new (old) TT Thorens

soundfreak1

Just aquired a Thornes TD160 TT with a pickering XV 15/625e cart. Will br scoping the stylus tomorrow, and letting my tech have a go at it too restore and clean it all up.will be replacing wiring with new and gold rca jacks at rear so I can use upgraded ic to my pre.other than the usuall things, belt, motor mounts tonearm rewire, motor cap replacement, any suggustions as to things too do?

mhardy6647

Thorens (not "Thornes"... at least, I hope that's the case). The TD-160 is a very nice turntable.

Check the play in the arm bearings and clean and lubricate the platter bearing. This is the most important stuff vis-a-vis how well it'll actually work, I'd opine.

Does the motor have an issue that requires new run caps (i.e., is it balky to start)?

I wouldn't bother rewiring the arm (or replacing the interconnects) unless there's in issue with the existing wire but maybe you have lots more discretionary cash than I do... I'd spend that $ on a new cartridge, were it mine. The XV15s were OK but there's much better out there (as there was when the Pickering was new, for that matter).

All just my opinions of course.


WarehouseSoundclearance by mhardy6647, on Flickr

Only have this scan of a 165 handy; the 160 is similar but older... manuals and other docs are available at http://www.vinylengine.com/library/thorens/td160.shtml if you need them.

EDIT: It's nice that the TD-160's arm has magnetic antiskating.

dromunds

Congrats! My buddy has a minty TD160 that he purchased new with some large Advents and still uses. Its a nice TT and real sweet looking.

soundfreak1

Original ic wires and ac is just very old and no reason NOT to replace as the motor caps are very cheep and" whilest in there......." so to speak. Bearings will be cked and lubed of course. Switches will be cked and cleaned as well. Just want it as right as can be. Cartridge will be a journey for sure but I do like some of the vintage one for some reason but have to research newer ones without doubt. Thanks for the input.

SCompRacer

mhardy6647 wrote: »

I wouldn't bother rewiring the arm (or replacing the interconnects) unless there's in issue with the existing wire but maybe you have lots more discretionary cash than I do... I'd spend that $ on a new cartridge, were it mine.

Sometimes it's not just the money involved. Swap the factory coax IC's out for a standard unshielded pair and you can get to where they don't know the words so they hum.

mhardy6647

well, I'd opine that the biggest typical mistake on turntables is to install new cables with higher capacitance than the originals, thus introducing more or less severe HF rolloff.

SCompRacer

I tried high dollar IC's on tables and returned to coax. Nice Thorens though. Great table.

pglbook

I picked up a Thorens TD 160 about a year ago and absolutely love it.

Congrats on a nice table!

soundfreak1

pglbook wrote: »

I picked up a Thorens TD 160 about a year ago and absolutely love it.

Congrats on a nice table!

Im not sure if it will "sound" any better than my marantz but it is deff cooler looking, but I will find out after it is serviced and set up correctly.then the disision with reguards to cart. Have read alot about the xv15/625e and it is highly reguarded. I also have a xsp 3003 I use on the marantz and it is great (out-proforming a shure m97xE I had purchased. However now that ive gotten my feet wet in vinyl again ready to step up to a beter cart. ( but what to buy?) Like my music more linear now with good bass attack.so the journey continues!

mhardy6647

It's a considerably better turntable than the entry-level Marantz 6100 (the latter made by CEC, as were many big-brand name Japanese turntables) -- but that doesn't mean a priori that it will sound better or worse - or maybe even any different. The arm on the Thorens is pretty low-mass and will match best with a high-compliance cartridge (which aren't too common any more, although they were all the rage in the 1970s). Indeed, the M97xe (a very nice entry level cartridge, IMO) would be happier in the Thorens arm than the Marantz (FWIW).

Were the Thorens mine, I'd be looking at a Grado for it. Pick your price point.

pglbook

I had a a new Shure M97xe cartridge installed after getting my Thorens TD 160 and am very happy with it.

I am sure there are better cartridges out there if one wants to spend a lot of money on a high-end cartridge, but it is hard to beat the Shure M97xe in terms of value and performance. It is a very nice cartridge at a great price.

soundfreak1

The m97 is a nice cart. I have since purchace run into a couple vintage pickering that are just ( to my taste) superior especially in the bass attack and accraticy. I am however interested in trying a upper end modern cart, willing to go in the 300.00 range.will have to see whats out there and do some reading.

boston1450

Congrats , beautiful table SF1