Help required

[carl baxter]

I am looking to purchase a deck for home use. Thorens versus technics. 

Any help would be much appreciated.

[Soulsides]

Whats your budget,Carl ?

Depending on what you have to spend on the deck is a big factor in choosing the right one for your needs .

I'm a long time Technics 1200 /10 user myself so I'm slightly biased towards the brand but it has everything you need in a turntable  in my opinion. excellent torque motor,pitch control,direct drive etcetera.

I think the closest things to the Technics from Thorens is possibly the TD-160-  or 318  models which I believe is belt driven,so maybe worth checking the specs for that one in particular. 

The TD160 was introduced in 1972 I believe and went through many incarnations, the best TD160 is said to be the Super-version (TD160 Super). It supposedly has it's charm and if tweaked is an alternative to the Linn LP12 (similar construction). If wanting to tweak a turntable, then the TD160 is a popular choice for customization and tweaking. The TD160 can require some skill to set it up more so than the TD318, the suspension on the 160 may need to be tuned. But is a much loved deck and it has it's fans. It surely is a great looking turntable.

I must admit that some of the other high end  Thorens decks look really nice although I've never tried one myself yet.

 

 

Edited October 20, 2018 by Soulsides

[carl baxter]

Bloody hell.....I’m even more confused now.

thanks for the reply.

[Scootboy]

I don't think that you'll ever regret buying a Technics MK2,

it does the job perfectly, 

mixing,scratching just listening,no problem,

it also looks nice as a decor,

this is a mint spare one that I have (not for sale)

 

[carl baxter]

The reason I am asking,is that ive been informed by some 

hi-fi buff that the technics will ruin my records. 

My reply was that it was the choice of most of the people

i know and I had never heard any bad reports. He was still

adament that Thorens was the better option.

[Scootboy]

If you can use a good stylus and be able to set it up correctly,you won't have any problems at all,

this is a general rule and applies to all the turntables

[Soulsides]

57 minutes ago, carl baxter said:

The reason I am asking,is that ive been informed by some hi-fi buff that the technics will ruin my records. 

 

Hahaha.

I'm sorry but whoever told you that is talking out of their arse.

Then again that's part of the problem with most so called Audiophiles anyway in my experience.

As Scootboy has already mentioned  provided you use a good quality cartridge and stylus like an Ortofon for example and keep it in nice condition you'll be perfectly fine.

 

Edited October 20, 2018 by Soulsides

[carl baxter]

Thats the reason I asked the question on soul source. I knew that

i would get expert advice. Thanks chaps.

now then scootboy,can you not be tempted into parting with your

spare mk 2.

[Soulsides]

10 minutes ago, carl baxter said:

Thats the reason I asked the question on soul source. I knew that i  would get expert advice. Thanks chaps.

 

You're  more than welcome,mate.

If you do decide to go with the Technics and need any advice,pointers etcetera please feel free to P.M. me and I'll be more than happy to help..I've had a lot of experience with these decks over the last 30 years or so and also have   friends in the Hip Hop community, DJ's and electronics nerds (in the nicest possible way)  who are brilliant with things like custom modifications,power supply replacements and the technical side of things so don't hesitate to ask!  

[Chas]

Most of the platters will still sound like they were recorded in a toilet! 

[Frankie Crocker]

You can’t go wrong with Technics - they are probably the must have decks for DJ’s. I use a Thorens deck, brilliant in the house but not made for DJ ing. If the missus got rid of her jewellery box on the chest of drawers, I would install a pair of Technics decks tomorrow.

[carl baxter]

I am not a d.j frankie.  I just wanted a good deck for home use,and

was torn between the two.

im now leaning towards the technics.

[Benji]

absolutely no reason to spends lots on a Technics if it's for home use only. There are many cheaper alternatives like Reloop, Pioneer etc. that sound just as good and last just as long. Just make sure to use proper quality cartridge and needle as mentioned before.

[Jnixon]

just get some technics. plenty of cared for second hand ones  out there. if you can afford it they feel better, look better and perform better. 

buy cheap buy twice. I bought 2 Stanton decks from a charity auction and they are v poor in comparison. very poor indeed. 

[Blackpoolsoul]

Technics for me everyday.......mind you the ones I would really like and even my wife loves means that we will need to sell our house and live in a shoe box

 

Edited October 21, 2018 by Blackpoolsoul

[Steve S 60]

22 hours ago, carl baxter said:

I am looking to purchase a deck for home use. Thorens versus technics. 

Any help would be much appreciated.

What amp will you be hooking the turntable up to?

