I've got a Thorens turntable with TP90 tonearm and I would like to buy a new headshell so I can put on a cheap conical cartridge just to play old 45s. But everywhere I looked the price for a Thorens headshell (which is TP95) is ridiculous about 160-180 eur. With the same money I buy a new turntable something like Lenco 3808 to play my old 45s. I read that the Thorens TP95 headshell has a unique way to lock inside the TP90 tonearm and you can't use universal headshells. Is it true? Is there a universal headshell appropriate for the TP90 tonearm or is there an adapter so I can use any other headshell? I wonder If I can use an adapter for TP4 p-mount cartridges so I can buy an adapter for p-mount cartridges and using a p-mount cartridge. But are these adapters suitable for TP90 tonearm? There is no other way to buy a substitute headshell and solve the problem? The money I'm willing to pay are 20-30 eur. Any help? Thank you.
Headshell for Thorens TP90 tonearm
- Thread starter Elias A.
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Dear Tucker99, thank you. I'll think about it. What I find weird is the fact that audio business people have found solutions for more complicated problems and no one hasn't thought to make an adapter for Thorens tonearms so they can accept any headshell. I bought the turntable brand new back at '90s for 300 euros so when I read that only the headshell today costs 130 makes me laugh. Cheers.
I've been poking around looking for TP60 head shells for the TP16 tonearm and I have the same frustrations. The best I can find is $85 plus shipping on the bay for an aftermarket one. Considering I paid $400 for this turntable I haven't yet bit the bullet for one. Pretty steep.
Tucker99
Super Member
EliasA... It is undoubtedly annoying and frustrating if you were unaware of the headshell issue when you bought your TT. On the higher end Thorens turntables such as the td125 the SME 3009 was an upgrade option, and some Thorens turntable owners elect still choose to swap the original tonearm for something that accepts the standard SME headshells.
DavidTT... I have owned many Thorens turntables. I have sold those with tp16 tonearms (not because of the tonearm or headshell issue) but still have 8 extra headshells that I accumulated. Yes, they cost and sell for $85 to $100 when in good condition. C'est la vie....
DavidTT... I have owned many Thorens turntables. I have sold those with tp16 tonearms (not because of the tonearm or headshell issue) but still have 8 extra headshells that I accumulated. Yes, they cost and sell for $85 to $100 when in good condition. C'est la vie....
Well some smart guy with access to a CNC could probably make some $$ by making something akin to the AudioSilente replacement head shell and selling it for, say, $40 or $50. I would certainly buy one but also certainly balk at $85-90 at this point. At that price, I simply take the time to swap out carts into and out of the same shell. If it breaks, I'll swallow hard and buy another, grudgingly.
For those hoarding old ones, be careful. You may be left with junk if the 'vinyl revival' fades.
For those hoarding old ones, be careful. You may be left with junk if the 'vinyl revival' fades.
Tucker99
Super Member
FYI...I was never 'hoarding' and kinda resent the suggestion/inference that I might be retaining them for an unscrupulous profit. I owned TTs, liked to swap cartridges, and bought the headshells at fair market value for my own use. Would happily sell all of them as at my age I am reducing tables not accumulating them.
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noisefreq
Super Member
The TP90 Arm wand is I deed different than the TP62/TP63 arm wands.
The connector on the tube is reversed for some reason.
I have a TP62 and bought a used TP63 for my TD145 mkII, so I could mount another cart as you are thinking about doing.
I watched epay for months and bid several times before I finally bought a suitable arm wand for $164.
This was about three years ago.
So, good luck! Bid early and bid often.
I did end up with an arm wand that came in the original plastic box holder, which also acts as an alignment gauge, something to think about.
The Schopper arms are heavier so will change your effective mass, which may be a good thing depending on the cartridge you go with.
Often conicals have a higher tracking force.
The connector on the tube is reversed for some reason.
I have a TP62 and bought a used TP63 for my TD145 mkII, so I could mount another cart as you are thinking about doing.
I watched epay for months and bid several times before I finally bought a suitable arm wand for $164.
This was about three years ago.
So, good luck! Bid early and bid often.
I did end up with an arm wand that came in the original plastic box holder, which also acts as an alignment gauge, something to think about.
The Schopper arms are heavier so will change your effective mass, which may be a good thing depending on the cartridge you go with.
Often conicals have a higher tracking force.
Times are rough for all those like me who have old turntables (I have an old Thorens 160SMk5) because we will not find spare parts or people for service if something goes wrong. But the big surprise is that buying a new turntable isn't the solution either. You buy a new turntable and you pray to play right. Many people who buy cheap Audio Technica, Lenco, Numark, etc. after some years if something goes wrong they will not find spare parts or service for all those TTs. I was thinking to buy a new Lenco but on a second thought I prefer to buy a cheap Technics like SLBD20 for 60-70 euros to play 45s. Buying an old used turntable is problem but buying a new turntable is the same problem also. Many new turntables are junk and after 2 years the guarantee expires and it's so expensive to fix the turntable that you just throw it away.
Indeed. I just recently bought a TD-145 and am getting used to its function and adjustments. I am keenly aware that the motors in these things are completely unobtainable, that the head shells go for $$$ and that in general, if something goes wrong with this thing it'll be tough to make it right. I'll cross that bridge when I get to it, but I just had to take the Thorens or AR plunge before I got further into my journey in the hobby.
For @Tucker99 I wasn't casting aspersions at you individually, but the free market giveth and taketh in equal measure. If you have acquired many head shells, who am I to say what you should do with your property? On the other hand, as an example, I'm personally aware of hobbyists who snapped up many m97xe cartridges last year when Shure left the biz, and are now selling them for $170 and up, way up in some instances. I understand the free market as well as anyone but don't love that sort of activity. I won't feel bad for those who play that game and lose out if the bottom falls back out of the turntable revival.
For @Tucker99 I wasn't casting aspersions at you individually, but the free market giveth and taketh in equal measure. If you have acquired many head shells, who am I to say what you should do with your property? On the other hand, as an example, I'm personally aware of hobbyists who snapped up many m97xe cartridges last year when Shure left the biz, and are now selling them for $170 and up, way up in some instances. I understand the free market as well as anyone but don't love that sort of activity. I won't feel bad for those who play that game and lose out if the bottom falls back out of the turntable revival.
Tucker99
Super Member
Elias A... The TD160 is a good TT. I have owned one and I would encourage a 'repair not replace' outlook if at all possible.
Here at AK you will find the full range of audio enthusiasts from casual to waaaay deeply committed name knowledgeable. There is also the normal wide range of financial capability and disposable income to devote to a hobby. You will find many opinions expressed and hard facts that need to be filtered by your own lens of € and interest.
Back to your TT. If you have any troubles with it there are many many graciously willing and highly knowledgeable members here who will help you as much as they can.
Stick with it and enjoy the hobby, both the gear and your choice of music.
All the best.
Here at AK you will find the full range of audio enthusiasts from casual to waaaay deeply committed name knowledgeable. There is also the normal wide range of financial capability and disposable income to devote to a hobby. You will find many opinions expressed and hard facts that need to be filtered by your own lens of € and interest.
Back to your TT. If you have any troubles with it there are many many graciously willing and highly knowledgeable members here who will help you as much as they can.
Stick with it and enjoy the hobby, both the gear and your choice of music.
All the best.
shelly_d
Not An Audiophool
I'm in the same boat with my TD-150. The headshell (TP-50) runs $65 to $75 for damaged wrecks to $150 for NOS. There is an outfit in Italy that makes a replacement for about 100 euros and they also offer just the end connector for about 50 euros.
I have been toying with the idea to try to DIY something using slots for overhang adjustment and spacers for VTA adjustment. It is looking like 9/16 (I think) brass tubing may work as the barrel for the connector and perhaps 3/64 brass rod for the connectors through the barrel. Still need to come up with the insulating/mounting device to hold the connectors and a way to accurately drill them out to hold the rod in place. Then of course there is the job of accurately aligning and building the vertical end plate, the horizontal top plate, the cartridge mounting slots, the barrel mounting hole, and of course positioning everything so that after final assembly it is all true, square and correctly positioned with respect to the album surface. Just a minor task you see (
)
I have been toying with the idea to try to DIY something using slots for overhang adjustment and spacers for VTA adjustment. It is looking like 9/16 (I think) brass tubing may work as the barrel for the connector and perhaps 3/64 brass rod for the connectors through the barrel. Still need to come up with the insulating/mounting device to hold the connectors and a way to accurately drill them out to hold the rod in place. Then of course there is the job of accurately aligning and building the vertical end plate, the horizontal top plate, the cartridge mounting slots, the barrel mounting hole, and of course positioning everything so that after final assembly it is all true, square and correctly positioned with respect to the album surface. Just a minor task you see (
)Thank you for your answers. I decided to buy a used turntable to play my old 45s. And of course I must look elsewhere except Thorens because from what I've read every Thorens turntable has a unique headshell. My previous TT was a Dual 505-2 and I sold it to buy the Thorens. I loved Dual and I love my Thorens and I would like a secondhand German TT because they are reliable and built like tanks. If I buy a Dual TT will I have the same problem as I have with Thorens? Dual headshells are cheap and easy to find or are they rare and expensive like Thorens? Are there Thorens or Dual TT with cheap and easily fitted headshells or accepting universal headshells? If I want to have 2-3 or more headshells with different cartridges so i can change easily the headshell I want, must I look only at japanese turntables and especially technics? Any suggestion?
Tucker99
Super Member
I am not a Dual guy but certainly many Dual use their own headshell. Dual called them 'sleds'. Not sure if there were models that used the SME headshells.
I don't know your budget so a Thorens with a SME tonearm mounted could perhaps be an option??? A Technics is another option as they mostly use the SME (universal) headshell.
Asking questions is fine but might I suggest /recommend that you spend a bit of personal time reading/researching to acquire some basic knowledge before you go buy something. Use the Internet.
I don't know your budget so a Thorens with a SME tonearm mounted could perhaps be an option??? A Technics is another option as they mostly use the SME (universal) headshell.
Asking questions is fine but might I suggest /recommend that you spend a bit of personal time reading/researching to acquire some basic knowledge before you go buy something. Use the Internet.
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Dear Tucker99 my budget is about 100 eur. You propose to search internet about Dual TTs. I searched vinylengine.com but I look at the pictures of Dual or Thorens TTs and I don't understand if the headshell is removable or universal headshell and the description of the TT doesn't make clear what kind of headshell is. I think the safest way is to look for a Technics TT. I'm hesitating to buy a japanese turntable because I never had before a direct drive TT and I'm afraid of maybe I will be dissapointed but I will use it for 45s or used lps that I don't play at Thorens so I'm not looking for hi-end performance. I would prefer a cheap belt drive german TT because I'm used to the sound of '70s belt drive TTs but you can't have it all in this world. Thank you.
KentTeffeteller
Gimpus Stereophilus!
Remember, Dual sleds are $65 themselves. And non standard too, likewise same with ELAC/Miracord and Perpetuum-Ebner (rarest of these). Want a German turntable which takes common headshells, you have one choice. Save your money, buy a SME 3009 II or SME 3009 S2-R, and an armboard, and then you're set for the Thorens you own. Otherwise, buy a Japanese turntable which takes a SME style headshell.