Garrard 401 or Thorens 125

I was in the same boat. I was looking for a 124 or 301 but most are in pretty well used condition.  

I ended up buying a new Sota.   Zero regrets , it sounds phenomenal. 

In my second system i have an old Garrard Lab 80. As others have mentioned those old idler drives can be noisy.   

I'd recommend a new table unless you like projects. 

The OP did say it was a belt drive vs. idler drive choice do I think he got the model numbers correct.  The fact that they were being offered st comparable prices is a bit surprising; I would expect the Garrard 401 to cost a lot more.

The 401 is comparable in sound quality to Garrard’s iconic 301 model, and some say it has a better motor.  The 301 is being bought back by the company that holds the Garrard and SME name which re-conditions the table using newly manufactured parts where needed.  This “301 Advanced” model is paired with a top  SME tonearm and re-sold at something like $65,000 dollars.  The 401 may not be as collectible, but it is right up there with the 301 and Thorens 124 in sound quality.  Of course, arm quality is important too and all of these tables deserve very high quality arms.  Most of them have older arms that are not as suited to modern cartridges so a change may be something to look into if that is the case.

If your looking for a great sounding turntable with minimal fuss, upgrade potential and great sound (just as it is!), check out the AR XA or XB.

Oddiofyl,

I like Sota tables too and own a similar sounding table (Basis Debut vacuum clamp and motor controller).  These are very quiet mechanically and do a good job suppressing record surface noise.  The sound is quite different from the idler tables and if an idler fan says my table sounds “dead” I might reply that it sounds “composed” but I would not argue against their preference for the idler sound.

My how things that go around come around.  The Garrard 301 was replaced by the 401 and they are built like tanks.  Hell they are tank like.  Already correctly pointed out, they will last forever with proper and simple maintenance.  It stock form they are clunky, noisy beasts.  A proper new plinth ameliorates that to a degree.  But only to a degree.  Thorens came out with the TD-124 to compete with the 401 and for many it is an improvement.  Like the Garrards, the 124 is a clunky, noisy beast that will last forever with proper care.  All of these exude a level of old world craftsmanship that has won them legions of fans.  Around 1970, Thorens introduced the TD-125.  It was and is the embodiment of the future of turntables.  It basically solved all of the short comings of the AR turntable, while embracing the three point suspension system pioneered by Edgar Vilchur.  It was the model upon which the Linn was later developed.  Quite frankly it obsoleted every turntable that had come out before it.  It deserves to be and is a legend.  Fitted with either an SME or an Ortofon arm a TD-125 is still fully competent and competitive today.