PDA

View Full Version : My Thorens TD124 MKII - A few pics



The Black Adder
12-09-2013, 10:09
Eyup!

Just thought I'd share some pics of the deck as it currently is. Recent routine service, new belt and the SME 3009 SII (None imp.) is all spankingly new and fresh from Audio Origami.

All in all it's sounding a bit posh.

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq295/musical_submarine/THORENS_TD124_MKII/DSC08104.jpg
http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq295/musical_submarine/THORENS_TD124_MKII/DSC08103.jpg
http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq295/musical_submarine/THORENS_TD124_MKII/DSC08100.jpg
http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq295/musical_submarine/THORENS_TD124_MKII/DSC08099.jpg
http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq295/musical_submarine/THORENS_TD124_MKII/DSC08095.jpg

Rare Bird
12-09-2013, 10:12
Loverly Joe. (apart from the headshell)

Clive197
12-09-2013, 10:13
Nice one.:):cool:

The Black Adder
12-09-2013, 10:16
Loverly Joe. (apart from the headshell)

Thanks chaps... but, ahem!.. what is wrong with my headshell? lol

- You'll be having a go at the birds next.

Idlewithnodrive
12-09-2013, 10:18
That looks awesome Joe.

Rare Bird
12-09-2013, 10:22
Thanks chaps... but, ahem!.. what is wrong with my headshell? lol



Nothing wrong with it apart from it's no in keeping with the rest of the units vintage components..

wtf is wrong with mardy people on this forum latley?

The Black Adder
12-09-2013, 10:26
Thanks Mike :)


Nothing wrong with it apart from it's no in keeping with the rest of the units vintage components..

wtf is wrong with mardy people on this forum latley?

Oh I see.. well yes but the cart needs a bit more mass than the original headshell.

Me? I'm not mardy... Are you mardy? I'm not. lol

wiicrackpot
12-09-2013, 11:01
Luurverly Joe !!!, for a minute i thought i was looking at TonyL's, it's deceptively like your's. :cool:

Johnny at AO with have sprinkled some of his Faerie Dust on that arm, i've got something up my sleeve too, watch this space. ;)

The Black Adder
12-09-2013, 11:22
Luurverly Joe !!!, for a minute i thought i was looking at TonyL's, it's deceptively like your's. :cool:

Johnny at AO with have sprinkled some of his Faerie Dust on that arm, i've got something up my sleeve too, watch this space. ;)

Thanks Andy.. Lol... yeah, I guess the last pic is almost in the same angle as the one Tony took of his... :)

J7 has been superb with the arm and it sounds nice and fresh like the day it was made. So, come on... what's going on with yours?

Everyone say... "Oooh!" :)

Ammonite Audio
12-09-2013, 11:33
With a new turntable coming shortly to keep up vinyl replay duties, I reckon that I should now give my TD-124 a thorough restoration to make it look as good as this! It's looking a bit careworn at the moment.

wiicrackpot
12-09-2013, 11:48
J7 has been superb with the arm and it sounds nice and fresh like the day it was made. So, come on... what's going on with yours?

Everyone say... "Oooh!" :)
Top man is that J7. :cool:

Mine's is stuck in France at my sister's, waiting for daddy to go and take her home, :( foibles of buying from abroad i suppose, :doh:
but in the mean time my 401 is giving me sterling service. :band:

Beobloke
12-09-2013, 11:52
That is a thing of beauty - absolutely lovely!

I'm afraid I agree with Andre, though - it really should have a proper SME headshell on it...;)

The Black Adder
12-09-2013, 12:00
Top man is that J7. :cool:

Mine's is stuck in France at my sister's, waiting for daddy to go and take her home, :( foibles of buying from abroad i suppose, :doh:
but in the mean time my 401 is giving me sterling service. :band:


The 401 is a top deck matey... :)


With a new turntable coming shortly to keep up vinyl replay duties, I reckon that I should now give my TD-124 a thorough restoration to make it look as good as this! It's looking a bit careworn at the moment.

