@BadEditPro Hi JC ! just to tell you that I finally installled my at120e in my technics sld 303 , I love the way it sounded the only complaint i have about it is the fact that since it requires low vtf is very sensitive to surface noises , i also felt that the at 3600 was warmer but i hope this one can mach that after the needle´s break in period initially i djust it at 1.4 but heard splatter then i set it up at 1.7 as you suggested and it sounded weight better , chech te link for my 1st video
@Mralexspanishprm I'm glad it works well for you. It is a much more compliant cart than a 3600 so you'll hear all sorts of new sounds on your records. :) JC
@BadEditPro thank you , I was not able to put the link for you but i post the video under the title Engelbert Humperdinck quando quando quando vinyl in my other youtube channel MrAlexprm
Just got my new AT120E cartridge and installed it on my Sony PS-11 turntable and it sounds brilliant! Thanks JC for your great videos and honest opinions!
@funkinbeats The sound is very similar because the body is essentially the same but the 120E is way cheaper because of the less exotic stylus design. :) JC
This cartridge sounds awesome. Would it be a good match for an AT-LP120 turntable? I ask this because I've been told that its tonearm is somewhat "high mass". I'm running an AT95HE cart on it now, and it tracks fine.
@FriedAudio If you're doing good with the 95 then the AT120 should work fine, too. The AT120 tracks very well on everything I've put it on. Run it at 1.7 grams. :) JC
Monday, I got my Audio-Technica AT120E in the mail, and after going through hell putting it on (I even broke a wire in the process, and it was my first time doing it), I found the results to be spectacular! I used to have a cheap Audio-Technica AT-3400 that splattered at the drop of a hat. The 120-E was bright, but if it ever splattered, it was slight. It's also very articulate and dynamic. I put to the test with some Supertramp and The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds and it blew me away!
@ToastmachineIdiot Doable check the tracking force and anti-skate. Track it at 1.7 and see if the splatter doesn't just go completely away... These are great carts! :) JC
@ImTotallyWithStupid Sure you can. Just be careful and don't knock the cart around. I've lived with this cart a while now and I can tell you that it is pretty rugged. :) JC
I really like your informative clips mate, just a question - I want to buy the Audio-Technica AT120E Phono Cartridge for my AT LP120 turntable, so what would the correct tracking and skate force setting be? do I just adjust it to the cartridge's recommended tracking force?
@MrVenom5150 Yes. The AT120 seems to perform a little better in the upper part of the range so You might want to go for 1.7 grasm instead of the recommended 1.4. It should be a good match. :) JC
@BadEditPro Hi JC ! i was about to get the CN5626AL when I scroll down the page on ebay and J&R store in New York had it for 69.00!! a couple of dollars more than the 95E , so i bought it , the las concern how would this behave on very used records ,and what do you think about the Gruv Glide? , I really enjoy your videos ,Thank you , Alex
@MrAlexprm You got a good deal. This cart does excellent with used records. It can really plow through the mess and bring out detail. I'm not a fan of the idea of treating a record with anything that will leave a residue behind. Anything in the groove is going to dampen the styluses ability to track properly and degrade audio quality. The idea of "wet playing" has been around for decades... I say clean the record as best you can and keep it that way. :) JC
In your review of the Shure M97xE you said this was an amazing cartridge, so I was ready to buy one until I checked out your review of the AT120E cartridge. You also had me sold on this cartridge. I will probably purchase an AT120xE, however I hope you are aware of the fact that you criticized the Shure M97xE on this video by saying this was a huge disappointment. Are you still standing pat on this opinion?
@ramoroso2 Yes, the M97xE is an amazing cart... Unfortunately, most examples I've come across are not well made and the love affair is short lived once the cart starts to act up. The 120E is a better cart for the money and will give great results for the length of the stylus service life. Sorry for the confusion but thus is the nature of a continuing video blog. :) JC
have to say that I absolutely loved your videos so far. I actually just ordered one of the AT CN5625AL cartridges after watching your review. Might as well order an AT120E (hm, not sure yet).
You really should do a video about the AT LP120 turntable you kept talking about. I'm considering one of those as well. Found a couple of reviews for it (some were mentioning quality issues), but would really love to see one from you.
@AlxW100 Thanks! I don't have the LP120 anymore... At one time, I had a video up about it but I got so many comments from people who were having problems with it that I took the video down. I don't recommend getting one of those. :) JC
I'm running one of these carts on an Audio Technica LP 120 table which I modified by removing the internal preamp/usb board and adding a ground wire. This cart absolutely blew my mind and is significantly better than the included ATP-2 cart in every aspect. Unfourtunately the protractor I tried to print off vinyl engine did not print correctly and I ended up going with 50mm, as that was what how the original cart was mounted. I have been on a rampage gobbling up Detroit Techno Classics!
@navalverde12 Try 52 mm and see if you don't get better inner groove distortion performance. The cart will be perfectly aligned for the inner part of the record where velocity is low and you'll get a more even response across a side. 52 is best, too, if you plan on playing a lot of 7 inch 45's... Thanks for the feedback. A lot of folks have asked about the AT120E on an LP120. :) JC
Ok, it arrived yesterday, so I have mounted it and made sure of the correct overhang. The sound is amazing. I am very happy about this cartridge. Thanks again for you great videos and comments. I have it mounted on to a SAEC arm on a Sonab turntable both from about 1973 and they look and work perfect.
