Technics SL-1200MK2 vs Thorens TD 125
Side-by-side specifications and a plain-English account of the recorded differences. Full profiles: Technics SL-1200MK2 · Thorens TD 125.
| Specification | Technics SL-1200MK2 |
Thorens TD 125 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $700 (used) | $700 (used) |
| Category | Vintage | Vintage |
| Status | discontinued | discontinued |
| Years | 1979–2010 | 1968–1977 |
| Drive | direct drive | belt drive |
| Speeds | 33/45 rpm | Highlighted difference. 16/33/45 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 | zinc-alloy |
| Tonearm | Technics S-shaped aluminium arm, gimbal bearing | Thorens TP-25 (Mk II versions often fitted with TP-16; also sold armless) |
| 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.
The mechanics differ too: the Technics SL-1200MK2 is direct-drive, the Thorens TD 125 is belt-drive. The Technics SL-1200MK2 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.
Beyond that, these two are close in the recorded fields. Build quality, condition, setup and dealer support are not captured by this table.
Bottom line: $0 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 ↗ |