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New to me Thorens TD-126 MKIII

awise1961

awise1961

Super Member
I have been lurking for the past couple of weeks trying to learn as much as possible before I purchase a decent turntable.
This all started two months ago when I was given a Pioneer PL-640 and over 150 albums by a good friend that was admiring my turntabless sound system.
Well, that did it and I have been searching for improvement since.
After looking at the usual sites; E-Bay, CL, Audiogon, etc..., I decided to ask friends and coworkers of approx. 50 years and older if they had any turntables from the 60's, 70's, and early 80's that they no longer used.
Today one of them handed me a Thorens TD-126 MKIII that he had stored away for about ten years that looks like it was never used, and a Pioneer PL-L800 that is missing the cover and stylus. He said to play with them for a week or so and make him an offer. I put the Pioneer L800 aside and moved my PL-640 off of the equipment rack and placed the Thorens. This thing is way cool. Again, other than a few very light scratches on the cover, it is spotless. It has a Signet XK50 tone arm and Signet cartridge. I plugged everything in and went through a test prior to playing an album. It spun up and I ran it through all the speeds several times.
Now I listening to some Doors and writing this. Curiousity is setting in and I have a few questions now:
1- What is this tone arm?, how does it compare to a Rega arm?
2- What is this cartridge?
3- I have downloaded the manuals from Vinylengine.com and I plan on giving it a lube job. The only light machine oil I have is sewing machine oil. Will this do? I know not to use something solvent based like WD-40, or Marvel Mystery oil.
4- What is this worth?

I am also buying a Thorens TD-150 later this week that I tried out this past Saturday. That one is in perfect running order and has a Rega 300 tone arm on it and a customized plinth and plexiglass cover.

Well, Jim is singing the last of "The End" so I take that as an omen.
I look foward to any and all replies.

Thanks.
 
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The TD126 Mk.III is a great turntable. The sonic background is more 'black' than the TD150 and a lot more silent than a stock TD160.
The Signet XK50 arm looks great. I would imagine it's a more versatile arm than a Rega and wouldn't hesitate to use it myself.
 
I wouldn't overlook the PL-L800...might as well give it a try. It might look a bit 'cheap' but some of the linear tracking tables sound really good. If this sounds anything like a PL-L1000 this would be one of them.
 
awise: Signet XK50 = Audio Technica AT-1100. As for the signet cart, you'd either need to mention the model designation or provide a pic for identification. Well, and the TD126 was a high class Thorens model, with the MkIII being the first 126er to sport an electronically regulated DC motor (instead of AC synchronous). In other words: That was anything but a cheap combination. What would be a fair offer would depend on the exact condition of table, arm and cartridge - but if I had a combination like that for sale (assuming the Signet cart also was a very good model, like for example a TK7LCa) in very good to excellent cosmetic and working condition, I'd expect it to fetch at least some 500 to 700 Euro...

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

P.S.: As far as I'm aware, price/worth related threads on AK should rather be posted in the "Dollars and Sense" subforum.
 
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Thanks,

I will check out the cartridge when I get home tonight, and report back accordingly.
The feedback you guys have provided has gotten me very pleased with my find.
I am amazed at the near pristine condition of this turntable. The only thing to mention would be a could of very light scuffs on top of the tinted plastic cover that are about an 10mm in length. No cracks, or deep scratches in the cover, nor are there any scratches on the plinth, top plate, tone arm, or head shell.
Like I had mentioned, I will give it a good lube (is sewing machine oil sufficient?) and change the belt (just for the heck of it).

Regarding the PL-L800, he will probably throw it in when I buy the TD-126.
If that's the case, I will dust it off, change out the cartridge and give it a good test.
I will be sure to have a Guinness while doing so.



Thanks, Al.
 
You've really made a big jump up the food chain with this table and arm! I looked for a TD-126 in good shape for a reasonable price for ages and finally gave up. The arm is an unusual one for a 126 (I think) and I think it will be a good combination. Audio Technica made some lovely arms.
 
awise1961 said:
fiddlefye,

What cartridge would you recommend for this combintation?

