Starting my first TT project need directions, please!

[mr_RBG]

Thorens TD160/RB250 project need some help, please!

Ok, finally bought Thorens TD 160 with broken tonearm and no belt and Rega RB 250 arm. I think I can make a nice table out of it.
The questions are:
1) Arm board which and where to buy?
2) What to mod in RB250? Counterweight? VTA adjustment?(do I need it?)

Thanks!

 

[Blue Shadow]

Make an armboard. Ehoove has probably posted pics of his here on ak.

If you are not ready to do that, maybe the bay has some available. It is such a small piece compared to other Thorens tables I probably missed them on the bay.

 

[mr_RBG]

Thanks, wood or metal will work better?

 

[MWalt]

I have one that I am not using that was for my Thorens TD 145MKII. I paid $60 for it from a place that makes custom armboards in the UK. PM me if you want to work something out.

 

[mr_RBG]

Ok, I got my rega SoundSupport armboard (thank you Mark!), but I was a bit disappointed when I found that I need to make a hole in the sub chassis to fit the arm (attached photos). Do you know how to do it? Drill? Saw?

 

[bhundu]

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=271215&d=1303697969

This was already done on a table that was destined to have a Rega arm fitted. It looks like a saw has been used.

 

[bob06]

Dremal tool works awesome, Thats what i use. :thmbsp:

 

[Korma]

I put an RB250 on my Thorens TD150 and am quite pleased with the sound. I made an aluminum mounting plate and drilled the tonearm hole in the Thorens to a larger size but I do like the idea of using a Dremel.
The only problem with a Rega tonearm on a Thorens TD160 or TD150 is adjusting the suspension to deal with the Rega's tendency to pull down on the right rear spring due to the heaviness of the arm. Careful tuning of the suspension is all that's needed.

Although I am using the Michell Tecno Weight and admit there is an improvement, spending nearly $200.00 for a counterweight may not be cost effective.

VTA adjustment for a given cartridge can be addressed by adding shims to raise the tonearm on the mounting plate or changing to a different mat thickness. The people at Rega don't believe in worrying too much about minute changes in VTA and perhaps they have a point.
I don't know what cartridge you will be using but having the top of the cartridge parallel to the record is probably fine. The combination of Thorens and RB250 can be fabulous for the money.
Bill
P.S.
Make certain the tonearm cable doesn't foul the suspension by hanging down the back unsupported. I fashioned a P clip to hold the tonearm to the Thorens.

 

[MWalt]

Dremal tool works awesome, Thats what i use. :thmbsp:

+1 That is what I would do. I am glad you like the armboard, Konstantin!

I would check on Audiogon. They always have deals on used Rega arms and you may find one that is already hot-rodded for a nice price.

 

[bhundu]

I'm interested to see how this goes. It was a plan I had to continue with on that last table but I ended up taking it back to stock.

 

[mr_RBG]

Thank you, colleagues!
I do not have a dremal, but my friend has one. I will grab it on this weekend and make the hole bigger. I've ordered some nice veneering so, work on its look to. I have not decide yet, whether I should veneer thorns original base or should enforce it creating another one around and screwing/glueing to the original.
After, I will buy the Cardas wires and interconnect cables for the arm. Savings, savings and I will be able to buy a Michell Tecno Weight kit. Here are my plans. I will be posting photos during my work.

 

[mr_RBG]

So, first iteration...
1) Used an "Crack Buster" from Home Depot as damping material (super cheap — like $7.5 for a huge roll). Is for me it worked good.
2) Installed the RB 250 arm
Could not wait till I finish the project, so...spinning!

It sounds amazing and I've not finished yet!
One question: It sooo sensitive to vibration, I almost can't walk in my room. Can I fix or tweak it somehow?

 

[bhundu]

Good job! That Crack Buster had me thinking of plumbers and I had a little chuckle. Looks like a decent material to use.

Yep. Can't dance with a Thorens. Wall mount is recommended. I use a second room for the TT, amp etc and just have speakers in my main listening area. Otherwise you put them on a very massy cabinet/shelf/stand. The one you have in the third image does not have near enough mass. What would be a good start is to replace the original TT base with a new one made out of 3/4"MDF or birch ply.

Well done!

 

[mr_RBG]

It's been a while since I am listening my TD-160 with RB 250 arm(pictures above) and I do not like it so far(first impression was wrong) . I've tried Denon DL-160, AT-120 and Shure V15 III cart, and all they sound muddy on the table/arm. Maybe its because the arm is not a good match for the suspended TD-160(that what people say)? Maybe cartridges are bad for the arm? Should I abandon this project and put the the RB 250 on a Thechnics sl-1200? Or fight till the end: rewire, new counterweight and try reduce springiness with more rigid Linn springs? Need your suggestions, please... very upset

 

[clydeselsor]

Nice work!

 

[MWalt]

It's been a while since I am listening my TD-160 with RB 250 arm(pictures above) and I do not like it so far(first impression was wrong) . I've tried Denon DL-160, AT-120 and Shure V15 III cart, and all they sound muddy on the table/arm. Maybe its because the arm is not a good match for the suspended TD-160(that what people say)? Maybe cartridges are bad for the arm? Should I abandon this project and put the the RB 250 on a Thechnics sl-1200? Or fight till the end: rewire, new counterweight and try reduce springiness with more rigid Linn springs? Need your suggestions, please... very upset

A few thoughts:

Have you checked the setup on the arm carefully? Alignment, VTA, VTF, TF? Muddy sounding doesn't make sense. All of those carts are pretty respectable.

I have read that the optimum solution with that arm on the Thorens is to use Linn springs. Others have done this successfully.

A lot of what I have read is that the RB 250 is not the best match for the SL1200 either.

 

[mr_RBG]

Thank, Mark!
Hm... strange things about all these RB250 then: it is a very good and respectable arm, however, it is hard to find a proper table for it
Linn springs will be! What is "TF"?

 

[MWalt]

Thank, Mark!
Hm... strange things about all these RB250 then: it is a very good and respectable arm, however, it is hard to find a proper table for it
Linn springs will be! What is "TF"?

My bad Konstantin, I meant VTF, which I had already stated. I really like the RB250 as well. Maybe you get the Linn springs and do the "incognito wiring setup on the RB 250 or send the arm to Audio Origami to work their magic on it.

Doing these turntable projects can be time consuming and a lot of trial and error, but imagine how good the end state will be when you get it all dialed in correctly. My PL-41 project is still a work in progress.

 

[mr_RBG]

Thorens TD160/RB250 project need some help, please!

Can't get bass out of this combination! Tried it with Shure V15III, Denon DL-160 and AT-120. Replaced original springs with Linn ones with slight overall improvements: bit more clear sound with bit more punch on the low's. BUT NO BASS and the sound is so tiny. My Dual 721 just knock the 160/250 down in all aspects. Any recommendations? Maybe just sell TD160 and go for 125 or 320, TTs with different types of sub chassis? Here are some photos of VTA, please check if its correct.

 

[mr_RBG]

Did another upgrade... Oh it sings now, I am on audio heaven now! Reinforced the sub chassis with wood bricks, rewired the arm with cards wires and clips, changed interconnectors, and filled the stub with wax. Super tight and defined bass, transparent and crystal hights they all here now! I am so happy!