Garrard 401 or Thorens 125

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.

I have a Thorens TD125 with a Rega RB300 arm. I first listened to this model in 1970 at a friend's house. Kenwood integrated amp and Large Advents. We listened to It's A Beautiful Day, Procul Harum's A Salty Dog and Hendrix's Electric Ladyland. A modest system yet capable of listening enjoyment! The TD125 is capable of superb resolution to challenge the five-figure contenders.

Steve Leung and his son Ray at VAS have several TD125’s, I helped them design and my woodworker made several nicer looking wood plinths, but even then they have zero appeal for me.

I had, loved, still miss my Thorens TD124, (my wood floors are too flexible for it’s bearing) never had or knew anyone with a Garrard 301 or 401, but I have seen and heard them at audio shows, I get the appeal of them.

@billstevenson is correct, flexible floor: go with spring suspended Thorens TD125; solid floor: Thorens TD124 or Garrard 301 or 401, their bearings are very sensitive to vertical motion.

maybe on a wall shelf

Bill, I would not say they are examples of Old World craftsmanship so much as they are examples of an industrial era when things were "built like a tank", which probably is a post WW2 meme, since tanks played such a huge role in fighting that war. A time when, in this country, Sears ruled the world. I still have and use a few of the tools that my dad left on his workbench when he passed away in the 70s. The difference between them in quality of construction and their modern counterparts that one encounters in a hardware story these days is notable. Let's not forget that a new Garrard 301 chassis sold for around $50 in its day. (On the other hand, accounting for inflation, that was probably big bucks.)