Thanks, Al.
Click to expand...
I've never owned that particular AT arm, but the specs indicate that it was meant for a highly compliant stylus. I'd guess that something nice with a tracking range in the low 1-point-something gram range would be the best choice. I haven't a lot of experience with such carts, but with a bit of luck someone who has will chime in here.
 
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I've identified the cartridge in the TD-126 to be a Signet TK9E.
I can't find much on the internet about this cartridge, but what I have found appears to be positive. Does anyone know what this compares to in todays available cartridges? Does it compare to the Shure V15, etc...?
I will follow up with photo's this weekend after my inlaws leave on Friday morning. Taking time for for such things is dificult while entertaining relatives.

Al.
 
awise1961 said:
I've identified the cartridge in the TD-126 to be a Signet TK9E.
I can't find much on the internet about this cartridge, but what I have found appears to be positive. Does anyone know what this compares to in todays available cartridges? Does it compare to the Shure V15, etc...?
I will follow up with photo's this weekend after my inlaws leave on Friday morning. Taking time for for such things is dificult while entertaining relatives.

Al.
Click to expand...
I don't know the cartridge, but my guess is that it is probably well worth a resurrection. The specs looked very nice when I had a look over at VE. Is there a functional stylus at the moment? If so I'd set things up and put on a somewhat disposable LP and see what you think.
 
Al: So it's even got a TK9E? Holy cow! That belongs to the best MMs Audio-Technica/Signet ever made. These (AT23/24/25, TK9/10) were AT's top carts above the AT15(XE/Sa/SS)/AT20(Sa/SS) family - basically the forerunners of the AT-ML1x0 series, one could say. And they have these wonderful screw-in needles with high quality diamonds and really nice cantilevers - not quite cheap, but still available and well worth the price. Quite obviously the original owner of that combo wanted something really good... If you can get it for an attractive price, grab it and run! :naughty:

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

P.S.: Why can't I ever find such opportunities? :no: Life is unfair... Oh, well...*sigh* ;)
 
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Thanks,

It is looking like my word of mouth search from my 50+ friends has yielded valuable fruit.
After I pick up the Thorens TD-150 (with Rega 300 tonearm and custom plinth) tomorrow, and after my inlaws head to the airport, I will set things up and take photo's of my finds.
Regarding the TD-126 MKIII, my friend has mentioned that $ 300.00 would be a fair price to him. After what I have learned here and at Vinylengine.com, this appears to be a wonderful price.

Also, I have a coworker going up into his attic to bring down his old AR-XA that he is willing to part with. Like many others, he went away from vinyl long ago. He mothballed the AR after purchasing a Technics SL-1200 some time ago. He said that he had just had a new cartridge installed on the AR prior to finding the SL-1200. He wants to keep the Technics just in case.

Thanks, Al.
 
Al: Yup, for 300 bucks that combination is a steal. Definitely grab it!

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini
 
lini.

This is from a 1984 Stereo Buyers Guide.
Another similar cartridge,

TK9Ea
Stereo cartridge with 0.2 x 0.7 - mil elliptical square-shank nude diamond stylus, tapered beryllium cantilever.
FR 10 - 25,000 Hz; output 2.2 mV at 5 cm/sec; tracking force 0.8 - 1.6 g; balance/sep 0.5/35 dB.
$300 - $325
 
I picked up a turntable recently at GW (for $30) that had a TK3E mounted on it. A Phillips 312, if memory serves. The TK3E is quite nice sounding and I'm using it on a DIY unipivot at the moment.

The table was nothing special but the selling point for me was, on the platter, a carefully wrapped TK9E! I'm holding it in reserve for a Laadegard linear tracking arm I am making.:tresbon:
 
Balifly said:
lini.

This is from a 1984 Stereo Buyers Guide.
Another similar cartridge,

TK9Ea
(...)
Click to expand...

Yup, that was one of the TK9 variants, another one was the LCa with LinearContact tip. Practically one can't really go wrong with any of these, though.

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini
 
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