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Thorens Pic of the day/night

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Posted on December 16, 2014 at 16:39:50
SchoolOfRock
Audiophile

Posts: 77
Joined: December 6, 2014






Here is my Thorens TD 124 with RB 1000/Grado Sonata(Low Output).

Not a classic match but sounds pretty good.

Did the usual maintenance on the table to make it run quiet and plopped a brand new Rega on it.

JK

 

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RE: Thorens Pic of the day/night, posted on December 16, 2014 at 17:20:54
geoff
Audiophile

Posts: 3500
Joined: April 5, 2000
Contributor
  Since: September 10, 2003
 Sweet!

 

RE: Thorens Pic of the day/night, posted on December 16, 2014 at 17:41:18
SchoolOfRock
Audiophile

Posts: 77
Joined: December 6, 2014
 Thanks!

 

RE: Thorens Pic of the day/night, posted on December 16, 2014 at 17:51:12
Travis
Audiophile

Posts: 6170
Location: La Grange, Texas
Joined: November 25, 2001
 Beautiful deck. Thanks for posting the pic.


"If people don't want to come, nothing will stop them" - Sol Hurok

 

RE: nice one..., posted on December 16, 2014 at 20:45:40
user510
 I've used a less expensive Rega arm to good effect on my TD124 sn#2729. It had good energy. But my Rega arm was far less ambitious than yours. A low-buck RB250 with structural mods and wiring mod by Expressimo Audio. The RB1000 should take things to a much higher level. The TD124 rates the best arm one can manage.

Very sweet looking setup.

-Steve

 

RE: nice one..., posted on December 16, 2014 at 21:35:39
SchoolOfRock
Audiophile

Posts: 77
Joined: December 6, 2014
 Thanks Steve,

I heard the RB 250 could be made to sound better than a RB 300 with the right mods. It must have sounded nice on your TD 124. That's also a pretty early 124. Does it have the plastic bearings?

it seems this table likes Rega arms because when I heard mine for the first time. I was surprised at how real instruments sounded. If anyone out there has tried the Rega Thorens combo I would like to hear your comments.

I have a few other tables as well (Sony PS x70 with Denon 103, Linn LP 12 Cirkus with Alphason HR 100 MCS, and a Thorens TD 125/SME 3009.

I haven't heard the Linn /Alphason yet but that should be an interesting shootout against the Thorens 124.

Regards,

JK


 

RE: nice one..., posted on December 16, 2014 at 23:14:54
user510
 " That's also a pretty early 124. Does it have the plastic bearings?"

Yes, it had the nylon bushings. I removed those and pressed in a pair of Oilite bushings. (sintered porous bronze)

At present I can compare A-B between the Td124 (currently sn 13943) and a SP10 mkII and a modded TD150. Each well regarded while representing uniquely different drive design. The differences and similarities are interesting to compare. Differing strengths. I don't regard the differences in terms of one being superior to the other. I tend to enjoy the unique strength of each and sometimes just pick different players for different records. That's kinda' fun, or maybe I should just get a life.

-Steve




 

That's a nice lineup of alternative tables!, posted on December 17, 2014 at 08:36:06
CometCKO
Audiophile

Posts: 873
Joined: August 9, 2002
 I'm a big fan of the Thorens tables -- I had a TD-150 for almost 50 years, and briefly owned my uncle's stock TD-124 after he passed away. I'm curious about your comparisons.

What do you like best about each of yours?



"Knowing what you don't know is, in a sense, omniscience"

 

RE: nice one..., posted on December 17, 2014 at 09:41:53
SchoolOfRock
Audiophile

Posts: 77
Joined: December 6, 2014
 Hi,

I change between four Turntables too.

It doesn't mean we don't have a life it just means we appreciate watching these amazing machines in action. I appreciate the workmanship that allows them to produce music almost 60 years later. (and produce it very well). Sometimes all it takes to get them up and is some cleaning lubing and a new belt.

Would love to see your TT's in pictures if you have some to post.

All the best Steve

 

This., posted on December 17, 2014 at 11:09:46
jusbe
Audiophile

Posts: 5950
Location: North Island
Joined: April 4, 2000
 All day, every day. Nice combo' classic, simple, fine sound. Vinyl love.


Big J

"... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."


 

RE: Thorens Pic of the day/night, posted on December 17, 2014 at 15:30:50
fishy
Audiophile

Posts: 1031
Joined: April 15, 2002
 Very nice!

Congrats!!!

 

RE: Thorens Pic of the day/night, posted on December 17, 2014 at 16:31:58
SchoolOfRock
Audiophile

Posts: 77
Joined: December 6, 2014
 Thanks

 

RE: Thorens Pic of the day/night, posted on December 17, 2014 at 17:39:30
spindoctor
Audiophile

Posts: 1661
Location: Virginia
Joined: December 31, 2002
 I find that the Grado wood bodies are a really good match for the Thorens decks. They just make wonderful, wonderful music!
Sim

 

RE: Thorens Pic of the day/night, posted on December 17, 2014 at 17:44:08
SchoolOfRock
Audiophile

Posts: 77
Joined: December 6, 2014
 H

I've always liked my sonata. It even sounded amazing on my td 125.

