Help buying a turntable! (TD 125, TD 309, Gyrodec)

[flavio81]

I would go Thorens TD-125/SME 3009 II myself. An excellent combo, performs superbly. No IC chips in the speed control (all discrete transistor)

Correct,

However the TD-125II uses a uA709 IC that can be easily replaced with a LM711, one of the world's most common, cheapest, easy to get ICs. There is info on how to do the replacement.

 

[RickB]

Michell, first and foremost, they are heads and shoulders above the old Thorens things and the Techno Arm is great, I've used one extensively and have Thorens experience when they were new, Michell's engineering is second to none.

 

[KentTeffeteller]

Correct,

However the TD-125II uses a uA709 IC that can be easily replaced with a LM711, one of the world's most common, cheapest, easy to get ICs. There is info on how to do the replacement.

And that IC is easily available. And common and cheap. I don't hold that IC against this impeccable audio classic one bit.

 

[mythless]

What is wrong with the TD309?

Granted, I also would take the 125.

Edit: the TD309 looks like a great table, from what I could read. Seems like a solid choice too.

 

[RickB]

Here in The States, new the Michell w/Techno arm is a $5500 package w/o cart
The TD-309 is a $3000 package
The TD-125 is variable

I'd pick the quality of the turntables in that order, too.

Sorry for the craptascular cell phone photo, but this was the Michell setup when I first set it up several years back...Sutherland PHD phonostage below TT in credenza..Jadis i35, Esoteric CD/DAC, aurender below it. Cartridge is Ortofon Cadenza Black.

 

[DimiSakis]

Here in The States, new the Michell w/Techno arm is a $5500 package w/o cart
The TD-309 is a $3000 package
The TD-125 is variable

I'd pick the quality of the turntables in that order, too.

Sorry for the craptascular cell phone photo, but this was the Michell setup when I first set it up several years back...Sutherland PHD phonostage below TT in credenza..Jadis i35, Esoteric CD/DAC, aurender below it. Cartridge is Ortofon Cadenza Black.

Is the TD 309 really that expensive over there? The shop I saw it at has it listed at 1700 full price, currently on a 50% sale.
Also, would you consider it better than the 125? More fuss-free on account of being 50 years younger for sure, but I had the impression that the 125 is better built with a better tonearm.