Thorens, TD-125 MKII

I have a Thorens TD 124 with SME III and Ortofon 30H I bought as a visual icon, a handsome combination. I was surprised that it sounds so good playing expensive vinyl, but it gets no more than yearly play when a vinyl-head cousin comes for Xmas. I used a Parasound JC 3 phono stage and now an Ayre P-5xe. It’s Roon for me.

goofy foot, on the few occasions I’ve used the TD 124 I’ve been unaware of any motor noise. It’s quiet and the strobe stays fixed. I bought it from a fellow at a Santa Barbara audio shop who restores turntables as a hobby. The price, IIRC, was under $500, which I never understood -- and he set it up for me. Add the handsomely intricate SME III arm and the offer was irresistible. I’ve admired the TD 124 since I first saw one, but being a student, they were well beyond my financial reach. This was a period when I built my own speaker cabinets and amp kits, a decade before the Marantz 18, AR3a speakers, and AR turntable of my post-doc years.

goofyfoot, my TD 124 is quiet and sounds superb playing high quality vinyl, but when I bought it I didn’t care how it performed. It looked like a fine example of an icon I've wanted. I’m 85, so I’d guess within the next 20 years or so it’ll be auctioned off as part of my estate.

goofyfoot, not coasting, still trying to decide what I want to be when i grow up.