Thorens TD 124 DD Turntable at Vinyl Sound Buffalo, NY USA

The Thorens TD 124 DD is an award-winning high-end direct-drive turntable from Thorens (Lahr, Germany), available at Vinyl Sound in Buffalo, NY, USA. Winner of the EISA High-End Turntable Award 2021-2022, this landmark deck revives one of the most legendary broadcast turntables in audio history, the original 1957 Thorens TD 124, with a completely modernized architecture. The height-adjustable aluminum chassis rests on vibration-damping rubber elements, while a High Precision Direct Drive motor replaces the original friction-wheel and belt hybrid with powerful torque and exact speed control. The newly developed TP 124 tonearm features a patented electric lift and a ruby-bearing anti-skating mechanism, and both balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA outputs are provided for seamless integration into reference-level systems.

A Broadcast Classic Reborn with Direct Drive

The original Thorens TD 124, introduced in 1957, became a standard in professional broadcast studios worldwide and remains one of the most sought-after vintage turntables in existence. Thorens has honored that heritage by retaining the iconic aesthetic and purist design philosophy while rebuilding every performance-critical system from the ground up. The height-adjustable die-cast aluminum chassis maintains the original's visual identity while sitting on premium vibration-damping rubber elements for modern isolation performance. Most critically, Thorens replaced the original idler-wheel and belt hybrid drive with a High Precision Direct Drive motor. This provides immediate, powerful torque for fast platter stabilization, precise electronic speed control, and complete mechanical decoupling of drive noise from the platter, yielding wow and flutter specifications below 0.04%.

The New TP 124 Tonearm and SPU Compatibility

Thorens developed the entirely new TP 124 tonearm specifically for the TD 124 DD. It is fully adjustable in all cartridge parameters and introduces two key innovations: a patented electric tonearm lift for delicate, consistent stylus placement and removal, and an anti-skating mechanism built around a high-precision ruby bearing for minimal friction and maximum accuracy. The included removable headshell uses a standard SME connector, making cartridge selection and swapping completely effortless. The TD 124 DD also ships with an additional heavier counterweight matched precisely to the Thorens SPU TD 124 cartridge, a collaboration between Thorens and Ortofon that updates the legendary Ortofon SPU for today's discerning vinyl enthusiast.

Reference Connectivity and Clean Power

Every electrical detail of the TD 124 DD has been refined to match its mechanical ambition. A high-quality external power supply unit ensures completely interference-free power delivery to the motor. For system integration, the turntable provides both standard unbalanced RCA outputs and fully balanced XLR outputs, the latter guaranteeing optimal signal transmission and the lowest possible noise floor when connecting to high-end phono preamplifiers equipped with balanced inputs.

Key Features

• EISA High-End Turntable Award 2021-2022: Recognized by the Expert Imaging and Sound Association across 60 specialist publications from 29 countries as the best high-end turntable of the year.
• High Precision Direct Drive Motor: Delivers powerful torque, exact speed control, and complete isolation of drive noise from the platter, with wow and flutter below 0.04%.
• Height-Adjustable Aluminum Chassis: Die-cast chassis on premium vibration-damping rubber elements, faithfully referencing the iconic 1957 original while providing modern isolation performance.
• New TP 124 Tonearm: Fully adjustable in all parameters; features a patented electric tonearm lift and ruby-bearing anti-skating mechanism for precise, repeatable stylus handling.
• SME Removable Headshell: Standard SME connector for effortless cartridge changes and maximum flexibility in analog front-end configuration.
• SPU Cartridge Ready: Includes an additional heavier counterweight perfectly matched to the Thorens/Ortofon SPU TD 124 cartridge (available separately).
• Balanced and Unbalanced Outputs: Full XLR (balanced) and RCA (unbalanced) analog outputs for versatile, high-quality system integration.
• External Power Supply: High-quality dedicated PSU ensures clean, interference-free power delivery to the motor.

Technical Specifications

Awards and Critical Recognition

• EISA High-End Turntable 2021-2022 - Expert Imaging and Sound Association (EISA)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Thorens TD 124 DD?

The Thorens TD 124 DD is a high-end direct-drive turntable from Thorens that revives the legendary 1957 TD 124 broadcast classic with modern engineering. It won the EISA High-End Turntable Award 2021-2022 and features a High Precision Direct Drive motor, the new TP 124 tonearm with patented electric lift, ruby-bearing anti-skating, SME headshell connectivity, and both balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA outputs. It is available at Vinyl Sound in Buffalo, NY, USA.

How does the Thorens TD 124 DD compare to the Pro-Ject Signature 12 or Rega Planar 10?

The Thorens TD 124 DD occupies a different engineering and aesthetic category from the Pro-Ject Signature 12 and the Rega Planar 10. The Pro-Ject Signature 12 uses a precision belt-drive system with a carbon-fiber tonearm optimized for low-resonance playback, while the Rega Planar 10 is a lightweight, rigidity-focused belt-drive deck with a skeletal sub-platter design. The TD 124 DD is a direct-drive turntable with far higher starting torque, an electrically controlled motor for instant speed lock, and the added capability of balanced XLR output, a rarity at this level. Its broadcast heritage and ability to accept the Ortofon SPU class of cartridges through the included heavy counterweight gives it a sonic character and flexibility neither the Pro-Ject nor the Rega can match.

What is the significance of the original Thorens TD 124?

The original Thorens TD 124, introduced in 1957, was a professional-grade broadcast turntable used in radio stations and recording studios worldwide for decades. It combined an idler-wheel and belt hybrid drive system with a high-mass platter, resulting in exceptional speed stability and a sonic character that audiophiles and DJs still prize today. Surviving original TD 124 units command significant prices on the vintage market. The new TD 124 DD honors that lineage while replacing every mechanical system with modern engineering for reliable, long-term, high-fidelity performance.

Can the Thorens TD 124 DD be used with moving coil cartridges?

Yes. The TD 124 DD is designed with moving coil cartridges in mind. Its balanced XLR outputs provide a true differential signal path that minimizes noise when connected to a balanced-input MC phono preamplifier, an important advantage given the very low output voltages typical of MC cartridges. The TP 124 tonearm is also fully adjustable for VTA, azimuth, and tracking force to accommodate the precise alignment requirements of high-compliance and low-compliance MC designs.

What is the Thorens SPU TD 124 cartridge?

The Thorens SPU TD 124 is a special cartridge co-developed by Thorens and Ortofon, available separately, that updates Ortofon's legendary SPU (Stereo Pick Up) design for use with the TD 124 DD. The SPU cartridge type dates to 1959 and is revered for its warm, weighty, and tonally rich character, originally designed for broadcast use. The TD 124 DD ships with an additional heavier counterweight precisely matched to the SPU's higher tracking weight requirements, making the pairing completely plug-and-play.

Where can I buy the Thorens TD 124 DD in Buffalo or the USA?

The Thorens TD 124 DD is available at Vinyl Sound in Buffalo, NY, USA. Vinyl Sound is an authorized Thorens dealer offering expert cartridge setup, tonearm alignment, and full product support for audiophiles across Western New York and the United States.

Does the Thorens TD 124 DD require a separate phono stage?

Yes. The TD 124 DD does not include a built-in phono preamplifier and requires an external phono stage. For the best performance, Thorens recommends using a phono preamp with balanced XLR inputs to take full advantage of the turntable's balanced output stage. When used with a moving coil cartridge and a balanced phono stage, the TD 124 DD achieves its lowest possible noise floor and the most accurate signal transfer from groove to amplifier.