I have an old Technics turntable SL-5210, currently using NagaokaMP11. Sounds a nice cart from your review, Nagaoka, seems fine some hum when record not playing. Ever had Nagaoka products before , Sammy
@SammyMac I haven't run into any of those but I have read some mixed reviews. Some folks just love the Nagaoka and other's don;t like them. I'm very happy with the AT120E. It has really proven to be a tough, versatile cart with a lot of detail. :) JC
Thanks JC, only worry about is the stylus, my turntable is only auto return. Nagaoka freq range is 20hz to 20hz i think from memory. GradoGold also looked at some hum on ppl system on needledoctor site. AT120E awesome review there. , i love detail in my music, i think all cart have negatives.
You're sure the AT120E has a hyper elliptical stylus? I thought this model had a standard elliptical stylus and the AT125LC had the better "Line Contact" or HE stylus.
@Audioquest56 It has a .3 x .7 elliptical which is called hyper-elliptical in a lot of the literature I've read on the subject. It is not a more advanced shape like the MicroLine, though. :) JC
I enjoy your videos very much because they are informative and entertaining. I have a P-Mount AT cart - AT-311 and it came with two styli, one spherical and one hyper-elliptical. So if you say a .3 X .7 is hyper elliptical, I believe it.
I love my cart and both styli sound great on it. Part of why I chose this cart is because of the great videos you put up about these things.
Thank you for helping me decide on a upgrade from AT95E cart which i'am using on a Techics sl1210, the sound absolutly blew me away!! I never thought is was possible to achieve that kind of sound from vinyl (old or new). Would recommend to anyone!
Ok, so I tonight I mounted the 120E in my linear tracker and WOW! I can hear this hiss of the master tapes, for those that say this cartridge isn't detailed enough, check your setup like any AT cart of this type, it is VERY sensitive to setup, that being said, there is NO IGD!! And tons of detail to boot! This one heck of an impressive cartridge for $65-$75! It really is a perfect mate for the Pioneer PL-L800s which I think the stock cartridge was made by AT to begin with.
If you like the AT-120E (cost here 99 Euro) then try the AT-440ML. It is about 100 Euro more expensive but boy, what a difference. Of coarse there is the top model, the AT-150MLX (about 490 Euro) but that is to expensive for me ;)
@legOldtimer One of the reasons I like this cart so much is that the replacement styli are relatively inexpensive. The MicroLine styli for the 440ml and 150MLX cost almost as much as the cart itself. The 120 is a nice trade off between quality and cost. :) JC
I have a Shure M97Xe on my linear tracking half inch mount table a Pioneer PL-L800s and the IGD has gotten worse and worse even with low hours on it, so I'm switching to a AT120e, go figure it had an earlier version of this same cart when I got it but the stylus for it was no longer made. I will let you know how it performs in a decent half inch mount linear table. Hopefully a lot better than that awful Shure.
@grassulo I had the same experience with the Shure. It sounds great at first but it gets strange after a while. Mine lost all the high end even though it was carefully aligned and kept clean. The AT120 has really done well after about 50 hours and I'm getting ready to put it on a Pioneer PL-518. We'll see what that does :) JC
(Continued from my previous post) I don't think it's a problem of alignment, I've double checked everything and tried several different setups, nothing helps. The ML stylus of the 440 might be picking up some manufacturing defects, which could be causing that horrible crackle (only in the outer grooves). Since the 120E is .3 x .7 elliptical (the same as my old Stanton), my guess is that it would be the way to go through the crackle problem, while keeping the sound quality. Would this help? Thx!
@eduvinyl I have noticed the same thing on some records but when I swapped out the 120 with an Ortofon Concorde with the '10' stylus I heard the same kind of noise.... I just ordered a Technics alignment tool to try and zero in the alignment a bit more. The stereo separation on these top end AT MM carts of monstrous. I'm wondering if the noise was always there but we didn't notice it with other carts that did push it so far out to the right or left? Please keep me posted on what you find. :) JC
@BadEditPro Thanks for your quick response! I did try also the Technics gauge, which was useful with my former Stantons. However, since AT's are way more aligment-sensitive than those DJ carts, I wouldn't rely much on this tool, and used a 2 point protractor (Baerwald) from vinylengine. I also tried the arc protractor found there. Same results. I'm sure the noise wasn't there with the Stantons b/c I keep recordings of the same records made with them. Beginnings are flawless, but IGD is present.
@eduvinyl I've been using a ruler to get the overhang and then the protractor to zero in the angle. However, my thinking is that the ruler method has a high margin of error, like maybe 1 mm either way, so the tool will help me get that closer to dead on 52 mm. We'll see what that does. I also found that these carts perform better near the top of the VTF range so I'm running mine at 1.7 instead of the 1.4 that is listed as 'optimum.' :) JC
@BadEditPro Thanks, JC, I'm definitely determined to sort this crackle issue out. I read somewhere that one cart can't do it all, so it's a good idea to have 2 or 3 headshells with different carts ready to go. I'll give a shot to the 120, and maybe also the Shure M97xE (even though the latter is not as good). If this is what I need to do in order to keep crackle and surface noise (which I hate!) out of my records, it will be welcome! Be sure I'll keep you posted! Cheers! ;)
@BadEditPro Hi, JC, I promised I'd keep you posted, so here I am. You might remember some 5 months ago I told you about a right channel crackle issue on some records with my 440MLa. Last week I finally received my new 120E. Viva! Those problematic records sound crystal clear with this cart. Granted, the 120 doesn't sound as detailed as the 440, but the tradeoff is absolutely NO surface noise on either channel. I can't describe how happy this makes me! Your review has been of great help. Thanks!
