just like so many others here on Amazon and elsewhere on the 'net, I received my ATLP120 with severely warped platter. This seems to be a huge problem with this model. Audio Technica needs to re-source the platter to another Chinese factory or get some QC in place.

Why is that my $80 Radio Shack turntable that is being replaced by this one has NO visible runout in its platter while the Audio Technica bounces up and down by about a 1/8"?

I didn't want to deal with the hassle of returning this thing or asking Audio Technica to replace the platter with another warped one so I fixed this issue myself...

I picked up the high spots with a marker while the platter was spinning, then clamped the platter to a surface plate, upside down, and hammered flat the low spots with a block of wood and a dead-blow hammer. It's still not perfect but is within the range of acceptability. I of course should not have had to do this.

Disappointing.

Based on many reviews here and all around the Internet praising the AT-LP120, I purchased one, despite a few reviewers stating that this model can be prone to producing some level of buzz or hum in the audio path. I figured that this must be a relatively rare problem, so I went for it. Unfortunately, the unit I received did produce such a hum. It might not have been very detectable listening only through speakers at a low or moderate volume level, but most of my listening is done through headphones, and, in my opinion, the amount of discernible hum was unacceptable. This hum was present when using the built-in preamp, as well as when disabling it and connecting to the Phono input of my 80's-era receiver. (Didn't attempt to connect to a PC via USB, since I had no plans to regularly use this feature.) I did a little troubleshooting/experimenting based on some other reviewers' comments, and the same hum was present using different cartridges, and even with no cartridge or headshell installed at all! In all cases, it varied in intensity as the tonearm was moved over different areas of the platter, but was also constant when the tonearm was in the arm rest. The only time it stopped was when the turntable was powered-off. This was very disappointing, because this is a beautiful and seemingly well-built machine that I would've been proud to own. I considered attempting to rig a ground wire to see if this might reduce the hum, but then I would've made the unit unreturnable, and I didn't feel that I should have to make electrical modifications or buy extra accessories to get a brand new device from a reputable company to work properly. I also considered requesting an exchange, but didn't want to go through the process of unpacking, assembling, adjusting, and testing a second unit, only to risk receiving a replacement with the same problem, that would then need to be carefully repacked and returned--again.

What's ironic is that Audio-Technica has been in the analog sound reproduction business for a long time, but the strongest aspects of this model (at least with the one I received) were visual and mechanical as opposed to acoustic. Ultimately, I ended up reluctantly spending about twice as much on a "Used-Like New" Technics SL-1200MK2. Using the same cartridges that I installed on the AT-LP120, placing it in the same location, and connecting it to the same Phono input on the same receiver, the 1200 produces no such hum.

Overall, I still think that the LP120 is a very good product, especially at its price point, and is probably as excellent as most everyone says, if this hum issue was only a fluke and not a general design problem.

Incidentally, this is the first item I've ever returned in the decade or so I've been an Amazon customer, and I have to say that their return process is excellent--nearly as easy and efficient as buying!

Dimensions are all wrong. It's more like 20" x 16" by 4". So it did not fit in my stereo cabinet. Returned.

I simply couldn't figure out how to set this up, so can't attest to its function. I bought it and as of 8/1/15 have never used it. Directions weren't simple enough for me.

Not good for scratching at all. Pretty good for basic mixes tho.

WARNING: The product write-up and the box indicate Gracenote Support. However there is no way to download Gracenote. Also, the software DOES NOT support uploading to iTunes. According to Numark Support:The EZ Vinyl software has not had Gracenote integration for several years now. Integration with Gracenote has been discontinued. Additionally, due to updates by Apple to the iTunes software, 3rd party programs can no longer import music directly into iTunes.Please let me know if I can help you with anything else.Benjamin CacciaTechnical Support & Return Authorizations SpecialistIt does convert records, and does a fairly good job recognizing tracks - depending on the piece being converted. You have to manually type in the Album name, artist and track names. In some cases you have to manually convert the entire album and click where you want the tracks to be separated. Audio quality is good on my Windows 7 PC.

Shipped with several parts missing. Many phone calls,e-mails and pictures later, I still haven~t been able to completely hook it up and begin my enormous task of converting 45`s and 33`s to CDs. I blame very poor quality control on shipping procedures.It will probably meet my expectations, but for now I don`t like it. NUMARK has shipped the missing parts,twice, but still some missing.

The turntable failed to generate and maintain speed after less that 5 hours of operation. Probably have to return or throw away.

Kind of heartbreaking, actually, as it worked so well for the first month. We are using the built in pre amp, the audio cables are hard wired into the player and we plug them directly into speakers. Well a month or two in and it would only play in one speaker. Switch cable sides, switch the problem side. Also it's not the speakers as other things play fine. Should have returned it then and there but we failed to. One month ago, the other side went out, now it doesn't play at all. I feel almost 100% certain the problem lies with those built in audio cables, which a couple other reviews did mention. We actually took to two different repair places, and so far nobody has been able to fix. But not sure how good those places were - I am now tempted to either A. Buy a receiver and see if it will work differently then or B. Carefully open her up myself as I really do think it is as simple as a loose wire that got tugged on one too many times. Will update if either of those works but failing that I guess our $300 record player is dead.

