• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Thorens TD125 thoughts

jim skatoff

jim skatoff

New Member
I am searching for a new TT . Have been looking at Clear Audio Concept,Rega P3 and P6.
A friend has a TD125 MK2 with SME 3009 arm and Ortofon Blue cart he is considering selling.
$1000. I have no experience setting up a TT like this . Questions are how difficult is this to set up correctly?
Are repairs generally expensive. ? Is the price reasonable? How would the vintage Thorens sound and
perform compared to a new table priced around $12-1500? Thanks for comments and suggestions.
I am running vintage Crown amp and pre-amp from mid 80s.
 
Register to hide this ad
The 125 is a good table and won't kill you when it comes to repairs, as for value you need to ask those questions in a diff. forum.
 
jim skatoff said:
A friend has a TD125 MK2 with SME 3009 arm and Ortofon Blue cart he is considering selling.

Thanks for comments and suggestions.
I am running vintage Crown amp and pre-amp from mid 80s.
Click to expand...

Ask your friend to let you test it out in your home for an afternoon or longer. :idea:
 
The TD125 is a great table, but I'd worry about repairs as I understand that some of its electronics (circuit board, etc.) might be pretty much unobtainable.
 
The TD-125/SME combo is the most documented table/arm on the interweb. There is enough information to cause overload as you look over it and set the unit up properly which is very easy because the arm is so well machined. Key is to know exactly which SME 3009 is the subject of the work.

The 125 if of an age now that the bearing might not be silent anymore. We have experience with a few of them and there are differences in the silent sections of the groove. One owner has a Clear Audio with enough upgrades to be about 6k worth of table, bought used for a nice price and his comments are that the 125 sounds like a great turntable, the CA doesn't sound like a tt.
SB12345 said:
The TD125 is a great table, but I'd worry about repairs as I understand that some of its electronics (circuit board, etc.) might be pretty much unobtainable.
Click to expand...
The circuit board is completely rebuildable, recommended to replace the caps at this time, other changes if one wants. I rebuilt the electronics on Mike's table 125 II, following tnsilver's how to which included changing to the newer board design. A few resistors and some chips, along with all the caps and this table which was all caddywampus on speed before, dialed right in on all three speeds, centered speed control for each, just like new. I still have to do my non-mk II but have the parts. But the table is in use and well there are other projects...
 
Blue Shadow said:
The TD-125/SME combo is the most documented table/arm on the interweb. There is enough information to cause overload as you look over it and set the unit up properly which is very easy because the arm is so well machined. Key is to know exactly which SME 3009 is the subject of the work.

The 125 if of an age now that the bearing might not be silent anymore. We have experience with a few of them and there are differences in the silent sections of the groove. One owner has a Clear Audio with enough upgrades to be about 6k worth of table, bought used for a nice price and his comments are that the 125 sounds like a great turntable, the CA doesn't sound like a tt.

The circuit board is completely rebuildable, recommended to replace the caps at this time, other changes if one wants. I rebuilt the electronics on Mike's table 125 II, following tnsilver's how to which included changing to the newer board design. A few resistors and some chips, along with all the caps and this table which was all caddywampus on speed before, dialed right in on all three speeds, centered speed control for each, just like new. I still have to do my non-mk II but have the parts. But the table is in use and well there are other projects...
Click to expand...
Yes, the board is completely rebuildable and the process for adjusting it to get everything to spec is easy to get as well. The TD-125s are amongst the most durable, long-lived tables ever built. I'm sure mine will outlive me.
 
bangsezmax said:
Those Thorens decks are excellent and the 3009 is a classic arm. IMO, it's a bit steep price-wise, but not outrageously so. They will hold their value.
Click to expand...
A few years ago I'd have agreed about the price (not that we should be discussing it here!), but of late the value of the best decks of the past have started to rise to something more like what they are really worth as music-making machines. A total package -table, arm and a nice cart?
 
Last edited:
I have owned two TD 125 MK II with SME 3009 arms when I was a young pig. Never cared for the arm at all, and the table was not my favorite. Given the prices they sell for today, I would not buy one. But others do like them, and so they will hold their value. But you could do a lot worse than that table for the money, so its probably not a bad buy if its in nice condition.

Cheers
Mister Pig
 
Mister Pig said:
I have owned two TD 125 MK II with SME 3009 arms when I was a young pig. Never cared for the arm at all, and the table was not my favorite. Given the prices they sell for today, I would not buy one. But others do like them, and so they will hold their value. But you could do a lot worse than that table for the money, so its probably not a bad buy if its in nice condition.

Cheers
Mister Pig
Click to expand...
I like the table a whole lot more than I like the arm. I've owned both (though not together) - still have and enjoy the table, the arm is gone.
 
jim skatoff said:
Is the price reasonable?
Click to expand...
Not answering this here, but jeez... just saw a 125 from Philly with a long base (no tonearm) sold on eBay for $290 after 11 bids. In my experience, that's rare - but someone scored big time.

EgIAqXG.jpg
 
I watched the bidding on that. It was local pickup only in Philly otherwise I would be all over it. You know a nice SME3012 for the long base is averaging 1,500.00 and not sure what other 12" arm you would install on it. Anything you put on it will be at least 1K. I would probably go Jelco. Someone got a great deal for sure. It was a 125, not 125MKII though.
 
tuffstuff1 said:
I watched the bidding on that. It was local pickup only in Philly otherwise I would be all over it. You know a nice SME3012 for the long base is averaging 1,500.00 and not sure what other 12" arm you would install on it. Anything you put on it will be at least 1K. I would probably go Jelco. Someone got a great deal for sure. It was a 125, not 125MKII though.
Click to expand...
Said MkII right on it in the listing.
 
"Thorens TD125 thoughts"

Thoughts? Only positive. :thumbsup:

During its time (early '70s), really hard to beat.

Top of the line Thorens during the years of its production. Classic turntable! (I'm not a big fan of the SME 3009, but that's just me. Great arm, none-the-less).

 
Well at $1000 I wouldn't buy it as it's a bit to much, maybe at around $800. But you might be better served buying something newer in the $1500 area.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom