• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Best Budget Cart/stylus for Thorens TD166 Mk ii

Alfmonster

Alfmonster

Active Member
The TD166 mk ii I own has the TP11/tp62 tone arm combo which came with an at140lc which I’m afraid is on its way out.

Ive been reading a lot of cart reviews and have been receiving wonderful advice from the kind members of the Audiokarma community. And most recommendations - although I would love to experience the sound - are unfortunately way out of my price range. Which has brought me to the Ortofon Omega (which I’ve been reading about) or an older vintage cart stylus for under $100.

Has anyone had any first hand experience with these on a lighter mass tone arm like Tp11 or have other possible creative cart/stylus combinations that would be under $100 and sound beyond what it’s worth?

I listen to a lot of Jazz and Classical / and 60s-70s rock.
 
Register to hide this ad
If you just need a new stylus to replace the ATN140lc, get any "atn" type stylus in your price range. They are exchangeable.

ATN100, ATN120, ATN130, ATN440, ATN150, etc.
https://www.turntableneedles.com/AT...0Eb-cartridge--our-Needle-208-DEb_p_4288.html

It won't have the detail of the line contact but will fit the cartridge body.

I really love these vintage AT carts on the MKII Thorens.

If your cart is truly crapping out, you'll be hard pressed to find anything under $100 worth a crap.
I'm not a fan of the cheaper Ortofon cartridges because of sibilance but I have hear an Omega and it was ok.
You need something with a compliance between 14cu-20cu.

Perhaps a vintage Pickering XV-15 with an aftermarket stylus.
https://www.lpgear.com/product/PICKSXV151200E.html

Or maybe a Shure M91ed with aftermarket stylus.
 
noisefreq said:
If you just need a new stylus to replace the ATN140lc, get any "atn" type stylus in your price range. They are exchangeable.

ATN100, ATN120, ATN130, ATN440, ATN150, etc.
https://www.turntableneedles.com/AT...0Eb-cartridge--our-Needle-208-DEb_p_4288.html

It won't have the detail of the line contact but will fit the cartridge body.

I really love these vintage AT carts on the MKII Thorens.

If your cart is truly crapping out, you'll be hard pressed to find anything under $100 worth a crap.
I'm not a fan of the cheaper Ortofon cartridges because of sibilance but I have hear an Omega and it was ok.
You need something with a compliance between 14cu-20cu.

Perhaps a vintage Pickering XV-15 with an aftermarket stylus.
https://www.lpgear.com/product/PICKSXV151200E.html

Or maybe a Shure M91ed with aftermarket stylus.
Click to expand...

Thank you for replying @noisfreq ! I bought the turntable used and the AT140LC is what it came with. I’m was thinking that because I don’t know the history of the stylus and the condition of it at a microscopic and internal level, I was thinking that the needle may need to be serviced..if I decided to send the needle in to the Andy Kim at needle clinic, is the sound still going to be as good as it was or will it have been compromised?

I’ll also start looking into the vintage Pickering.

*an edit bc I reread your post and just realized you had said that you love the vintage at carts.

Is there something that makes the vintage carts perform better on the mk ii Thorens? And this might be an odd question but does the pairing between a vintage at cart with new stylus do something better to the sound as opposed to upgrading the whole cart/stylus combo?

Also, I think it’s the stylus that’s the issue and not the cart so maybe looking into an atn stylus. Do you have a preference of any of the atn stylus replacements that come closest to the 140lc?
 
Last edited:
I don't know who Andy Kim is but if he retips line contacts, it's gonna be expensive.
But it should provide you with very similar sound.
Personally, if I were deciding between a retip and an ATN440MLb, I'd pick the AT replacement stylus. Quick and easy.

You could take the said stylus to an audio repair shop and have them inspect it.
Keep in mind they want to sell you stuff.

Concerning vintage carts, I do like AT, Shure, Pickering and ADC on my Thorens.
Good luck!
 
noisefreq said:
I don't know who Andy Kim is but if he retips line contacts, it's gonna be expensive.
But it should provide you with very similar sound.
Personally, if I were deciding between a retip and an ATN440MLb, I'd pick the AT replacement stylus. Quick and easy.

You could take the said stylus to an audio repair shop and have them inspect it.
Keep in mind they want to sell you stuff.

Concerning vintage carts, I do like AT, Shure, Pickering and ADC on my Thorens.
Good luck!
Click to expand...

That’s another great point, might as well upgrade instead if I was about shell out that kind of money to get the stylus retipped. Thank you again for all the recommendations! I’ll be headed down that rabbit hole shortly
 
noisefreq said:
If you just need a new stylus to replace the ATN140lc, get any "atn" type stylus in your price range. They are exchangeable.

ATN100, ATN120, ATN130, ATN440, ATN150, etc.
https://www.turntableneedles.com/AT...0Eb-cartridge--our-Needle-208-DEb_p_4288.html

It won't have the detail of the line contact but will fit the cartridge body.

I really love these vintage AT carts on the MKII Thorens.

If your cart is truly crapping out, you'll be hard pressed to find anything under $100 worth a crap.
I'm not a fan of the cheaper Ortofon cartridges because of sibilance but I have hear an Omega and it was ok.
You need something with a compliance between 14cu-20cu.

Perhaps a vintage Pickering XV-15 with an aftermarket stylus.
https://www.lpgear.com/product/PICKSXV151200E.html

Or maybe a Shure M91ed with aftermarket stylus.
Click to expand...

The Pickering XV15 1200E is my favorite cartridge on my Thorens TD166MKII. A bit of sibilance issues on my Kenwood but great synergy with the Thorens.
 
Alfmonster said:
What a find! thank you for sharing this! There doesn’t seem to be many left. I just ordered one! TBH this seemed almost too good to be true but his ratings and reviews say otherwise - do you have any experience with this lot of carts/stylus that he’s selling?
Click to expand...

Yes, I bought one a couple months back. They are NOS brand new in the box with a universal adapter, head shell screws, screwdriver and stylus brush. Sound wise it competes with my ADC XLM II that has a .2 x.7 nude mount stylus. Frequency response is close to flat, nice detail, and when aligned properly sibilance and inner groove distortion are almost non existent.
 
My Fav budget carts on the Thorens in no particular order:
Denon DL110 or DL160 (even better if you can find one)
Shure M91ED
Ortofon OM10 / 20
Grado (Early Prestige or Black2)
 
Last edited:
bigaltx24 said:
Yes, I bought one a couple months back. They are NOS brand new in the box with a universal adapter, head shell screws, screwdriver and stylus brush. Sound wise it competes with my ADC XLM II that has a .2 x.7 nude mount stylus. Frequency response is close to flat, nice detail, and when aligned properly sibilance and inner groove distortion are almost non existent.
Click to expand...

That’s great to know, thank you!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom