Head-to-head · Best Turntables Under $500

Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB vs Pro-Ject T1 Phono SB

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.5 vs 4.3). The gap is mostly about Buyers who want one box that does everything, plus DJs and anyone who wants to digitize their record collection over USB. — read the strengths below before deciding.

Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best Turntables Under $500

Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB

4.5

$399as of Jun 7

The Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB is the most versatile turntable under $500: a direct-drive deck with a quartz-locked motor, a built-in switchable phono stage, USB ripping, and DJ-friendly pitch control. It is unflappably speed-stable and built like a tank. The stock cartridge and felt-over-aluminum platter keep it a notch behind the Fluance on outright sound, but no rival here matches its feature set or convenience.

Strengths

— DC servo direct-drive motor with quartz speed lock delivers exceptional speed stability
— Built-in switchable phono preamp works with any line input or powered speakers
— USB output lets you rip vinyl to digital files on a computer

Watch-outs

— Stock AT-VM95E cartridge is good but a step below the Fluance's Ortofon 2M Blue
— Aluminum platter with felt mat is less resonance-damping than acrylic
— Reviewers note a faint high-pitched whine audible in quiet passages

$399 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Ranked #4 in Best Turntables Under $500

Pro-Ject T1 Phono SB

4.3

$399

The Pro-Ject T1 Phono SB is an Austrian-built belt-drive deck that bundles a built-in phono preamp and electronic 33/45 speed switching into a tidy, beginner-friendly package. Reviewers rate its build and features highly (5/5 from What Hi-Fi on both) and call it an easy recommendation, though its sound leans warm and full rather than the cleanest at the price. It is the convenient, plug-and-play option for newcomers who want a respected hi-fi brand.

Strengths

— Built-in Pro-Ject-designed MM phono stage plays straight into any line input
— Electronic speed switch changes 33/45 RPM at the touch of a button
— Glass platter and low-resonance design sound clean and full-bodied

Watch-outs

— What Hi-Fi found bass isn't the cleanest, leanest or most detailed
— Timing and dynamics trail the best decks at the price
— No USB output or Bluetooth

$399 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB

The AT-LP120XUSB is the most feature-complete deck here: unlike the Fluance RT85 and U-Turn Orbit Plus it has a built-in phono stage, and unlike all the others it adds USB ripping and pitch control. Its direct-drive motor is more speed-stable than the belt-drive Sony PS-LX310BT and Pro-Ject T1 Phono SB, though its felt-over-aluminum platter damps less resonance than the RT85's acrylic platter.

Pro-Ject T1 Phono SB

Like the Sony PS-LX310BT and Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB, the T1 Phono SB includes a built-in phono stage, making it plug-and-play unlike the Fluance RT85 and base U-Turn Orbit Plus. It adds electronic speed switching the manual-belt Orbit Plus and RT85 lack, but its belt drive trails the AT-LP120XUSB's direct drive on raw speed stability, and reviewers found its bass less clean than the best in the group.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB	Pro-Ject T1 Phono SB
Cartridge	AT-VM95E (moving magnet)	Ortofon OM5E (pre-mounted)
Drive	Direct drive, DC servo with quartz lock	Belt drive, AC motor
Platter	Die-cast aluminum with felt mat	Glass
Speeds	33⅓, 45, 78 RPM	33⅓, 45 RPM (electronic switch)
Wow & Flutter	Less than 0.2% WRMS	—
Phono Preamp	Built-in, switchable	Built-in MM
Outputs	RCA (line/phono), USB	RCA (line/phono switchable)
Weight	23.1 lb	8.4 lb
Tonearm	—	8.6" aluminum

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