*TO ALL VIEWERS:* PLEASE read the description first prior to commenting. At this point, I've decided to start cracking down harder on trolls that are just trying to create problems on my videos. There's a fine line between giving constructive criticism, and just trying to create trouble. Anyone who is wrongfully bringing content that doesn't pertain along with other abusive connotations, will have their comment deleted, and account permanently banned. I want people to enjoy my videos, but I won't tolerate lies through misdirection.

@silviopimentel7247

3 жыл бұрын

Wow I never thought turn tables had they're own sound 😳 im shopping for one now! But guess i really need to do research cause I knotice how much more brighter the sl-1200 clearer to i guess but I do like the warmth of the lp120 🤔 awe thank you so much for information i actually needed & was totally in dark about the subject. 👏👍

@sbkarajan

2 жыл бұрын

These two turntables look ridiculously the same... Can AudioTechnica do this? Legal perspective?

@cjsvinyl

2 жыл бұрын

@@sbkarajan Good question! I have worked between my own copyright and trademarks and a design has to be properly trademarked as your mark. If Technics did this, they can make an exception that other companies have to pay them a certain percentage of royalties for each time AT sells a turntable with their design. If Technics did not properly handle that legally, then design becomes open domain if it's not owned or registered legally.

@jingbeizheng2137

2 жыл бұрын

Hi! Do you mind to share which specific cartridge you used on these two turntables? ;)

@cjsvinyl

2 жыл бұрын

@@jingbeizheng2137 Sure thing. It's the Nagaoka MP-110

The 1200 sounds clearer but until I move out of my parents basement, I'll stick to the 120. Thanks for the great comparison.

@shaunkeram

2 жыл бұрын

U move out out I ain’t and I’m still tryna get a 1200

There is something so satisfying seeing the vinyl spin on the platter

To my 58 year old ears, virtually identical, with maybe a slight fuller sound in the 1200. That's a hard 'maybe.' Thanks for the hard work in doing this demo!! You eliminated all but the motors spinning the vinyl, as best I can tell. Excellent A/B comparison!

Yes, there is a sound quality difference between the two, but it's not that huge and mainly on vocals and strings. Bottom for me is: AT is a good entry level turntable, provided a good quality cartridge and stylus are used.

@SPAZZOID100

5 жыл бұрын

Nico Meier Build quality is another story.

@Manu_Nayar

Жыл бұрын

Same here

Fascinating. You can almost hear the warmth and solidness of the chassis in the sound of the Technics. Didn't know the platter on the Technics was so good. Hats off.

I just want to say how much I appreciate your efforts on this channel as a whole! You put in a lot of time, and it doesn't cost us a thing! I only wish I had known about these videos earlier. You give a lot, even though not everyone will appreciate the honesty!

@cjsvinyl

4 жыл бұрын

You're one of the good eggs. Thank you so much for that support!

@jnsmith9377

4 жыл бұрын

@@cjsvinyl THANK YOU for all of your hard work!

Great public service for us record fans, thank you! I am going to set the height of my Technics tone arm to height level 3, to getthe most out of my Ortofon cartridge. Stay safe and happy holidays to your family! Namaste.

I'm amazed how good audio-technica sounds for its price... very good turntable for the money!

@cjsvinyl

2 жыл бұрын

Make sure you finish watching the whole video, and then Part 2. I test a lot more than just sound.

This video was very necessary. Great job! The 1200 sounds better. I think one more step that you should do before a final comparison is to do the solder hack that bypasses the DAC on the AT, I've seen videos that show a drastic improvement in sound quality.

Interesting analysis and testing.👍🏼 The guitar track you first played and the bells ringing were definitely clearer where treble and midrange is concerned The Ella F sounded the same on both decks, to me. As with the track after the Bells ringing in my ears... Although there seemed to be more depth with the LP120. That slice of rock was definitely using more treble again on the SL1200. The track after that sounded almost the same on both...to me. Now I have had two SL1200 mark ii and mark i decks in my home since 1986 and have listened to them using different cartridges and stylus over the years. I believe this is where the difference lays with sound going to your Amp, then out of your branded speakers. So, in reality, to me unless we take the time to look at the latter I mentioned, we are not including all the stats. Build quality is as you say, no doubts. The SL1200 is heavy, construction and materials are serious and the weight is substantial that the deck has everlasting sturdiness. I have had no problems s over the years with mines and I have used Shute, Stanton, Concord, Ortofon and Audio Technica. My favorite was the elliptical stylus made by Stanton but that company stopped making it for some reason. In the world of deejaying it was the go to stylus in the 80s to mid 90s. You could never scratch a vinyl disc no matter how much you spin back the vinyl. Technics SL1200 i and ii come with ground cables, and short at that. That is my only beef with this turntable. The newer models are highly overpriced and in reality, you do not need to break the bank to get the latest Technics 1200 mark “whatever”

Also, this shouldn’t be surprising. If you buy anything at the entry-level price point and something else costs 4x more at the pro-level, there should be a notable difference. Otherwise it’s a sham. To me, a good question to consider is this: Is the SL1200 4x as good as the LP120, because it costs 4x as much. To me, the differences everyone cites here suggests subtleties, which probably, on their own, don’t justify the 400% increase. Which then suggests to my mind, that the LP120 is either a steal at $300 or the SL1200 is overpriced. Probably a combination. I’d still consider upgrading to the SL1200 simply out of appreciation for the masterpiece it is.

@bradscott3165

5 жыл бұрын

There are more ways to fix the problem. There's a two decade supply of middle range direct drive tables, like the sl3200/3300, various other iterations of the same basic parts. And you can buy these twenty five year old tables often for like 100 clams. They still work great, and there are many well known mods to apply to them (like lining the underside of the table with modeling clay) to give you some really high end quality for about the same price you'd pay retail for the AT table new.

@austinhunt4260

5 жыл бұрын

Brad Scott, I appreciate the help.

@bradscott3165

5 жыл бұрын

@@austinhunt4260 I never owned the AT table but I did own a middle range SL3200 and it was a magnificent piece of Japanese industrial art. Technics made very good stuff in the 70s and 80s. Panasonic, too. I loved my Panasonic boombox... Also, the AT LP120 appears to be belt drive. I'd hunt down a well cared for direct drive Technics SL-something from the late 70s/80s. (If I still cared about vinyl, which I don't. And I live right next door to a record shop, fancy that.) Anyway, ebay has the sl-3200 now for $199-$245, and at that they're a great value. Love the Pink Floyd while visiting this topic...

@progressiveguy9959

5 жыл бұрын

Brad Scott the LP-120 is a direct drive.

@allstar930

5 жыл бұрын

Decent 1200s are always available for no more than $700 which is nowhere near 4x as much as the Audio Technica.

I could hear greater stereo separation and sharper treble on the SL-1200.

@otaviosmartins1

4 жыл бұрын

Definitely

@FenskeMark

4 жыл бұрын

That's how I heard it as well

@itsanarse

4 жыл бұрын

Definitely brighter!

@michaelo.4986

4 жыл бұрын

Yeah i noticed too. But i think the Audio Technica is a little less exhausting to listen to

@jvandekant

4 жыл бұрын

How are you listening to this youtube video?

Now that's a proper audio comparison here. Thank you so much for taking the time to edit that. Certainly not easy with all these cuts :P

@cjsvinyl

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for your kind, and grateful attitude. KZread needs more people like you.

It's nice that you upgraded but you were thrilled with the Audio-Technica when you got it and rightly so. It and its predecessor have served this channel very well.

@cjsvinyl

5 жыл бұрын

You couldn't be more correct about how thrilled we were, but since then we were very displeased with Audio Technica. There's more beyond what I've demonstrated here that I'll be releasing soon in part 2.

@unfinishedtelevision8080

5 жыл бұрын

@@cjsvinyl Look forward to it!

My 1200s are 25 yrs old and still work great. Let’s see we’re the 120 is after 20 yrs of abuse.

@cjsvinyl

5 жыл бұрын

I can tell you exactly where the LP120 is going. Right back to Audio Technica for repairs because my Start/Stop button decided to give out. Nothing happened either, it's been carefully put in storage. I'm so glad we've upgraded to the Technics SL-1200.

@obatron1

5 жыл бұрын

One of the reasons I’ll never sell my 1200s. Over a decade of hard use as a DJ and they still run strong like the day I bought them. Now I get to enjoy them as a casual listener and beat maker.

@Grimwriggler

4 жыл бұрын

My Garrard 401 is 54 years old and sounding superb . they just don't make equipment to last these days

@haihuachen2627

4 жыл бұрын

@@Grimwriggler My Technics SL-1100 is 46 years old, I think Thorens TD 124 or EMT more durable, just like 301 / 401.

@djbhe

4 жыл бұрын

My 1200's are 26 years old. My first pair was stolen in 1993.

It was impossible for me to tell the difference in sound quality. My big question is resistance to "foot falls" and speaker acoustic feedback. Did you check any of those along the way?

@vetmanvandernaam

4 жыл бұрын

I listened to the music but I didnt check the video and it sounds pretty much the same

Great comparison; thanks CJs. I’m jumping into vinyl through the LP120 (was going to be a RT81 if Fluance shipped to Switzerland for a reasonable price). Pretty sure if vinyl hooks me, then I’ll upgrade to a SL1200. It sounds superior in both clarity and crispness. Even seemed to have slightly more faithful pitch at some points.

Lotta work in making this video..thanks.

@cjsvinyl

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much for that recognition. That support is what keeps me going.

Have you ever did a comparison with the preamp removed?

Great video, we all know how good the Technics is but for the price the audio Technica is such a great turntable!!

@cjsvinyl

3 жыл бұрын

Nearly everyone who watches this video says the exact same thing before they've even watched Part 2 to make a statement like that. The LP120 is not as good as you think.

@Tunz909

2 жыл бұрын

@@cjsvinyl you are right.but really now.....the 1200 HAS to be better, look at what you have to pay!! I mean if it wasn't better wouldn't you be pissed off for all the money you are spending!?

@cjsvinyl

2 жыл бұрын

@@Tunz909 _"but really now.....the 1200 HAS to be better"_

@Tunz909

2 жыл бұрын

@@cjsvinyl The 1200 has been the work horse of the professional audio community since the 70's! My point is that had you FOUND the LP-120 better, what would that do to the industry as a whole?? You , yourself spent more money on a USED 1200 than on a brand new 120....the only other comparison's I can make are with pianos and cars. I'm a musician and used to sell pianos. A Used Yamaha Baby grand would go for more than double what a brand new piano from China would go for. At least back when I was selling them in the late 90's. My wife and I bought a used Toyota with over 150k miles!! That car is still running with over 250k miles on it!! I get it, believe me I do. By having the 120 not start up with the defect, just should have cemented the logic, no? I have inherited the 120, it's been in storage since 2014. I still have the receipt, it's still in the original box and shrink wrap. The unit cost the buyer around 230 bucks. I'm debating now whether to sell it, trade it back to the company. Even take it to the company in Stow, Ohio unbox it there, and pay for them to fix these obvious defects. a.) anti-tracking defective b.) tone arm will not lie flush with the record c.) by passing the pre-amp function does not work properly. But I would then have to weight the cost to have them upgrade/fix...so..I dunno..I appreciate all your efforts to educate us new hobbyists.. Most of all the record players I had in the past were all in one units like a Crosley and others...so there is a big learning curve for me. Thanks for the education!!

