Thorens refurb help

dromunds
dromunds Posts: 10,014
in Electronics
I acquired a Thorens TD-125 Mk II with SME arm, but it needs refurb. Wondering if anyone is familiar with anyone who can do Thorens refurb work, preferably in Wisconsin area. Thanks
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  • maxward
    maxward Posts: 1,581
    Vinylnirvana.com is probably the best in the country for this, but he’s in New Hampshire. Check out his many videos and you may be able to DIY. He will work on only select models, including yours I believe.
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  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 10,014
    Thanks, I was hoping to deliver it to someone nearby by auto, but I suppose that was wishful thinking being that I'm in psychological Siberia. Perhaps I can view his videos and actually do it myself. But it's nice to know he's one of the best and if I ship it it will be done right.
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  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 8,504
    It's getting harder to find shops to refurb gear. Many are not taking new projects until further notice or have a long wait list.

    You have the original box to ship it?
    Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
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  • Faustin
    Faustin Posts: 1,149
    If you do have to ship it, there are a couple of YouTube videos I found a few years ago that where really good and informative. Really made a lot of sense.
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  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 10,014
    Thanks, guys. No original box to ship which is not good for the TD-125 Mk II in particular. Vinyl Nirvana will provide an original box to rent for $20 plus shipping if you go their route but it sure would be nice to be able to drop off. I have a buddy in Denver who drives here and back several times a year so I was hoping perhaps I could find someone out there but the path is not clear yet.
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  • msg
    msg Posts: 10,115
    edited March 2
    There was a guy who could have transported it to Colorado by motorcycle in 20 minutes, but his service was... arrested.
    I disabled signatures.
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  • erniejade
    erniejade Posts: 6,321
    Is Hifi Sound still doing repairs in Minneapolis? Or at least they had someone they used to refer out to. This is going back a way though.
    Klipsch The Nines, Audioquest Thunderbird Interconnect, Innuos Zen MK3 W4S recovery, Revolution Audio Labs USB & Ethernet, Border Patrol SE-I, Audioquest Niagara 5000 & Thunder, Cullen Crossover II PC's.
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  • erniejade
    erniejade Posts: 6,321
    edited March 4
    Wait, you're in Wisconsin, right? HiFi Haus
    Klipsch The Nines, Audioquest Thunderbird Interconnect, Innuos Zen MK3 W4S recovery, Revolution Audio Labs USB & Ethernet, Border Patrol SE-I, Audioquest Niagara 5000 & Thunder, Cullen Crossover II PC's.
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  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 8,504
    erniejade wrote: »
    Wait, you're in Wisconsin, right? HiFi Haus

