Yes, it's better than most and a good start and It's a fantastic table b/c Thorens at that time, never made consumer level mass produced junk like much of their contemporary Japanese competition, but let's not over do it. Thorens diehards don't really drool over this specific model and I'll go against the grain here. The only model with a DC servo motor instead of the classic Thorens 16 pole AC synchronous motor, is the Mk-III. The previous marks used the same motor as the predecessor TD-125 Mk-II flagship. The DC servo motor got tossed by the manufacturer and the AC motor brought back into the TD-126 Mk-IV, which makes the DC motor replacements nearly unobtanium. The Mk-III is therefor the least saught after TD-126 and the concept of DC motors and their supporting circuits in Thorens turntables left controversial and unfavorable ever since.
No, no parade rainin'. The OP had actually done OK. This is AudioKarma's TT forum and the first place flippers and opportunists come to check the market vibe before they stick an overpriced tag on their epay / CL latest estate sale scores. The truth must be told to restrain those who operate out of greed and try to exploit those who do it out of love.
Exactly! When I mentioned "unfavorable" those are the models that pop in mind. Ever compared their PCB's and components to the early classic Thorens models like the TD-125 or TD-145??? These newer ones look exactly like their Japanese counterparts with cheap low qauality electronic components purchased by the hundreds of thousands from the lowest bidder. Gone were the European parts, like the Fraco PS and Philips phase shift capacitors and none of the exemplary circuit designs survived. All remains of left over quality from the golden era vanished by then, only to be replaced with lots of plastic by bean counters cut backs and savings... It's no wonder they went bankrupt!