@cjsvinyl

2 жыл бұрын

@@Tunz909 _"The 1200 has been the work horse of the professional audio community since the 70's"_ Exactly correct that's why I was confused when you used verbiage such as 'now' in your previous comment. The 1200 (as you know) is not only a powerful work horse since the 70's, but it's the only reason the mountains of 1200 imitation decks made from Audio Technica, Stanton, Pioneer, Numark, Reloop, Kuzmark, Gemini, etc. etc. all of those and more are because of the SL-1200 MK II design. As far as the Audio Technica as a whole, I never should have given AT as much of a chance as I did, and the first 30 seconds of my 'Part 2' video displays exactly why. You don't save money when you eventually have to send it out for repairs, or pay someone else to make modifications for you. It doesn't matter about money being saved when there are multiple issues not just one or two really bad ones with the LP120 and turntables like it. I wish I had more people deterring me from buying the LP120 because I ended up losing money on it in the long run, and I shouldn't have to go through all of that. When you have the experiences that I've had, you know it's no longer worth it. I was wrong to put any faith into that company and by purchasing a near mint SL-1200 for 600.00 I've had it for 3 years with no problems, and my MK5 is already 18 years old. It's the only sensible thing to do. If someone can't afford better turntables, then it's probably better to stay out of the hobby all together because the first priority is to take care of your records, followed by ensuring you get the most out of your Hi-Fi experience because otherwise there's no point to put yourself through it all if you're not going to experience it for what it is. At that point, you may as well just stick with CD's. The best decision my wife and I ever made was to stop kidding ourselves with imitation turntables, and just go for the real thing. Check back with me in 30 years and I know our SL-1200 will still be running strong.

Wonderful review! With this, I came to a conclusion that even if they are similar in appearance, there's really nothing to compare. :-) Both have their own feature to make each product unique.

@cjsvinyl

4 жыл бұрын

Did you watch this video all the way to the end? Have you also seen Part 2 of this video yet?

@k2apache60

3 жыл бұрын

Up close it's pretty obvious, the AT looks like what it is, plastic.

@gamingguy9006

Жыл бұрын

@k2apache60 both of them use plastic

@MINECRAFTandSEB

7 күн бұрын

​@@gamingguy9006The Technics has an entire (sorbothane?) rubber base, and die cast aluminum top plate with an internal aluminum plate (that is thick af). The only plastic I saw in my teardown is the main board and motor cover under the platter, and this is very solid thick high quality plastic.

I really can't tell the difference both of them sound incredible

Question: Had you removed the preamp switch board in the AT-LP120 before the test?

It almost sounds like the days of cassettes, when Dolby was selected, the air was missing.

These types of tests are always made tricky by KZread's audio compression but I agree that the SL-1200 sounded cleaner. And I say that as an owner of an LP120. I like the LP120 a lot. Actually, for the price I think it's a terrific turntable. But as others have said, you get what you pay for and the SL-1200 is definitely a step up.

@cjsvinyl

5 жыл бұрын

Completely agreed!

@machielste1

5 жыл бұрын

As far as I know , youtube is 256kb AAC , which is extremely hard to discern from lossless, if it's even possible.

@toneyisaiah408

5 жыл бұрын

Absolutely correct.

@wordragon

2 жыл бұрын

The 1200 in this comparison is closer to the correct speed and more consistently playing it at that speed. It shocks me that the difference bothers me. It might be a curse...

@Slothdeman

Жыл бұрын

I have the LP-120. Might sell it and put that money towards a second hand 1200. They are quite reasonably priced second hand! Just gotta find a good one. The LP120 is not a crap turntable though! It's excellent. But I would prefer technics to match the rest of my setup.

Me and a friend in the 90s used to balance the tone arm on the technics and let it bob up and down. This would do that for about 5 or 6 minutes. Just the quality of the technics. Japanese made what can I say. So iconic the technics. Still geak out over my pair to this day. And they still work like new!!!

Hi, nice video. One request. Could you make a video on what to look for when buying a used 1200? It would be really helpful.

Technics / Panasonic - simply genius. So glad I have three Mk2 1210s in good nick ... only gutted that I no longer have my pair of 1200s.

Thank you for doing the comparative test, I did notice some differences, and for me, I like the SL 1200 better

I own an ATPL120 (pre USB model) with the preamp bypass mod done to it and an SL-1200 MK2. With the mod done to the ATPL120 it sounds really good. The SL-1200 of course sounds a little better. I got my technics for $300 out the door and my PL120 for $150. Sound wise they both sound great. MOD IS NEEDED 100% for better sound quality on the PL120. The difference really is in the construction. My 1200 feels like a goddamn tank. Top is heavy aluminum and the base is a heavy rubber. It’s very isolated unlike the ATPL120. Mods I made to my AT were adding a 3mm rubber slipmat and a leather slipmat under that, preamp bypass mod, and a better cartridge. That’s it.. and it sounds great. The thing is the Technics will probably out live me and eventually the AT will fail. I’ve read that they really aren’t meant to last very long because of how cheaply they’re made. Anyway if you’re on a budget pick up a cheap PL120 and mod it. I personally preferred this model to the USB model because I couldn’t stand seeing the letters USB on a turntable which should be all analog lol. If you have a little more dough to spend I’d FOR SURE go with the 1200. You’ll never need another turntable for as long as you live.

It’s a little hard to tell. I’m sure in person, it’d be more night and day between the two turntables, but I could hear a difference even listening on my phone. The sound on the Technics was fuller, bigger, wider, and sounded really good with the first and fourth tracks being acoustic guitar. It’s cool that they’re both going into the Mani and use same headshell and cart. You did the A/B comparison correctly to be fair. I agree, the Technics won! I have a Technics SL 1100a and blows my mind almost every time I spin a record. The “beast” is 50 years old! It’ll probably last another 50! I have no idea how long the Audio Technica will last. It sucks that they can’t make a good turntable- they know how to make great carts. Anyways, cool video!

@cjsvinyl

2 жыл бұрын

You should watch Part 2 to find out how long the LP120 lasts.

