Head to head
PLX-500 vs. AT-LP120XUSB
Both are Turntables in the same price bracket (€200 to €350) — which is why you genuinely hesitate between them. Here is what our register says about both, side by side, including what speaks against them.
Pioneer DJ
PLX-500
€200 to €350
A direct-drive turntable in the classic DJ layout — the way into a vinyl setup.
For
- Direct drive, DJ layout
- Cartridge included
- USB output for digitising
Against
- You need two of these plus a mixer
- Unnecessary for digital DJing — see the buying guide
Also available atAmazonAd
Audio-Technica
AT-LP120XUSB
€200 to €350
Direct drive with a built-in preamp and USB — works with any mixer and any computer.
For
- Built-in preamp: works even without a PHONO input
- USB for digitising
- Cartridge included
Against
- Less torque than real club turntables
- The included cartridge is not meant for scratching
Where it says “Ad” we earn a commission if you buy through the link — on the other routes we earn nothing. Either way you pay the same price, and it changes nothing about our recommendation. How we handle this
The key facts side by side
| Feature | PLX-500 | AT-LP120XUSB |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Pioneer DJ | Audio-Technica |
| Price bracket | €200 to €350 | €200 to €350 |
| Our classification | Entry level | Entry level |
| Meant for | Vinyl setup | Vinyl setup, Laptop only |
Technical specifications from the manuals
Every value taken word for word from that device’s manufacturer manual, with the PDF page. A dash means there is no clear value in the manual — not that the device lacks it.
| Feature | PLX-500 | AT-LP120XUSB |
|---|---|---|
| Drive | Servo motor direct drivep. 50 | Direct drivep. 16 |
| Speeds | 33 1/3 rpm, 45 rpm, 78 rpmp. 50 | 33-1/3, 45 or 78 rpmp. 16 |
| Pitch range | ±8 %p. 50 | 8 % or 16 % (selectable)p. 4 |
| Start-up time | 1 second or less (at 33 1/3 rpm)p. 50 | no clear value in the manual |
| Starting torque | 1.6 kg·cm or morep. 50 | > 1.0 kgf.cmp. 16 |
| Wow and flutter | 0.15 % or less WRMSp. 50 | < 0.2 % RMS (33 rpm, at 3 kHz)p. 16 |
| Tonearm | Universal S-shaped tone armp. 50 | no clear value in the manual |
| Output voltage | PHONO 2.5 mV, LINE 150 mV (at 1 kHz)p. 50 | PHONO 4 mV, LINE (MM) 240 mV (at 1 kHz)p. 16 |
| USB | no clear value in the manual | USB 1.1p. 16 |
| Audio resolution | no clear value in the manual | 16 bit, 44.1 kHz or 48 kHzp. 16 |
| Dimensions | 450 × 158.5 × 367.5 mm (W × H × D)p. 50 | 452.0 × 352.0 × 141.6 mm (W × D × H)p. 16 |
| Weight | 10.7 kgp. 50 | 8 kg (without dust cover)p. 16 |
Sources: PLX-500: PLX-500 — Bedienungsanleitung (Plattenspieler) (AlphaTheta Corporation) · AT-LP120XUSB: AT-LP120XUSB — Bedienungsanleitung (Audio-Technica)
Where they differ
- They suit different paths — someone starting with vinyl needs a different device than someone on a controller.
- Different manufacturers, so different software ecosystems, spare parts and control logic. If you already own gear from one brand, that is a reason in itself.
We deliberately crown no winner here. What we can back up is above; anything else would be a claim, and there are plenty of those on this question already.
More comparisons: Turntables
You picked your gear — now what?
The learning path takes you from the first cable to your first set: 12 phases, step by step, free. It works with any device — including the one you already own.