WIRED

Our Favorite Turntable Is $51 Off Before Record Store Day | WIRED

2026-03-24 · 00:00 UTC ·Brad Bourque ·2 min read

Brief

Audio-Technica's AT-LP120XUSB is positioned as a feature-rich modern turntable with both beginner-friendly and enthusiast-oriented capabilities. WIRED highlights its direct-drive design, switchable phono preamp, quartz speed lock, S-shaped tonearm, and USB output for archiving records digitally, while noting the current $398 sale price and the ability to upgrade components such as the included AT-VM95E cartridge.

Why it matters

Audio-Technica's AT-LP120XUSB turntable is on sale for $398 on Amazon, a $51 discount ahead of Record Store Day from its usual $449 price.

Key details

  • The AT-LP120XUSB includes a built-in switchable phono preamp, direct-drive motor, quartz speed lock, adjustable dynamic anti-skate control, and support for 33⅓, 45, and 78 rpm records.
  • The turntable ships with an AT-VM95E Dual-Magnet cartridge, offers modular upgrade paths across the VM95 cartridge line, and adds USB output alongside RCA jacks for digitizing vinyl to a computer.
Source evidence

title: Our Favorite Turntable Is $51 Off Before Record Store Day | WIRED
author: Brad Bourque
contenttype: article
publication: WIRED
published: 2026-03-24T00:00:00
sourceurl: https://www.wired.com/story/atlp120x-deal-326/

word_count: 370

Whether you're an experienced vinyl collector or just getting started on your journey, we recommend the Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB. This excellent record player comes with great connectivity and a built-in phono preamp, and it has the backing of one of the biggest players in home and professional audio. You can currently pick up the LP120XUSB for just $398 on Amazon, a $51 markdown from the usual price.Courtesy of Audio TechnicaThe AT-LP120XUSB features basically everything you could want from a modern, upgraded turntable. The built-in phono preamp lets you easily swap the turntable from your headphones to your speakers without any extra steps or hardware, or you can disable it if you'd prefer to use an existing dedicated preamp. The direct-drive motor should be longer lasting and more consistent than belt-driven options, while handling 33⅓-, 45-, and 78-rpm vinyl.It also features adjustable dynamic anti-skate control, an S-shaped tonearm for better balance, and quartz speed lock for perfect playback. If you don't like the components, Audio-Technica turntables are impressively modular, so you can swap out parts and tweak to get everything dialed in for your favorite album. The included cartridge is a Dual-Magnet AT-VM95E, a great starting point for any listener, with the option to upgrade to any of the other VM95 series cartridges.One feature that you aren't likely to find on every turntable is a USB connection. While it might seem odd at first, this important plug lets you pipe the audio from your favorite records to your computer, letting you back them up for archival purposes, or taking that special live album that isn't on streaming services with you to work. Of course it has traditional RCA jacks as well for hooking it up to the rest of your home audio system, if you already have a set of bookshelf speakers or a high-end headset you prefer.If you're sold on the Audio-Technica LP120X, you can swing by Amazon to grab it for a discounted $398, or check out our complete guide to the best turntables for even more great options. We also have an entire guide dedicated to the best audiophile gear, so make sure to check that out if you're looking for some great kit to match your new turntable.