I have the later 120x. Admittedly the build and weight isn’t comparable to the Technics, yet on a good stable surface it’s more than good in my opinion. I upgraded the stock stylus to a microline one the next payday after buying the AT and I’m more than impressed with the sound. I’m listening to this via open back monitor headphones and a TEAC headphone amp/dac and I believe the AT120 gets a lot right compared with it’s pricier competition. The anti skate works on mine although I have to set it at 1.5 despite tracking force of 2g. I still don’t regret my purchase even after seeing this informative video.

@cjsvinyl

2 жыл бұрын

I love how nearly everyone ignores the fact that this is Part 1, indicating that there's a Part 2, but that doesn't seem to mean anything. Part 2 is far more informative than Part 1......especially the first 20 seconds.

@gavinhardy75

2 жыл бұрын

@@cjsvinyl I saw both parts. I should have stated in my original comment that I’ve owned the turntable for two years and none of the faults have developed. My comment regarding liking the sound of my AT was appropriately left on video part 1

Happy SL-1200 MK2 owner here. Thanks for this. Nice comparison.

@johnwallace3215

5 жыл бұрын

Where did you buy your sl 1200?

Harder to hear the difference in a video as opposed to being in person - a bit unfair since they are priced significantly different as the AT is about a third of the price of the Technics. For that I would pick the AT as you can buy a lot more vinyl with the money you save not to mention you could put together a reasonable little audio system with that extra money.

nice review; good test methodology. The SL1200 sounds like it has the edge to me, but I can't exactly say why: a little bit warmer, perhaps. I have to doubt my own ability to differentiate through laptop speakers though and suspect the real differences only become apparent in a proper listening environment with an amp and speakers that match (and which are the same for both). Materials are far better on the Technics and would be a winner for me on that basis given that the sounds seem very close.

if you use a decent pair of headphone (sennhieser hd25) you can clearly tell the difference, but that LP120 sound terrific for the price I have to agree 100% on that.

@multiversechorus

4 жыл бұрын

Even with my eyes closed I can tell a difference.

4 жыл бұрын

@@artiznl If you cant hear de difference in the treble you have hearing problems, asuming you are hearing this over a good pair of headphones.

@AmbientWanderer

3 жыл бұрын

@ exactly. i'm currently using a pair of cheap JBL earphones and i can still clearly hear the difference. especially from 3:04 to 3:08

@rich_t

2 жыл бұрын

Listening through a pair of Sennheiser HD650s and its definitely easy to tell them apart. The SL 1200 is the clear winner, as it should be.

@Martin-wb8bc

2 жыл бұрын

@@rich_t with a price tag that high, it better be leagues ahead.

Great video thank you. You convinced me to spend a bit extra and get a Technics. What Cartridge did you use for this comparison? What would you recommend for just general music listening?

@cjsvinyl

4 жыл бұрын

I promise you won't regret it. Even now, there's so many used options on EBay, which is exactly what my wife and I did when upgrading to our SL-1200. I'm using the Nagaoka MP-110 cartridge. Typically it sells in the 135 - 140 range. It's a very decent cart for such an inexpensive price-point, from a real Japanese manufacturer. As far as music, my wife and I have a *VAST* field of preferred music genres. The easiest way to approach this since everyone has their own preferences, click on our Playlist tab and you'll see a lot of videos categorized by artist. I'm unsure if we have a general music preference because we listen to so much.

Its so obvious that the Technics has much more definition, channel separation and much cristal treble...

@sleepsmoothsounds

4 жыл бұрын

The error is the interal audio texhnica preamp just remove at pre amp and then start again the test .

4 жыл бұрын

No true bypass on the LP120. Disconnect that abortion of a preamp and try again. Ground shunts so you can't get off the circuit without going into the table.

@thehouserocker

4 жыл бұрын

@ If you're tech savvy you can simply open up the Audio Technica and take the wires from the tonearm and solder them directly to the RCA cables, that's the way it is on the Technics and hence why the sound is a bit better since it goes straight to your preamp!

@cjsvinyl

4 жыл бұрын

@@thehouserocker The point is that you shouldn't have to. I've replaced and soldered capacitors and flux flow transistors inside of vintage receivers, so I guess that would be considered "tech savvy" but that's for 45 year-old equipment so it's expected. The moment the consumer purchases a brand-new product, then has to put in the time to open it back up, and start making modifications, means that the manufacturer provided them with an inferior product. You should watch Part 2 of this video. Removing the internal preamp, or re-routing tonearm wires are the least of your problems when it comes to the LP120.

@jamescollins6085

3 жыл бұрын

@@sleepsmoothsounds Does the switch on the back not actually fully disable the preamp?

Could you please also test the SL-1210MK7 vs. AT-LP140XP

I found it interesting that Audio Technica was founded by Hideo Matsushita and Panasonic (Technics) by Konosuke Matsushita.

@Tunz909

2 жыл бұрын

Interesting:-) But 1200 is MADE in Japan, think the LP-120 is made in a country named CHINA

Had an old Technics system in the early 80,s cassette deck radio and turntable etc, sold the turntable, when I purchased a Rega planar 3, 20 yes ago,wish I'd kept it now,

Biggest issue I had with the lp-120 is you can hear the motor in quite parts of songs, this is not existent I'm my set of 1200's, and you can get a 1200 for around $400 so it should be clear which one to get if you ask me.

I think that the sound quality depends mostly on the type of stylus/cartridge that your using.Now the question here is which of the two is durable?

@Tunz909

2 жыл бұрын

uhmmm interesting.....so I'm wondering now, if you put a cheaper stylus/cartridge in the 1200...and did a 'blindfold" test one might not notice the slight difference that we do now? well from what we all read the 1200 is the work horse

The 1200 is definitely the better turntable of the two. It's far more crisp, sharp and it reproduces mono records WAY better, as demonstrated by your Ella Fitzgerald test. However the 120 is an insanely good turntable for the price. It just depends on what you want or need from a TT.

