Right now you can pick up a blem Rega P3-24 for $999 at the Needledoctor. That included the TTSU power supply. Unless it is way less than that I would buy the colored Rega. I understand the blem is in the finish only. If the Thorens 700 is under $800 it might be a great buy.

Hey Jim,
I can get the TD-700 for $850 which makes it tempting. I just wish I knew If its really worth buying or not. I found a few reviews on it but none of them said much about the quality and adjustability of the arm. I'm still procrastinating over replacing my JVC QL-Y66F which I know will eventually become a paperweight. Its really IMHO a decent sounding table for its age and I'm more than a little aprehensive about buying something that won't be quite up to its standard, given my budget(around a grand+-).
Thanks for the reply, Sam

How much of a cart upgrade from what you have now would $850 bring you? That may be the biggest upgrade of all.

I have never owned a cart near $1K, and I think if I had I might not have been on the TT merry go round so often.

Why are these choices never easy? Don't you hate it when that happens?

Jim

Quite a bit actually. I'm using a Denon DL-301mkll at the moment. It works well with my Klipsch speakers, took some bite out of the top end with the horns. This old JVC is a cool table, its a thing of beauty to watch it operate. The flip side is that its all microprocessors and servos built in the early eighties. From what I've been able to gather, parts and service are probably nonexistant. When it finally breaks it will, unfortunately, be terminal. So, do I throw cash at an upgraded cart then the JVC croaks and I've got a really nice new cart with nothing to use it with, or semi-retire the JVC and throw cash at a new table. I think the table. Like you commented, there's so many units at my price point it makes it all very confusing and a real pain in the lower extremeties to make a choice. Sometimes I think it would be a lot easier to just go back to digital. AAARRGGG, what am I thinking!!!! I probably could use some analog therapy!! The one thing I am curious about though is why there doesn't seem to be much enthusiasm for this particular Thorens. It apparently has a decent arm with magnetic anti-skate, a nice thick acrylic platter, decent plinth, solid reliable motor. I don't get the lukewarm info I've read about it. My main problem is this, I haven't had to buy a turntable in over twenty five years and I'm way out of touch.
Regards, Sam

I've been a marketing guy for 30+ years until teaching school now, but IMHO Thorens has too many models. The fact that they rebadge Duals only clouds their market more.

The 800 series is a great line of tables and initially needed Rega/Moth arms to make packages. I love the 850 as it is one of the quietest platters around. I really like the styling of the new 309, but think is is just a prettier Rega P3-24. Reviews will have to tell us about the arm. Like you, I know nothing about the 700 arm.

Without hearing it I do not know if I would chance that it was an improvement over your JVC. I would not worry about repairs "that might happen". I know that in all my TTs it is the cart holding me back from further enjoyment.

The question to ask is why is the seller selling? Good luck.

The guy who is offering me the great price on it is a dealer and a friend who will sell it to me at his cost. I found some decent pix of it on the web and, at least to my eyes, it just doesn't look like a $1500(retail)turntable. To me, it looks about the same as a budget Pro-Ject or Rega that sell for around $500, it just has a bit thicker platter. It just seems overpriced to me.
Sam

I agree. If you could only audition it in YOUR system you would be in a much better position to judge. Is that possible? Is it a store demo?

Hey Jim,
I e-mailed a vendor who is selling this table new on Audiogon and found out that the arm is not adjustable for VTA or azimuth. Hard to believe that a $1500 retail table has a non-adjustable tonearm. I guess Thorens isn't what it used to be. Seems to me one would be getting a $300 table with a $1200 name. It really pays to do some research doesn't it. I wondered why the factory info was so vague, now I know.
Regards, Sam

http://vinylnirvana.com/

Here is a link you might enjoy. I had been looking at a Thorens TD 160 with a very nice SME 309 arm mounted that looked oh, so, pretty. I just couldn't pull the trigger before someone else did. I had one that my son in Baltimore is enjoying with the stock Thorens arm of the day. All I ever had to do with that table was replace some Micro-Switches.

He always has some very interesting refurbs to every over time. You might check back now and again. You might even send him an email and he might tell you what he has near completion.

Enjoy,

Thanks for the link. This guy's got some nice tables, outstanding craftsmanship. I still can't get over that Thorens 700. I think I'll go with my first choice to start with and get a nice used VPI Scout and be done with it. They just seem like the most table for the money to me.
Sam