Sansui SR-838 vs Thorens TD 125
Side-by-side specifications and a plain-English account of the recorded differences. Full profiles: Sansui SR-838 · Thorens TD 125.
| Specification | Sansui SR-838 |
Thorens TD 125 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $725 (used) | Highlighted difference. $700 (used) |
| Category | Vintage | Vintage |
| Status | discontinued | discontinued |
| Years | 1978–? | 1968–1977 |
| Drive | direct drive | belt drive |
| Speeds | 33/45 rpm | Highlighted difference. 16/33/45 rpm |
| Operation | — | manual |
| Cartridge supplied | None | None |
| Phono stage | No | No |
| USB output | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Platter | aluminium, heavy | zinc-alloy |
| Tonearm | Sansui S-shaped arm with dynamic damping | Thorens TP-25 (Mk II versions often fitted with TP-16; also sold armless) |
| Wow & flutter | — | — |
Practical differences
Highlighted cells show a lower reference price, support for more listed speeds, or the presence of a convenience feature. They are not an overall score.
The Thorens TD 125 undercuts the Sansui SR-838 by $25 — $700 against $725.
The mechanics differ too: the Sansui SR-838 is direct-drive, the Thorens TD 125 is belt-drive. The Sansui SR-838 gets instant start-up, rock-steady speed under load, and enough torque to nudge or backspin the record — the reason DJs and scratch decks are built this way.
Bottom line: $25 separates these reference prices. That difference is factual; this specification comparison does not assign an overall winner.
Retailer searches
4 US retailers handle used or discontinued decks like this — each outbound link searches the deck on that retailer’s site.
| Retailer | Type | Shipping | Product search |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guitar Center | music retail | Free standard shipping on most orders $25+. | View at Guitar Center ↗ |
| Reverb | used marketplace | Shipping set per seller; many listings ship free within the US. | View at Reverb ↗ |
| Upscale Audio | hifi independent | Free USA shipping on orders over $99 (exclusions for oversized items). | View at Upscale Audio ↗ |
| eBay | marketplace | Shipping set per seller; many listings ship free within the US. | View at eBay ↗ |
Retailer searches
4 US retailers handle used or discontinued decks like this — each outbound link searches the deck on that retailer’s site.
| Retailer | Type | Shipping | Product search |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guitar Center | music retail | Free standard shipping on most orders $25+. | View at Guitar Center ↗ |
| Reverb | used marketplace | Shipping set per seller; many listings ship free within the US. | View at Reverb ↗ |
| Upscale Audio | hifi independent | Free USA shipping on orders over $99 (exclusions for oversized items). | View at Upscale Audio ↗ |
| eBay | marketplace | Shipping set per seller; many listings ship free within the US. | View at eBay ↗ |