This is an amazing turntable used by both professionals and casual listeners, providing them with exceptional sonic performance and plenty of features such as a built-in preamplifier. You can directly connect active speakers to the Audio Technica LP120 and start playing your favorite vinyl records but what if you are using passive speakers or you prefer to finetune the sound quality by using a different phono preamp. If you are planning to use passive speakers then you will need to get power amps to drive them.
There are so many choices to choose from and you must be wondering which amps will be the best match with the Audio Technica LP120 turntable. To find the right amps for the job, we will need to learn more about the sound characteristics of the LP120 first. We understand that it has a pleasing sound quality which makes it easy on the ears, without the need to worry about listeners fatigue. The Audio Technica LP120 polite music delivery does lack alacrity thus won’t be as engaging where some listeners may even find the music presentation a bit dull. Overall sound reproduction is smooth with a detailed midrange, the bass performance is taut and agile. We find it relaxing to listen to the Audio Technica LP120 but a bit more punch and snappier attacks will be even better.
All in all, the Audio Technica LP120 is an excellent turntable at this price range and has a warmish sound quality where it won’t go overly bright on us. You can go for amps that provide a more energetic and livelier music performance which may deliver a slightly more engaging music presentation. The passive speakers you will be getting to pair with the Audio Technica LP120 will also play a major role in influencing the sound quality of your HiFi system. We will advise not to go for too dark-sounding speakers as it may make the music presentation sound too dull and boring to listen to. Going for lively sounding and fast speakers may improve the music pacing, providing snappy timings and attacks that might make it more enjoyable to listen to.
More Info at Amazon – Audio-Technica AT-LP120-USB Direct-Drive Professional Turntable
What kind of speakers you should go for is still entirely dependent on your taste though, if you like warm sounding HiFi system then you should get a pair of speakers with warmish sonic characteristics. Getting a subwoofer to improve the overall bass performance and to deliver deeper low frequencies will be optional. Do note that it will affect the overall sound quality. If you are planning to get one, you should audition the subwoofer together with your sound system first before making the decision. Other than knowing the sonic characteristics of your speakers, subwoofer, and the Audio Technica LP120, you might want to go through a checklist of requirements. It will greatly help you by finding out more about your main requirements. Once you are ready, you can also have a look at the list of the best amps to pair with your Audio Technica LP120 turntable.
Table of Contents
Main Requirements
Working on your budget will be important especially when there are so many HiFi audio components that are involved. You might want to allocate a comfortable amount that you are willing to invest and stay firm with the allocated budget. The type of amps that you want to go for will depend on the following main requirements. Are you planning to bypass the phono preamp of the Audio Technica LP120? If yes, then you will need to get an amp with a Phono stage. The power output of your potential amp must be able to provide enough wattage to your passive speakers so you might want to check the recommended amplifier power of your speakers now.
The type of music you are listening to, if it involves very deep bass reproduction (down to 20Hz or below) and/or are bass-heavy as well, you might want to go for an amp with a dedicated subwoofer output and connect to an active sub to supplement the bass. You can also get a pair of floor-standing speakers which can provide you with full-range sound reproduction. If you are just planning to get an amp to drive your passive speakers then going for power amplifiers will be ideal. Going for mono-block power amps will provide slightly better sound quality but a stereo power amp will usually be more affordable when both are providing the same level of sonic performance.
You can also go for a preamp and power amp combo as this enables you to further fine-tune the sound quality to your liking. If your family members are also using your Audio Technica LP120 then you might want to ask them for their opinions and even ask them to share the cost. These are some of the main requirements you might want to go through and you should add a few more of your own. Once you are sure of what type of amps you want, then please check out the list of the best amps to go for and match it with the Audio Technica LP120 turntable.