Get it sorted matey.. it's a lovely thing.. :eek: What new deck did you get?


That is a thing of beauty - absolutely lovely!

I'm afraid I agree with Andre, though - it really should have a proper SME headshell on it...;)


Cheers :cool:

lol.. that's O.K I don't disagree with Andre, far from it. I think he just took me the wrong way.

The original headshell looks the part for sure and I do have the original headshell but this cart needs a little more mass at the end hence the solid shell. It's the one I got from Marco with the cart.

It's waiting in the wings for a new cart which would be more fitting with the headshell. :eek:

Ammonite Audio
12-09-2013, 12:09
Get it sorted matey.. it's a lovely thing.. What new deck did you get?

This one:

http://media.divineaudio.co.uk/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/t/t/tt-setup-and-ready-to-go.jpg

Should arrive Saturday. It does not come with a tonearm, but my Audio Note Arm3 should work nicely.

trio leo
12-09-2013, 12:35
Sorry Joe, I forgot to mention your lovely 124 in my previous post, got carried away with the digi/vinyl thing. It looks in tip top condition, have you tried playing it without the outer platter?
Is the plinth a Jim Campbell one? I've got one and it looks like yours, I also found sorbathane feet improved isolation.

regards Al

Rare Bird
12-09-2013, 12:44
The cart needs a bit more mass than the original headshell.



Well try find an early unperforated one with mass plate

Beobloke
12-09-2013, 13:36
Or change to a decent cartridge instead of that old clunker... :D

*Runs off to hide before Marco sees that...*

Rare Bird
12-09-2013, 14:02
Or change to a decent cartridge instead of that old clunker... :D

*Runs off to hide before Marco sees that...*

:goodthread:

The Black Adder
12-09-2013, 14:29
lol... you guys.

It sounds superb so no need to change anything at the moment.

twotone
12-09-2013, 16:03
Looks fantastic Joe, I love the look of that TT, had no idea that there were other TT manufacturers doing Garard like decks.

Must sound superb.

The Black Adder
12-09-2013, 16:17
Looks fantastic Joe, I love the look of that TT, had no idea that there were other TT manufacturers doing Garard like decks.

Must sound superb.

Hi Tony.

Thanks matey.. :) The Thorens and Garrard decks were used in broadcast as well as a rather expensive deck for the home. For example both 301 and the TD124 were used by the BBC and on radio caroline. This deck dates from 66/67.

It does sound rather nice.

twotone
12-09-2013, 16:36
Hi Tony.

Thanks matey.. :) The Thorens and Garrard decks were used in broadcast as well as a rather expensive deck for the home. For example both 301 and the TD124 were used by the BBC and on radio caroline. This deck dates from 66/67.

It does sound rather nice.

Thanks Joe, I love stuff from that era, I've a 1960 Leica M3 and 1968 Leica Summicron 50mm lens. The engineering on both is something else, bit like your TT by the looks of it.

BTW, 1967 was a wonderful year:cool:

Rare Bird
12-09-2013, 16:50
You can't beat 60's gear, they are just playing at it these days :D

Marco
12-09-2013, 17:13
Hi Joe,

Looking the dogs bollarkz, dude! :respect: Everytime I see such a nice TD124 I go all weak at the knees... I just love 'em!

Don't let any daftees diss ya G800 - and the headshell (although not original) is entirely 'fit for purpose'! :exactly:

Marco.

P.S Pics of yer Tannoys (and room now) next please :)

Barry
12-09-2013, 17:15
Well try find an early unperforated one with mass plate

Or buy a current SME S2-R headshell. It will look the part, as well as being more substantial (and heavier) than the S2 shell.

But then why are you wasting your time with the Goldring cartridge? Get yourself a decent MM, such as an ADC or AKG, or a vintage MC: Ortofon (SPU or SL15E) or EMT XSD-15.

