Technics or Thorens, need suggestions

This is what inside that Thorens. Yet another overpriced belt drive. 

Buy yourself a Technics "G" and forget about any other turntables. If you're comparing them by the pictures in the internet then you have to see and touch that SL1200G in real life. 

if wooded frame is what you like on Thorens then you have to look for Technics SP10R and some nice custom made wooden plinth. But it will be out of your budget. An alternative for lower budget (but not lower quality) is another vintage Direct Drive turntables (made in Japan), maybe Technics SP10 mkII.

My favorite is Luxman PD-444 and i prefer it over Technics. You can definitely find it under $4K with tonearms, spare armboards and including shipping. I have two of them and this is my reference! 

I’ve heard and seen the Technics 1200G and yes it looks and feels much better in real life. I haven’t heard anything else and likely won’t be able to. I’m in a position to get a new G for 2,5k, it’s an open box about 1 month old.

This is amazing price for "G", go for it before it’s too late. It’s $4k new.
$2500 is superb deal for SL1200G ! Don’t sleep. You could even sell it for higher price. 

Alternatively, I can get a Luxman PD-171A for around 5k, or PD-151 for 3,2k both almost brand new. How does Luxman G compare to the Technic models ?

My Luxman PD-444 is Direct Drive from the 70’s, i have no idea about new LUX, never tried.

To be candid, I am not crazy about the looks of Luxman either. I’d Love to have a wood frame but will not sacrifice quality.

You can have a wooden frame on your G if you wish too, but it’s a custom made, see what people can do with older cheap technics, the frame is very easy to made.

Technics tonearm on SL1200G is really good one, vta on the fly, removable headshell, optional subweights. If you really need a $4k tonearm you can remove Technics stock tonearm, order custom armboard and buy Reed 3P tonearm or something else. The drive on SL1200G is one of the best you can get!

In my opinion all those KAB mods was made for older $500 technics turntables, you don’t have to deal with is if you have top of the line SL1200G. 

The only thing you can say about the Technics is that they are well made and slick looking and pretty cheap which is why people fall for them.
Americans love cheap well made garbage.

$4000 is cheap for you ? SL1200G cost $4k and it’s very expensive turntable, still not overpriced like almost everything in high-end world today, especially thos belt drive you’re using. Technics tonearms always were super high quality like EPA-100 series with ruby-ball bearings, VdH has been using them as his reference. The EPA-100 mk2 is the rarest and this arm alone cost over $3k.

You Technics experience base on $1200 SP-10 mkII drive and nothing else, i assume you know nothing about Technics. First make sure your used gear is in mint condition and works like new before you will post comments based on your memories from errr 70s/80s/90s ???

I have tried many different models of Technics turntables, tonearms and cartridges in the last 5-7 years. I have some of them right here along with many top quality turntables, right now.

I want to remind to anyone that NEUMANN cutting lathe comes with Technics Direct Drive motor SP-02. This is the motor under the platter when cutter stylus cut the lacquer disc for each record in vinyl manufacturing process. Look at the catalog posted by jpjones

If anyone made the best Direct Drive motor then Technics direct drive is one of the best ever. 

I made my choice in the mid-late 80s that belt drive was more to my taste. I had a Technics SP-12

How can you compare a very old entry level  $100 Technics SP-12 to the brand new high-end $4000 Technics SL1200G with coreless motor? There is nothing similar between those two models, except for the look of the platter.

This is what i often read from a belt-drive aficionados here, you’re comparing apples to oranges

Many years ago I owned an SP 10 and never thought much of it sound wise but to be fair, I was using an early 1980’s Sony receiver and an entry level Grado cartridge.

SP-10 or SP-10 MK2 ?
First is from the late 60’s, second is from the mid 70’s.
The difference between those two Technics models is HUGE

Technics chronicle available on their website, there was so many models release between the SP-10 and SP-10 mkII

Technics SP-10 mkII today is better than any Rega turntable and better than ALL belt drive turntables under $2k.

Refurbished SP-10 mkII will outperform almost everything on belt drive territory up to $4k.

Rega is simply not on that level at all.

SP-10 mkII in some nice wooden plinth with Micro Seiki copper mat and modern high-end tonearm like Reed 3p is absolutely killer turntable. Upgrade is possible, but only to another Direct Drive. here is my ex SP-10 mkII.

Even much cheaper SP-20 with some nice tonearms like these is better than all those funny belt drives. Add SAEC SS-300 mat and nice disc stabilizer and you're done, an excellent vintage Direct Drive in original Technics Obsidian plinth SH-10B3.