@eduvinyl Wow! I'm glad to hear that worked out so well. I have not heard the 120E and 440mla head to head but it makes sense that the milder stylus shape would be a bit quieter on some records. If AT ever would come up with a light tracking conical for this body style, I would be the first to buy one. I have had the same results with old jukebox 45's when they are played with a conical compared to a tight elliptical. The conical is always quieter and less distorted, at least to my ears. :) JC
Hey JC, thanks for this great review! What you'll hear is probably weird, but I'm actually considering 'downgrading' from a 440MLa to a 120E because of an annoying right-channel crackle issue. I own 2 Technics 1210, which are both equipped with 440s. I love how they sound, especially how they manage IGD. However, I'm getting this right-channel crackle issue on a number of new/mint records right out of the seal, which I never had with my former Stantons (680EL's).
Nice video - I've never tried the 120 but I do have the 440 and I had a similar reaction to yours when I first started using it. It is actually noticably quieter, very clean, and a bit bright but I find this often lends a liveliness to the sound that makes CD's jealous. You get the detail and the top end of the CD with the warmth of analog. All in all a great deal (at Amazon you can get the 440 for 100 bucks now).
@UnchainTheNight1 I think this cartridge would be fine for 45's. You may want to consider a cart with a spherical stylus if you happen to have a whole bunch of 45's from the 50's and 60's with 1 mil mono grooves but if your 45's are mainly stereo pressings from after 1970 than this would be a fine choice. I found that the AT120 stylus shape performs surprisingly well on old mono records. :) JC
BadEditPro i have a Technics entry level sld 300I'm A Begineer , but i heard your Shure M97xE and i loved the way it sounded , which one would you take this audio technica or the shure , also which one would you pick up the shure M92E or the audio technica 3600
@MrAlexprm For the SLD-300 the AT120E is the way to go... I prefer it over the M97xE in every way. The 3600 is a cheap option that will work OK if all your playing is old slightly worn records. The M92E is preferred for P-mount tone arms but can be mounted on a half inch, too. If cash is a major concern, go ahead and get an M92E first. They're cheap and sound really good for the money. :) JC
You should go to harbor freight and buy a digital gram scale. They are on sale right now. I found that the scale on my turntable was not that accurate. Its a Techincs SL-1300 so its not junk.
@SupraWes I will look in to it,for sure. I know that my table is light below 3 grams because someone did a test with a scale to figure it out. I know that I'm running between 1.4 and 1.8 right now which is fine for this cart. I just tuned it by sound so any mistracking disapaered. :) JC
I don't have any experience with the AT120E, but I just purchased an AT150MLX and the sound is almost godly. At this point the cart is very bright and not well balanced, and yet it currently blows away anything I've owned. I can't wait for it to break in.
This cart did EXACTLY for me what it did for you. My thinking has been changed drastically. It actually plays low grade records much better than my Pro-S or my Grado, and sounds absolutely magical with RCA and Columbia pressed 45s
@PJDooWop The 120 is the lower end of this series from AT but, just as you said, the overall sound is amazing and the stereo separation is unreal. I am done looking, for sure. It is the most accurate cart I've ever heard. Audiophile pressings in mint condition make CD sound like a transistor radio. If the record is worn, you'll hear but nothing more than what is in the grooves already. I'm going to get an ML stylus when it comes time to change out the one that came with it :) JC
@jasonlava also my turntable is automatic but I can lift the cue lever so it doesn't just DROP the needle on its own. So if I'm careful will I be able to use a 120e on it?
@jasonlava AT P-mount carts are very bright until they break in a bit. It will mellow after about 25 hours or so. I'd track it at 1.5 or lower because P-mount carts are designed for a center VTF of 1.25 grams. You can certainly do the cueing manually as long as you don't bang it around. P-mounts are pretty tough... Give this cart a chance before considering an upgrade. There's no rush and they sound pretty good. If you do decide to go up, skip the 95E. I really love the 120. :) JC
Hey JC, I finally got my AT92e singing pretty good now. It's aligned properly (according to the protractor I got from Vinylengine). The weight is set to 1.75. I don't have a proper stylus gauge so I'm going by the numbers on the tonearm. Antiskate set around 1.5'ish (it's a small knob so it's hard to fine tune). It plays records pretty well. It's has nice high-end. It does have a little bit of splatter on loud or worn 45s but LPs are nice sounding. My only complaint is...
Hey badeditpro I'm new to the world of vinyl and recently got my first turntable it is an Audio Technica AT-LP60, do you know what type of cartridge comes with that model?
@pigslovemetal2 The LP60 has an integrated AT3600 built into the tone arm. Unfortunately, you can't upgrade since it's built in but the 3600 is a good sounding cartridge and the replacement styli are easy to find. :) JC
@pigslovemetal2 The LP60 has an integrated AT3600 built into the tone arm. Unfortunately, you can't upgrade since it's built in but the 3600 is a good sounding cartridge and the replacement styli are easy to find. :) JC
About two months ago I got an Audio Technica AT440MLA from Amazon (they sell it for less than $100) I was shocked at how much better it sounded compared to the Shure M97xE that I had been using - I have a Denon DP-300F & an Audio Technica AT-LP240 turntable. I honestly can't see how a more expensive cartridge could sound any better with my turntables, Yamaha RX-V1900 receiver, & Infinity Studio Monitor series speakers (SM-125 as front main stereo speakers) than the AT440MLA.