Apart from that, your TD124/II does look lovely. I have three of them and wouldn't use any other. :)



(Also agree with the comments on the Leica M3. I have one as well as an M4.)

The Black Adder
12-09-2013, 18:05
Hey! - Teacher, leave my cart alone...

Honestly guys the G800 with the NWA modded nickel cantilever sounds superb. No idea why this cart is falling through peoples fingers apart from maybe having listening to one years n years ago with it's original naff stylus through a crusty olde radiogram.

I do need a second cart though as this is my only one 'still' just haven't got round to taking the plunge. Although an Ortofon 540 MKII looks like it could be a nice match. TonyL uses one on his deck and is very happy with it.

Apart from that the Shure V15 III is the only other one people recommend.

Any suggestions would be great.

Yes...! I would love an SPU but then I'd need a smashing SUT and they ain't cheap like. So that is something for the future.

A Decca Gold would also be worth a try as the instructions for the SME has the Decca an option. I think it's a type III as it shows a Decca/SME adapter.

Rare Bird
12-09-2013, 18:20
I love my 'V15/III'

Barry
12-09-2013, 19:05
There's no way a Shure V15/III betters an Ortofon, ADC or Decca. I used to have one: swapped it for an AKG P8ES.

The V15/IV was better: by then Shure had learnt that 'trackability' isn't the 'be all and end all', and went back to designing for sound quality.

Decca in an SME 3009? Possible (I use one), but you will need to fit the damping dashpot and spend an inordinate amount of time to set it up properly: anything less and you will be sorely disappointed!

walpurgis
12-09-2013, 19:17
I'd seen people praising the NWA Goldring G800. Seems hard to believe as the G800 was a rather weak sounding cartridge, although not unpleasant.

I wonder what an ADC 10E Mk.IV would sound like with Dominic's treatment. They sound superb anyway and the idea of maybe having a boron cantilever and fine line tip of some sort fitted is very thought provoking and tempting.

Rare Bird
12-09-2013, 19:27
I gave up on ADC for the Shure 'V15/III'.. However i do like the Pickering 'XV15/625E' alot.. I would love to go back to a Pickering 'XLZ7500S with 'PLZ' pre amp as it was one of the best carts i owned, but the styli are expensive, even though i hate CD, i refuse to spend a lot on cartridges as i don't love vinyl enough to warrant to the cost hence a '625E' styli at £70.00 would do me..

walpurgis
13-09-2013, 10:42
What was the problem with the ADCs Andr'e?

Rare Bird
14-09-2013, 09:23
It was Knackered, the cantilever wouldnt stay up, bought a new styli still the same so i slung it in the bin.

Barry
14-09-2013, 14:55
It was Knackered, the cantilever wouldnt stay up, bought a new styli still the same so i slung it in the bin.

:eek: What - it wouldn't work with a new R26 stylus? It worked fine when I used it. :scratch:

Rare Bird
14-09-2013, 17:32
Hi Barry
Yeh it was fine for a bit this end. Like i said it's as if the suspension had collapsed, the replacement styli was just the same. Me being me having zero patience i slung it..

Barry
14-09-2013, 17:38
Ah! You should have told me - I would have refunded your money and asked for the cartridge in return.

Rare Bird
14-09-2013, 17:56
No Barry not your fault, like i said i'd used it quite a bit & it was ok..

Barry
14-09-2013, 18:00
OK - glad to know we're still cool. I wouldn't have wanted to have "sold you a pup"!

It would seem the 'new' replacement stylii are not all they are cracked up to be. Shame, as I was thinking of buying one for my ADC25.

Rare Bird
14-09-2013, 18:07
I'm thinking about buying something else instead of the Shure 'V15/III' but has to be late 60's/early 70's vintage! what i have to take into account is original styli & low styli price.. I don't want anything like a Denon 103 or Decca.. The shure is a tad bright.

The Black Adder
20-09-2013, 16:52
I might be interested in the V15 III if your selling it.