Question Keep the P3 or get a cheap Thorens ?

[momo72]

So here I am trying to decide whether to build up an old P3 or go for a vintage Thorens TD166 mkII (£200 no cartridge).

Firstly, I know nothing about the Thorens range. I've seen TD150, TD160, Super, TD166, TD316. Could anyone shed some light over that's best to avoid and what can be considered please? (The Super at around £1K are out of my budget, just to make it clear).

I've been buying bits to make a "nice", I hope, P3. Unused RB220 was found at a good price along with a new E3. Also bought an external rewiring upgrade kit. I really wanted one of those alloy sub-platters but they seem pricey. That'll have to wait... So all in all I will soon have something that should play some records.

Q: is it worth going for the Thorens which is cheap but probably needs a service? Or just forget about it and continue down the P3 route? Which sound the most amazing? (I will over time try and upgrade the cart)

Thanks

 

[Al ears]

Thorens made excellent turntables for the most part and I guess it will depend on how proficient you are yourself at working on turntables.
It could become expensive if you start off with one that is not in great condition to start with.
The Rega will be simpler to work on obviously but you'll end up with a deck with the usual Rega limitations.
To be honest it is often more expensive putting together an old turntable than it is just going out and buying a new one particularly when you consider development over the years and the prices they can be obtained for these days.
If you already have bits for the Rega then it would seem best if you continued down that route.

 

[momo72]

Thanks Al. It's sometimes difficult to think with one's head rather one's heart.
As a novice, the learning curve on how to work on the TD would probably quite steep (and painful and/or costly). You're probably right.
I did play with the idea of getting a brand new P3 but for now I think I'll build up the old one and try to enjoy that over the few months/years even who knows.

 

[Al ears]

I have resurrected a few old decks but I think I know what I am doing and what I am getting myself into. As a novice it is not easy because you can often end up with a deck that is actually worse than the old deck was when first released.
There's upgrades and there's not if you know what I mean.
The Rega decks are easy to work on with it not being a turntable with suspension to deal with however not all upgrades for these are really upgrades in a financial sense.

 

[daytona600]

TD150/TD124 are classics , TD160 was well under £200 new in its day
P3 if parts are cheap worth a rebuild or just use the donar rega parts & add a party frock from SRM
or get a modern TT like a rega P1/2 or £450 gets a shiny brand new project debut carbon evo

Pro-Ject Debut Carbon EVO Turntable Review | StereoNET United Kingdom
.

 

[momo72]

TD150/TD124 are classics , TD160 was well under £200 new in its day
P3 if parts are cheap worth a rebuild or just use the donar rega parts & add a party frock from SRM
or get a modern TT like a rega P1/2 or £450 gets a shiny brand new project debut carbon evo

Pro-Ject Debut Carbon EVO Turntable Review | StereoNET United Kingdom
.
View attachment 1825

That's a nice TT there. I remember seeing this deck. Not sure where though...
Is that some aftermarket upgrade kit (from ebay?)?

 

[Gray]

Firstly, I know nothing about the Thorens range. I've seen TD150, TD160, Super, The Super at around £1K are out of my budget

I've had a 160 Super from new and very much like it.
Last time I looked someone was asking £600 for one, I thought they were taking advantage of the demand.
But £1000 that's excessive.
Wouldn't have thought they'd get that for it, but I suppose if the demand is there......

 

[momo72]

Quick system update:
- I manage to sell the RP1 for a decent price (nearly covered 100% of below purchase)
- I picked up the TD166 mk2
- Now fitted with cartridge (E3) and sounding quite nice
- Also added a phono stage (Thorens MM-008)

 

[Al ears]

Quick system update:
- I manage to sell the RP1 for a decent price (nearly covered 100% of below purchase)
- I picked up the TD166 mk2
- Now fitted with cartridge (E3) and sounding quite nice
- Also added a phono stage (Thorens M008)

Sounds good, that Thorens preamp is new to me, enjoy.

 

[ProgDr]

I spent a lot of money hot-rodding an older Planar 3, added the usual whitebelt, then subplatter, 24v AC motor upgrade, acrylic platter, upgraded counterweight, rewired the arm, added the TPPSU, SRM Isobase (dust magnet), VTA Adjuster and a decent Denon cartridge.
It was a great experiment and loved it until i listened to a friends Thorens TD309 and realised i could have saved a lot of time and money.
I am now the proud owner of a Thorens TD309 with Goldring G2500 cartridge, the Swagman PSU and MM008 preamplifier and very happy with the sound i get.
There is nothing wrong with the Rega, and hot rodding a Rega gives you a better Rega sound but it will always sound like a Rega.

 

[Rui]

Thanks Al. It's sometimes difficult to think with one's head rather one's heart.
As a novice, the learning curve on how to work on the TD would probably quite steep (and painful and/or costly). You're probably right.
I did play with the idea of getting a brand new P3 but for now I think I'll build up the old one and try to enjoy that over the few months/years even who knows.

i only can had that one of the best turntables i had and worked with ,in a local radio station was a thorens. The P3 i have a friend who bought it new and it had an acurate reading of the grooves but not even close to the thorens,i don´t own it anymore because in 2005 i sold it for 1.500€ to a friend who wanted it and i´m using two now a SL-3310 from technics with eps-270sd stylus (original) and a technics sl-1000mkII that i´m also using the technics cartridge and stylus that i bought at the same time the EPC- 205C IIS or IIH both eliptical ,tried the MC EPC300 but had to use a pre-amplifier and sold them ,i remenber someone saying there was a audio-technica that would improve the sound but i was happy with it and the amplifiers i have ,all have good have phono stage this new ones it seems that they are not that good i had in the 90´s a sony 690 ES that the only thing good was the phono stage either than this i never saw one that i could call good, i read about people upgrading their cartridge and stylus but most of them have bad phono stages, i have a friend that since the early 80´s sold hi-fi components and tried a lot of combinations but this recent fashion of rega planar or pro-ject i found them very week and they can be upgraded but lot´s of money spent and no wonder that something as to fail in the time you buy the TT and slowly doing upgrades, i would go for the thorenz if cheap buy a better cartridge and stylus i saw one that i think it had good sound a sumiko cartridge and stylus that both cost 200 and something €´s the goldring black with golden circle in the front also very good ,the ortofons are good but very expensive the ones that are good ,the cheap ones are as good as the AT95,it´s only my opinion, regards