@dpsinoh Dude... You got one hell of a setup! The only reason I have not jumped on the 440MLa is because of the high cost for replacement styli. However, the AT120E accepts the 440MLa stylus so I may upgrade somewhere down the road if the prices come down a bit. I have a video up about the M97xE. I have tried it on two turntables and it's been a big let down on both. AT's high end MM carts blow everything else out of the water. :) JC
I'm pretty sure I need a new cartridge for my Realistic turntable. It already has an Audio-Technica cartridge, but the sound is about 20 to 30% louder in the left channel, and it is starting to sound distorted. I know the stylus is dirty as well. I wanted to get a new cartridge. I know mine is not an elliptical stylus, are they only for tt's with s-shaped tone arm? My tt is a linear tracking tt and I'm also not sure how to change the tracking force on it. Should I get this cart? Thanks :)
@0UT3RL1M1T5 All you need is a nice new P-mount cartridge for your table. I love the Shure M92E on my linear tracker. They are dirt cheap, too. You can get one for around $20. :) JC
thanks for the Vinyl Engine tip! i know how audio equipment can be,something can come along and change your whole way of thinking in the time it takes to cue it up! i really like hearing about all these carts,would you recommend this one over the spherical cart? what could happen to the vinyl if you were to stop it with the cart still on it? i do that all the time! i had no idea!
@dimebagdave77 I'm just being super cautious, I guess. Stopping the record is not supposed to be bad as long as you don't back it up and start scratching with it but it's always best to put the needle down on a moving record. I'm more concerned about knocking the stylus out of alignment than damaging the records. :) JC
@SlimeTron5000 No it does not! The high end is silky smooth but very bright. I do hear just a bit of sibilance on well worn records but that's groove damage and not mistracking. :) JC
@BadEditPro Nice vid! I just got an AT 150 MLX and Ortofon 2M Blue. I made a quick little video. I like the AT 95E better than the Shure M97xE. It just started sounding all mids and no treble (cymbals). The AT 95E holds up. The AT 150 MLX is pretty amazing. The stylus is interchangeable between the AT 440 MLa and from what you said the AT120E. I'm overall impressed with Audio Technica carts. I like the 2M Blue also. I might get some Stantons also. I'm guilty of being a cartridge freak!
@stringchild1 Same here... I have also been playing with the AT CN5625AL on my new Pioneer PL-518 and it's impressive teamed up with that table. Check out that vid, too. It's one of AT's low end conicals but it sounds very good with very little distortion. A bit warmer than the 120E, too. :) JC
@stringchild1 Don't waste your money on the Stantons or Shures! They were designed long ago and have not been improved. A-T's are really quite a lot better. If you like to play around with cartridges try a Sumiko Oyster or Pearl. I also like the design of the Grado, it makes a lot of sense but it sounds a bit flat, so... but you can't go wrong with a Japanese cartridge, they've got it down to a science.
LINK amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000YZO8JU/catgr-musicalinstruments-20
Product Description
AudioTechnica Cartridge
For more details please copy the Amazon link above in your browser
MarcusUnderwood23 1 week ago
@BadEditPro Hi JC ! just to tell you that I finally installled my at120e in my technics sld 303 , I love the way it sounded the only complaint i have about it is the fact that since it requires low vtf is very sensitive to surface noises , i also felt that the at 3600 was warmer but i hope this one can mach that after the needle´s break in period initially i djust it at 1.4 but heard splatter then i set it up at 1.7 as you suggested and it sounded weight better , chech te link for my 1st video
Mralexspanishprm 2 months ago
@Mralexspanishprm I'm glad it works well for you. It is a much more compliant cart than a 3600 so you'll hear all sorts of new sounds on your records. :) JC
BadEditPro 2 months ago
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Mralexspanishprm 2 months ago
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@BadEditPro thank you , I was not able to put the link for you but i post the video under the title Engelbert Humperdinck quando quando quando vinyl in my other youtube channel MrAlexprm
Mralexspanishprm 2 months ago
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Mralexspanishprm 2 months ago
Just got my new AT120E cartridge and installed it on my Sony PS-11 turntable and it sounds brilliant! Thanks JC for your great videos and honest opinions!
VintageAudioSounds 3 months ago
what about the AT150MLX and the AT-440 cartridges? how do they compare to this?
funkinbeats 4 months ago
@funkinbeats The sound is very similar because the body is essentially the same but the 120E is way cheaper because of the less exotic stylus design. :) JC
BadEditPro 4 months ago
This cartridge sounds awesome. Would it be a good match for an AT-LP120 turntable? I ask this because I've been told that its tonearm is somewhat "high mass". I'm running an AT95HE cart on it now, and it tracks fine.
FriedAudio 4 months ago
@FriedAudio If you're doing good with the 95 then the AT120 should work fine, too. The AT120 tracks very well on everything I've put it on. Run it at 1.7 grams. :) JC
BadEditPro 4 months ago
Monday, I got my Audio-Technica AT120E in the mail, and after going through hell putting it on (I even broke a wire in the process, and it was my first time doing it), I found the results to be spectacular! I used to have a cheap Audio-Technica AT-3400 that splattered at the drop of a hat. The 120-E was bright, but if it ever splattered, it was slight. It's also very articulate and dynamic. I put to the test with some Supertramp and The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds and it blew me away!
ToastmachineIdiot 6 months ago
@ToastmachineIdiot Doable check the tracking force and anti-skate. Track it at 1.7 and see if the splatter doesn't just go completely away... These are great carts! :) JC
BadEditPro 6 months ago
my turntable doesnt have a cue lever but i still want to use this, will this be a problem?
