[rudy99]

from what ive read the sq is superior on some thorens models whilst compairing to technic's, but ive read alot of their newer model arent as well made,,  which models should one stay away from?

and do thoren's only make belt driven tt?    any dd or any with features like key lock?


thankyou

[rudy99]

how does the THORENS TD-145 compare to say the Thorens TD 124  or 125 mk1 vs mk2
 and any other thorens worth mentioning that isnt outrageously priced


thanks

[Scottdazzle]

I have bought, repaired or tweaked, and resold several models of Thorens tables.  The TD-125 (armless version) and TD-160 are good sounding tables.  They benefit from the heavy inner platters which help provide speed stability. 

I don't recommend the TD-165 or any of the models with the light inner platter because their pitch stability (aka wow & flutter) are not as good.  The heavy platters and small motors make the 125 and 160 slow to reach speed but they hold it well once they get up to speed.  I also found that medium to heavier mass tonearms with tracking forces 1.5g - 2g were preferable to lighter tonearms and lighter tracking forces.

I am not familiar with the recent models and can't comment on them.  Some people like Art Dudley swear by the TD-124.  I've never used one and have no opinion one way or the other.

There are 125 & 160 out there with lots of life left in them.  Good luck. 

[rudy99]

I have bought, repaired or tweaked, and resold several models of Thorens tables.  The TD-125 (armless version) and TD-160 are good sounding tables.  They benefit from the heavy inner platters which help provide speed stability. 

I don't recommend the TD-165 or any of the models with the light inner platter because their pitch stability (aka wow & flutter) are not as good.  The heavy platters and small motors make the 125 and 160 slow to reach speed but they hold it well once they get up to speed.  I also found that medium to heavier mass tonearms with tracking forces 1.5g - 2g were preferable to lighter tonearms and lighter tracking forces.

I am not familiar with the recent models and can't comment on them.  Some people like Art Dudley swear by the TD-124.  I've never used one and have no opinion one way or the other.

There are 125 & 160 out there with lots of life left in them.  Good luck.


thanks man that is super helpful,

i also read a really bad review thorens 185 i think , just fyi for the vinyl crowd

[rajacat]

You might find these links useful.
http://www.vinylengine.com/links.shtml
http://www.theanalogdept.com/

-Roy

[95Dyna]

There are 125 & 160 out there with lots of life left in them.  Good luck.

I have a circa 1975 TD160 stock w/dustcover, maunal and original packing in good shape both functionally and cosmetically.  I'm going to buy a VPI Classic or Clearaudio Performance and would be happy to find a good home for it.

Bill

[ohenry]

The TD280 isn't one I'd go for.  It isn't in the same league as the earlier models.  Beware... my friend didn't do his homework and regretted it.   

[Russell Dawkins]

Based on my experience I would say stay away from TD 160 - at least their tonearms.
I was used to the sound of my cartridge in a transcriptors vestigial (or was it a Keith Monks unipivot?) - anyway, a good sounding arm. When I tried it in a TD 160 I had just bought for my dad I couldn't believe how obvious the arm sound was. I took the stylus off the record and tapped the arm tube and clearly heard the ringing that was being added to the sound. This was the first time I had so clearly heard the sound an arm can contribute. It wasn't nice, and we got rid of the table toute-de-suite.

[Jeff_Z]

I am not trying to hi-jack the thread. I agree some of the older Thorens are well worth rebuilding and some the "cheaper" ones just are not worth the time. I have had only two over the years a TD 124 which I still want back  (gave to my sister and then she got divorced) and a TD 125 MkII.  I still have the TD 125 MkII but only the table.  I would be willing to part with it for a decent offer.

Good luck in your search.  I do believe you will not be disappointed .

Jeff

[95Dyna]

Based on my experience I would say stay away from TD 160 - at least their tonearms.
I was used to the sound of my cartridge in a transcriptors vestigial (or was it a Keith Monks unipivot?) - anyway, a good sounding arm. When I tried it in a TD 160 I had just bought for my dad I couldn't believe how obvious the arm sound was. I took the stylus off the record and tapped the arm tube and clearly heard the ringing that was being added to the sound. This was the first time I had so clearly heard the sound an arm can contribute. It wasn't nice, and we got rid of the table toute-de-suite.

Hi Russel,

I'm not sure I understand what you are saying.  You say stay away from the TD 160 or at least their tonearms then go on to describe your bad experience with a tonearm other than the stock TD160 arm.  I've been using this table/arm off and on for 35 years now and never experienced what you have just described.

Regards,

Bill

[Russell Dawkins]

Hi Russel,

I'm not sure I understand what you are saying.  You say stay away from the TD 160 or at least their tonearms then go on to describe your bad experience with a tonearm other than the stock TD160 arm.  I've been using this table/arm off and on for 35 years now and never experienced what you have just described.

Regards,

Bill

Sorry not to be clear, Bill.
I am saying that after having got well used to the sound of this particular cartridge (A Decca London of some type) in an arm known to sound good - I believe the Keith Monks unipivot, but it could have been the vestigial, I had both - the same cartridge in the TD 160 sounded colored in an obvious way. When I tapped the arm, what I heard as a resonance sounded just like what I heard added to the sound, so the easy conclusion was that I was hearing this arm resonance mixed with the sound the cartridge was picking off the record. As I say, this was the first time this sort of sound was audible to me, and I was surprised that it was so obvious. Not subtle at all. Since it did not look easy to install another arm onto the TD160 we had to sell it. This was back around 1977.

As to your 35 year experience - either you have a better sounding TD160 arm (maybe Thorens improved it with internal damping or some other way) or you have never heard your cartridge (and system) sound as good as it could!

In that case you could be in for a nice surprise if you tried another turntable/arm. You might see if you could get one on a trial basis, just to see. I use a Rega Planar 3 with an RB300 (or 600, I forget!) arm now and it does the job, but I admit to seldom listening to vinyl these days.

[rudy99]

td 165 , 166 , 146, 160 , 145


are any of these problematic?

any vets have these tables

your thoughts

thanyou

[95Dyna]

td 165 , 166 , 146, 160 , 145


are any of these problematic?

any vets have these tables

your thoughts

thanyou

Depends on what you mean by problematic.  I have a 35 year old TD 160 and have never had a "problem" with it.  Its in very good condition functionally and cosmetically.

[smbrown]

I've had the 145, the 166, 125 and a 124. I mostly use the 124. The 145 IIRC has an auto lift feature at the end of the record which is nice. The limitation in my mind on the first two is that using something besides the stock arm can be more difficult. The 124 is expensive and often needs work to get it back to really nice condition, but I'm very happy with mine. I sold my VPI Scout based on the 124. A nice inexpensive one is the 166. Very little to go wrong, very dependable.