[Soulsides]

1 hour ago, Blackpoolsoul said:

Technics for me everyday.......mind you the ones I would really like and even my wife loves means that we will need to sell our house and live in a shoe box

 

Lovely.

I've mentioned before on here that i  have one of these,, a SL-1200 LTD mine is #77 of the 10,000  that were manufactured.

[Ibbo]

23 hours ago, carl baxter said:

I am looking to purchase a deck for home use. Thorens versus technics. 

Any help would be much appreciated.

Carl

Technics every time!! Ive got a pair that I brought off that well known auction site!!

Best Buy I’ve ever made (Apart from some of the vinyl I play on them of course!!)

You wont be disappointed. it I would advise that you get it serviced (Unless the paperwork says its been serviced! And even then its worth a phone call to whoever did the service!!)

Hope that helps Carl! Good luck with your search!!

Cheers

John

 

[carl baxter]

Amp.....yes,that was going to be the next question.

i dont have an amp,my record player is an old Panasonic 

music centre that has decided to give up the ghost and I 

was looking to replace everything.

[Steve S 60]

11 hours ago, carl baxter said:

Amp.....yes,that was going to be the next question.

i dont have an amp,my record player is an old Panasonic 

music centre that has decided to give up the ghost and I 

was looking to replace everything.

I would recommend that you pop into your nearest HiFi dealer and audition some turntable / amp / speaker combinations.  The Technics is first and foremost a DJ turntable.  There are better sounding decks for home use.  A lot would depend on your record collection.  I recently acquired a Sony PSHX500 that sounds great and has the added bonus of allowing you to digitise your record collection, just connect to a PC........

https://www.richersounds.com/sony-high-resolution-usb-turntable.html

 

[Soulsides]

44 minutes ago, Steve S 60 said:

The Technics is first and foremost a DJ turntable.

With all due respect,It isn't though.

The first MK 1 Technics were originally released as a hi fidelity consumer record player which was actually intended for home use and aimed at the audiophile demographic.

 DJ's then picked up on them because of the rock solid construction,ease of use and durability of the decks but initially they were designed purely for listening purposes.

 The main reason the  turntables became adopted among radio and  club DJ's is because of direct drive as opposed to belt driven decks, high torque motor design,which made it absolutely ideal for pushbutton cueing and instant starting of tracks on radio and in dance clubs. 

Edited October 22, 2018 by Soulsides

[Jimmy Disco D]

I've got SL1200's which I bought for DJing 20 odd years ago - You won't get a more solid turntable. I think if I was buying one turntable for home use though I would probably get something else like the Thorens.

That's nice......

 

But I'd prefer Biz Markie's......

 

https://smileradio.net/en/tech-and-gadgets/spotted-7-technics-sl-700-turntable-wild

 

Edited October 22, 2018 by Jimmy Disco D

[Soulsides]

33 minutes ago, Jimmy Disco D said:

 

But I'd prefer Biz Markie's......

 

 

 

Set em up 'battle style' and you can't go wrong!

I only have one deck now but I always had my turntables and mixer configured that way..so much better for cueing, mixing and scratching in my opinion.  

Absolutely love 'The Biz'.. great photo of those famed SL-700's, Jimmy!

Edited October 22, 2018 by Soulsides

[carl baxter]

Thanks for all your help guys. I’m overwhelmed,it’s like having a 

big family at my disposal.

unlike some of you people,I don’t have a very valuable collection 

but I have been collecting since my early teens and I am almost 64

so these records whilst not very valuable,mean a lot to me.

thanks once again.

carl 

[Chalky]

Technics all well and good but even second hand ones are not cheap.

For home I use Stanton t-92s, half the price but a good solid dependable deck.  It isn't as though they are gonna be hammered by incompetent Djs.  I've had one deck about 7 years, still in great nick, bought a second deck a couple of years ago as well.

But all down to personal preference and of course your budget.

Edited October 22, 2018 by chalky

[Scootboy]

Heavily used and abused,

still working perfectly

 

[Timillustrator]

Always had Technics for home use since the 1980's, never had a problem, actually never heard anyone say they could do anything bad to your records?! Sounds like snobbery to me. 

[Jnixon]

5 hours ago, carl baxter said:

Thanks for all your help guys. I’m overwhelmed,it’s like having a 

big family at my disposal.

unlike some of you people,I don’t have a very valuable collection 

but I have been collecting since my early teens and I am almost 64

so these records whilst not very valuable,mean a lot to me.

thanks once again.

carl 

don't worry about how much its worth just play it all as much as you can and as loudly as you can. get down your local boozer and dj !