ImTotallyWithStupid 8 months ago
@ImTotallyWithStupid Sure you can. Just be careful and don't knock the cart around. I've lived with this cart a while now and I can tell you that it is pretty rugged. :) JC
BadEditPro 8 months ago
hi
I really like your informative clips mate, just a question - I want to buy the Audio-Technica AT120E Phono Cartridge for my AT LP120 turntable, so what would the correct tracking and skate force setting be? do I just adjust it to the cartridge's recommended tracking force?
MrVenom5150 8 months ago
@MrVenom5150 Yes. The AT120 seems to perform a little better in the upper part of the range so You might want to go for 1.7 grasm instead of the recommended 1.4. It should be a good match. :) JC
BadEditPro 8 months ago
@BadEditPro Hi JC how did you set up the VTF and the antiskate in your table?
MrAlexprm 8 months ago
@MrAlexprm I'll send you a video. :) JC
BadEditPro 8 months ago
@BadEditPro Hi JC ! i was about to get the CN5626AL when I scroll down the page on ebay and J&R store in New York had it for 69.00!! a couple of dollars more than the 95E , so i bought it , the las concern how would this behave on very used records ,and what do you think about the Gruv Glide? , I really enjoy your videos ,Thank you , Alex
MrAlexprm 9 months ago
@MrAlexprm You got a good deal. This cart does excellent with used records. It can really plow through the mess and bring out detail. I'm not a fan of the idea of treating a record with anything that will leave a residue behind. Anything in the groove is going to dampen the styluses ability to track properly and degrade audio quality. The idea of "wet playing" has been around for decades... I say clean the record as best you can and keep it that way. :) JC
BadEditPro 9 months ago
In your review of the Shure M97xE you said this was an amazing cartridge, so I was ready to buy one until I checked out your review of the AT120E cartridge. You also had me sold on this cartridge. I will probably purchase an AT120xE, however I hope you are aware of the fact that you criticized the Shure M97xE on this video by saying this was a huge disappointment. Are you still standing pat on this opinion?
ramoroso2 9 months ago
@ramoroso2 Yes, the M97xE is an amazing cart... Unfortunately, most examples I've come across are not well made and the love affair is short lived once the cart starts to act up. The 120E is a better cart for the money and will give great results for the length of the stylus service life. Sorry for the confusion but thus is the nature of a continuing video blog. :) JC
BadEditPro 9 months ago
Hi JC,
have to say that I absolutely loved your videos so far. I actually just ordered one of the AT CN5625AL cartridges after watching your review. Might as well order an AT120E (hm, not sure yet).
You really should do a video about the AT LP120 turntable you kept talking about. I'm considering one of those as well. Found a couple of reviews for it (some were mentioning quality issues), but would really love to see one from you.
Regards, Alex
AlxW100 9 months ago
@AlxW100 Thanks! I don't have the LP120 anymore... At one time, I had a video up about it but I got so many comments from people who were having problems with it that I took the video down. I don't recommend getting one of those. :) JC
BadEditPro 9 months ago
@BadEditPro Thanks, good to know!
AlxW100 9 months ago
I'm running one of these carts on an Audio Technica LP 120 table which I modified by removing the internal preamp/usb board and adding a ground wire. This cart absolutely blew my mind and is significantly better than the included ATP-2 cart in every aspect. Unfourtunately the protractor I tried to print off vinyl engine did not print correctly and I ended up going with 50mm, as that was what how the original cart was mounted. I have been on a rampage gobbling up Detroit Techno Classics!
navalverde12 10 months ago
@navalverde12 Try 52 mm and see if you don't get better inner groove distortion performance. The cart will be perfectly aligned for the inner part of the record where velocity is low and you'll get a more even response across a side. 52 is best, too, if you plan on playing a lot of 7 inch 45's... Thanks for the feedback. A lot of folks have asked about the AT120E on an LP120. :) JC
BadEditPro 10 months ago
Ok, it arrived yesterday, so I have mounted it and made sure of the correct overhang. The sound is amazing. I am very happy about this cartridge. Thanks again for you great videos and comments. I have it mounted on to a SAEC arm on a Sonab turntable both from about 1973 and they look and work perfect.
MauiBassPlayer1 10 months ago
@MauiBassPlayer1 Awesome! Please post a video about it. I'd love to see the setup. :) JC
BadEditPro 10 months ago
I ordered one for me yesterday. It's replacing my old AT15xe. I am very excited to get it. Thanks for the great information.
MauiBassPlayer1 10 months ago
@MauiBassPlayer1 I hope you like it... I love mine. Best cart for the money. :) JC
BadEditPro 10 months ago
I'am using a SL1210 mk2 and I find the baerwald protractor works better than the standard Technics 15mm overhang method!
lagerdean1978 10 months ago
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MrAlexprm 10 months ago
@BadEditPro Hi! JC how good is this cart on surface noise? is as good as the shure m 97xe and the Audio Technica CN5625AL?
MrAlexprm 10 months ago
@MrAlexprm Better than either of them. This is the best cart you can buy in it's price range. :) JC
BadEditPro 10 months ago
Hey JC
I have an old Technics turntable SL-5210, currently using NagaokaMP11. Sounds a nice cart from your review, Nagaoka, seems fine some hum when record not playing. Ever had Nagaoka products before , Sammy
SammyMac 11 months ago
@SammyMac I haven't run into any of those but I have read some mixed reviews. Some folks just love the Nagaoka and other's don;t like them. I'm very happy with the AT120E. It has really proven to be a tough, versatile cart with a lot of detail. :) JC
BadEditPro 11 months ago
@BadEditPro
Thanks JC, only worry about is the stylus, my turntable is only auto return. Nagaoka freq range is 20hz to 20hz i think from memory. GradoGold also looked at some hum on ppl system on needledoctor site. AT120E awesome review there. , i love detail in my music, i think all cart have negatives.
