Update: 6/03/07
Holger's system
Question about the photo (103bronzeht.jpg) It looks like a de-nuded DL-103 placed in a different case (bronze) Could you tell me more about that?
Sure. I have a friend who is a professional conservator, he restores old grand pianos, altars, statues and all that stuff, and his wife is a goldsmith. So he stripped a DL 103 and made a casting mold from the plastic case. I have two other cases made from sterling silver, one full-bodied, the other similar to the bronze case. These cases add weight, and the DL 103 R likes more mass – the rest is just fun trying out different materials. He also made some nice wooden headshells, I have one made from Pink Ivory, which is the wood from the Zulu royal tree.
Turntables:
 | EMT 938 with EMT 929 tonearm and TSD 15 SFL cartridge (the legendary "Tondose") |
| Technics SP-10 Mk. II with SME 3012/2 and van den Hul Grasshopper III SLA |
| Thorens TD 127 with SME 3012/2 Denon DL 103 D or DL 103 D retipped with Shibata stylus |
| Thorens TD 124/II (Papst motor / aluminium platter) with SME 3009R / Denon DL 103 vdH and Denon DA-401 / Denon DL 103 M |
| Garrard 301 with SME 3012/2 and Denon DL 103 R / retipped with Shibata stylus / bronze body or DL 103 LCII |
| Thorens TD 124 with Shure M-236 / Shure M77 |
| Thorens TD 125 Mk. II LB with vintage Rabco SL-8E linear tracking tonearm. |
Phonostages / Prepres / Transformers:
| Pass Pearl with Xono mc-boards |
| Brinkmann Fein |
| Denon AU-340 |
| Denon HA-1000 |
| EMT with integrated phonostage and prepre |
Amp / speakers:
| Rogers E-20a integrated tube amplifier / 4x KT66 |
| Spendor LS3/5a monitor speakers (nearfield, BBC specifications) |
Previously
The Thorens TD 124 Mk. II, a classic professional turntable from
the Sixties, is equipped with a SME 3012 Series II 12-inch tonearm
and EMT XSD-15 cartridge. The signal runs into a Linn Linto phonostage,
slightly modified to cope with the 1.0 mV output of the EMT.
A second TD 124 Mk. II is waiting for a new motor to be installed.
The Garrard 401, which is equipped with two SME tonearms,
a 3012 and a 3009 (9-inch), both Series II, is seen here in
a custom-made plinth. The 3012 carries a Denon DL-103R in a
heavy Orsonic-headshell, the 3009 has a Denon DL-103D in a
Clearaudio-headshell (the 103D is a special variation from
the standard DL-103 with higher compliance and lower tracking-
force - 1,5g instead of 2,7g). The platter of the turntable
is dampened with two rubber rings and a cork-mat.
Phonostages are a Brinkmann Fein for the DL-103R and a Thorens
PPA-990 for the DL-103D.
Here you can see the extra-heavy Orsonic-headshell which
increases the effective mass of the tonearm perfectly for the
use with the Japanese studio cartridge Denon DL-103R. You can
also take a closer look at the rubber rings mentioned above.
In the background you can see a Benz Glider mc-cartridge which is mounted into another
tonearm right now. The record clamp is a Michell, the record itself is Santana's "Supernatural".
Another picture of the DL-103 (now changed to the R-Version) 
in the Orsonic AV-101b.
Now, who's next to perform ? Thorens TD 160 Mk. II, alternatively 
with Yamaha MC-9 or Thorens TMC-63, the TD 124 Mk. II with SME 3012
Series II and EMT XSD-15 and the Garrard 401 with the two SMEs.
Editor's note: previous configuration pictured above.
Everything one might need : headshells, cartridges, 
mini-step-up-transformers,and this and that.
The open-reel deck is a Revox B-77, the cd-player
is a T+A CD 1000 AC.
My construction-site. You can see a Garrard 301 with SME 3009-R 
and Benz Glider, a Thorens TD 124 MkII waiting for a new motor,
a Dual 721 and a Dual 1007.
Lots of records. A few cds. Some accessories,
and my coffee-pot - empty again
Chaotic - or not ?`Anyway, a record-cleaning machine, Accuphase E-202
and Mission Cyrus One integrated amps, Thorens TD 150 Mk. II and on the floor ...
A Thorens Compact 1 from the Sixties. A TD 135 with BTD-12S
tonearm and amplifier electronics in a single plinth, with
the possibility to connect 2 loudspeakers and a tape-recorder
or radio. Not operational, used for spares and just the fun
to look at it.
Equipment list:
Turntables: see above
Integrated Amplifier: Rogers E-20a (4 x KT66(original 6L6), 12AX7, 6SN7, 2 x 18 Watt)
Speakers: LS 3/5a on sand filled stands, Biwiring, mfg. by Spendor
CDP: T+A CD 1000 AC
Tuner: Accuphase T-101
Open reel Tape: Revox B77
Cables & Accessories: Audioquest turquoise, Wireworld Equinox,Linn silver Interconnect,
Audioquest Indigo II (Biwiring), Michell Record Clamp, Thorens Stabilizer,
Garrard Record Brush, DIY motorized record cleaning machine, Shure stylus gage,
AT-37 stylus cleaner, green Linn-Paper, Disc Doctor Stylus Cleaner, HFNRR Test Record.
Room: dedicated listening room in the basement, 11 square meters.
Music: Blues, especially Chicago electric blues, and Rock,
especially classic hard rock like Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin
2000 records.
Holger's website:
http://www.analogue-classics.com/ with info on many collectible Thorens turntables.
Also an excellent resource on classic SME tonearms. Highly recommended.
Cheers, Holger T
"We're on a mission from God!"