Garrard 301
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| Garrard 301 Ortofon RMG309 + SPU GME SME 3012 + Denon DL103 |
I acquired this grey grease bearing model Garrard 301 in the mid 90s. This particular sample is not cosmetically in mint condition but mechanically sound. All I had to do was clean and lubricate all the moving parts. In the past I used Castrol GTX automotive bearing grease, but it proved bit too thick for this application. So I replaced it with 2.5 NGLI multi-purpose grease available at Lowe's or Home Depot. It has given trouble free performance for years.
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| 301 after cleaning, ready for a test drive Rega RB300 + Denon DL103 |
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| Garrard 301 Ortofon RMG309 + SPU GME Schick 12" + Denon DL103C1 |
Thorens TD124 Mk. I and II
After several years of using both the TD124 and 301, I cannot say that one is superior to the other. Sonically the 301 is more direct and forward in presentation whereas the TD124 is slightly more laid back with the same amount of detail retrieved.
I attribute this to the drive mechanism of the TD124 which uses a rubber belt to 'decouple' the motor which drives a pulley that turns the idler.
I attribute this to the drive mechanism of the TD124 which uses a rubber belt to 'decouple' the motor which drives a pulley that turns the idler.
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| Thorens TD124-II + SME 3012 + Audio Technica ATP12T |
I have a special affection for the Thorens TD124 having bought, sold and traded over a dozen since the late 80s. I admit that I was in denial of its virtues then. I spent so much time modifying and upgrading an original AR turntable using Merrill components and even toyed with a Thorens TD150. No matter what I did to the AR/Merrill and the TD150 the 3 point suspended belt drive could never equal the musically authoritative presentation of the TD124 even mounted on a lightweight box type plinth particularly in the area of pitch stability. So I always kept a couple (or more ;) as back up and reference.
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| TD124 + Rega RB300 + Denon DL103R lightweight box type plinth |
By the early 90s my system was evolving into a SET/High-Efficiency speaker set up and this was the period the TD124/Rega RB300/DL103R combination became my reference analog front end and gave up on 3 point suspended belt drive.
I like the convenience of removable head shells and have used quite a few gimbal bearing tonearms like the Fidelity Research FR64fx.
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| Thorens TD124 II on 6-layer 3/4" plywood plinth Fidelity Research FR64fx |
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| Thorens TD124II + Excel ES801 |
However classic tonearms like this unimproved SME 3009 with metal bearings will perform just as well if not better.
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| TD124 + SME 3009 + DL103 |
*See June 2021 update!
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| Butcher block type plinth for a TD124 |
All three of my TD124s are running on original idler wheels and only replaced a belt on one unit.** I also advocate the use of rubber mushrooms (or replacement rubber bushings), direct mounting will not make a TD124 sound like a Garrard 301. They are very different in design.
**See March 2018 TD124 updates!
Click here for plinth building tips!
British + Swiss
Nice to have two flavors ;)
Have fun and happy listening!
I'm a fan of the Thorens TD 124 since I grew up in Switzerland. I bought my first Thorens when I was 18 years of age; that was 52 years ago. It was a TD 135. Later I replaced it with a TD 124 MK1.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I owned once a Garrard 301 and was surprised that the Garrard was way superior when it came to rumble and other noise stemming from the motor. Since you own both, turn up the volume when you have the tonearm on its rest and see (better, hear) what happens.
I was using a high efficient Tannoy corner enclosure whit unbelievable low frequency response.
The motor on a Garrard is suspended by a combination of springs and rubber, the Thorens motor is only suspended by rubber grommets. This may explains the difference?
Please note that I wrote this article 20 years ago for my old website. In the intervening years, I've done a few TD124 upgrades: see https://jelabs.blogspot.com/2021/06/thorens-td124-tips.html + https://jelabs.blogspot.com/2018/03/audio-silente-parts-for-thorens-td124.htm
DeleteI do agree that even with these upgrades, the Garrard 301 and 401 have the edge over the TD124. 😊
JE