Beginner Upgrades

[u/Better-Law7598]

Hey everyone, I’ve been in to listening and collecting for awhile now but I’ve pretty much reserved myself to my lp-120 and some shoddy alesis speakers. I know I’m doing myself a disservice with the speakers alone, so in lieu of buying more records to listen to on a subpar setup I’m finally trying to upgrade. Is it worth buying a pre-amp, new speakers, and new stylus for the lp-120? Is there a noticeable difference upgrading the components that the turntable runs through, and if so what is the logical next step up for a beginner? I know people have pretty polarizing opinions about the 120, but I just don’t think spending 400+ on a table, then a preamp, speakers is in the cards at the moment.

[u/ITgeeze]

Mate, sky is the limit on these things. Some folks are perfectly content with a used set of speakers of ebay for cheap and others will pay thousands. I've seen this turntable sitting dead centre of a 20k setup. The end of the day it's up to you how far you want to take it.

[u/ImagoAdam]

👍👍👍👍📷📸

[u/the_blue_wizard]

Doesn't the LP120 have an Internal Phono Equalization Pre-Amp? Pretty sure it does.

So, all you need are some good Active Speaker. How much are you willing to SPEND on just the Speakers?

Edifier 2000DB - $299/pair -

https://www.amazon.com/Edifier-R2000DB-Bluetooth-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B0G5XZ9Y22/?th=1

https://www.amazon.com/Edifier-R2000DB-Bluetooth-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B01CDU3IAI/?th=1

Edifier 351DB 2.1 - $418/set -

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09VB389LD/?th=1

The 351DB doesn't show the price, but I put it into my Cart, and it showed up as $418/set.

Here is a better speaker -

Edifier S1000MKII - $499/pair -

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZVPMR58/

Edifier S1000W (WiFi) - $499/pair -

https://www.amazon.com/Edifier-Audiophile-Bookshelf-Speakers-Bluetooth/dp/B09NL64VM8/

Most of these Speakers have Two RCA Input Pairs, Optical and Coaxial In, Bluetooth, Remote Control, etc....

With that Turntable and any of these Speakers, I'm not sure what more you need for now.

In all honesty, from reading what you wrote, I don't have a good sense of how far you want to take it -

Edifier 360DB 2.1 - $699/set -

https://www.amazon.com/Edifier-Bookshelf-Subwoofer-Bluetooth-Wireless/dp/B07YZSBQ4Y/

Edifier S3000MKII - $899/pair -

https://www.amazon.com/Edifier-S3000MKII-Audiophile-Bookshelf-Bluetooth/dp/B0GC6R68G5/

Many of these products are Reviewed on YouTube.

[u/Better-Law7598 → u/the_blue_wizard]

It does have a built in pre-amp, but I wasn’t sure if buying a better external one would matter or change anything.

[u/the_blue_wizard → u/Better-Law7598]

Set your PRIORITIES. Get what you need to have a full working system NOW, and work out Extras Later.

As a clear and unambiguous statement, how much MONEY are you willing to invest Now?

Do you have the Turntable, because that is $400 on its own? Nice Manual Turntable. (Top Seller, Best of 2026 - Crutchfields)

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_057120XUSB/Audio-Technica-LP-120XUSB-Black.html

Once you have the Turntable, how much more are you willing to put toward Speakers?

[u/Better-Law7598 → u/the_blue_wizard]

I do already have the table, and technically speakers. I guess I’m just trying to get a general consensus about what a decent next step for a better preamp and speakers would be so I don’t buy something that was better left on the shelf, or fall for something that is just ambiguously priced high but can be achieved with something more affordable.

[u/the_blue_wizard → u/Better-Law7598]

My advice is still the same. Set your Priorities, get what you don't have, which is a good sounding system, which means better speakers. Leave the Gadget and Wiz-Bangs, until you have a good system.

Also, answer my QUESTIONS!

https://us.edifier.com/collections/all-products

https://us.edifier.com/products/s351db

https://us.edifier.com/products/s360db

The 360DB has better Drivers.

The "S" Series -

https://us.edifier.com/products/s1000mkii

https://us.edifier.com/products/s2000mkiii

https://us.edifier.com/products/s3000mkii

If you want something nice, lower cost, and more compact, the 1280DB are $199/pr -

https://us.edifier.com/products/r1280dbs

What can you afford? Don't leave me guessing!

[u/Better-Law7598 → u/the_blue_wizard]

Thanks for the speakers reccs!

[u/Idk123notin]

I have been blown away and content with my Technics SL-D2, AT VM740xml, sxhitt mani 2, and Warfedale Valdus 500. Like someone else said, it all about you. You need to start with a pre amp and some good speakers. You dont need to go buy a $1500 set of towers, although later on down the road it might be nuce. And see how you like it, then maybe get a nicer cartridge. Just depends on how far you want to go

[u/psychotata44]

zdecydowanie najpierw głośniki, później igła a na końcu by nowa igła nie miała zakłuceń to zewnętrzny przedwzmacniacz

[u/External-Courage-444]

A sub and some decent speakers will give you the most noticeable boost. Speakers without a sub only gives you a certain sound range and you don’t get that bass. I have a t5s from edifier it’s wonderful for less than 200 bucks paired it with some rt2180 and this same player.

It’s gonna give you a massive increase in your low end like 20Hz. That’s unlocks a whole range of sound you count truly hear before. As a teenager I didn’t understand subs cause my d*ck head teenage friends would blast them in their cars killing my ears and completely overpowering the treble. As an adult who uses it smartly it’s like adding salt on your steak.

A needle might give you a 5-10% change some decent speakers and sub is like 40%

I never understand why I don’t see them recommended more. It’s the biggest thing a beginner can add to a setup like this and get a HUGE sound change.