Best all time EVER Turn table (record player)

[afterburn 549]

What makes a Thorens so much better than say a Technics SL1200 ?

Back in the day, I used to have what I thought was a great turntable, but CRS.......
I think it was Technics.
I was a very heavy white base perhaps marble?
Does this style ring a bell with anyone?
I get sidetracked with too many projects here .
I do need a turn table and a juke box

[908/930]

afterburn, was that turntable possibly a Kenwood KD500 or KD550?

[afterburn 549]

I will go look at some google pics
It very well could have been.
Were they any good?

[Chocaholic]

This is in use daily at our house. VPI Prime Scout with Hana ML cart, Sutherland phono preamp and TOOOOBS! Lots of tubes (8 Russian KT-150’s). A pure joy.

[pwd72s]

^^^ Gorgeous! Would all be wasted on my 79 years old ears.

[afterburn 549]

I googled some pics and 40 years ago I might be hazy.
But Technics is the closest I can find for what I think I remember the top lay out .....LOL

[afterburn 549]

Great looking outfit Chocaholic
Where do I find that?
Wallmart?
argh argh argh. JK

[Rot 911]

Afterburn, my ears probably are no better than yours. With that in mind, any decent belt drive or direct drive from the ‘70s, with a Shure cartridge, will be all that you need. And you won’t break the bank. All in should not cost you much more than $300. I’m talking Pioneer, Technics, Sansui, or Kenwood. Many vinyl record stores have some turntables from the 70s. Or check on craigslist. No doubt, there are more expensive turntables out there, but my ears can’t tell the difference. I’ve had one of each of the above at one time, but I’m partial to the direct drive Sansui turntable. Here’s mine:

[afterburn 549]

You are probably correct! (about my ears)

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by afterburn 549

What makes a Thorens so much better than say a Technics SL1200 ?

Back in the day, I used to have what I thought was a great turntable, but CRS.......
I think it was Technics.
I was a very heavy white base perhaps marble?
Does this style ring a bell with anyone?
I get sidetracked with too many projects here .
I do need a turn table and a juke box

I restored the fiberboard wood base of a Thorens. Nice unit deserving a better base. Working on a Dual now and it seems solid for the price they go for.

[Cajundaddy]

Lotta nice turntables for vinyl out there. The Technics is a good one, AR made a really nice simple belt drive that was awesome. I have an old Phillips 212 that is no slouch. Go shopping and see what you find. If buying used, expect to add fresh belts and stylus.

[afterburn 549]

Technics SL-1200 is what I think I had in the mid-70s.
It is the only one that resembles what I remember with the canted turn table on the outside, and the strobe on the front left side for calibrating the speed.
Even of it is not, I think that is the deal for me .
The thread over there about positive on pelican forums -This is just one of many positive threads, prolly in the thousands.
People on here are always most gracious and helpful.

[Ayles]

Technics 1200 is what you are describing. The more modern version is the 1200mk2. If you can find one that has not done dj duty expect to pay about a grand as they were discontinued several years ago.

Saw you need a juke box as well! Ive got a Rowe R-89 that I have got repaired and fully running after having the lighting controller rebuilt, amplifier rebuilt, and I recapped the crossover board. Been slowly filling with a curated collection of 45s. Only have about 30 slots left to fill.

Here is my 1200m3d

[GH85Carrera]

I had a Dual 1218 back in the olden days when I played vinyl.

It was a very good turntable, but not the super high end stuff. My CPA is an audiophile with "golden ears" and has a setup that is crazy money. I have tinnitus and CDs or digital recording are just fine for me.

[afterburn 549]

A good-looking unit!
That is almost the exact turn table I used to have .
The tell tail is the tall lift lever on the rear, the canted slanted table spinnier, and a couple of other things.
So the 1200 MK2 is a little better?
Jukebox- is prolly a deal but I am over on the east coast.

[Ayles]

Mk2 is just a more recent tt than what was available in the 70s. I am pretty sure the mk2 dates to the early 80s and m3d I have is quite a bit later than that. But were both built up until 10 years ago or so.

One thing about juke boxes… i was not prepared for how heavy they are when I got mine. Its just a hair under 400lbs.

[afterburn 549]

Juke boxes-
Yes, and a little delicate.

[hbueno]

I still have the Technics SL-5 linear tracker that I bought back in 1983. I remember it cost $120 for the turntable and $40 for the Audio Technica cartridge.

[Rtrorkt]

Tangent tracking Yamaha from the day

[afterburn 549]

Help, I need a rating system here
It looks like the Technics 1200 is great unit .
And I am realy sure that is what I used to have back in the day
so -
There are several sub-categories some with a "G" and others
Will a couple of you music lovers please write out a category in your opinion of the lineup?
like-
Best
near best
middle of the road
etc
etc

thanx !