Whats on your turntable tonight?

Brian.
The Thorens idler drive TT are excellent decks and not to be sneezed at.
The great thing about both Garrard and Thorens and even Lenco if you want to look at idler drive TT is there is a huge aftermarket following.
You can basically totally rebuild about any model with way better than new parts.
Of course it all boils down to how much you want to spend....

I was very very fortunate to stumble across my 401 and after a bout of very hard negotiating it was mine.
I consider that i stole it.... Lol.
No way I could get close to assembling the same rig for close to what I paid.
And I have been in love ever since it arrived with just carts rotating in and out of usage.
Noromance is also a 401 user.

My previous TT was no slouch being a Nottingham Analog Spacedeck but the 401 murdered it in every aspect of performance.

A buddy of mine from my ‘home town’ bought a Thorens back in the mid-70’s. We wound up sharing a dorm room in college. His Thorens ‘won out’ over my Kenwood 2055 in our room ;-) So, after being able to use and listen to it over months, I became smitten with that table. Build quality was really really nice. Everything about it had a quality feel. Sounded good too.

Ever since, I’ve always thought about getting one.

Tbh
I have not had opportunity to compare my 401 against a real High end belt drive so it's difficult to say more.

But I just love the dynamics and sheer scale of music the 401 makes.

Now some less charitable members will declare my idea of dynamics and power is just colouration from the idler rumble.

And they could be right.....
All I know is what I hear and like and enjoy in my room.

Slaw and Tomic will have much more input on great belt drive decks.

The Story so Far .... Rory Gallagher.

Well, the 301 was much loved by Art Dudley, so that must be worth something.