Technics SL-1200GLD vs Thorens TD 124
Side-by-side specifications and a plain-English account of the recorded differences. Full profiles: Technics SL-1200GLD · Thorens TD 124.
| Specification | Technics SL-1200GLD |
Thorens TD 124 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Highlighted difference. $2,000 (used) | $2,500 (used) |
| Category | Vintage | Vintage |
| Status | discontinued | discontinued |
| Years | 2004–2004 | 1957–1968 |
| Drive | direct drive | idler drive |
| Speeds | 33/45 rpm | Highlighted difference. 16/33/45/78 rpm |
| Operation | manual | manual |
| Cartridge supplied | None | None |
| Phono stage | No | No |
| USB output | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Platter | die-cast aluminium with rubber damping | cast iron main platter with aluminium upper platter |
| Tonearm | Technics S-shaped arm, gold finish | none (usually sold as chassis; Thorens BTD-12S optional) |
| Wow & flutter | 0.01% WRMS | — |
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.
There's a real gap here: $500 separates them, with the Thorens TD 124 the pricier of the two.
The mechanics differ too: the Technics SL-1200GLD is direct-drive, the Thorens TD 124 is idler-drive. The Technics SL-1200GLD 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: $500 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 ↗ |