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In Reply to: RE: Garrard and Thorens turntables posted by akolegov on July 19, 2016 at 03:51:07
As a long time Thorens 124 owner.. i cannot say enough wonderful things about the potential of a Lenco L75/L78 in it's stead. Simpler machines, better motor (perhaps arguable, but more torque), MUCH more speed stable, simpler in every facet. They also have a more dynamic disposition.. not unlike a Garrard 301/401.
IMO a well running 124 variant is great looking (I dig the looks anyway) and has interesting features like the record cueing clutch, built in stobe-o-scope, but that's about where the love affair ended for me. The combination idler/belt drive is frankly a PITA prone to belt slip and I could never get the speed nearly stable enough.
If I lived in Europe where the 50 hz. machines are more abundant i'd buy up a few more donor Lencos if I could. There are also a few turn key Lenco builders out there.. and they are supported by an incredible community of people at the Lenco Heaven forum. I can't say enough good things about my decision to go from a Thorens 124 mk II to a Lenco build.
Just one person's opinion.. but keep it in mind and do some research.
As far as a Garrard.. have heard several.. and would LOVE to one day have either a 301/401, but the initial cost of these in good repair is steep.
Good luck!
Marc
Follow Ups:
I have a Goldring/Lenco G99 that has been sitting here for about 10 years and always wondered how good these turntables are and if they could stack up against my Garrard 301/401 or my main table the Commonwealth Electronics 12D/3. I find your comments encouraging so maybe I will blow the dust off the table and mount it on a decent piece of jarrah and compare for myself. I have had doubts which are still there so it might be some time away.
BH
The Goldring is a Lenco, and it is the best one. You do yourself a disservice by not putting it to use.
I have been using this Commonwealth Electronics 12D/3 since 2000 with the occasional listen to a Garrard 301. Both of these tables have their own strength but they are very different so I settled on the CE as it matches up to the 15" Tannoy Monitor Reds better than the Garrards. Pommie turntable and Pommie speakers to me are not a great match.
As for the Lenco/Goldring maybe one day and that's a big maybe.
You would be right, too. The Commonwealth is very good indeed.
Coming from you " the guru " you have made my mind up. Time to move it on and let someone else make a project out of it.
BH
You should be able to get top dollar for it. Lenco guys in the know always want that one.
Is the platter more massive? What?
Thanks.
BH
..and I don't think it's as simple as the L75/L78 under the hood.. but there are peeps at Lenco Heaven who have done high end builds using the G99. It does seem to use a simlar pulley/capstan, vertical idler wheel drive as the others.
If you're looking for an audio hobby project, i would register over there and do some digging and learning.. especially if you're already an idler table fan! :)
Underneath it all, is that an idler drive with the idler wheel positioned vertically, so it drives the underside of the platter? If so, yes, it has a lot of potential to outperform a TD124, IMO. (And a 301 too.) Leno/Goldring did also make some belt drives, probably later in their history.They're all 3 great tables, and I do not wish to put down either the Garrard or the Thorens. In fact, I've never had a 301 in my system, so it is perhaps not fair for me to draw any conclusions. I have had a TD124, however.
Edits: 07/20/16
Lew it is the vertical idler version with the heavier platter. When I look at the table it reminds me of the cheap changer tables that were used in some radiograms in the 60'sand it turns me off wanting to do anything with it.
None of these turntables was an industrial tour de force in its day. Don't forget that the Gerrard 301 chassis was a ~$50 item in the 50s.
What was a industrial tour de force in the 1950s?
Maybe a Univac.
Another former Garrard 301 , 401, and Thorens TD124 owner here. Now running the Lenco on a PTP-4 plate (find on lencoheaven.net) on a 4 layer corian plinth. Best turntable in my long experience!
The Garrards are great too, no question.
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