[bogiedr]

My apropriations domestic comitee, (Wife), has decided I have been a good boy  and rather than compliment my old Luxman PX 100 with another vintage table, she has aproved slightly over a grand for a NEW table! She thinks we can use the Lux on vintage, pre loved vinyl while the new table handles the new high quality vinyl we are buying, (I love my wife).
Her reccomendations on a table, based on decor approval factor, are the following:
Clearaudio Concept, Thorens PD 245 and a Rega P3 25. All relatively close in price and all different tables.
Are any of you experienced with any of these tables? I like Clearaudio cartdridges and remember Thorens and Rega from long ago, but know nothing about them these days. I will apreciate any experiences, knowledge you may want to share!!
Hit them straight!! 

[TheChairGuy]

It's quite difficult to make a firm recommendation for you as we all listen for different cues in our music.

Most belt drives will exhibit a physically larger soundstage next to direct drives of similar cost. The three units listed are non-suspended belt drive designs...so the soundstage will tend to be slightly smaller than their suspended cousins.

(outboard) Speed regulation is important with any table drive system...and of the three listed, only the Rega P3-24 has it with the inclusion of the TT PSU. So, that would be my choice among the three - sound unheard.

That said, at this price level there is the venerable Technics SL-1200. Better speed regulated by design (tho not without some sonic drawbacks for some that hear the yin-yang of servo feedback regulation to music)....you could buy a Technics Sl-1200 MkII with outboard speed controller, strobe disabler and outboard tonearm silicone fluid damping for about the same cost as a new Rega P3-24 from KABUSA.com.

They'll sound somewhat different from one another - but, they both will do service to the music 

John

[Stephen L]

I have the P3-24 and am very happy with it so far. I didn't get the power supply yet, but probably will later on.

Steve

[TONEPUB]

As a long time Rega lover and recent SL1200 convert, I'd suggest either the Clearaudio Concept or the new Consonance table from Grant Fidelity.  I've used em all and I really think they both raise the bar significantly for what you can get in a $1400 table.

[AudioSoul]

  I have my audio system in the living room so what my components look like make a difference to my wife. She has no interest in music at all. When I purchased a Clear Audio Concept, she loved it. I have had TT's from VPI, Sota, and a Technics Sl-1200 which see always said they looked ugly. The Concept is smaller than the others and looks elegant in person, even the dust cover is low profile and doesn't look ugly as she calls it........

[doug s.]

for $1k, if it were me, i'd find an unsuspended wintage empire deck and get the best used arm you can find to mount on it.  something like an origin-live modded rega rb250, silver taper, etc.  properly done, i don't see how any modern deck for $1k will touch its performance...

ymmv,

doug s.

[BaMorin]

for $1k, if it were me, i'd find an unsuspended wintage empire deck and get the best used arm you can find to mount on it.  something like an origin-live modded rega rb250, silver taper, etc.  properly done, i don't see how any modern deck for $1k will touch its performance...

ymmv,

doug s.

Just curious, why unsuspended?

[Wayner]

Unsuspended TTs have a different resonance frequency over their sprung cousins. Empire motors (Pabst) were very high RPM and very low noise, and were the hallmark of rigid mounts. They do need a good non-resonating perch to sit on, many like a maple butcher block or something of that nature.

I eyed up the new Audio Advisor catalog featuring the new Thorens TD-309 TT. Looks very cool and maybe a challenger for some of the other usual suspects like the Rega P3-24 or something like that.

Wayner 

[doug s.]

Just curious, why unsuspended?

the suspended empires are also excellent, and i would recommend them as well.  if you have a less-than-ideal rigid floor or wall mount set-up for your deck, you might actually do better w/a suspended deck.  but you will find it a lot easier to mount an aftermarket arm to the unsuspended empire decks.  and, the platters of the earlier empires are marginally better than the later suspended 598/698 models, which have two-piece platters.  also, there are a wery few 498's around - these suspended empires have the better early-style one-piece platters...

doug s.

[BaMorin]

the suspended empires are also excellent, and i would recommend them as well.  if you have a less-than-ideal rigid floor or wall mount set-up for your deck, you might actually do better w/a suspended deck.  but you will find it a lot easier to mount an aftermarket arm to the unsuspended empire decks.  and, the platters of the earlier empires are marginally better than the later suspended 598/698 models, which have two-piece platters.  also, there are a wery few 498's around - these suspended empires have the better early-style one-piece platters...

doug s.

OK, that clears up my question.....I didn't see that Empire was the critera.

[doug s.]

OK, that clears up my question.....I didn't see that Empire was the critera.

yes - empires are killer decks, imo.  i don't see any modern $1k deck touching them, performance-wise.

doug s.

[Letitroll98]

I eyed up the new Audio Advisor catalog featuring the new Thorens TD-309 TT. Looks very cool and maybe a challenger for some of the other usual suspects like the Rega P3-24 or something like that.

Wayner 

To paraphrase another Wayne, "It sure looks purty, but can it fight?"  The best looking Thorens in years, especially in red. 

A copy of a portion of the What Hi-Fi review:

A tidy, precise sound
Unlike most rivals the TD309 enjoys electronic speed control. And in use it’s a good deck for the money. It has a tidy, precise sound that works well with the classical music such as Edvard Grieg’s Peer Gynt suites.

There’s decent detail, and a pleasant consistency throughout the frequency range. The deck doesn’t favour any particular genre, as spins of REM’s Automatic for the People and a Naim sampler LP show.

And yet, while this Thorens is a perfectly decent deck, it isn’t special. Its sound is a little restrained, lacking a touch of sparkle and drive – a shortfall that’s enough to cost it a star.

If you’re looking for a relatively fuss-free deck, the TD309 is well worth considering. However, we have to confess that our money would go on Clearaudio’s classier and cheaper Concept instead.

http://www.whathifi.com/Review/Thorens-TD309/

I'd also like to hear it against the VPI Scout, a comparable deck in price.  Very sharp looking tho Wayne, you're right.