Technics or Thorens, need suggestions

I’ve used BOTH for 50 years. Mcintosh and Thoren. Thoren has some very nice units. If you want to spend  money, Thoren can relieve you of some.. Lots of goodies for most  Thorens. The vintage stuff is just wonderful, and hold it’s value. Technics is a good unit. Just not a Thoren, as simple as they are..very easy to work on and PLINTH ready.

Mac has  great phono sections, in all their units. You can tweak from there. They are known for their dual phono, MM, MC, adjustable gain (the newer).  With an Amprex or Tellie valve swap, anything but the original, valves, you’ll be sittin’ in tall cotton.. I have 50 years of Mac Preamps, C8,11,20,22,2500, MX110,120,121. Valve or SS, all have good phono sections.

Time to go feed the chickens.

Regards

glupson5,057 posts05-24-2020 8:25pmoldhvymec,

"I’ve used BOTH for 50 years. Mcintosh and Thoren. Thoren has some very nice units."

I read somewhere, a few years ago, about Thorens basically being a different company than 50 years ago. Not that any company is the same.

Their not, but they, have alway used a belt drive or belt, idler drive.
I have 121, 124s I and several 160s, and one Super 160. I get a notion every now and then, and build a plinth. I tinker for a month or two, then off to the next one.

My personal goto TT is Russco, I call them Garrard Killers. THEY ARE.
Sparta, QRK, Fairchild (really nice, 16" platters), and Russco.

Washing machine motors, 24/7 for 30 years. 100.00 parts, 30 more years.

They have a gear shift to change speeds, A GEAR SHIFTER..

Adjustable thrust plates on the motor, and platter..Very easy to get quiet and keep quiet.They are a broadcast TT, new parts are ava, also..

I usually keep 6-8 here, all radio station pulls. I keep one within a days que. I just pick a tone arm and mount it. Easy with wood, plastic or alu boards

THAT is a TT gals/fellas.

Thoren is a step up, if you really want to go crazy.. You can spend 20,000.00 pretty easy..
TD 550, 2001, 3001, 126, 226, 121 124, 224s (auto). the 131 134 135 are fixed tone arms, but good..
Quiet, easy, lots of options.

Micro Seika, is a great DD TT, and a much better tone arm..Few tweaks..

I have a TT project here.. 47lb alu platter with 6 pucks the machining done.. Any TT builders?
5 were made, one left, it had a flaw in a puck. (shot holder)

Regards..