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oh my goodness!!!! what a difference!!!!

jbrocious

jbrocious

Point of No Return
ive gone to heaven (to my ears at least)!!! i just got a thorens td 166 with grace tonearm and grado G2 cartridge and it is a night and day difference!! the clarity, imaging, and soundstage are leaps and bounds beyond what my rotel rp-2500 and shure m92 combo were..... i am just listening in pure awe!

the speed is rock solid, and the bass is cleaner as well!

im on cloud nine here!

btw, if anyone knows the optimal tracking force for the Grado G2 that would be great! i cant find any info on it

thanks

pics
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Nice pics, too! Did you use a tripod?

Tell us, what were you using before? How'd you come across this one? DETAILS, my friend!
 
mg196 said:
Nice pics, too! Did you use a tripod?

Tell us, what were you using before? How'd you come across this one? DETAILS, my friend!
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yes thats a tripod, haha, im not that steady!

as far as before.... i was using a rotel rp-2500 with a shure m92e cartridge... the rotel is your run of the mill japanese TT of the 70's with an s-shaped tonearm... its a pretty unit to look at in my opinion, but thats about it.. cheap particle board construction, no isolation....

i was on a search for a new TT for the last few months, searching classifieds and ebay... when i found this one on ebay, it came pre-mounted with the grace 707 tonearm and grado g2 cartridge... it also came with ALL the factory thorens tonearm and pieces as well as extra hardware for the Grace (VTA unit, antiskate, etc) i just about have enough extra pieces for another one!

in the end i got it for $224 shipped!! this was a steal to me as the tonearm and cartridge are worth that!!

the TT is pretty much mint except for 2 small screw holes in the right side of the trim (grrrr!!!)... but no biggie, i can always re-veneer!

:D
 
Nice table and a GREAT deal. Actually, the Grace 707's by themselves are fetching that much on ebay! You are gonna have some fun with that. Just stay away from MC cartridges. This arm does NOT like them!
 
Bigerik said:
Just stay away from MC cartridges. This arm does NOT like them!
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Funny you should say that. I have no experience with this arm, but the combination of Linn LP 12, Grace 707 and Supex MC cartridges were all the rage in Britain in the 70´s, before the appearance of Linn´s own Ittok arm.
Jorge
 
Bigerik said:
Nice table and a GREAT deal. Actually, the Grace 707's by themselves are fetching that much on ebay! You are gonna have some fun with that. Just stay away from MC cartridges. This arm does NOT like them!
Click to expand...

i take it you dont like the adcom mc that you are using?? i have no immediate plans to replace the cartridge, im very content with the improvement i hear right now!
 
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There have been posts on AA touting the DL-103 MC as well. I am just not willing to be the first here to try it. My G-707 has the silver wand and is mounted on a Luxman PD-441. I am currently using a AT 440ML and am thinking I should do better.
 
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soundoc03 said:
There have been posts on AA touting the DL-103 MC as well. I am just not willing to be the first here to try it. My G-707 has the silver wand and is mounted on a Luxman PD-441. I am currently using a AT 440ML and am thinking I should do better.
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I think that there is a lot of misinformation out there regarding this issue. I personally have a 103D on a Grace 704, and it works very well. But, the "D" version is medium-highish compliance cartridge. Most of the 103s are very low-complaince cartridges. Unfortunately very Low-mass arms like the the Graces require one of the higher compliance versions of the 103. That would limit you to the 103D, or the 103M. I'm not sure if either of these versions are still available or not...
 
I personally have a 103D on a Grace 704, and it works very well. But, the "D" version is medium-highish compliance cartridge. Most of the 103s are very low-complaince cartridges. Unfortunately very Low-mass arms like the the Graces require one of the higher compliance versions of the 103. That would limit you to the 103D, or the 103M. I'm not sure if either of these versions are still available or not...
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The irony is the Grace 707 was designed for MC cartridges. There was a low mass craze which was more of a an anti-Japanese "S" arm salesman spin doctor craze. The Grace is a great arm but it is best suited for a high compliance cart like the Grado or AT440 or the like.
 
jbrocious said:
i take it you dont like the adcom mc that you are using?? i have no immediate plans to replace the cartridge, im very content with the improvement i hear right now!
Click to expand...

Actually, I LOVE the Adcom. Totally amazing sounding cartridge. Just a lousy resonance combination with the Grace.
 
Holst said:
The irony is the Grace 707 was designed for MC cartridges. There was a low mass craze which was more of a an anti-Japanese "S" arm salesman spin doctor craze. The Grace is a great arm but it is best suited for a high compliance cart like the Grado or AT440 or the like.
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Actually, I thought the Grace was designed with Quad in mind. Doesn't its release in 74 pre-date the MC revolution?
 
jbrocious, yes nice pics. Now that you have that table set up, let the modifications begin.
http://www.theanalogdept.com/thorens_dept_.htm

That is the first Thorens that looks a lot like my 160 Super with the color of the wood and the thick bottom cover. I usually see them with a metal bar across the middle of the front. Nice to see it so well presented. How is the dust cover?
 
Blue Shadow said:
jbrocious, yes nice pics. Now that you have that table set up, let the modifications begin.
http://www.theanalogdept.com/thorens_dept_.htm

That is the first Thorens that looks a lot like my 160 Super with the color of the wood and the thick bottom cover. I usually see them with a metal bar across the middle of the front. Nice to see it so well presented. How is the dust cover?
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thanks! the 160s have the metal bar usually.... but i like the clean lines of the 166..... as far as mods are concerned, im goin to hold off for the time being... eventually i will do some suspension mods and i would like a nice acrylic platter...

i cant leave things alone for long... i already wet sanded and polished the original metal platter, and with a little more work it will be a mirror finish...

the dustcover is fair, but it has a good bit of scratches
 
For tracking force, I'd start with 1.5g, then go up to 1.7g if you have skipping problems on loud grooves.

Nice table. :)

peace,
sam
 
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