Thinking about getting an old new turntable

[Jac Hawk]

Ok so i'm looking for a little advice which I may or may not take I guess, basically I've got it in my head that I need another turntable, I wan't something from the 70's or 80's which i can upgrade the tonearm on and can still find parts for, i quite fancy a Thorens TD160 B Mk2 or Super with the SME 3009 Mk2 arm as i had a B Mk2 many years ago and i wish my now ex missus hadn't thrown it in the skip while I was away on business but that's another story.

So i've been looking in the usual places the Thorens vary in price quite a bit, i've looked at the LP12 and it's just too expensive, is there anything else i should keep an eye out for, as i've said i don't want to be getting something that can't be fixed if there is an issue with it so i'd guess most of the Jap DD turntables are out of the question, so what should i be looking for?

[Lurch]

I have an Ariston RD80SL with Linn LVx, which I'm looking to move on also have a spare plinth, they're very capable decks. Only reason for moving it on is I've been offered a mint Thorens TD166 complete with box packing and manual, to partner my all 80s 2nd system.

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[ianlenco]

A Lenco. Easy to service, plenty of spares and a fair number of 3rd party upgrades. In stock form it's good, replinthed it's a superb record player.

[walpurgis]

Go with what you know and get another TD160. They're excellent decks and parts are easy to find.

[struth]

Yup the 160 mk2 is a great deck. put a new plinth on etc and its a damn good deck; well mine was..a looker too. You could look out for a jbe slatedeck too.. its a very nice deck too. i enjoy mine when in use.. not much to go wrong with either and both take a 3009 easily

[Jac Hawk]

Wasn't there a big hoohaa about Ariston and Linn back in the day? are spares easy enough to get hold of?

I've never considered a Lenco, probably because i know absolutely nothing about them, i'll do some research.

[walpurgis]

Wasn't there a big hoohaa about Ariston and Linn back in the day? are spares easy enough to get hold of?

I've never considered a Lenco, probably because i know absolutely nothing about them, i'll do some research.

I doubt you'd find new parts for an Ariston. The Lencos are really nice, but may require more fettling than a Thorens. In good standard trim, I'd say they are equally decent.

[struth]

[IMG]IMG_0457 by , on Flickr[/IMG]

My one looked like this after fettling

[Paul-H]

For what they cost you can't beat a well setup TD-160, they can be often had for quite a bit less than $£€200, I paid £145 For mine a few years ago, if I was to buy something similar new I would probably need to look north of 2 grand, just look at what Thorens current equivalent their TD1600 costs and that's just a modern 160.

New is not always better just different and new, I know that is sometimes more important.

It's also nice to be able to say that excellent sounding turntable is 45 years or more old now.

Some say the tonearm is it's weak point but to improve it needs a very expensive arm, so in reality it's not that bad after all if you have to spend a grand or more to do better.

Obviously others will have a differing view

[RobbieGong]

Go with what you know and get another TD160. They're excellent decks and parts are easy to find.

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