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Dual 1219 vs Thorens TD-125 MKII — what the...? Impossible, right?

Posted by Jsawyer09 (A) on March 17, 2011 at 14:46:31

Hello all.
I just received a totally refurbished Dual 1219 with custom plinth and Audio Technica cart, and wanted to try it out against my beloved Thorens TD-125 MKII with Jelco 750D & Midas Denon 103R.

Before I go any further, my equipment is a Naim Nait XS, Naim CD5X (not applicable here, though), HiCap & Dual TeddyCap, Naim Stageline S and Salience/Jasmine LP2.0se phonos, and Harbeth 7-ES2 Anniversary Edition speakers.

Okay, so I listened to three albums on the Thorens — Vampire Weekend, Led Zeppelin III and Glenn Gould English Suites, first through the Stageline, then the Jasmine (both very interesting in and of themselves in comparison...but perhaps that's another thread). Then I plugged the Dual into the Jasmine and switched to MM, fired it up and listened to the same three records.

All I can say is that I am floored by the results. I NEVER would've expected the Dual to sound that great. Unbelievable! How can this be? Should this little deck really give the Thorens that much competition.

Don't get me wrong — they were completely different presentations of the music, with the Thorens easily besting the Dual in lower noise floor and overall refinement (could be the arm/cart contributing there, too); this I cannot understate. It is a very refined sound. Then the Dual comes along and just overpowers it! It is a huge, bouncy, fun, punch you in the chest sound. Seemed to me more solid in images as well.

I am at a loss here. I don't really know which presentation I prefer. I would've swore the Dual was going to be totally outclassed. I got it at a great deal and read enough about the deck, so thought I'd get it, listen for a bit, then re-sell it at some point. Now I don't know what to do. It would be more beneficial financially to sell the Thorens, but I get the feeling I'd miss the hell out of it. Plus I like the idea of a manual; less to go wrong here down the road.

I cannot keep both tables, as it's just not feasible nor justifiable in my case. Am I mad? Am I hearing things right? Somebody tell me my ears downright suck (I can take it).

HELP!!! Thoughts, comments, opinions, please!

Here are pics of the tables...

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