Hallo,
Ich habe diese interessante Thorens TD124-Seite gefunden, auf der der Autor auch seine Meinung zu anderen Thorens-Modellen abgibt.
Der TD126 MkIII kommt wegen dem Antrieb recht schlecht weg. Ist die Kritik berechtigt?
ZitatAlles anzeigenThe TD125 (which superseded the TD 124 and TD124Mk2) uses the belt drive/swinging chassis principle which was originally designed by Mitch Cotter from Acoustic Research. The TD 125 is a very good turntable. The TD125Mk2 has different (improved) electronics and is also tops. Both were highly admired for their mechanical and sonic qualities. The TD126 was a further development. The TD 126 Mk3 was the last model in this series and got a lower rating comparing it to the earlier 125 models and the TD160.
At the time the TD125 was launched the TD124 was still being sold for a while. At the same time the TD150 was introduced. It had like the TD124 and TD125 a wooden armboard which is advantageous for mounting all sorts of arms. The TD150 is also designed with the swinging chassis/belt drive system which was used later by Ariston, and copied by Linn in the development of the LP12. The TD150 is a good vintage turntable.
From the TD 150 the TD 160 and TD 166 were derived. The TD160 has high end quality although it does not have the wooden armboard. The TD160 is well designed and uses an aluminium/zinc inner platter and practically any 10" tonearm can be mounted, whereas the TD166 is a cheaper model because its inner platter is of a plastic compound and it has a standard Thorens tonearm. The TD160 has value and moreso if it is offered with a quality tonearm. Never expect the TD166 to be sounding like a TD160, because it is not high end. And do not believe the slogan indicating that the TD166 is "very sought after record player".
My advice: go for quality: TD124, TD124Mk2, TD125, TD126Mk1, 2 and 4 and TD160 all have value; and of course the Reference and the Prestige. I myself would not opt for a TD105, TD110, TD145 and TD166. These are nice tables, but you should not pay high prices for these models.
The Thorens TD126Mk3 did not deliver the same performance of the Mk1 and Mk2. The motor had a tachometer and corrected any variation in the speed of the platter, but in fact always too late. The HIFI-CHOICE review of 1978 stated that "Wow and flutter on steady state measured very well, but there still remain some doubts over the servo response under transient conditions." This anomaly can be minimized by adding some foam inside the springs. It is strange that the Thorens-technicians did not stick to methods and designs which had proven to be right in the 125 and early 126 machines. Obviously the Mk3 was an answer to the Japanese direct drive tables which boasted of a minimal deviation of the nominal speed. from which they had much to fear. Thorens returned to the earlier synchronous motor and electronic regulation as used in the TD125 and the earlier TD126 editions when they marketed the TD126Mk4. The Mk3 always can be made to sound better by taking of the flimsey bottom plate and constructing a heavy wooden bottom plate of plywood. And if the turntable has been leveled precisely, the reservation of HIFI-CHOICE may disappear.