Garrard 401 or Thorens 125

I understand what you mean about hand tools.  On the other hand, when it comes to turntables progress has been made.  I believe it would not be controversial to say that the turntables being made today, at least the ones that concern those of us who participate in forums such as this, are the best ever.  Now, let me pose a question for open comment.  What is the price point of diminishing return for a high end sound system?  Let’s keep it simple and confine my question to turntables only.  And let's assume new, current models only.  No used, discontinued or other screaming deals need be considered.

I have been reading this and other post regarding owning a vintage Garrard or Thorens. but what I don't understand is why the effort to get restored vintage TT (other than the value of being Nostalgic) as compared to just getting a New TT specially for the price.  

In my opinion the cost of a good restored Thoren's may equal the cost of a say VPI or Dr Freikert ! 

just wondering what the reasons are so i can get a better perspective

Most popular vintage turntables are idler drive or direct drive. Some people like me don’t like sound of belt drive turntables. And modern idler drive or good quality, musical DD turntable are creasy expensive. 
I don’t like belt drive turntables because bad PRAT, rubber bloated bass and lousy energy. They don’t play music, just sounds.

Turntables, like many other components of a system deliver a particular sound such that it is not necessarily the case that newer technology results in an improvement if it departs from what you like.  Idler tables have a sound that is hard to find in belt drive tables and they are not made anymore because of their complexity and high cost to manufacture combined with poor measured performance that makes the hard to market.  But, some people like the sound.  Is it nostalgia?  I don’t know, but personal preference is all that matters.  After all, we are talking about a playback method that is “objectively” poor compared to digital but still well liked.

@lewm 

how to dramatically reduce the mechanical noise mostly having to do with plinth building.  The OEM plinth did not do it

I am unaware of an OEM plinth for the Garrard 301?  They did come with a paper template so you could make a mounting board, and a spring set to suspend the board.

I remember as a teenager designing a console to accommodate the Garrard.  By the time the Garrard was handed down to me, it had acquired a plinth made by SME.  Superficially, this has a nice dustcover but the base is pretty flimsy - the bottom is a thin sheet of hardboard.

I agree about the importance of a good plinth.  There seem to be two schools of thought.  Leave the underside as open as possible to let resonances escape, or fill up as much volume underneath as possible to absorb resonances.  I have gone down the latter path.  The SME plinth remains, but it is totally disconnected from the functional plinth hidden inside!

Personally, I would not describe the Garrard as clunky, except that the purely mechanical controls have an old-worlde industrial feel - very positive in action..