SammyMac 11 months ago
You're sure the AT120E has a hyper elliptical stylus? I thought this model had a standard elliptical stylus and the AT125LC had the better "Line Contact" or HE stylus.
Audioquest56 11 months ago
@Audioquest56 It has a .3 x .7 elliptical which is called hyper-elliptical in a lot of the literature I've read on the subject. It is not a more advanced shape like the MicroLine, though. :) JC
BadEditPro 11 months ago
I enjoy your videos very much because they are informative and entertaining. I have a P-Mount AT cart - AT-311 and it came with two styli, one spherical and one hyper-elliptical. So if you say a .3 X .7 is hyper elliptical, I believe it.
I love my cart and both styli sound great on it. Part of why I chose this cart is because of the great videos you put up about these things.
Keep up the good work and thanks!
clydesight 11 months ago
@clydesight Thanks! :) JC
BadEditPro 11 months ago
Thank you for helping me decide on a upgrade from AT95E cart which i'am using on a Techics sl1210, the sound absolutly blew me away!! I never thought is was possible to achieve that kind of sound from vinyl (old or new). Would recommend to anyone!
lagerdean1978 11 months ago
@lagerdean1978 Thanks! This is absolutely the best cart for the money on the market today. :) JC
BadEditPro 11 months ago
Ok, so I tonight I mounted the 120E in my linear tracker and WOW! I can hear this hiss of the master tapes, for those that say this cartridge isn't detailed enough, check your setup like any AT cart of this type, it is VERY sensitive to setup, that being said, there is NO IGD!! And tons of detail to boot! This one heck of an impressive cartridge for $65-$75! It really is a perfect mate for the Pioneer PL-L800s which I think the stock cartridge was made by AT to begin with.
grassulo 1 year ago
@grassulo Cool! :) JC
BadEditPro 1 year ago
If you like the AT-120E (cost here 99 Euro) then try the AT-440ML. It is about 100 Euro more expensive but boy, what a difference. Of coarse there is the top model, the AT-150MLX (about 490 Euro) but that is to expensive for me ;)
Very nice video, thanks for posting.
legOldtimer 1 year ago
@legOldtimer One of the reasons I like this cart so much is that the replacement styli are relatively inexpensive. The MicroLine styli for the 440ml and 150MLX cost almost as much as the cart itself. The 120 is a nice trade off between quality and cost. :) JC
BadEditPro 1 year ago
I have a Shure M97Xe on my linear tracking half inch mount table a Pioneer PL-L800s and the IGD has gotten worse and worse even with low hours on it, so I'm switching to a AT120e, go figure it had an earlier version of this same cart when I got it but the stylus for it was no longer made. I will let you know how it performs in a decent half inch mount linear table. Hopefully a lot better than that awful Shure.
grassulo 1 year ago
@grassulo I had the same experience with the Shure. It sounds great at first but it gets strange after a while. Mine lost all the high end even though it was carefully aligned and kept clean. The AT120 has really done well after about 50 hours and I'm getting ready to put it on a Pioneer PL-518. We'll see what that does :) JC
BadEditPro 1 year ago
Hi,
me again :D Is this one for heavy or middle heavy tt?
kotze5 1 year ago
(Continued from my previous post) I don't think it's a problem of alignment, I've double checked everything and tried several different setups, nothing helps. The ML stylus of the 440 might be picking up some manufacturing defects, which could be causing that horrible crackle (only in the outer grooves). Since the 120E is .3 x .7 elliptical (the same as my old Stanton), my guess is that it would be the way to go through the crackle problem, while keeping the sound quality. Would this help? Thx!
eduvinyl 1 year ago
@eduvinyl I have noticed the same thing on some records but when I swapped out the 120 with an Ortofon Concorde with the '10' stylus I heard the same kind of noise.... I just ordered a Technics alignment tool to try and zero in the alignment a bit more. The stereo separation on these top end AT MM carts of monstrous. I'm wondering if the noise was always there but we didn't notice it with other carts that did push it so far out to the right or left? Please keep me posted on what you find. :) JC
BadEditPro 1 year ago
@BadEditPro Thanks for your quick response! I did try also the Technics gauge, which was useful with my former Stantons. However, since AT's are way more aligment-sensitive than those DJ carts, I wouldn't rely much on this tool, and used a 2 point protractor (Baerwald) from vinylengine. I also tried the arc protractor found there. Same results. I'm sure the noise wasn't there with the Stantons b/c I keep recordings of the same records made with them. Beginnings are flawless, but IGD is present.
eduvinyl 1 year ago
@eduvinyl I've been using a ruler to get the overhang and then the protractor to zero in the angle. However, my thinking is that the ruler method has a high margin of error, like maybe 1 mm either way, so the tool will help me get that closer to dead on 52 mm. We'll see what that does. I also found that these carts perform better near the top of the VTF range so I'm running mine at 1.7 instead of the 1.4 that is listed as 'optimum.' :) JC
BadEditPro 1 year ago
@BadEditPro Thanks, JC, I'm definitely determined to sort this crackle issue out. I read somewhere that one cart can't do it all, so it's a good idea to have 2 or 3 headshells with different carts ready to go. I'll give a shot to the 120, and maybe also the Shure M97xE (even though the latter is not as good). If this is what I need to do in order to keep crackle and surface noise (which I hate!) out of my records, it will be welcome! Be sure I'll keep you posted! Cheers! ;)
eduvinyl 1 year ago
@BadEditPro Hi, JC, I promised I'd keep you posted, so here I am. You might remember some 5 months ago I told you about a right channel crackle issue on some records with my 440MLa. Last week I finally received my new 120E. Viva! Those problematic records sound crystal clear with this cart. Granted, the 120 doesn't sound as detailed as the 440, but the tradeoff is absolutely NO surface noise on either channel. I can't describe how happy this makes me! Your review has been of great help. Thanks!
