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Help With Thorens 160

M

MHod

New Member
Just received a Thorens 160. Does anyone have any advice on a good speaker/receiver system? Would like to keep it vintage if possible, but don't really care. Was looking at a NAD 3020 / Dynaco a25 possibly.

I believe it has a Stanton D73s stylus. Not sure what the cartridge is (maybe Shure?). I have attached a picture.

I am knew to the hobby so pretty unfamiliar. Any advice is appreciated in advance!
 

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MHod said:
Was looking at a NAD 3020
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A great little amp. Just make sure a tech has gone thru it before you buy, especially the weird connections at the back, as they are a known issue. I had an NAD 7030 receiver years ago that was pretty decent sounding with a pair of Boston Acoustics A100 speakers.

jeff
 
MHod said:
Just received a Thorens 160. Does anyone have any advice on a good speaker/receiver system? Would like to keep it vintage if possible, but don't really care. Was looking at a NAD 3020 / Dynaco a25 possibly.

I believe it has a Stanton D73s stylus. Not sure what the cartridge is (maybe Shure?). I have attached a picture.

I am knew to the hobby so pretty unfamiliar. Any advice is appreciated in advance!
Click to expand...

Great evolutive turntable that only needs a little TLC maintenance from time to time and adjustments that should become very intuitive once one's gets it's head around it's design in functionality.

Best way is to trial them amp & speaks. Both the amp and the speakers have a "color" of their own, a "timber" and an efficiency or sensitivity to match the pair and then your earbuds preference.

The cartridge choice should come first IMO as then you'll be able to see what you'll need to make it sound "best". Maybe post a picture of the front/face plate of the cartridge as this side shot is not telling much...
 
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A Stanton stylus on a Shure cart? No. The cart does look like a P-Mount Stanton with a conversion adapter on it for the turntable leads and standard screw mounting to the headshell. (P-mount carts were a short lived type of mount that simply plugged into a tonearm with a blunt edge socket and no headshell.) Since the stylus is a D73S, the cart would be a L737S. That’s a moving iron (MI) cart and it’s standard mount Stanton equivalent is the 681 and Pickering equivalent is the XV-15. Both are about the same and highly regarded cartridges.

The S at the end of the stylus name means ‘Stereohedron’ which is Stanton’s Shibata-like tip. A very highly regarded stylus. It has a high compliance cantilever which is a good match for Thorens tonearm’s. like that. (Shibata is an advanced stylus profile developed and owned by another company.)

The only way to tell how much life is left on the stylus is to send it to an experienced retipper for inspection. Jos Long is highly regarded, lots of people use him. If you want his email, send me a PM.
 
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If Coolhandjjl is right you might indeed want to try to live with this cartridge and stylus combo for a while or more. But then you might want to find better like slightly more revealing (in clarity) amp and speakers (than the NAD for example) to benefit the cartridge and stylus ability to take you there. Balance in calibration between the phono gear elements is often the key for optimal performance making the playback experience truly joyful as pleasant.
 
If the Dynaco A25 speakers are in good shape, I'll vouch for them as I've had mine since 1972 and they still sound very wonderfully! For a smaller listening space, they will bring a smile to your face for sure. I had mine paired with a similar vintage Kenwood receiver and played that combo for many years. Have some fun! I have the same TD160 and it is a solid performer when all is as it should be......may need a new belt though, and best to get an original Thorens belt as they tend to be a bit finnicky otherwise. Good luck amigo, and happy listening!
 
Is that a TP-16 mk1 on those decks? Or TP11? Cant remember. The originals have like 16grams of mass. Dont know if the Stanton would be optimal is it has a higher compliance. Maybe a tweak down the road.
 
dualhead said:
Is that a TP-16 mk1 on those decks? Or TP11? Cant remember. The originals have like 16grams of mass. Dont know if the Stanton would be optimal is it has a higher compliance. Maybe a tweak down the road.
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Sorry. I was mistakenly thinking of the arm on my TD166MKII, which has eff mass of approx 7g
 
dualhead said:
Is that a TP-16 mk1 on those decks? Or TP11? Cant remember. The originals have like 16grams of mass. Dont know if the Stanton would be optimal is it has a higher compliance. Maybe a tweak down the road.
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The TP-16 tonearms (featured on the TD's160, 145, 146 an 147) can handle high to medium compliant cartridges without any problems. The TP-11 (featured on the TD's165 & 166) are mostly only a "cheaper" version (featuring a non dynamic anti-skate and a simpler "screw-on" conterweight) that aim also to deal with high as medium compliance carts.

But likely for a less refined result with high compliant ones as the counter weight design mainly is less "elaborate" for that. Nothing here for the OP to fret about. FWIW I do prefer the TP-11 tonearms when it comes to refurb them with low compliant cartridges and enhancement of the whole tonearm effective mass and counter weight abilty to follow there...
 
Wow thanks for all the replies! That's great insight on the cartridge/stylus. I think I will leave it stock for now after hearing the praise. Might shoot you a message down the line for Long's contact info once I take a real look at it.

I'm leaning towards new amp/speakers now because I am studying for the bar and don't have enough time to scour craigslist/ebay. Probably looking at a Yamaha
A-S501/ELAC 2.0 B.6.2 combo unless you guys think that would be a mistake.

Thanks again for all the insight and advice!
 
MHod said:
Wow thanks for all the replies! That's great insight on the cartridge/stylus. I think I will leave it stock for now after hearing the praise. Might shoot you a message down the line for Long's contact info once I take a real look at it.

I'm leaning towards new amp/speakers now because I am studying for the bar and don't have enough time to scour craigslist/ebay. Probably looking at a Yamaha
A-S501/ELAC 2.0 B.6.2 combo unless you guys think that would be a mistake.

Thanks again for all the insight and advice!
Click to expand...

The Yamaha A-S501 is a nice sounding amp. Haven't heard any ELACs, but they get good reviews.
 
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