Fine as a traditional R.C.A. jack turntable but it does not work with USB as stated. I tried it with three computers, windows xp, windows 7 and windows 10. The turntable was not recognized by any of them. I consider my money wasted. The turntable was purchased to preserve albums to audio files. This apparently cannot be done. For me, the product is useless.

came sloppily packaged - tone arm wasn't secured, the needle wasn't covered and was twisted. slip mat is missing. would not recommend buying from this outfit

i got this turntable, everything works as expected except when i plugged it into my stereo receiver i found that sound was only coming out of one speaker. I tested everything even bought another preamp because i thought there may be a problem with the built in one. I have another cartridge i ordered...hopefully that will fix the problem

I bought this as a gift for my son who enjoyed the one I have. The one I own works fine and the sound is good but the one I bought for my son has a problem with the left channel going out. At first (out of the box) I though it was a connection or a problem with the amp. After trying a few things it started working. It worked fine for 2 months and the left channel stopped working again. This time I switched my turntable with his and eliminated the amp. Everything worked so I took his turntable and hooked it up on my amp. Again it started to work fine. It worked for 2 more months and while listening to Paul Simon, Still Crazy After All These Years, the left channel went out. After reading the posts were people had problems the left channel seems to be a common problem. Unfortunately since it was four months since I bought it I had to send it back to Audio-Technica on my dime ($28). There is a one year warranty on it but payiny the shipping for a problem which seems to be a common problem isn't very good customer service. When I get it back I will update this post,

I unfortunately never got to use this turntable i tried one record on it and it never played anything. Chalking it up to the possibility that I might have connected it wrong so I left it alone. I went back through it today to play a new record i was gifted and now the top doesn't even revolve. The last record player I had lasted me 30 years this one didn't even work for 1 year.

MISSING SHELL, CARTRIDGE, SOFTWARE, MANUALS. IN HORRIBLE SHAPE...

Broke after a few uses.

Supposedly comes with software that integrates with iTunes and includes Gracenote Music ID so that you don't have to manually enter every single song name. The iTunes "import" is a simple dump into the library and Gracenote has been dropped without a single mention on the Numark or Ion website. Customer service (after 10 plus minutes on hold) says, "we dropped Music ID a long time ago."Consider an alternative product / company.

This product came without the belt. I have repeatedy tried to contact Numark and they have yet to respond. The product does not work and the company is the worst company I have ever purchased anything from.I am beyond disappointed!

There were electrical feedback and static noted during recording despite making multiple corrections in the gain and other attempts at corrections. Will not even record 15 min. without static problems. At first I thought it might be my record. I cleaned and then spent 5 hours attempting to record one side. Tracks that didn't have problems at first had them when recording the second or third time. It seemed so simple at first. I wish I could give this one ZERO stars. I returned it and am now looking for something better.I can't believe that my experience was so bad and others can rave about this piece of poop! I really want to warn everyone about this product.

finally got a chance to plug it in and play some vinyls and I check everything to see if its 100% good so I hit the reverse button and I hear a clank from the motor.....I press forward and theres an even louder clank and it just stopped working immediately. not happy at all. especially when you just got a break after 6 months of straight military training

Was a great record player until it stopped working after a month. Everything works except the actual turn table. Stopped working while playing a record. Its been on its table with out any damage occurring to it. Not sure why it won't work. Was a couple of days over the return policy so wasn't able to return it or exchange for one that was working.

I received two defective units and had to give up on this model. While some have had good luck others have not. I wish I had a different experience, I would really rather not exchange turntables like this.

Died 3 months out of warranty with limited use. Motor would no longer start.

The quality control with these is extremely disappointing. The first one I got was OK for the most part, except that the motor would make a low-frequency mechanical noise when turning, and struggle under pressure. I thought at first that this was only out loud, and didn't get into the signal. But when sitting down in a quiet room with my headphones on listening to a song I'd ripped, I noticed how annoying it really is.

I opened it up in audacity, and found out that the noise is about 25dB quieter than the song itself, and about 40dB quieter than the pop of the needle first dropping onto the record. At a low and concentrated frequency, this is very noticable with decent headphones. And it's not like I can just edit it out, given that the music I play has a focus on bass. (Note that this noise only registers through the audio signal when the needle is on the record and the motor is turning. This is not an issue of grounding.)

So, I got it returned, and ordered a new one.

Same problem, but this time with an extra bonus: a warped platter! Time to get this one replaced as well. The biggest pain of all this is having to repackage the turntable for the refunds.

If you're lucky and the turntable doesn't come with any issues, I'm sure this turntable would be wonderful. The audio quality aside from the motor's noise is great, and the build feels real solid. But be prepared for the worst.

UPDATE: I've gone through another two of these, and they're all equally disappointing. In doing so, I also found out that the issues described in the first two paragraphs are all global issues present in the entire model, and you simply won't find an AT-LP120-USB without those problems. After spending a year scavenging Amazon for what finally might be a good turntable, I accepted my fate and ordered another AT-LP120-USB, hoping it would be at the very least as good as the first one I got. It was, for the first week or so. Then suddenly the anti-skate spring inexplicably broke off right after gently landing onto a new album that had arrived, turning the quality into an absolute record-eating mess.

And then I realized that there's just no hope for getting a turntable for less than $300 on Amazon, or at least a decent one with essential features like an adjustable counterweight, a cue lever, and a replaceable headshell/cartridge.

So I sent that one back, got a new one in the mail today. This one had a warped platter. I didn't even bother to unpackage the rest of it, since I knew I'd have to get it replaced. But now Amazon is refusing to give me a replacement because this one is already a replacement, and the price went up by $20 since I bought it. So now I have to choose between resorting to an even worse turntable from Amazon (note that this money I've been spending is in gift card credit, and if it wasn't, I'd just get a U-Turn Audio or something and move on with my life) after waiting weeks for my refund to process, or dealing with a 1mm warp.

Side note: If anyone's looking to buy $215 amazon gift card credit from me in a few weeks when my refund processes (if I decide to even get one), I'll be more than happy to be lifted out of this never-ending loop of over a year and 4 months of dealing with Amazon's refund wait and terrible turntable selection, to get one from a good website.