eduvinyl 7 months ago
@eduvinyl Wow! I'm glad to hear that worked out so well. I have not heard the 120E and 440mla head to head but it makes sense that the milder stylus shape would be a bit quieter on some records. If AT ever would come up with a light tracking conical for this body style, I would be the first to buy one. I have had the same results with old jukebox 45's when they are played with a conical compared to a tight elliptical. The conical is always quieter and less distorted, at least to my ears. :) JC
BadEditPro 7 months ago
Hey JC, thanks for this great review! What you'll hear is probably weird, but I'm actually considering 'downgrading' from a 440MLa to a 120E because of an annoying right-channel crackle issue. I own 2 Technics 1210, which are both equipped with 440s. I love how they sound, especially how they manage IGD. However, I'm getting this right-channel crackle issue on a number of new/mint records right out of the seal, which I never had with my former Stantons (680EL's).
eduvinyl 1 year ago
Nice video - I've never tried the 120 but I do have the 440 and I had a similar reaction to yours when I first started using it. It is actually noticably quieter, very clean, and a bit bright but I find this often lends a liveliness to the sound that makes CD's jealous. You get the detail and the top end of the CD with the warmth of analog. All in all a great deal (at Amazon you can get the 440 for 100 bucks now).
DariusFranke 1 year ago
Is it a bad idea to run this kind of cartridge on a 45?
UnchainTheNight1 1 year ago
@UnchainTheNight1 I think this cartridge would be fine for 45's. You may want to consider a cart with a spherical stylus if you happen to have a whole bunch of 45's from the 50's and 60's with 1 mil mono grooves but if your 45's are mainly stereo pressings from after 1970 than this would be a fine choice. I found that the AT120 stylus shape performs surprisingly well on old mono records. :) JC
BadEditPro 1 year ago
BadEditPro i have a Technics entry level sld 300I'm A Begineer , but i heard your Shure M97xE and i loved the way it sounded , which one would you take this audio technica or the shure , also which one would you pick up the shure M92E or the audio technica 3600
MrAlexprm 1 year ago
@MrAlexprm For the SLD-300 the AT120E is the way to go... I prefer it over the M97xE in every way. The 3600 is a cheap option that will work OK if all your playing is old slightly worn records. The M92E is preferred for P-mount tone arms but can be mounted on a half inch, too. If cash is a major concern, go ahead and get an M92E first. They're cheap and sound really good for the money. :) JC
BadEditPro 1 year ago
@BadEditPro thank you for the advise dude!
MrAlexprm 1 year ago
You should go to harbor freight and buy a digital gram scale. They are on sale right now. I found that the scale on my turntable was not that accurate. Its a Techincs SL-1300 so its not junk.
SupraWes 1 year ago
@SupraWes I will look in to it,for sure. I know that my table is light below 3 grams because someone did a test with a scale to figure it out. I know that I'm running between 1.4 and 1.8 right now which is fine for this cart. I just tuned it by sound so any mistracking disapaered. :) JC
BadEditPro 1 year ago
could you upload a recording of this cartridge?
i'm really diyng to know how this cartridge sounds like
hoddle90 1 year ago
I don't have any experience with the AT120E, but I just purchased an AT150MLX and the sound is almost godly. At this point the cart is very bright and not well balanced, and yet it currently blows away anything I've owned. I can't wait for it to break in.
This cart did EXACTLY for me what it did for you. My thinking has been changed drastically. It actually plays low grade records much better than my Pro-S or my Grado, and sounds absolutely magical with RCA and Columbia pressed 45s
PJDooWop 1 year ago
@PJDooWop The 120 is the lower end of this series from AT but, just as you said, the overall sound is amazing and the stereo separation is unreal. I am done looking, for sure. It is the most accurate cart I've ever heard. Audiophile pressings in mint condition make CD sound like a transistor radio. If the record is worn, you'll hear but nothing more than what is in the grooves already. I'm going to get an ML stylus when it comes time to change out the one that came with it :) JC
BadEditPro 1 year ago
It's very bright and has a little too much treble. It's that normal for the AT92e. Would I hear a really big upgrade if I went with a 95e or 120e?
jasonlava 1 year ago
@jasonlava also my turntable is automatic but I can lift the cue lever so it doesn't just DROP the needle on its own. So if I'm careful will I be able to use a 120e on it?
jasonlava 1 year ago
@jasonlava AT P-mount carts are very bright until they break in a bit. It will mellow after about 25 hours or so. I'd track it at 1.5 or lower because P-mount carts are designed for a center VTF of 1.25 grams. You can certainly do the cueing manually as long as you don't bang it around. P-mounts are pretty tough... Give this cart a chance before considering an upgrade. There's no rush and they sound pretty good. If you do decide to go up, skip the 95E. I really love the 120. :) JC
BadEditPro 1 year ago
@BadEditPro Thanks!
jasonlava 1 year ago
Hey JC, I finally got my AT92e singing pretty good now. It's aligned properly (according to the protractor I got from Vinylengine). The weight is set to 1.75. I don't have a proper stylus gauge so I'm going by the numbers on the tonearm. Antiskate set around 1.5'ish (it's a small knob so it's hard to fine tune). It plays records pretty well. It's has nice high-end. It does have a little bit of splatter on loud or worn 45s but LPs are nice sounding. My only complaint is...
