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Usb turntable4/7/2023 ![]() There's also a sense of confidence, drive and clarity uncommon at this price point. There's excellent separation of instruments. The overall impression is best described as analog warmth overlaid with a sheen of digital crispness. Cartridges (sold separately) included Audio-Technica's AT-120E/T and AT440MLa moving magnets, both good matches, and the AT-F7, an excellent, budget low-output moving coil. I even briefly tried it with my $2799 Avid Pulsus phono stage (reviewed HERE) just for fun. I tried this in a few different configurations ranging from entry-level (a vintage Philips PA-50 integrated amp with onboard MM/MC phono and Polk Audio Monitor 50 floorstanding speakers) to mid-range (Rega and PrimaLuna integrated amps and Spendor S5e loudspeakers). However, the actual process of mounting a cartridge is easy thanks to the detachable headshell. ![]() I'm disappointed the otherwise good manual lacks instructions for cartridge alignment, nor is a template or overhang gauge provided. The Herbie's Way mat (reviewed HERE) I liked on the Technics performed admirably here too, but there's no shortage of other options from cork to leather to sorbothane.Īudio-Technica must have confidence in their quality control because the review sample was factory sealed, shrink-wrapped and clearly identical to what you'd get if you bought one yourself. However, because it's meant for DJs, it comes only with a thin slipmat. Did I mention it's direct drive? It is, so it's basically zero maintenance. There isn't a dry record cleaning brush on earth that will slow the platter down thanks to the high-torque motor, something that can't be said for belt drives in this price range. Like the classic and much missed Technics 1200 it's patterned after, this is fun and convenient to use. (Feel free to upgrade, but the cable Audio-Technica supplies is a cut above the usual freebie and will certainly suffice.) The feet even offer some isolation and are adjustable-a nice touch. It has every convenience a DJ could possibly expect, along with some nice touches like a detachable IEC power cord and RCA outputs instead of captive audio cables. The controls respond with precision, or at least a convincing degree of faux precision. In fact, this is a sturdy product all around for the money. And it's respectable too, free of obvious friction and with tons of adjustability built in. See that tonearm? Looks suspiciously like the one on Denon's $2500 DP-A100 anniversary model from a few years back. Yep, the same basic goodness here has sold for a lot more money under other, more "high end" nameplates. That's no bad thing since they churn ‘em out by the gazillions for big-name brands-some of which might surprise you. It's easily competitive with any source I can think of for that money-analog or digital-and it runs rings around some of them. Sorry if that's vague, but I wanted to let you know upfront that this is one of the best values going.Īudio-Technica won't confirm this, but production of the AT-LP1240-USB is farmed out to a massive specialist turntable manufacturer in Asia. MSRP is $530, and the street price is closer to $450. The only thing "entry level" about Audio-Technica's new AT-LP1240-USB is the price.
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