Comparing audio quality between a new $99 Audio-Technica AT-LP60 turntable and a far superior vintage 1970s Technics SL-1900 turntable equipped with the popular and well-reviewed AT95E phono cartridge.

Pre-emptive FAQ:
Q: How am I supposed to compare audio quality through a YouTube video with compressed audio?
A: You don't have to. You can download the audio samples in uncompressed WAV format here: https://docs.google.com/folder/d/0B_o...

Q: I get an error when trying to open that link.
A: Try opening it in private/Incognito mode in your browser. If that still doesn't work, here are the direct download links:

sitd-technics.wav
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_oq...

sitd-atlp60.wav
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_oq...

difference-technics.wav
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_oq...

difference-atlp60.wav
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_oq...

Q: The music isn't good enough to reveal the true difference in audio quality between the turntables.
A: Unfortunately, until someone releases royalty-free music on vinyl, I'm limited by what music I can use that won't result in YouTube putting copyright restrictions on this video. But here's the $99 AT-LP60 playing a Linda Ronstadt song:    • Linda Ronstadt - It's So Easy   You can compare that to the same song being played on a VPI Scout (a $2200 turntable) with an Ortofon 2M Black (a $700 phono cartridge):    • Video  

Q: The AT95E is still only a "budget" phono cartridge. You need to use a much better cartridge to make this a valid comparison.
A: Many reviewers insist that the AT-LP120 and other mid-range turntables equipped with the AT95E cartridge offer "significantly better sound quality" and "will get a finer, more detailed sound out of your records" than the AT-LP60's AT3600L cartridge. Judge for yourself if you think that's true.

Q: Regardless of the audio quality, everyone tells me the AT-LP60 is a bad turntable.
A: See my video "Cheap turntables - Are they really THAT bad?":    • Cheap turntables - Are they really TH...  

Q: What are the song titles?
A: Shot in the Dark - "Make Up My Mind"; Vic Damone - "It Makes No Difference"; Mr. Fantastic (John LaDuca) - "Bittersweet Samba"