jasonlava 1 year ago
Hey badeditpro I'm new to the world of vinyl and recently got my first turntable it is an Audio Technica AT-LP60, do you know what type of cartridge comes with that model?
pigslovemetal2 1 year ago
@pigslovemetal2 The LP60 has an integrated AT3600 built into the tone arm. Unfortunately, you can't upgrade since it's built in but the 3600 is a good sounding cartridge and the replacement styli are easy to find. :) JC
BadEditPro 1 year ago
@pigslovemetal2 The LP60 has an integrated AT3600 built into the tone arm. Unfortunately, you can't upgrade since it's built in but the 3600 is a good sounding cartridge and the replacement styli are easy to find. :) JC
BadEditPro 1 year ago
About two months ago I got an Audio Technica AT440MLA from Amazon (they sell it for less than $100) I was shocked at how much better it sounded compared to the Shure M97xE that I had been using - I have a Denon DP-300F & an Audio Technica AT-LP240 turntable. I honestly can't see how a more expensive cartridge could sound any better with my turntables, Yamaha RX-V1900 receiver, & Infinity Studio Monitor series speakers (SM-125 as front main stereo speakers) than the AT440MLA.
dpsinoh 1 year ago
@dpsinoh Dude... You got one hell of a setup! The only reason I have not jumped on the 440MLa is because of the high cost for replacement styli. However, the AT120E accepts the 440MLa stylus so I may upgrade somewhere down the road if the prices come down a bit. I have a video up about the M97xE. I have tried it on two turntables and it's been a big let down on both. AT's high end MM carts blow everything else out of the water. :) JC
BadEditPro 1 year ago
If I'll ever want an upgrade from my AT95E, this will be the one!
Nice review.
DuskY1991 1 year ago
I'm pretty sure I need a new cartridge for my Realistic turntable. It already has an Audio-Technica cartridge, but the sound is about 20 to 30% louder in the left channel, and it is starting to sound distorted. I know the stylus is dirty as well. I wanted to get a new cartridge. I know mine is not an elliptical stylus, are they only for tt's with s-shaped tone arm? My tt is a linear tracking tt and I'm also not sure how to change the tracking force on it. Should I get this cart? Thanks :)
0UT3RL1M1T5 1 year ago
@0UT3RL1M1T5 All you need is a nice new P-mount cartridge for your table. I love the Shure M92E on my linear tracker. They are dirt cheap, too. You can get one for around $20. :) JC
BadEditPro 1 year ago
that looks like a nice cartridge but it would propobly not work very well on my ancient pioneer.
agfamatic91 1 year ago
@agfamatic91 Sure it wold. Just get it aligned properly and it should be fine. :) JC
BadEditPro 1 year ago
@BadEditPro well the problem is that i have began to hear some motor rumble in the audio and that is with my audio tehnica AT-91
agfamatic91 1 year ago
thanks for the Vinyl Engine tip! i know how audio equipment can be,something can come along and change your whole way of thinking in the time it takes to cue it up! i really like hearing about all these carts,would you recommend this one over the spherical cart? what could happen to the vinyl if you were to stop it with the cart still on it? i do that all the time! i had no idea!
dimebagdave77 1 year ago
@dimebagdave77 I'm just being super cautious, I guess. Stopping the record is not supposed to be bad as long as you don't back it up and start scratching with it but it's always best to put the needle down on a moving record. I'm more concerned about knocking the stylus out of alignment than damaging the records. :) JC
BadEditPro 1 year ago
Great. I am betting it does not sound sibilant like trebled equalised CDs.
SlimeTron5000 1 year ago
@SlimeTron5000 No it does not! The high end is silky smooth but very bright. I do hear just a bit of sibilance on well worn records but that's groove damage and not mistracking. :) JC
BadEditPro 1 year ago
great review J.C.!
just to let everyone know, i bought my 440MLa for $100 dollars on amazon!
gilmour509 1 year ago
@gilmour509 Thanks! You got a great deal! The guts of the AT120E are the same so I could upgrade to the MLa stylus at some point. :) JC
BadEditPro 1 year ago
@BadEditPro Nice vid! I just got an AT 150 MLX and Ortofon 2M Blue. I made a quick little video. I like the AT 95E better than the Shure M97xE. It just started sounding all mids and no treble (cymbals). The AT 95E holds up. The AT 150 MLX is pretty amazing. The stylus is interchangeable between the AT 440 MLa and from what you said the AT120E. I'm overall impressed with Audio Technica carts. I like the 2M Blue also. I might get some Stantons also. I'm guilty of being a cartridge freak!
stringchild1 1 year ago
@stringchild1 Same here... I have also been playing with the AT CN5625AL on my new Pioneer PL-518 and it's impressive teamed up with that table. Check out that vid, too. It's one of AT's low end conicals but it sounds very good with very little distortion. A bit warmer than the 120E, too. :) JC
BadEditPro 1 year ago
@BadEditPro I had a cheap and current model (yellow stylus) conical A-T on a Pioneer turntable and I loved it.
49kasey 11 months ago
@stringchild1 Don't waste your money on the Stantons or Shures! They were designed long ago and have not been improved. A-T's are really quite a lot better. If you like to play around with cartridges try a Sumiko Oyster or Pearl. I also like the design of the Grado, it makes a lot of sense but it sounds a bit flat, so... but you can't go wrong with a Japanese cartridge, they've got it down to a science.
49kasey 11 months ago