Vinyl Player Audio-Technica AT-LP140XP Black

Audio-Technica AT-LP140XP Black is an ultimate LP player with direct drive, 4-pin removable headshell and DJ functionality. Continuation of the traditions of the iconic Technics SL-1200.

Basic parameters

The role of the material for making a massive table was a combination of plastic and MDF, supplemented with a certain amount of metal. It is noteworthy that the entire structure is reliably damped, which eliminates the detrimental effect of external and internal resonances on the sound. In addition, the damping material is also located inside the aluminum support disc, which is quite rare in medium-budget LP players. Special attention should be paid to the presence of massive spring-loaded legs that allow you to adjust the position of the table in the horizontal plane. The functional control scheme is represented by hardware manipulators with logical labeling. Among them, the most interesting are the strobe light switch-on knob, pitch limit activators, rotation speed selection keys (including 78) and a smooth rotation speed slider supplemented with a quartz lock button. I was also pleased with the S-shaped tonearm used, equipped with a removable headshell, a screw height adjustment ring, as well as an accurate counterweight with a convenient vernier marking and a locking ring with an anchor lever. An AT-XP3 MM pickup equipped with a replaceable conical needle is installed on the tonearm from the box.

Sound

To begin with, it is worth noting that the pre-installed pickup demonstrates a fairly high output signal level (up to 5.5 mV), which clearly hints at the professional positioning of the Audio-Technica LP-140. For audiophile needs, it is recommended to change the drain head to something more specialized. As for the sound characteristics of the turntable in question, the situation is quite predictable here, because we are primarily facing a direct drive DJ player. In general, the sound picture of the AT-LP140XP is characterized by stylistic integrity, pronounced detail, a wide dynamic overview and large sound images. The bass sounds tight and assertive, the midrange is played cleanly and timbrally saturated, while the treble is served sonorously, mobile and expressive. In conclusion, it is fair to mention the absence of a built-in phono corrector on board the surveyed turntable, as well as the fact that the finished sound quality is strongly dependent on the settings of the tonearm parameters and the selected pickup head.

Audio-Technica LP-140 is a beautiful multifunctional device that will help an electronic musician achieve the requested results without resorting to unjustified expenses. Price/quality.