$75 Thorens vs. $2K+ Michell...is this possible?

Your question gets into one of the big "fights" in audio—"New is Better" vs. "Vintage is Better." I don't feel like dealing with that particular argument today—I have enough stress in my life at the moment as it is. However, in my own experience, I have noticed that some vintage equipment will perform better (by my standards, at least) than some newer equipment.

That said, it's a given that the two turntables will have a different sound. The design philosophies vary.

The cartridges will also have a big impact. In this case, you have two different cartridge companies AND two different technologies employed. It's possible that you might like the Technodec better if you had a different cartridge.

You might be interested in an article on the Thorends TD 150 & TD 160 that is on the Hi Fi World website. (http://www.hi-fiworld.co.uk/hfw/oldeworldehtml/thorenstd150.html). This article includes one line that shows you aren't crazy: "These decks offer a great deal for very little. Some friends of mine, who owned a Gyrodec, recently set up a TDl 60 as an interim measure while a new arm was fitted to the Michell. Result? The Thorens stayed and the Gyrodec was passed on - they realIy are that good." Note that the Gyrodec was also made by Michell.

Don't be silly Jaybo, I would hope that spending $3200 on the correct product would yield better than a $15 return...

Hey, did I tell you about the vintage JBL Lancer 44 speakers I picked up last week for $30? It's got a full-range, crossoverless 8-inch driver that's already paying significant dividends. You should hear how those babies sound with my '70's Onkyo ss receiver and a Sony PS-LX2 direct-drive turntable with an old Grado ZC+ MM cartridge! I have one of those Oppo HD970 universal DVD/CD players in the same system that sucks eggs by comparison. But that Sony with the Grado into the JBLs is something I could be very happy with... I told my wife I should sell all my expensive gear and forget about upgrading ever again... but alas, that was only a fleeting thought. :)

I've really enjoyed everyone's responses, and I had no intention of starting any kind of heated debate, so I hope things don't go that way.

Again, I'd like to stress that I haven't had time to do any extended listening or direct comparisons between the 2 setups, but I was shocked by some of the fundamental characteristics I heard from my 75 buck Thorens that I have maybe not heard (or not heard consistently) from the TD. I should have time this weekend for more extensive evaluation...perhaps it was largely a matter of very low expectations from a $75 dollar purchase that my expectations were greatly exceeded.

I had a local dealer that was recommended in a previous post of mine(I live in Phoenix area) install the cartridge. I normally prefer to buy used to save money/get more for my money, but again I wanted to know that it was done right. Perhaps this did not happen after all. I also wonder if a different cartridge than the Glider would make me happy. I normally prefer realism to extreme high frequency extension and my ears can get sensitive to that kind of reproduction, but the Benz sounds very rolled off (again, I realize this could be setup.) Also per my recollection, the Michell/Benz combo also sounds a little light in the bass.

Finally, I realized why my low-rider AT cartridge was rubbing the surface of the record...there was 3 gr of tracking force set on the arm. I'd say it's safe to say the setup on the Thorens deck has not been exactly ideal either.

Also per my recollection, the Michell/Benz combo also sounds a little light in the bass.

That is very much my experience with the Michell Tecnodec. Using a Denon DL103R and a Wright Phono was a lot better, but still not satisfactory IMO. This is the one area where the Tecnodec does not come close to the more expensive Gryro. Rolled of highs I would not expect - possibly this is a fuction of the loading. Which version of the Glider (L,M,H) did you get? If is the L version choosing a loading at a higher resistance might work much better.

plato...i love old speakers, and some of the jbl's (even those over 30 and 40 years old) are still in service in homes and recording studios. the lancers and many others are evidence that some speakers age like wine, while most at any price age like fish.