@shaddoty

Жыл бұрын

The 120 sound about as good as the 1200 if you remove the preamp circuit, but the tonearm is far better on the 1200

Thanks for details, well done. Just subscribed to channel 👏👏

I'm looking for a good record player to listed to music but also to sample into my Roland SP404MKII for my other channel and I was gonna go with the LP120 but that SL1200 sounded way more clearer then the AT. I know there's a big price difference between both. I'm thinking of going work the new 50th anniversary edition. should I get the SL-1200M7L? or go with the LP120? also I believe I'll be in need of some sort of phono adapter to have it converted to line out? thanks for your help, this is my first time going for this but I want to get something good that will last.

Excellent comparison. Thank you for posting this.

@cjsvinyl

5 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your gratitude!

listening to the two they both sound very similar to one another. i would say the sl-1200 has the edge over the other as there is slightly better treble. but i also noticed if im not watching the video i don't really notice a difference.

@Tunz909

2 жыл бұрын

I concur.......slightly better treble.

Excelente, me gustaría hicieran lo mismo para los demás tornamesas similares a sl1200, especialmente el roland tt99. Excellent, I would like to do the same for the other turntables similar to sl1200, especially the roland tt99.

I can definitely hear the difference, the SL-1200's vocal clairity, mids, and highs are enhanced compared to the LP120. I have the newer Audio Technica AT-LP140XP in black with the Audio Technia AT-VM95ML (Nude Microlinear) cartridge. Im using the phono input on my Onkyo TX-NR6100 and this setup sounds amazing to me. I'm really curious how much better the SL-1200 sounds compared to my current setup....

I started getting into vinyl last year and I would be loved to get the technics but with shipping to New Zealand & import taxes it would've cost quite a bit. I ended up getting the LP120 because it was sold in a physical store here. For the moment, I'm happy with my LP120 till I can afford an upgrade 😊

@DezmondAbrams

4 жыл бұрын

Have any vinyl websites you can refer? Thx.

@Polyg0ne

2 жыл бұрын

@@DezmondAbrams real groovy?

As others have mentioned the price difference is substantial today between the two. Yes you can buy a used vintage SL1200 but I would advise you know how to work on them and have a good source for parts when needed as for any vintage gear. The AT 120 is a great table if you set it up correctly and take care of it.

@robsemail

3 жыл бұрын

If the reason you’re not buying a used 1200 is because you don’t know how to work on them and don’t know where to get the parts which aren’t made anymore (a VERY good reason in my opinion), then price is probably not your first consideration. That being the case, check out the Reloop RP7000 Mk2 before you choose the Audio Technica LP120x. The Reloop is FAR superior and much closer to the Technics in performance and audio quality, at an excellent price.

@Tunz909

2 жыл бұрын

@@robsemail Good info, thanks!

@modernsoul6590

Жыл бұрын

I have 2 1200 mk ii’s I purchased in 1991 still going strong. My friends fell of the back of a car and still worked.

@Thekidisalright

7 ай бұрын

@@modernsoul6590I hope your friends are okay.

Sonically, it is very difficult to comment on the differences presented, since the codec used on KZread is not designed for other purpose but the assumption of video submission. Maybe I notice one or another detail in the low frequencies between the two machines but it may just be my imagination to work. In this context, I believe that everyone can decide what they want on the quality of reproduction. I have a SL 1210 mkII and never in life would I trade it for any machine of the same style. Physically, everything that is described after 7:52 is correct and in this respect there can be no doubt. The quality of construction is one of the points that most caught my attention in these machines, since I met them and began to use. It does not seem to me that any manufacturer is able to put something on the market with this quality and stability. And frankly, after dealing with a Technics SL I think that the last thing anyone would need was a copy. I may even be wrong ...

Hi, thx 4 the video. Do you recommend an external preamp for the LP120 or is the installed one good enough? I use the 120 with the internal one atm with the Line Setup.

I own two Technics 1200 MKII's. One in each of my systems. Here is now the ideal way to hear a difference since the audio winds up being compressed MP3 format. I BARELY noticed any difference between the two. The Audio Technica sounded very slightly softer than the Technics (and only sometimes)

@Tunz909

2 жыл бұрын

yes the softer sound in the LP 120..or a slight louder sound in the 1200...during the Fitzgerald tune it was hardly noticeable at all.

Nice to see that the younger generation is getting back into vinyl I'd still text the sl 1200 better build quality and it'll last you a lifetime

@cjsvinyl

5 жыл бұрын

And I love hearing myself still referred to as the younger generation at age 36. I started collecting my LP's and singles in 2003.

I am curious if the pre-amp is still inside the LP-120? I discovered the pre-amp removal mod online. I couldn't even listen to the LP-120 before moving the pre-amp, now it actually sounds pretty good with the stock cartridge. I have a strong suspicion that if the pre-amp was removed, they would be more similar. Kinda irks me that the pre-amp degrade the sound so badly to be honest.

How did you adjust the tracking? it seem that LP120 suffers on this.

Without a doubt vocals are so much better on the Technics. I especially noticed on the Gregory Alan Isakov track. Obviously build quality is hands down better.

As you have used the same styly/Cartridge ,there should be no detectable difference,that said,wow/flutter (very bad)may be detected,one would n need to know,is the AT Belt or Direct drive?

@jamescarter3196

5 жыл бұрын

There is a lot more to the sound of a turntable than only the cartridge, as in the video he showed parts of each table where acoustic sound 'accumulates', and can be picked up by the cartridge. The tonearm itself affects the sound.

@naitranaitra8196

5 жыл бұрын

infact the at lp120 looks like it is tracking more stable, check the light going forward every couple of turns.

