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Thorens TD-124 MK1 Vs Thorens TD-124 MK2 in Pictures.

Ron13a

Ron13a

Revolver of Vinyl
I just picked up a Thorens TD-124 MK1 with an SME 3009 arm. I've had an MK2 with a Grace arm for several years. Here are some pictures of what they look like next to each other. I've always wanted an MK1 and I finally have one. I truly have been lusting after one and feel fortunate to get it. Such a beautiful turntable. They are wonderful examples of functional art. The engineering is something else.
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Congrats on the Mk I looks like a very fine specimen:trebon: and with a Mk II already in the house:thumbsup:

Looked for a Mk I for a while and was lucky enough to find an early model (4 digit serial number). As you stated, they are beautiful in design and exceptionally engineered.


Thanks for sharing,
Andy
 
I love your avatar!

adnick said:
Congrats on the Mk I looks like a very fine specimen:trebon: and with a Mk II already in the house:thumbsup:

Looked for a Mk I for a while and was lucky enough to find an early model (4 digit serial number). As you stated, they are beautiful in design and exceptionally engineered.


Thanks for sharing,
Andy
Click to expand...
 
I own a 124 II, it’s mint and currently on consignment in a vintage audio shop. And has been for 9 months. There’s been some interest but it seems everyone wants a series 1.

The paint is a different colour, platters are made of different material but the series 2 motor is better.

It makes no sense to me that prospective TD124 purchasers would gravitate towards an obviously used series 1 and overlook a series 2 in perfect original condition
 
I prefer the Mk II (and I like both). I learned to appreciate the TD-124 Mk II as studio engineer for a FM station in Oak Ridge, TN (WUUU-FM 94.3). We had 4 of them, all equipped with SME 3009 II tonearms, they had Stanton 680 EE cartridges. We used them for FM production, and when the tape automation system had a meltdown, and it did often, I got paid overtime to fix it. And sometimes play records on these classics. (we also had spare tape decks for live assist use if the automation failed). We were a beautiful music format (the one for you).
 
The main difference was you could use a MC cartridge with the type II unit with the Aluminum platter. The problem with both was if your speakers could reach below 32 HZ the rumble was terrible. They only had a NAB Standard of -45 db rumble figure. The easy solution was to put a 45 or 50 HZ high pass filter in the phono stage. One of the best days of my life was when I got one of the first TD 125's. No more rumble of any kind. Still have it and it is playing a Rubinstein RCA Red Seal album..
 
Kent and Twiiii, thanks for the stories! I love both tables. They are so different than anything else out there in the sea of Japanese tables that this hobby is entrenched in. BTW, there are lots of great Japanese tables. I just find using a TD-124 to be so much more appealing than, say, a Technics SL-1200. Not trying to ruffle any feathers here, but when I picture an SL-1200 in my mind, I see a beat to hell pair covered in pealing stickers with a drug-addled drooling loser sweating on them. Depressing.
 
To beat a dead horse, because “no horse is too dead to beat” :rflmao:

Running a DL 103R on my Mk I and it only takes a little creative fiddling to figure out how much force a particular MC cartridge is generating. On my system it’s 2/10 of a gram additional force, so for instance it’s 1.8g off the platter and 2g over the platter, and that doesn’t change.

Looks like @Ron13a has many updated parts on his TD’s, motor mounts and idler are visible in the photos. Those parts play a huge role in eliminating any audible rumble, and I’ve tested mine with an oscilloscope and test record, both stock and modified.

It had some minor rumble in stock form, but not to the extent listed above, and that rumble in stock form was very close to an LP’s noise floor.. There’s a couple of caveatss, it wasn’t completely stock, the shaft well bearings were replaced with Delrin bearings, along with the shaft ball and plate prior to running it out of an abundance of caution.

With a general service, motor cleaning and the common upgrade parts the Thorens TD 124 is extremely quiet….Highly recommend reading the TD 124 pages over at theanalogdept, as well as searching for the related pages here on AK.

VR
Andy
 
twiiii said:
The main difference was you could use a MC cartridge with the type II unit with the Aluminum platter.
Click to expand...

