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5

Initial Setup

Unpacking

Carefully unpack the turntable and verify that the following
parts are included and intact:

• Slip mat (above the dust cover)
• Dust cover (above the turntable)
• Platter (under the turntable)
• Dust cover hinges (accessory section of the 

foam packaging)

• 45 RPM adapter (accessory section)
• Counterweight (accessory section)
• Headshell with pre-mounted cartridge (accessory section)
• Power cord (accessory section)

WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU SAVE ALL PACKAGING 
MATERIALS FOR POSSIBLE FUTURE STORAGE, MOVING OR 
SHIPPING.

Assembling the Turntable

The AT-PL120 requires some assembly before first use. 
IMPORTANT: Do not connect the AC power cord until 
assembly is complete.

Setting the Voltage Selector Switch

This turntable has the capability to be used with either 115V or
230V AC power, 50/60 Hz. The voltage selector switch is 
located on the top of the housing deck, under the platter. Set
the switch according to the voltage in your area. [See Figure 4.]
(Note: The turntable comes shipped with the voltage selector
switch set for 115V AC.)

Setting the Pre-amp Selector Switch

For increased flexibility of use, this turntable has an internal
stereo phono pre-amplifier. The pre-amp selector switch 
located in the rear-center of the housing deck under the platter
[See Figure 4], selects the internal stereo pre-amplifier (LINE
OUT), or bypasses the pre-amp (PHONO OUT) for use with
systems having specialized magnetic phono input jacks. The
audio output cable’s Red RCA-type plug is the Right channel;
the White plug is the Left channel.

If the system you are using has a PHONO input, set the 
pre-amp selector switch to the PHONO OUT position and 
connect the turntable’s output cables to the PHONO inputs on
your system, observing Red for Right channel and White for
Left channel.

If your system does not have a PHONO (magnetic phono) input,
set the pre-amp selector switch to LINE OUT and connect 
the turntable’s output cables to the Auxiliary (AUX) or other
high-level inputs on your system, observing Red for Right 
channel and White for Left channel.

When using the turntable with a computer sound card, set the
switch to LINE OUT and connect the turntable to the audio line
input on the computer sound card. Note: An audio adapter (not
included) may be required to interface the two RCA jacks of the
turntable output cable to the computer sound card input.

Assembling the Tone Arm

(Note: The headshell and cartridge are supplied pre-assembled
with the AT-PL120.)
1.

Remove the vinyl tie used to secure the tone arm during 
shipment. Temporarily secure the tone arm in the tone arm
rest with the locking clamp. [Figure 2, page 4, #24.]

2.

Attach the headshell assembly by inserting it into the 
socket at the front of the tone arm [See Figure 5.] (It’s 
good practice always to hold a headshell assembly by the 
left and right edges of the headshell to reduce the 
possibility of damaging the stylus or disrupting the 
cartridge wiring.)

3.

While holding the headshell in position, rotate the 
headshell locking ring counter-clockwise (to the left). 
As the ring turns, it pulls the headshell into its seated 
position. (Rotate the ring a full turn to the right to permit 
removal of the headshell.)

4.

With its black dial toward the front, use a screwing motion 
to attach the counterweight to the arm extending back 
from the tone arm pivot [Figure 2, page 4, #28]; the 
counterweight will engage the spiral groove in the rear arm 
section and move forward.

Figure 5 Headshell

Voltage 
switch

Figure 4 Voltage Switch and Pre-amp Selector Switch

Pre-amp Selector
Switch

Summary of Contents for AT-PL120

Page 1: ...Direct Drive Professional Stereo Turntable AT PL120 Installation and Operation ...

Page 2: ...Adjustable counterweight Anti skate adjustment Tone arm height adjustment and lock Tone arm lift with hydraulic action and lift lever Tone arm rest with locking mechanism Selectable high accuracy quartz controlled pitch lock Selectable 10 or 20 pitch adjustment ranges Stroboscopic platter speed indicator Forward and reverse play Cast aluminum record platter with slip mat Start stop button with rem...

Page 3: ... DIRECTION BUTTON Controls platter s rotational direction F Forward clockwise R Reverse counter clockwise 12 PITCH ADJUST SLIDE CONTROL Use in conjunction with pitch button 15 to vary the platter s rotational speed In the center detent position quartz lock is active 13 PITCH SELECTION INDICATOR Shows Green for standard or locked RPM setting or Red for a pitch adjusted setting 14 QUARTZ SPEED LOCK ...

Page 4: ...CONTROL LEVER Cueing Lever Controls action of tone arm lift Note Lift mechanism is hydraulically damped to slow tone arm descent 27 ANTI SKATE CONTROL Applies a small inward force to the tone arm counteracting the tendency of the tone arm to move outward due to forces created by the stylus in the record groove 28 COUNTERWEIGHT Balances the tone arm and provides adjustment for proper downward track...

Page 5: ...s output cables to the PHONO inputs on your system observing Red for Right channel and White for Left channel If your system does not have a PHONO magnetic phono input set the pre amp selector switch to LINE OUT and connect the turntable s output cables to the Auxiliary AUX or other high level inputs on your system observing Red for Right channel and White for Left channel When using the turntable...

Page 6: ... force Rotate the entire counter weight counterclockwise without touching the black gauge ring moving the counterweight forward until the desired value on gauge ring lines up with the centerline marked on the rear arm Refer to the specifications section for tracking force value for the cartridge that shipped with the turntable Setting Anti skate A small inward anti skating force can be applied to ...

Page 7: ...ocation on the record Carefully lower the tone arm to the record surface Checking and Adjusting Pitch 1 If desired select a 10 or 20 pitch adjustment range by pressing the pitch button Then move the pitch adjust slide control up or down to make pitch adjustments Note The pitch adjust slide control has center detent position for 0 pitch variation 2 As illuminated by the red light coming from beneat...

Page 8: ... cartridge and carefully remove its stylus assembly Place the stylus assembly out of harm s way Mount the new cartridge to the headshell assembly Use the mounting hardware supplied with the new cartridge or the existing hardware removed at step 2 Tighten the mounting screws until just snug Replace the stylus assembly briefly to check for mechanical interference with the mounting hardware The stylu...

Page 9: ... record type being played with platter speed buttons 2 Variable pitch is engaged Depress quartz button or return pitch adjust slider to center detent position to engage quartz lock Moving pitch adjust slider produces no effect If the LED next to the pitch adjust slider center detent position remains green when the slider is moved quartz lock is engaged Depress the quartz button to disengage the qu...

Page 10: ... Hz 810 Hz when 20 pitch is selected Varies from 607 Hz 742 Hz when 10 pitch is selected 1170 1 Hz for 78 RPM Remote Start Stop 2 conductor 1 4 connector T S Normally open contact closure Power Supply Requirements 115 230V AC 50 60 Hz Power Consumption 13W Dimensions 17 3 4 450 mm W x 13 7 8 352 mm D x 6 157 mm H Weight 23 4 lb 10 6 kg Accessories Included Headshell cartridge ATP 2 AC line cord 45...

Page 11: ...11 ...

Page 12: ...purchase date Prior approval from A T U S is required for return This warranty excludes defects due to normal wear abuse shipping damage or failure to use product in accordance with instructions This warranty is void in the event of unauthorized repair or modification or removal or defacing of the product labeling For return approval and shipping information contact the Service Dept Audio Technica...

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