Garrard 401 or Thorens 125

@redclamchowder 

Sorry, I've just remembered that there is one component of my Garrard that has deteriorated - the original rubber mat!  It is a bit frayed round the spindle hole.  A mat is needed to control resonances in the heavy aluminium platter in my opinion.

I replaced it with The Funk Firm's Achromat platter mat.

Since buying what is left of Garrard's turntable business, SME has spent a lot of effort replicating the original rubber mat. Frustratingly, they will only sell it in conjunction with their NOS units, which list for 10s of thousands.  I don't think they plan to sell more than 2 of these a month.

It is interesting to me that people develop very strong preferences and opinions based on their preferred drive for turntables.  I suppose I am somewhat of an outlier in that I like them all if properly executed.  In my opinion the company that has brought the idler drive to the highest level of performance is VPI.  I guess if I had to pick one, though, for me in today's world it would probably be DD for their versatility and practicality, although as I key this I am listening to my oldest and perhaps dearest, a VPI HW19 belt drive.  Next to it sits a Technics SL1200 GAE and next to it sits a Mitsubishi LT-22, both DD. 

@richardbrand  and others who gave their perspective

THANK YOU. I was wondering why older technologies TT where preferred as to new tech TT. 

Hmm, this seemed to perk my interest. I think I will try to dive more into this

I have used a Thorens Turntable since the 70"s.  I have 7 of them right now. My favorite is the TD-147 semi automatic. I am old and i go to sleep after a few drinks and puff or two and it shuts off by itself. If you do get one you should replace the springs with new ones and a few other tweaks. I just rebuilt my Td-147 and I will put it up against any new brand $5000 ones made today. I have another daily one (TD-160) that I have gone through. It has a New Plinth, New springs, SME 3009 tonearm with a Hana MC cartridge and when friends come over, they cant believe how good it sounds. Its a real ass kicker. You still can get parts and you can change tonearms to meet your needs. Any Thorens is a great turntable. Put your money in the best cartridge you can afford. You cant go wrong with a Thorens turntable