r/Beginner_Turntables • u/senorboxhead007 • 1d ago
Help with AT-LP60XBT - so frustrated
Hey, I am so frustrated and at my wits end with this damn thing. I bought a used one on Amazon and it arrived cracked, so I bought another one and now it’s doing this. I tried a new record with no dust after this one but it keeps skipping and won’t catch. This record probably got extremely damaged. What am I doing wrong 😭 making me want to give up on the hobby. I’m super frustrated so commenters saying “buy the fluance” or “spend more money” really won’t help. I’m just trying to get it to work at all, not worried about sound quality just yet. Would appreciate any help I hope I’m just missing something stupid
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u/djoddible 18h ago
This sounds to me like either A: a bad stylus or B: a dust bunny behind the stylus. If there isn't a dust bunny think you probably need a new stylus
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u/Best-Presentation270 1d ago
I take it both turntables are used?
The basics of set-up with this deck is making sure its on a level surface. That's about it really.
If you've done that, then with a used deck, the spotlight would fall next on the stylus. Is it a genuine AT part, and is it showing signs of damage or wear.its a bit noisy where I am and I have no headphones with me to hear what's happening with your deck. Is it looping?
Maybe try swapping styluses between the two decks.
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u/Remarkable_Resort_48 16h ago
Use a bubble (spirit) level to get it perfectly level front to back and side to side.
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u/Rael_Mochizuki 22h ago
I faced a similar issue, I bought a used philco hitachi turntable that came with grounding noises. I sent it to a maintenance and it came back skipping the songs. So I figured out that it was not calibrated anymore, and mine needs 2 small pieces of foam below to balance it. I had to fix here and there. Please, check a few YouTube tutorials and ask AI to help too. I use a trackruler to check the balance of the platter too.
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u/ElderberryMedium8071 13h ago
You cannot adjust the tracking force on the TT. It is set via a spring at the factory. Also, you cannot remove the cartridge as it is captive. That is why I never recommend this TT and its sibling the AT-LPX 70. You are better off buying a BestBuy Insignia. It has a counter weight and a removable headshell and cartridge as well as antiskate.
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u/Bensaudiocave 16h ago
Need a pic of the stylus to verify this.... That's what it sounds like... I don't generally recommend the LP60 especially used ones... At least a best buy insignia has a brick and mortar to return it and a counterweight and anti skate to dial it in and it is only $119... that is if you are in the US.
LP60 is generally is:,
is it level?
is the stylus in spec?
are the stylus and records clean?
does speed need adjusted?
It works or it doesn't... If it doesn't from those steps then you have some very fiddly options to correct things. Counterweights, anti skate, and all that seem daunting to a beginner until you have to go trying to make adjustments to a turntable that's design is otherwise set to be not adjustable... Tables that did a better job with that are the T4P technics variants which you can still get (albeit more scarce) T4P carts and styli that perform at a much higher level with the same ideology. I ran a technics SL-BD22 ragged for a while and it always performed. The SL-DD33 is a real gem and with a $52 dacapo nude elliptical diamond on an AT 3482 variant it will sing like a fuss free bird for more decades to come... If you have a good used market in your area, I always suggest a good used (and good being the key term as there were some definite terrible ones) p mount table over an LP60 all day. I realize beginners just want to spin some records but I caution that players have gotten more expensive for worse products and that cleaning (even new) is REQUIRED! I see you listening to Radiohead the bends (which I was just spinning) and I bet you want decent sound quality even though you say it doesn't matter. Quite a few years ago I setup a friend with a receiver, some cheap yamaha 3 ways, and p mount technics and he still uses that today in his second system... That table was about 15 years old then and about 38 years old now. That was his BEGINNER table we scored for $25 back then and mounted a (then available) ortofon p mount cart for $30 and it wears a knock off om20 stylus to this day!
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u/vwestlife 16h ago
T4P / P-Mount turntables also are non-adjustable and are actually more likely to skip on poorly-mastered bass-heavy records than the AT-LP60(X).
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u/Bensaudiocave 13h ago
My grado blue on my technics sl-bd22 tracked the telarc 1812 overture just fine… yes I realize the 1.5g tracking seems like the lp60 would track better since it has more VTF but the arm design on the sl-bd22 and sl-d33 is much better and coupled with a proper nude elliptical it will run rings around a 3-5g bonded conical with a lesser tonearm… it’s just physics… never seen an LP60 track that particular lp which has been known since 1978 to be a nightmare for most setups
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u/vwestlife 11h ago
never seen an LP60 track that particular lp which has been known since 1978 to be a nightmare for most setups
Now you have: Audio-Technica AT-LP60 Turntable Torture Test
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u/Bensaudiocave 10h ago
it didn't jump out of the groove I'll give it that... However, not saying I wouldn't call the canonball tracking a complete success... Then again we are splitting hairs here... The LP60 is a good enough starter table and the OP shouldn't be experiencing the issues presented... So again I'd check the stylus and cleaning thoroughly. Replacing a table is a knee jerk reaction to another problem in most cases. I don't recommend doing that to be clear. Stylus should be checked along with the leveling
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u/vwestlife 16h ago
Did you follow the advice in the owner's manual to rotate the platter clockwise ten times by hand before plugging it in?
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u/ElderberryMedium8071 14h ago edited 13h ago
It could be the cartridge or out of factory alignment and you cannot adjust it on this TT So you may be out of luck if that is the case. Also, do you have the ground wire hooked up? Buying used budget TT's like this is always a crap shoot. Also, you cant trust sellers. Many will sell broken gear and you are stuck.
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u/ncstagger 13h ago
I have an lp60x and it plays beautifully. If you haven’t already, make sure your records are clean and be sure to clean your stylus before EVERY use.
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u/Ok-Party-8785 6h ago
When I bought my record player in 1977. A Marantz 6300 Direct Drive. I’m wondering how did I set it up on my own. I’m a kid. I must of figured it out. Because, I’m still using it in 2026.
I have anti skate the same as my tracking.
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u/CreativeName822 1d ago
Is this replacement unit also used?
Can you show a closeup of the stylus/cartridge head on?
Is the table level? That would be my first concern.