@number1cherfan

5 жыл бұрын

AT is direct drive

I much appreciate that you used the same cartridge on both TT's. I know this is just youtube audio, but using a high quality set of headphones they sound identical to me, for all intents and purposes. I definitely think the Technics is way better built, but this doesn't seem to affect the actual sound quality. It's as if the AT is built "good enough" to give the same sound. A turntable is a pretty simple device. I would think the biggest difference would be noticed by changing cartridges. I suppose the real test is how they each sound after a thousand hours of use. The build quality may play a more important part in THAT test. 😎 BTW, the anti skating problem the old 120's have could play into record wear, perhaps. But the very existence of anti-skating is actually a contested topic in audio forums, especially by AR-XA owners.

@johnb6723

2 жыл бұрын

The best way to set an anti-skate is to use a smooth flat disc with no grooves on it and get the cartridge to remain still. It is at that point the anti-skate setting that then shows is proven correct. The number given in instruction pamphlets for the anti-skate setting is merely a guide and might not prove to be correct in practice.

Those damn chimes on 'Time' get me everytime

The SL-1200 is an engineering marvel, treat them right and manitain them and they can outlive more than one owner. There's a 1210 in the London Science Museum, as an example of technology that shaped the world we live in. That's a significant statement and a huge compliment to it's engineering and build quality.

@cjsvinyl

Жыл бұрын

Well said my friend. Thank you for commenting.

I think The SL-1200 had the edge, but not by as much as I thought it would. In fact, during the opening chimes of "Time," they actually came pretty close to each other, but on everything else, the deficit of the 120's preamp makes itself known. There was a slightly noticeable mid-to high-mid suck-out that wasn't there on the 1200. It wasn't necessarily objectionable, but it didn't sound like the 120 was performing up to its full potential, like there was more it could have been doing sonically. Still, I don't suspect the 120's issues aren't something a little more quality control might not fix, but it seems like Audio-Technica is either indifferent or unwilling to do it. I wonder just how much effort it took for them to allegedly fix the anti-skate problem (I actually haven't been able to confirm it, so I take back what I said on a different post).

@cjsvinyl

5 жыл бұрын

I agree with that. I think they could too. I feel if Audio Technica put in the time and effort to make other changes to their internal wiring as well, this will most likely boost the cost. The LP120 uses normal wires for their tonearm connections, whereas the SL-1200 uses oxygen-free carbon fiber wiring. Now, the Mark V came out November 1st of 2002, so I don't exactly know how old our turntable is. Not because the seller didn't know, but because I didn't ask due to their exemplary description of it, including its appearance. My guess is that the wiring inside of the tonearm could stand to be replaced. Or, maybe it's only 5 years old and they're still going strong. Either way, before some upgraded parts were ordered, the initial price of this turntable was only 500.00 which was one of the biggest reasons I went with it. All of that to say, I don't think we should hold our breath when it comes to Audio Technica. I think they cut corners for a reason, which is why their products (while decent) are still inexpensive and sub-par. All the more reason to sell them and save some money to buy a used Technics. At least now, our newest turntable works exactly as it's supposed to, and with everyone online talking about how their Mark II's are still going strong after 40 years, I have a feeling the Mark V is going to last us for the long haul.

@MasterLink343

5 жыл бұрын

I appreciate everything you're doing CJ!

@cjsvinyl

5 жыл бұрын

I'm glad you do. I've been getting hatred that is completely misconceived and unwarranted on this video to the point that I'm just done with the haters, and I'm deleting them. People like you that understand what I'm trying to do makes it all worth it.

@cubdukat

5 жыл бұрын

@@cjsvinyl Looks like they may have leaned on the people who make the table for them like Pioneer did with the PLX-500. Supposedly they've sort of moved its replacement, the 120x, downmarket. They improved the preamp and antiskate, but they took away the tonearm height adjustment. If you want something close to the 1200, they want to steer you towards the 140x. To be completely honest, though, I don't even know if they're using the same OEM manufacturer as before. Nothing on Hanpin's website corresponds to any model they currently make.

Let me put it to you this way: if were a Fortune 500 corporate executive, I'd get the Technics, bot I'm not. Besides, I've heard a LOT of great things about the 120, as a moderately priced turntable it does a great job! I've had mine for over six months and there's no complaints. I can save up for a heavier counter weight and an ORTOFON stylus to pump up performance if need be, and the music would be just as good as what comes from the more expensive turntable!

@k2apache60

3 жыл бұрын

Where's the LMAO emoji?

Hey there CJ's Vinyl. I'd like to know: What if you're looking for a turntable to help let you digitize your vinyl records on your computer? :) Which one of those two turntables do you think will work best for that? :)

@cjsvinyl

5 жыл бұрын

Either one will work just fine for that. The LP120 does have a built in preamp and USB, but I wouldn't worry too much about that. What's really important is getting the turntable that's going to provide the best overall experience for you.

Thank you for this nice comparison video! I was planning to buy the AT LP-120X, but now I think I changed my mind.

@cjsvinyl

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your gratitude. Part 2 is an even bigger eye opener, but you have so many other choices that I know you'll find something much better.

@scottspencer4018

4 жыл бұрын

The 120X actually offers several improvements from the former 120 that lead to better sound quality. They fixed some of the known issues, kept the tonearm, and upgraded the cartridge system. Still a lighter duty table than the SL1200, but the price difference allows for a huge cartridge upgrade that should ultimately make a very noticeable sound upgrade. For equal money, I'd take the SL-1200 in a heartbeat, but on my budget, the 120x with a nude shibata cart upgrade is tough to beat for the price.

Technics every time. Never settle for modern day imitations kiddies

@jamescollins6085

3 жыл бұрын

It's a brilliant device, but I struggle to justify paying so much for an up to 40 year old turntable with no warranty. I'd rather spend that amount on a Rega or Pro-ject. The LP120 looks like a decent beginner turntable, though.

The LP120 actually doesn't sound bad, but the Pink Floyd track in particular definitely showed that the SL1200 has a wider sound stage and was just clearer overall. I know the LP120 has a built in preamp that causes issues even when bypassing it, so maybe it's because of that.