Best Amps to match with Audio Technica LP120
The Rega Fono MM MK3 is an award-winning phono amp that will match well with your Audio Technica LP120 turntable. It is capable of projecting a wide soundstage, creating more space between each musician, and giving you a clearer sonic picture. The Rega Fono MM MK3 has impeccable music timing and pacing which makes the music presentation more engaging. The alacrity performance will be suitable for listeners who want a livelier music delivery of their favorite tunes. It is modestly priced and the Rega Fono MM MK3 will work really well together with the Audio Technica LP120.
More Info at Amazon – Rega Fono MM MK III
The Cambridge Audio Alva Duo is another amazing phono preamp to pair with the Audio Technica LP120. Not only it has an attractive price tag, but the Alva Duo is also compatible with both moving magnet (MM), and moving coil (MC) cartridges providing tons of value to its users. It can deliver a detailed music presentation with precise stereo imaging and a spacious soundstage. The timing is impeccable and the overall sound reproduction has a touch of warmth, giving you a full-bodied music delivery. Cambridge Audio Alva Duo will be an excellent phono amp partner for your Audio Technica LP120 and is worth every penny invested.
More Info at Amazon – Cambridge Audio Alva Duo
If you are looking for high-performance power amps that don’t break your wallet, you might want to take a look at Emotiva. It is a well-regarded brand that makes high-quality power amps, providing plenty of performance and value at a modest price. You might want to start with their BasX A2, it is a powerful stereo power amplifier with 160 Watts RMS power per channel into 8 Ohms and 250 Watts RMS power per channel into 4 Ohms which is enough to drive most loudspeakers. The Emotiva BasX A2 uses the Class A/B output stage to deliver clean and exceptional sound quality at an affordable price point. It will be a terrific amp choice for the Audio Technica LP120.
The Parasound NewClassic 2125 v.2 will be an ideal power amplifier to be coupled with the Audio Technica LP120 turntable. This is a THX Ultra2 certified stereo power amp with 150 Watts per channel into 8 Ohms and 225 Watts per channel into 4/2 Ohms. You can also choose to bridged mono which the power output will go up to 400 Watts (mono) into 8/4 Ohms (load switch set to 2-3 Ohms). The NewClassic 2125 v.2 can effortlessly drive most passive loudspeakers to very high volumes, delivering a clean and open sound reproduction with musical refinement. If you have a higher budget, you might want to take a look at Parasound’s Halo series amps.
More Info at Amazon – Parasound 2125v2 Stereo Power Amplifier
Musical Fidelity LX2-LPS is one of the best amps to match with the Audio Technica LP120 turntable especially for listeners who want a slightly more engaging music presentation. It is an award-winning phono preamp that is compatible with MM and MC cartridges, providing great value at a reasonable price. The LX2-LPS phono preamplifier has garnered many accolades over the years, thanks to its punchy performance and bass delivery that has satisfying weight. The musicality and refinement of the Musical Fidelity LX2-LPS with well-timed pacing makes it an incredible phono preamp to go for and an exemplary partner for your Audio Technica LP120, definitely worth the effort to audition them.
More Info at Amazon – Musical Fidelity LX2-LPS
For listeners who have a tight budget, you might want to take a look at the Schiit Audio Mani. It is an affordable phono preamp for MC and MM cartridges which is really rare to find at this price point. Even though it is a budget phono preamp, the Schiit Audio Mani does not compromise the sound quality. It has a nice level of clarity and will provide a slightly clearer overall sound reproduction. The Audio Technica LP120 sound characteristics will help smoothen any rough edges and will work well together with Mani. At this price, we can’t really nitpick much but you are certainly getting plenty of value out of it.
More Info at Amazon – Schiit Audio Mani (Silver)
To Sum It Up
The amps listed here are some of the best on the market and will certainly be worth your while to check them out. Once you have shortlisted them, you might want to arrange an audition and hear how well they perform. From there, you can see which one of the amps provides the sound quality that you really like. You can also use this list as a reference and compare it to other amp models or brands that are not listed here. We will suggest to at least audition one or two of the amps on the list first so to get a more accurate comparison.
