New Turntable Advice

SOTA - made in WI believe it or not. You pick your arm. very underrated and understated table

FWIW, 60db = 1000-fold voltage gain, not 60,000-fold. I would not mess with a vintage DD TT, unless you are an accomplished tech type or the seller is nearby and is willing to guarantee your satisfaction in writing. Fine as those TTs may be. I own or have owned Technics SP10 mk2 and mk3, Kenwood L07D, Denon DP80, and Victor TT101, so I know whereof I speak. Those TTs are now 40-45 years old, and there are even fewer shops competent to fix them now than there were 10 or so years ago when I bought mine. Best bang for your buck would be a new Technics G series, IMO, if you want DD.  Or maybe that Nakamichi qualifies if you can demo it a priori.

I want to gently push back on the "avoid vintage" advice. Not that I doubt people's individual experiences, but just that mine have been so positive.

I think that many belt drive turntables have a similar type of sound, at least when it comes to rhythm and pace and the like. I really enjoyed The tables I owned and used from Rega, Linn and Funk Firm. I still have a couple of them. 

But Idler Drive feels like a very different experience indeed. I'm glad that I departed from the belt-only world. I have a completely restored Thorens 124. The sense of force, pace and the feeling of inevitability to the unfolding of the tune is a different, and for now, better way to experience music. I know "inevitability" is a weird word to use in this context, but it is the one that comes to mind. 

If you buy a Thorens 124 or a Garrard 301/401 from a restorer (mine was STS Classic Turntables, but there are others), you will essentially be getting a new turntable anyway. They completely rebuild the motor, and also replace other parts as needed. Then you design the plinth to serve your needs/aesthetic. Mine has two tonearms and a mahogany top that I really like.

Anyway, another view on where to go...

David

I agree with dtorc,

I loved my Thorens TD-124, it produced the most solid bass I ever experienced, via SME 3009 and Shure V15Vxmr with beryllium cantilever, tracking at 1.0g.

The platter construction and weight is a big part I am sure, and the tolerance of the spindle and bearing is remarkable. It is such a precise fit that it takes several minutes for the heavy cast iron platter/polished spindle to descend into the bearing. It’s an air spring trapped within, I’ll never forget the 1st time I put mine back, I’m not exaggerating, I remember something like 7 minutes for the air to escape and complete descent into the bearing.

Unfortunately my wood floors are springy, and that bearing’s design is susceptible to any vertical vibrations, so I sold it, but ’Don’t Cry for me Argentina’

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Ummm… who said anything about idler drive prior to the last two posts? Of course vintage idlers are easier to fix; there are no complex electronics that rely on outdated transistors or unavailable integrated circuits. And in the case of the TD124, you can have belt drive and idler drive all in one box. Yay. I am simply urging caution to any neophyte who might consider buying a vintage DD TT from a seller outside the US (assuming US buyer), unless blah blah blah.