What other Grados have you used?

Jk

 

RE: Thorens Pic of the day/night, posted on December 17, 2014 at 17:50:21
spindoctor
Audiophile

Posts: 1661
Location: Virginia
Joined: December 31, 2002
 I currently have the Sonata on a Thorens TD166 mk II and on my main system (TD 321 with tweaked Sumiko MMT tonearm) I use a Grado Statement 1. Just such a musical and listenable combination. Never had tracking problems or hum.
Sim

 

RE: nice one..., posted on December 17, 2014 at 18:43:56
user510

My current trio.
The TD124 in bare metal is sn 13943. My most recent refurb. It has new coils in the motor, mkII (double grommet kit)and otherwise fresh on all drive train components. Tonearm is a black Zeta with Incognito tags to plugs re-wire in vdH silver litz. The cartridge is a Denon Dl-103R rebodied into a Uwe Ebony shell. This Denon retains its aluminum cantilever and conical diamond.

The black plinth is an experiment. BB birch multi-ply stacked into a light build. I just wanted to see how it would sound on a low mass plinth versus the slate plinth that I have used in the past with my TD124 players.

The little TD150 below is somewhat modified. Its suspension springs have been replaced with firm elastomers (rubber tubing) to reduce suspension action. The result is a more articulate delivery of musical details....but at the cost of less isolation. I prefer the firm. The green cabinetry is stacked baltic-birch multi-ply configured into a style I call R7. Its tonearm is an Infinity Black Widow. The cartridge is sometimes an ADC XLM-II except when I use a Sonus Blue. Both of those carts mate well with the very light BW.

To the left standing over the Minus-K is a Technics SP10 mkII. The Technics stands in another light weight plinth design that I call the mule. Long story on the name. I just wanted to see if a light plinth might lend a quicker sense of attack to this very good record spinner. It does. The tonearm is a Graham 2.2. The cartridge is a Shelter 501-II. The entire package works well together. I've never heard the Shelter sound better than when in this setup.

Comparisons briefly.

SP10 mkII. Highly detailed. Crisply articulate. Analytical, in a very good way. A great balance between high impact energy delivery and yet manages to allow delicate sense of flow and inner detail retrieval.

TD124 (mk1). Overall a great balance of all categories we use to describe turntable performance. Of course the arm and cartridge are determining factors. A large open sound field. Very low noise levels. Surprisingly so for an idler. Not as detailed as the SP10 mkII, but not far behind. Not quite as articulate sounding. Slightly more energy delivery than the Technics. it rocks. It plays sublime jazz. It gets every category. Not analytical. Organic. It hits its notes with just a slight softness at the very edge of attack.

TD150. Far better than its price point would have us expect. Punchy. smooth. It gets flow so very well. With the current arm and cartridge it reproduces an astounding amount of musical detail. In that department it really takes a back seat to no other in the room. Sharp attack. Very articulate. The front edge of attack transients are clean. Not at all soft like the Td124. Not quite as crisp as the SP10 mkII. Neither Analytical or Organic in its overall presentation. Less impact. Less energy delivery. Less midrange heft. Much of that lies with the cartridge, but there is a 2-watt AC synchronous motor driving a very elastic rubber belt.

Its strongest asset is its ability to extract that sense of flow within the innermost soft passages. Flow. It has flow. I like this player on Beethoven string quartets, among other records. If I did not have the other players, I'd take much pleasure in this one.

-Steve


 

RE: nice one..., posted on December 17, 2014 at 19:38:56
SchoolOfRock
Audiophile

Posts: 77
Joined: December 6, 2014
 Hi Steve,

A very beautiful set-up. The plinth on the TD 150 looks great. It really caught my eye. I enjoyed reading your views on the differences between tables.

I know from experience that the dl103 likes a heavier arm. Is the ZETA a good candidate for this cart?

Thanks for taking the time to write this Steve

John






 

RE: nice one..., posted on December 17, 2014 at 20:11:07
user510
 "I know from experience that the dl103 likes a heavier arm. Is the ZETA a good candidate for this cart? "

Yes. Zeta is a 16 gram arm. It has a stiff arm tube and the pivot bearings are up to the task. The CW is a bit more complex than it looks from the outside. There are some tweaks at the CW that can improve the performance of the Zeta.

Below is a link to some photos I took from a disassembled Zeta counterweight.

-Steve

 

Thanks Steve!, posted on December 18, 2014 at 13:55:33
Salectric
Audiophile

Posts: 1358
Location: East Coast
Joined: February 23, 2003
 Great writeup and nice photo! Thanks for sharing.

I remember you had a rather massive slate plinth for the TD124. How would you describe the differences between the slate and the lower mass Baltic Birch ply?

 

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