Thorens 124/125/126 vs Rega P3/MMF-5

Hi Ihcho

I owned Thorens 124, 125, 150 and 160’s. Of all, the 125 was best, the 124 was the worst. None of them can compare to a well set-up HW-19, not even close.

Antique turntables is very much a niche thing, and I am sure a very enjoyable pastime to some. Personally to me it is about music and not tinkering around with a TT, and I have not heard any produce music with the level of realism to capture my interest.

Regards
Paul

Pauly, if you haven't heard any "antique 'tables" which can rate, then you haven't heard any which are properly set-up. As for the TD-124, either you hadn't the knowledge to properly set it up, or the skill, or were too prejudiced to give it a serious go, take your pick. As Topox above wrote, who seems to have a very serious rig up there and so good context, properly set-up the TD-124 and other "antiques" should be taken very seriously, try some swabbies in your ears. HW-19? Puh-Lease. Try a VPI TNT vs an antique: Egad!.

Regards,
Jean

Hi Johnnantais.

Yes I know – I just don't know how to set them up. I have the same problem with CD players. I just don't know how to play them CD's right. Whatever dude.

I don't begrudge your hobby, I think it is cool that folks resurrect old tables. But I guess since my ear is trained from live opera and live recitals, and not battery powered transistor radios, rumble wheels ... er sorry, idler wheels don't really work for me.

Regards
Paul

I downsized from a Well-tempered Classic to a Rega P3. The P3 was very enjoyable in my system. I lived with the P3 for a year before I tried downsizing further to a Thorens TD-145 mk1 (same as TD160, but with auto-stop), but could not live with the poor sound. I then tried a TD 125 mk1 with RB300 arm, and liked it a little more than the Rega P3. The TD125 had bass impact the P3 did not deliver.

After a year or two with the TD125, I upgrade to a Michell Gyro SE. I do feel the GYRO is substantially better than my TD125.

So, in my experience, the TD145 and TD160 does not measure up to the P3, but the TD125 does. The TD125 armboard is easy to fabricate, and it can host a wider varity of arms that the MMF-5 or TD160 or P3. These machnes are old, so there may be a lot of sample to sample variation - in other words YMMV.

The Absolute Sound reviewed a Chadwick modified TD-125 and felt it came close to a VPI hw19-mkiii in as head to head comparison.

Paul,

If you don't dig the idlers that's cool. However, I think you are making some blanket statements about "antique turntables" and being rather condecending to some of the people who own them.

FWIW, I once owned a VPI HW19 Mk3. I liked that table very much. It was reliable, built well, and performed well for the money. I had a chance to get a VPI Aries w/JMW tonearm. I liked that table as well. Again it was reliable, built well and guess what? It sounded A LOT better than the HW19....

About six months ago I had the urge to try a Garrard 301 (antique idler drive table). I figured it would be a nice project and worst case scenario I could use it for a mono deck. Long story short... I put it on a Birch ply plinth and swapped my JMW tonearm over and let it rip.... Then my jaw hit the floor, my friends who visited jaws hit the floor.... It really wasn't much of a contest. I sold the VPI Aries and the guy who bought it is very happy.

BTW Did you perhaps buy my old HW19??? Maybe you should try an Aries ;-)

LOL
Chris