The NAD 5120 turntable was introduced in 1981 as part of NAD's attempt to penetrate the turntable market during a time when their amplifiers were already gaining popularity. With a launch price of £109.95 in the UK, it was met with mixed reactions due to its unconventional design choices and aesthetics. The turntable featured a unique construction with an independently sprung subchassis, which was unusual for its price range. Its suspension utilized leaf springs rather than traditional coil springs, eliminating the need for additional setup. Despite its plastic-heavy design and unflattering appearance, the 5120 had a wafer-thin 1.5kg alloy platter equipped with a thick rubber mat for improved sound quality. The drive mechanism consisted of a synchronous motor driving the platter via a plastic subplatter, allowing for both 33 and 45 RPM playback. The tonearm, engineered from veroboard, was interchangeable at the arm assembly and featured a floppy design that diverged from industry standards of the time. It came with an Ortofon OM10 cartridge, providing reasonable audio performance. Over the years, the NAD 5120 has proven to be a reliable option as a secondary turntable, delivering surprisingly good sound quality that belies its less-than-appealing aesthetics.
