Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB turntable

Last updated: 9 October 2026

What the AT-LP120XUSB is

Audio-Technica describes it as an update of the older AT-LP120-USB. It keeps the DJ-style layout, with a pitch slider that moves the speed by up to 8% or 16% and a stroboscopic platter that shows the speed, but the new version has a DC servo direct-drive motor, adjustable anti-skate and a phono preamp you can switch off.

Direct drive means the platter sits on the motor rather than on a belt. So it gets up to speed quickly, and it has an electronic brake for stopping the record. The arm is a balanced S-shape, and you place it on the record by hand. A lift lever lowers it gently.

What it does

• Arm set-up: you balance the arm with the counterweight, then set the tracking force for your cartridge. The anti-skate dial runs from 0 to 4g.
• Cartridge swaps: it comes with an AT-VM95E cartridge in an AT-HS6 headshell. The arm takes cartridges weighing 3.5g to 8.5g, so you can fit a different moving magnet cartridge later if it is in that range.
• Three speeds: 33-1/3, 45 and 78 rpm, so old shellac records play too.
• Built-in phono stage: plug it straight into powered speakers or a line input. If your amplifier has its own phono input, you switch the built-in one off.
• USB output: it connects to a Mac or PC, and Audio-Technica suggests the free Audacity software for turning records into digital files.

Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB key facts

Who the AT-LP120XUSB suits

• First-time buyers who want room to grow: you can upgrade the cartridge later instead of replacing the whole deck.
• People with inherited records: the 78 rpm speed and the USB output let you play old records and keep a digital copy.
• Bedroom DJs: the direct drive, pitch control and brake follow the classic DJ deck layout.

If you are still comparing decks, our guide to the best budget turntables in the UK puts it next to cheaper and smaller models.

The limits

It has no Bluetooth. Audio-Technica sells a wireless version, the AT-LP120XBT-USB, for £339, which is £39.01 more than this one at full price.

It is fully manual. You lower the arm yourself at the start of each side, and you lift it at the end.

It is big and heavy for a shelf, at 8kg and 452mm wide. Measure the space before you order.

78s need a different stylus from the one fitted, so playing shellac properly means buying one. Trusted Reviews also found its digital copies "so-so" and said the sound "lacks outright bass control", so the USB output is for archiving rather than hi-fi.

Where to buy the AT-LP120XUSB in the UK

Amazon UK had the black deck at £245, sold and sent by Richer Sounds, which is £54.99 less than Audio-Technica's own price. You can also buy it direct from the Audio-Technica UK shop, which lists the full specification.

A smaller, wireless alternative is the Audio-Technica AT-LP70XBT, which plays two speeds and pairs with Bluetooth speakers.

AT-LP120XUSB on Amazon UK

FAQs

How much is the Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB in the UK?

£299.99 from Audio-Technica. On 9 October 2026 Amazon UK had it at £245.

Does the AT-LP120XUSB play 78s?

Yes, it has a 78 rpm speed. For shellac records you also need a wider 78 stylus, which is sold separately.

Do I need a separate phono stage?

No. The phono stage is built in, so it works with powered speakers or a line input. You can switch it off and use your amplifier's phono input instead.

Can you change the cartridge?

Yes. The headshell is removable, and the arm takes cartridges from 3.5g to 8.5g.

Does the AT-LP120XUSB have Bluetooth?

No. The AT-LP120XBT-USB is the Bluetooth version, at £339 from Audio-Technica.

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