Thorens fiber inner platters

inspiredsports

A question for vintage Thorens owners.

Thorens introduced their full manual classic TD-160 back in the mid '70's, and then introduced the identical TD-145 a year or so later with an auto cue lift/motor stop circuit.

The first generation were "MK I" models. A couple years later they introduced "MK II" models with lighter weight, higher compliance tonearm/arm-wand combinations. The other change was that their two part inner platter/outer platter was originally all cast zinc. Most MK II models replaced the zinc inner platter with a fiber version.

Some believe it was a cost savings move, but others say it also cuts the possibility of the platter "ringing" (the same way we add Dynamat Extreme to the back of our Polk drivers). One other difference is that the zinc inner platter weights 2 lbs where the fiber version is under 1 lb. The zinc outer platters all weigh 5 lbs so the total spinning mass reduction is from 7 to 6 lbs going with the fiber.

I have seven similar vintage Thorens turntables and am creating a "super table", and wonder if I should choose to use a zinc inner platter or fiber inner platter.

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Table: Thorens TD-160 MK II
Tonearm: SME 3009 Series III with damping sump
Cartridge: Shure V15 Series IV
Current Inner Platter: 1 lb Thorens Fiber with 10mm bearing
Outer Platter: 5 lb Thorens cast zinc
Interconnects: 6' Ben's Silver (dual grounded), also have MIT Shotgun 2 2m, but they have no separate ground
Mats: Herbie's Way Excellent 3mm and Audioquest Sorbomat 3mm
Clamps: "The Clamp" and Basis Silver Reflex Clamp
Lift Mechanism: Thorens Q-Up
Plinth: Tweaked Thorens Teak with Dynamat, 1/2" solid Maple bottom, etc.
Dustcover: New in box Thorens rear hinged (never removed from original packaging, not even fingerprint on it)
Feet: Custom machined conical aluminum