KukuWalrus
New Member
Glad to hear. I did purchase a Super 30 this morning. Hoping to get it set up for this weekend. Will report back as I break it in.
Getting started with Thorens TD166 MKII - Tonearm / Cartridge
- Thread starter KukuWalrus
- Start date
Just curious how you got the Super OM 30. Other than DJ models, the only current OM cartridges I see at Ortofon's website are the OM 5S, OM 5E and Super OM 5E. Did you buy a Super OM 5E plus a Stylus 30? I know a friend who bought a standard OM 5E plus a Stylus 20 for his turntable (and loves it!).
Great looking TD-166 MkII! I have the same tonearm as yours on a TD-147. Yes, everything I’ve read indicates that the effective mass of the tonearm is 7.5 grams. In today’s world, that does put it in the low mass category. As several have suggested, the Ortofon OM cartridges work well with that tonearm. Both the OM-20 and OM-30 sound great on my 147.
If you decide that you want to try a low output moving coil cart someday, I’ve found that the Denon DL-301 MkII is a good match for that tonearm. But I have no idea how it would work with your Pioneer receiver. Worse case is you would need to buy a step up transformer to put between the turntable and receiver. I use a Denon AU-320 SUT with my Denon DL-301 MkII. To my ear, the Ortofon OM-30 gets one much of the way to the Denon DL-301 MkII. That said, the Denon gets much more play here than the Orto.
You might want to give some thought as to how you are going to align your new cartridge. I ended up buying a plastic gauge over on eBay made for that arm. It’s easy to use and seems to get the job done. Also, if you haven’t already, at some point, I’d check to make sure the spindle well has some oil in it.
Best of luck with your 166. I’ve come to love my 147.
If you decide that you want to try a low output moving coil cart someday, I’ve found that the Denon DL-301 MkII is a good match for that tonearm. But I have no idea how it would work with your Pioneer receiver. Worse case is you would need to buy a step up transformer to put between the turntable and receiver. I use a Denon AU-320 SUT with my Denon DL-301 MkII. To my ear, the Ortofon OM-30 gets one much of the way to the Denon DL-301 MkII. That said, the Denon gets much more play here than the Orto.
You might want to give some thought as to how you are going to align your new cartridge. I ended up buying a plastic gauge over on eBay made for that arm. It’s easy to use and seems to get the job done. Also, if you haven’t already, at some point, I’d check to make sure the spindle well has some oil in it.
Best of luck with your 166. I’ve come to love my 147.
lini
just me...
Really? That would seem odd, 'cause the TD147 should rather be equipped with a TP16III than with the TP11III.
Greetings from Munich!
Manfred / lini
KukuWalrus
New Member
yes that’s correct. I bought a OM5E cart and the stylus 30.
KukuWalrus
New Member
Are these gauges typically pretty similar or does the style of tone arm being used have much affect on which style to choose? If you have a link for the one you used I’d be interested in checking it out.
Thanks for the reply.
Thanks. So you chose the standard OM 5E rather than the Super OM 5E. I believe someone pointed out earlier that there has been mixed opinion on which body was preferable. I've only heard the standard OM body and with styli stopping at the Stylus 20, but I know it sounds great in my friend's system. Hope yours sounds great, too!
Both arms use the TP 63 wand and have the same effective mass, length, overhang, tracking angle error, and 190 pF capacitance in the wiring. They differ in that the arm on the 147 is dynamically balanced, applies antiskate magnetically rather than with a weight and thread, and has slightly lower bearing friction. Back in 1984 when I had a TD146 and a friend of mine owned the TD147, we both used cartridges from the Stanton/Pickering lines, he with an XSV 3000 and me with a Stanton 680 or 681. While I soon moved on to a Linn, my older brother kept my TD146 and is still using it today!
You’re correct. My bad. I was only looking at the arm wand. I apologize for any confusion.
It’s been quite a while since I bought the gauge. I wouldn’t feel comfortable recommending a vendor. I don’t think AK rules will allow me to post a link anyway. But, yes, the gauge will be specific to the Thorens arm wand (or a wand very much like it) on your turntable.
S. Pupp
Active Member
My TD-166 mkii does much better with the AT-VM95ML MM cartridge/needle than it did with the Sumiko Blue Point MC cartridge. IIRC, the compliance of the AT is within the “probably works” column of compatibility with this Thorens deck, whereas the Sumiko was not as compatible.
doctor fuse
Super Member
I got good results with a Denon DL-301II on a TD160. Since you have an MC capable Pioneer receiver, I would go for the low output 301 over the high output 110, and get the full benefit of MC (only a few light coils on the cantilever).
lini
just me...
So is the PP-402 transformer actually installed? Because if that isn't installed, Phono 2 is just a second MM input rather than an MC input.
Greetings from Munich!
Manfred / lini
KukuWalrus
New Member
Appreciate that input. So that PP-402 transformer would have been more of an aftermarket or add-on? I’m glad you mentioned this. I bought this second hand, so for all I know, there is no transformer installed. I will certainly look into this!
KukuWalrus
New Member
Got my Super OM / stylus 30 connected today. Very happy to be making progress.
I have yet to purchase any gauges or learn much about alignment yet. I just centered the cartridge the best I could on the headshell and set the counterweight.
Im hoping without proper alignment I’m only sacrificing sound quality, and not causing any damage to my records. Very grateful for all the input I’ve gotten from everybody.
Attachments
ml69
Super Member
Nice. Glad you got it going! The stylus doesn't appear to be riding too low from your pics. Did you zero out the counterweight so the arm was floating, then dial up the counterweight to the appropriate setting? That cart should track at 1.75 - 2.00 grams. Always good to have a digital scale to confirm that I guess but most counterweights I've adjusted are pretty accurate. Sounds like you have some alignment tools coming?
sound hound
Super Member
Good pictures. Not sure but it looks like the cart might be riding a bit tail down from the attachment #8506. Or it might be just the viewing angle. If it is, you might see if you can alter it to make bottom of the cartridge parallel and see if it makes a difference.
lini
just me...
Well, according to the user manual for the SX-828, the PP-402 was separately available, so I'd call it an optional extra. Shouldn't be difficult to check, whether it's installed or not, though: There should be a rectangular plastic cover at the right side of the case, behind which slot and jack for the PP-402 reside. However, if you rather wouldn't want to remove that cover for checking, you might as well connect your table to Phono 2 for a try. If there is no change to the sound compared to Phono 1, the PP-402 isn't installed.
Greetings from Munich!
Manfred / lini
Thomas_AA
Well-Known Member
The Super OM30 is perfect for that arm and table. It seems however that the cartridge may be a bit misaligned from one photo. So get a protractor. Also the Super OM30 likes around 1.5 g tracking force and about 150-200 pF 42 kOhm loading.
MuseChaser
Super Member
Interesting. I've had two Sumiko Bluepoints on my TD-166 mkII for the past ..ten?..years and absolutely love them.