Audio Technica AT-PL120 Turntable - Answered Questions & Fixed issues

On the early (pre 2017) versions, the anti-skate spring was too weak. To overcome this issue, you either need to cut off about a third of the existing spring or replace it with the new stronger one. Audio-Technica can supply this directly but they will charge you for it.

Take off table and replace belt

Replace button

Check all breakers in panel

Crazy glue the old hinge

It has a mm cartridge.

There's no right answer to this. Normally it is set to the specifications of the cartridge. If you don't know this look up the cartridge model number on the net. However even that is a rough guide. The idea is to set it to a point when the stylus stays in the groove, but does not rumble when playing. Sadly this can only be done by trial and error. Till it sounds good and doesn't jump out of the groove.

Sounds like it could be a connection problem. Hear's a simple test. Disconnect the leads to the cartridge (make a note of which wires connects with the cartridge). With your amp switched on. Touch with your finger (one at a time) each wire. You should hear a decent buzz on two of the wires - one wire for the right, one for the left. If you don't hear a buzz or it's weak, then there's nothing wrong with the cartridge, but either the cable between the amp and turntable is faulty or the amp's pre-amp has a fault. You can eliminate the pre-amp by switching the leads over. If the fault now goes to the other channel, it's the lead. But if it stays on the same channel, it's the pre-amp that's faulty. If both channels buzz fine, then you either have faulty cartridge or a bad connection to the cartridge with the wire to it.

Audio technica will send you a replacement clip free of charge. Just send their service department an email asking for one.

hi,
Do one thing adjust counterweight on the back of the arm to 1.5gm or 2gm by rotating the counterweight. It will give some more pressuer on the styles and will avoid the jerking
ok

These are the specs for your cartridge - it is of the moving magnet variety. Vector-Aligned Dual Magnet design and A-T's exclusive Paratoroidal signal generator. This unique signal-generating system is composed of a unified, laminated coil core wound with a single piece of wire. Internal mechanical and electrical connections are eliminated, minimizing magnetic losses and assuring better signal transfer. PCOCC wire

Cartridge Specifications (ATP-2)

Frequency Response 15-22,000 Hz

Channel Separation 23/17 (dB at 1 kHz/10 kHz)

Vertical Tracking Force 3.0 - 5.0 grams

Stylus Construction Bonded round shank

Output 5.3 mV at 1 kHz, 5 cm/sec

Channel Balance 1.5 dB

Stylus Shape 0.4 x 0.7 mil elliptical
Cantilever Alloy tube

is this belt or direct drive. if its belt try replacing the belt if its direct drive and your hearing it turn on and the platter doesnt budge when you press start the motors blown. I hope This helps, by a Stanton next time not the expensive ones just a nice direct drive table .

as long as you have balanced your tonearm correctly, maybe its simply just a problem with your vinyl? could just be dust in the grooves or could be static build up, try cleaning your vinyl with an antistatic cloth to see if the sound improves.

The first problem could be the stylus needs cleaning. Please shine some light on the stylus ( needle ) and see if it has picked up dirt from the record groove. This will prevent the stylus from tracking the song properly. Clean using a fine brush in the direction in which the stylus passes the record groove i.e from back of the pick up arm to front- NEVER SIDEWAYS.
Next check the counterweight adjustment at the back of the Pick up arm. The tracking force should be between 1.5 to 3 grams depending on the brand of the cartridge. What ever be the chosen weight the antiskating knob should also be set to the same number.
The skipping can also be because of heavy bass vibration traveling up the body of the Turntable.Good turntables have a floating suspension to prevent this. The tuntable platter will be suspended on springs.You can place it on a rubber Matt or move it away from the speakers ,esp: sub woofers.

Most likely a broken drive belt - find a replacement online

Poor earth connection? Check all leads and wires to cartridge.

There are three links in the chain to check:

1. Receiver input. If you have a second phono input, try switching to that, or plug the turntable's sound cable into an auxiliary input and crank up the volume until you hear the phonograph. (At this point, we're only interested in completely isolating the issue to the turntable - I'm not suggesting this as a fix yet.) If you now get the same volume from both channels, the receiver's phono pre-amp is at fault. If you are using an external phono pre-amp, try bypassing it and connecting directly to the receiver to check the external pre-amp. If it is the receiver phono input, the first places to look would be the phono contacts on the input selection switch and the phono input jacks.
   
2. Inspect the connections to the cartridge on the tone arm. Try re-seating the terminals on the cartridge pin - you may have an oxidized connection. You are probably aware that the wires at the cartridge are delicate, and that you should grasp the terminal itself to remove it from the cartridge rather than yanking on the wire. If you have an ohmmeter, disconnect the wires at the cartridge and test for continuity from the cartridge to the phono plugs on the end of the signal cable. Here is a cruder test of the same: Two wires on the cartridge are the left and right shield connections, and the other two are the left and right signal connections. If you disconnect the left and right signal wires, then touch them with the amplifier volume turned down low, you should get similar levels of hum from both channels if you have good cabling.
   
3. If the signal wiring is good and the receiver phono input is working properly, the cartridge is the problem by elimination.
   

Pull the aluminum record platter where the record sit on and check to see if the belt off. If it is broke you may need a new one.

KEEP THE ANTI SKATE AT 0 FOR NOW,then you need 2 balance the tonearm with the rear counterweight so it just hovers at around the height of the platter.now you need to zero the gauge on the rear counterweight being carefull not to turn the counterweight,then check again that the tonearm still hovers.then screw counterweight inwards untill the dial on counterweight reads between 1.5- 2 grams dependin on tracking weight of cartridge.then adjust antiskate 2 whatever u set the tracking weight to.i would also double check with a spirit level ur level surface

Hi, there is a screw that fits up underneath the clip that needs to be undone to remove the tonearm rest clip. [email protected]