Your cart
There are no more items in your cart
In 2009, Audio-Technica launched the AT-LP120-USB, a direct-drive turntable that marked the brand’s first professional venture into this category. At that time, the analogue sector was experiencing a resurgence of interest, and this model emerged at a time when several manufacturers were seeking to reinterpret the vinyl tradition with modern solutions. The AT-LP120-USB quickly established itself as one of the most popular models in the United States and Europe and, over the years, was progressively updated to the current AT-LP120XUSB version. Within the recent history of the Audio-Technica brand, this project marked an important milestone, as it represented an attempt to combine the heritage of analogue playback with the new demands associated with the digitisation of music.
The turntable was equipped with a high-torque direct-drive motor that ensured quick starts and stable platter rotation. The USB output allowed direct connection to a computer, a feature considered particularly innovative at the time as it facilitated the digitisation of vinyl records. Other features included the ability to play forwards and backwards, a die-cast aluminium platter with a non-slip mat, and the classic start and stop button. The system supported three rotation speeds – 33, 45 and 78 revolutions per minute – whilst the high-precision quartz pitch control allowed for adjustments in selectable intervals of ±10% or ±20%. The dust cover was hinged and removable, whilst the selectable internal stereo phono preamplifier allowed connection to audio components even in the absence of a dedicated phono input.
The Audio-Technica AT-LP120 was conceived as a mid-range alternative to the legendary Technics SL-1200 turntables, whose production was coming to an end in 2010. In this context, the model positioned itself as a product that drew on the technical approach of classic professional direct-drive turntables, whilst incorporating more modern features such as a line-out and an internal phono preamplifier. The inclusion of a USB connection also allowed for the digitisation of records in real time, a feature that helped place this model at a transitional stage between traditional analogue and the digital world.
From the moment of its launch, the AT-LP120 therefore represented a significant step in the evolution of contemporary turntables. The history of vinyl, turntables and Audio-Technica itself bore witness to a continuous path of technological development leading to the creation of equipment capable of integrating increasingly advanced functions. This context also saw the evolution towards systems that allowed connections with modern devices, including wireless solutions for headphones and speakers, marking a new phase in the dialogue between analogue tradition and technological innovation.