@alberto3028

2 жыл бұрын

yes, it is

@famfunk1526

Жыл бұрын

G

The question is will my platter and weight from my 1200 MK2 work on the audiotechnica? :)

@rpg896

3 жыл бұрын

My question, also. One could add mass to the 120 plinth and platter? That would be a great video, mods for the 120. I can’t afford a 1200 so I’ll have to live with the obvious differences.

I have the Pioneer PLX 1000 to which I have added a Goldring 2100 moving iron cartridge and it sounds absolutely amazing in my view

I used to be krs ones tour deejay...i use audio techncas .and stanton str8100s...i also have technics..but theres maybe a smidgen of a difference with the technics...they are the best ..but i battle scratch and i have all 3 hooked up and i seem to grab twords the a.technica the most..

@rockmasterdjriz7776

5 жыл бұрын

@def creator u must be a rookie cuz its called throw a shure 35c needle on em n there awesome ..u can soup em up easily..i can scratch good on anything as long as its direct drive weirdo

@josuereyes5775

5 жыл бұрын

@@rockmasterdjriz7776 I have audio Techinica LP120 I haven't use it because I wanted to know what needle I should by to scratch with. If that's what you recommend I would get it

@rockmasterdjriz7776

5 жыл бұрын

@@josuereyes5775 a stanton 500l

@johnfry8286

5 жыл бұрын

Dude I'm not a 1210 fan but they are much better than the other turntable. No way would KRS Ones dj rock them lol When did u dj for KRS One?

@unklecorky2181

5 жыл бұрын

Rockmaster what would be the best turntable to get if you wanted to join a numetal band?

I've always had a good laugh at people who make turn-table comparisons using only music. How about throwing on some audio test LPs, use a scope or digital sound analyzing software and compare the results? This eliminates the "I THINK X sounds better", opinions, brand bias, etc.

@tadeovilla

4 жыл бұрын

MARK MALASICS ok, go and do the video. We will wait

@davidjgomm

4 жыл бұрын

Most people listen to music. All you have to do is blind testing.

@YoshiTamahara

4 жыл бұрын

MARK MALASICS Brand bias huh? So what's yours? Crosley? I wish I could say I get a good laugh from idiots that don't read titles, ignore text on thumbnails, never read descriptions, and consider watching the entire videos before commenting. Unfortunately that's not funny because you're another shining example of the severely ignorant and lazy. All talk as they say. Try watching past the 7:51 point of the video and then *Part 2* maybe reconsider that joke of a comment.

@AmbientWanderer

2 жыл бұрын

LOl scopes and measurements are only relevant when something is being produced . What really matters is the final result and how it sounds during playback with music

Your video inspired me to bring back to life my old technics sl-bd22. Installed new cartridge AT85EP and belt and compared with AT LP120 USB that I had for 4 years. AT sounded better, both tt's using phono jacks. Then I compared AT using aux jacks, with AT tt switched to line out. Sounded same. So perhaps my version of AT has that problem fixed. I am somewhat disappointed with technics though.

I can definitely tell the difference. In your video the LP120 sounds a bit more muffled, but also softer which IMO is not a bad thing. I actually have the AT-LP120 and Technics SL-BD22. Stylus broke on the SL and I wanted to try a new turn table, so I bought the AT years ago and was happy with it and didn't bother replacing the stylus on SL. I had both TT's hooked up to Technics stereo system, I think it's 160 watts per channel, so I don't notice performance issues at all. Maybe it's my hearing :). What power source do you use?

@cjsvinyl

3 жыл бұрын

My receiver is a fully-restored Sansui G-7000.

I like the LP better

@eklektikTechno

23 күн бұрын

I take it you have never seen the 1200’s 40 yrs of DJ work it’s done 😁

Not only SL-1200 wins on quality of product, which is by far a better product, but also in sound quality. From what I could hear the Technics has more tight bass, it's more warmth, and has a more deep sound stage. I guess the bottom line is that you get what you pay for. Congrats on the review! Cheers!

@cjsvinyl

5 жыл бұрын

With all of the various records we've been spinning on the SL-1200 so far, Vocals and Strings seems to be the biggest thing that I hear the difference in. It's SOOOOO much more clear than the LP120 with percussion and strings, but above anything else, the vocals are so much better. Thanks for your comment and support!

@vinylexplorer9817

5 жыл бұрын

I totally agree. The vocals were really noticeable. Huge improvement!

@vinylexplorer9817

5 жыл бұрын

You guys rock!!!

@Hot_guy267

5 жыл бұрын

@Vinyl Explorer what you hear in LP120 is not the exact sound that the cartridge is generating. Here a part of the signal is subjected to grounding muffling the high frequencies. As Technics lacks this feature,it sounds more open and clear. Just rip off the internal preamp in LP120 and then hear how it sounds. I bet it will be difficult to differentiate it from the Technics in the blind test.

@cjsvinyl

5 жыл бұрын

@typedef So where are all of your demonstrations of this knowledge on your channel? All I see is some thug music and a pretentious comment from a douche bag that is trying to deny himself the truth. When someone else makes a perfectly good point about money being properly invested into quality products, don't deny them just because you don't want to face the truth.

Hi. Great video where you made me discover two artists ; Leo Kottke and Gregory Alan Isakov. What are the titles played here ? Thank you. Peace -Patrick

@cjsvinyl

5 жыл бұрын

Awesome! The Leo Kottke track is "In Christ, There Is No East Or West" and Gregory Alan Isakov's track was "All There Is" Enjoy man!

@goodun6081

5 жыл бұрын

Cj's Vinyl, I believe Leo Kottke actually learned that song from a John Fahey record. I've been a Leo Kottke fan since the early 1980s when I read an interview with Stevie Winwood talking about other musicians, and about Leo Kottke he simply said, and I quote, "you've got to hear him"! two of my other favorite acoustic guitar players and finger Pickers are Martin Simpson, and Adrian Legg, both British and both world class. oh, and let's not forget Richard Thompson.

