Two months ago I posted a video showing the unboxing and setup of the Audio Technica AT-LP120XUSB turntable, a popular choice for those who are wanting to play 78 rpm records on modern equipment.
You can watch it here:
https://youtu.be/2JLmLa4Wd2Q
In today’s video, I will run you through the different output options you have to get sound from your turntable into your computer and discuss the importance of stylus size when it comes to playing 78 rpm records on modern turntables.
I test four different combinations:
• 3 mil 78 stylus on AT-95E cartridge via analog line output
• 3 mil 78 stylus on AT-95E cartridge via digital USB output
• 0.7 x 0.3 mil elliptical LP stylus on AT-VM95E cartridge via analog line output
• 0.7 x 0.3 mil elliptical LP stylus on AT-VM95E cartridge via digital USB output
We will listen to these options across three different records from different time periods, labels, and conditions:
• An acoustically-recorded record in rough shape: Cameo 348 “Papa Blues” – Dixie Daisies
• An electrically-recorded disc: Victor 22720 “Dip Your Brush in the Sunshine” – Snooks and his Memphis Ramblers
• A modern African disc recorded in the 1950s: Gallotone KE.45 “Ndikhola Ndlwa” – Barthly Ojuang
Each recording represents the output from the turntable (with an EQ filter to adjust for the RIAA equalization applied by the phono preamps) with some gain adjustment so all samples are at an equal volume. No additional EQ filters, de-clicking, or noise reduction was applied.
My conclusions? LP stylus output is noticeably noisier though crisper and livelier in the high frequencies at these raw settings. 78 stylus is more reliable, much less noisy, and gives you more options to tweak once you’ve digitized it.
The noise differential was most noticeable for me on the record in rougher shape (Cameo 348). Here, the LP stylus performed at its worst, having to navigate across all of the scuffs and scratches of a 78 rpm record in rough shape.
Interested to hear your thoughts! Leave a comment. 🙂
0:00 Intro
1:15 AT-LP120 audio output options
5:13 Stylus options: LP vs 78 stylii
6:13 My mistake: AT-95E vs AT-VM95E cartridge
7:32 Stylus and Cartridge options for testing
7:52 How to compensate tracking force settings
9:02 Testing configurations
10:30 Test setup
11:12 Test 1: Victor 22720
14:15 Test 2: Cameo 348
17:30 Test 3: Gallotone KE.45
20:20 Reaction and Discussion
Some of the websites I’ve referenced in the video include:
Voice of Music
https://www.thevoiceofmusic.com/
My favorite place to buy stylii and other parts for turntables!
Esoteric Sound
https://www.esotericsound.com/
A site that has a wide variety of stylii sizes, cartridges, and other equipment for playing 78 rpm records.
Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB Product Page:
https://www.audio-technica.com/en-us/at-lp120xusb
More info on the specs of the turntable I am demoing.