:rolleyes: I've been running MC carts on my Mk I for 8 years with no issues. I've told you this many times (as have others), yet you insist on continuing to spread this drivel and attempt to kill the joy of every new TD124 owner despite all evidence to the contrary. Why?
 
adnick said:
the shaft well bearings were replaced with Delrin bearings,
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I am not sure I understand this comment. Are you saying you replaced the bronze bearings with Delrin? When I got my MKI, the Delrin bearings were ruined and would swell up to the point where I couldn't get through a single side of a record without a major speed slow down. I had them replaced with bronze.
 
^ I don't think Delrin existed circa 1956, and AFAIK, some of the lower serial number Mk-I's had Nylatron bushings in the main bearing. These were later replaced by Thorens with sintered bronze (possibly 'Oilite' by Chrysler). The Nylatron bushings had been known to swell up over time, so the current standard replacement routine is reverting back to the mfgr fix - sintered bronze.

You did good!
 
tnsilver said:
^ I don't think Delrin existed circa 1956, and AFAIK, some of the lower serial number Mk-I's had Nylatron bushings in the main bearing. These were later replaced by Thorens with sintered bronze (possibly 'Oilite' by Chrysler). The Nylatron bushings had been known to swell up over time, so the current standard replacement routine is reverting back to the mfgr fix - sintered bronze.

You did good!
Click to expand...

Yes, the Chrysler oillite bearings were upgrade parts for older TD-124 owners who had Nylatron bearings, and factory issue in all later production and all Mk II versions. This improved reliability, and speed stability. Also, this is how most Rek-O-Kuts, the Russco, Gates Radio, and QRK turntables were equipped with as factory as well.
 
twiiii said:
The main difference was you could use a MC cartridge with the type II unit with the Aluminum platter. The problem with both was if your speakers could reach below 32 HZ the rumble was terrible. They only had a NAB Standard of -45 db rumble figure. The easy solution was to put a 45 or 50 HZ high pass filter in the phono stage. One of the best days of my life was when I got one of the first TD 125's. No more rumble of any kind. Still have it and it is playing a Rubinstein RCA Red Seal album..
Click to expand...

A note: Plinth systems also mattered. Most every idler drive turntable competitor had the same rumble issues exacerbated by box plinths. This included the Garrard 301 and 401, and the Rek-O-Kut and even Lencos. Lots of better mechanical parts available for these classics which also has improved their performance measurably and audibly. A note: Radio Station engineers were aware of such problems back then. Their pedestals with sandbags inside helped with this issue considerably.
 
jcidave said:
I am not sure I understand this comment. Are you saying you replaced the bronze bearings with Delrin? When I got my MKI, the Delrin bearings were ruined and would swell up to the point where I couldn't get through a single side of a record without a major speed slow down. I had them replaced with bronze.
Click to expand...


As usual @tnsilver is correct, the original material was some type of plastic…

Yep, the original plastic was replaced with Delrin, had thought about doing it but wasn’t sure, even purchased some Oilite replacements but then read Steve’s report at theanalogdept and decided to go with the Delrin.

Originally wasn’t sure about sizing Delrin vs sizing Bronze, in other words, what inner/outer diameter Delrin bearing needed to be used when pressed in? Steve suggested making them the same size as the Oilite replacements for the particular shaft well, and a seller on eBay made me a custom set of Delrin replacements, it worked like a dream.

If interested there’s a link in post #4 above to my plinth build and a few of the mods….

VR
Andy
 
I'm sure I have my synthetic products confused. I must have had the Nylatron bearings that would swell up.
 
adnick said:
Steve suggested making them the same size as the Oilite replacements for the particular shaft well, and a seller on eBay made me a custom set of Delrin replacements, it worked like a dream.
Click to expand...
Nice to know! I wasn't aware of that Delrin option. I'm currently satisfied with the Audio-Silente bronze bushings, but it's always reassuring to know there's more alternatives. Interesting times for Thorens owners. What an abundance of new parts...
 
tnsilver said:
Nice to know! I wasn't aware of that Delrin option. I'm currently satisfied with the Audio-Silente bronze bushings, but it's always reassuring to know there's more alternatives. Interesting times for Thorens owners. What an abundance of new parts...
Click to expand...

Just to be clear, Steve at theanalogdept had already done this Delrin mod himself and I relied on his prior knowledge….

Yeah the new parts and materials can significantly increase the performance of many vintage tables, I’ve done similar things to my Russco Studio Pro, ROK B12H & TR43; with greatest gains on the TD 124 and the Russco….

VR
Andy
 
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