@goodun6081

5 жыл бұрын

Sky Captain, also check out Adrian Legg, Martin Simpson, and Richard Thompson. three of the best finger Pickers around!

I'm planning to take my 120 into Technica Headquarters within a few days (Stow, Ohio) and have them physically remove the pre-amp/and have them fix anti-skate, which I presume will make my 2014 unit the same as 2017 and afterwards?

Technics has purer sound and more depth imo. 👍

@quentendeclercq4792

4 жыл бұрын

Depends on the carteidge

@paulcunning5159

4 жыл бұрын

Tony Colbourne but is it almost $900 worth of clarity?

The SL is slightly more open, detailed and brighter. But the price of a used one is ridiculous when you can purchase a new better tt for the same price. The LP sound was very close. A little tonal tweaking and you’d be good to go.

I just bout a 1200 but it doesn’t have a slip Matt. Can someone explain why I need one and the difference from cloth to rubber ?

My dad had around 3000 records collection ,so he was buying all this turntables....I still have sl1950 DIRECT DRIVE,JVC-QL-F4 and Pioneer-PL-518 that I have for sale. All I was getting from craigslist-$200 for all 3 of them. I never hooked them up but just listening here, oh man ,I can hear clearly the difference! Technic sounds so much clearer ! Loved it. Now I'm not sure if I want to sell the SL-1950. Btw, I do have the record collection too, which I wanted to sell.

ya for sure the 1200, classic. a lot of audiophiles scoff at a dd turntable, but the 1200s sound awesome, and they're tanks that run forever

@chris1275cc

4 жыл бұрын

It is true we audiophiles sometimes scoff at dd but not many of us scoff at the 1200 series and most of us own one, their stability and near reference levels make them very good for recording vinyl to digital without a lot of messing around.

@andrewilliams9921

4 жыл бұрын

Reason why the 1200 became the staple to any real dj.

@gman5218

4 жыл бұрын

Give me a direct drive anyday ... my vintage pioneer has no motor noise . Something else It doesn't have is abysmal wow and flutter specs of so called modern audiophile tables.. cough cough REGA . The the 1200 is the best built and sounding table iv ever heard weather for dj or home listening.

The Technics sounds cleaner also.

@cjsvinyl

4 жыл бұрын

@•‿• ...and sometimes the owners of these decks just know the difference, especially in person.

After all this years, TECHNICS still rules! (Based on sound clarity, brilliance, depth.) But for the price, I think the AT 120 is a good alternative.

I own an Audio Technica 120--it is highly regarded and had plenty of great reviews. Purchased it in 2017 and could not be happier with it. I completely enjoy playing my LPs and listening to them on my "budget" system. You do not have to spend thousands of dollars to get great quality sound.

@cjsvinyl

5 жыл бұрын

Agreed with the not paying thousands of dollars for a turntable part! We only initially paid an extra 300.00 on top of the cost of our LP120 to get the Technics SL-1200. No one is arguing that the LP120 sounds poor, it's that the SL-1200 is better.

Only thing close to this was a Stanton ST-150 and even STILL that gave off some fine motor noise. Nothing like a Technics. Iconic motor.

The one and only Technics will always reign supreme! It is the original after all.

I'd bet my life nobody could actually tell the difference in audio with a blind test. Also you threw me for a loop with the "Leo Kottke" 😂.

WOW!! this is amazing review and comparison. I am making a decision if whether or not is a good option to invest some money on equipment and I am now more clear that it is a good decision. However I will go with the cheaper one which is a good option considering price. Thank you.

@cjsvinyl

7 ай бұрын

Well, you're correct on one thing, the LP120 is definitely cheaper I did everything I could to warn people in Part 2 of this comparison, but people are so fast to throw their money away without watching the rest of the reviews.

the lp120 has slightly more bass imo

I always love the 1200

Wow! $1,000 table better than a $300 table? Shocking stuff, man.

@cjsvinyl

Жыл бұрын

500.00 actually, and then 100.00 for shipping from Japan.

Nice comparison! 👍🏻

Beyond the shadow of a doubt, the SL-1200 *HANDS DOWN* amplifies better vocals! When I opened my eyes during the sound test I was right to see the Technics playing every time! Listen to 6:23 on the LP120, and then hear an undeniable difference in his voice at 6:37 when on the SL-1200.

The LP120 Preamp clips the highest frequencies- remove that and it gets alot better. It's no SL-1200 though

@QS-si3cq

4 жыл бұрын

Alan Sasek *a lot. It's two words.

It's incredible. The treble is so much more pronounced on the 1200, as well as a deeper, cleaner sound. The 120 just comes off as a little stale and muffled. I noticed it the most in the Pink Floyd and Ella Fitzgerald tracks. Nice video.

@cjsvinyl

5 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@Tunz909

2 жыл бұрын

Now I noticed it the most in the first guitar /instrumental track!

@alberto3028

2 жыл бұрын

LP120 has no bypassed the internal preamp. This is the main difference, ok?

@danielepizzuele7083

Жыл бұрын

@@alberto3028 You're right. The difference is in RIAA preamps. Not the quality but a slight eq difference (RIAA has some tolerances). There is no electronics from pick-up to rca phono out and the mechanical elements are very similar so... The real difference is that the AT is a very good robust deck and the Technics is a...tank! 1200s are "heavy duty working disco horses for fearless djs with subwoofer under the table" :D The same is for microphones, there are some very good sounding cheap mics, but when you have to put them into professional environment, you can appreciate some hidden features of an U87 or AKG414, for example rear sound rejection or less proximity effect.

If the AT - LP120 still has its phono preamp that may be the difference, the Phono switch doesnt actually bypass the interal pre-amp which dulls the high frequency. Pretty sure i read that this because of the vinyl recording feature of it. Once removed the AT-LP120 reportedly sounds like any old vintage player of similar price range. You can hear the higher frequencies coming through much more in the SL-1200 paired with tighter sound. It would be interesting to see a comparison with the AT-LP120 pre amp removed