    He could try but their web site says they are not accepting new repairs until further notice.
    Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
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  • erniejade
    erniejade Posts: 6,321
    Haaa shoot. It's been a bit since I have gone to either place
    Klipsch The Nines, Audioquest Thunderbird Interconnect, Innuos Zen MK3 W4S recovery, Revolution Audio Labs USB & Ethernet, Border Patrol SE-I, Audioquest Niagara 5000 & Thunder, Cullen Crossover II PC's.
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  • msg
    msg Posts: 10,115
    Pfft... What a streamer.
    I disabled signatures.
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  • newbie308
    newbie308 Posts: 768
    Not much to these turntables and there are a lot of kits available to rebuild the motor, recap the circuit board, replace the suspension springs, and replace the belt. The SME 3009 arm is easy to rewire, too. Why not DIY?
    Sources: Technics SL1200MKII | SME3009 Tonearm | Monster Alpha 1 MC cartridge | Oppo UDP203 disk player | Nikko NT-790 analog tuner | Musical Fidelity Trivista 21 DAC | Preamp: Threshold SL-10 | Amplifier: Threshold Stasis 2 | Speakers: Snell Acoustics C/V | Kimber 12-TC bi wire speakers | Analysis plus Oval 1 preamp to amp | Wireworld Eclipse 7 DAC to Preamp | Wireworld eclipse digital IC Oppo to DAC | Audioquest Quartz tuner to preamp |
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  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 10,014
    I could try the DIY route but really short on free time. I may try it incrementally. Thanks for the tip on HiFihaus. I’ll try to talk to them and see what’s up in their future
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  • kevhed72
    kevhed72 Posts: 5,059
    Sir,
    How goes the Thorens refurb? I have a line on a TD 145 locally and put in a bid on a Bellari pre. Going back to vinyl seems crazy on the one hand since it seems I sold all my vinyl stuff not so long ago. I picked some nice Goodwill records recently and the itch is back.
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  • jdjohn
    jdjohn Posts: 3,156
    Kev, please let the Bellari phono preamp go. You can do a lot better, and that TD-145 deserves much more.
    "This may not matter to you, but it does to me for various reasons, many of them illogical or irrational, but the vinyl hobby is not really logical or rational..." - member on Vinyl Engine
    "Sometimes I do what I want to do. The rest of the time, I do what I have to." - Cicero, in Gladiator
    Regarding collectibles: "It's not who gets it. It's who gets stuck with it." - Jimmy Fallon
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  • kevhed72
    kevhed72 Posts: 5,059
    jdjohn wrote: »
    Kev, please let the Bellari phono preamp go. You can do a lot better, and that TD-145 deserves much more.
    I am all ears....thoughts for under 300 for a phono pre?
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  • jdjohn
    jdjohn Posts: 3,156
    kevhed72 wrote: »
    jdjohn wrote: »
    Kev, please let the Bellari phono preamp go. You can do a lot better, and that TD-145 deserves much more.
    I am all ears....thoughts for under 300 for a phono pre?
    Well, you could start super cheap with an ART DJ Pre II (less than $100). Or, go slightly higher with something like a used Pro-Ject Phono Box DS (or DS+), or brand-new S2. Many folks like the iFi Zen, and the Schiit Mani, but I'd say get the Mani 2 if you go that route. The first version Mani has poor shielding IME.

    What cartridge will you be using?
    "This may not matter to you, but it does to me for various reasons, many of them illogical or irrational, but the vinyl hobby is not really logical or rational..." - member on Vinyl Engine
    "Sometimes I do what I want to do. The rest of the time, I do what I have to." - Cicero, in Gladiator
    Regarding collectibles: "It's not who gets it. It's who gets stuck with it." - Jimmy Fallon
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  • kevhed72
    kevhed72 Posts: 5,059
    "What cartridge will you be using?"

    The listing says the table comes with an Audio Technica AT92E stylus.
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  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 10,014
    kevhed72 wrote: »
    Sir,
    How goes the Thorens refurb?

    I’ve been busier than a two-peckered billygoat and haven’t done anything with the Thorens yet. Just looked at it and thought I need to get on the stick. But then again, I have LOTS of speakers I need to sell. Don’t even have time to get for sale ads together. Fer Cri Yi!
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  • msg
    msg Posts: 10,115
    kevhed72 wrote: »
    Sir,
    How goes the Thorens refurb? I have a line on a TD 145 locally and put in a bid on a Bellari pre. Going back to vinyl seems crazy on the one hand since it seems I sold all my vinyl stuff not so long ago. I picked some nice Goodwill records recently and the itch is back.
    Welcome back! I have Shaun Cassidy records for your collection.
    I disabled signatures.
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  • jdjohn
    jdjohn Posts: 3,156
    kevhed72 wrote: »
    "What cartridge will you be using?"

    The listing says the table comes with an Audio Technica AT92E stylus.
    The AT92E is a p-mount cartridge, so it must be mounted on the TD-145 with an adapter. The headshells on those Thorens are tricky to mount.
    "This may not matter to you, but it does to me for various reasons, many of them illogical or irrational, but the vinyl hobby is not really logical or rational..." - member on Vinyl Engine
    "Sometimes I do what I want to do. The rest of the time, I do what I have to." - Cicero, in Gladiator
    Regarding collectibles: "It's not who gets it. It's who gets stuck with it." - Jimmy Fallon
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  • kevhed72
    kevhed72 Posts: 5,059
    Well, I passed on the Thorens due I cheaped out and didn't want to drive up to north Atlanta, so I went with a Pioneer PL-115D which will need a cartridge and pre. I have spent some time in the turntable research time loop and realized now isn't the time to spend 1k + on a table allone. Next up is a decent record cleaner....why I sold everything vinyl related awhile back is beyond me.
    I also have a bid in on a Partridge Family/Sean Cassidy collection, so life is good.
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