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Thorens TD-160 Mk 1 Tune-Up and Setup Project

Timothy Flath

Timothy Flath

Well-Known Member
This is the start of my latest Thorens TD-160 Project. Hope we can generate some good learning points and discussions for keeping these engineering marvels in top performing shape. Most of my updates will be via video links posted to my YT Channel and linked herein from time to time. Tips and advice are always appreciated to aide viewer in getting the best performance and looks out of their tables.
Cheers
Tim

 
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Part 3 now complete: this includes cleaning motor pulley and a lengthy section on the TP-60 headshell and Cartridge mounting and testing. Again long video so use your FF slider to jump around the video.

 
Good stuff! I've got a TD 160 on the backburner that I hope to tackle in the next 6 month to a year, so thanks for posting these very informative videos, as they will come in handy for my table when the time arises...
 
Timothy Flath said:
Part two here covers polishing the turntable brim, prepping the springs for later tuning adjustment and finally swapping out the crappy RCA connectors on the TD-160. This is a long one so liberal use of the Fast Forward slider is encouraged:music::biggrin:

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Thank you! This was good to see what's going on with the springs. They're not so scary and secret any more! I also read somewhere that the springs act as a filter to keep low frequencies out of the chassis. I took the foam out on my TD166MKII, but didn't bother cleaning anything. Set them to get .25" platter height, bounce seems fine, I left the rotation of the springs where they were when I took them apart. In the future if I think I'm getting any low frequency noise, I can rejuvenate or replace the rubber grommets at that time. I also made a 3/4" MDF bottom plate. Once it warms up and I can seal and spray paint the edge black, it will be installed.

I went to college in California with a fellow from Nanaimo.
 
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After some consideration, I decided to grab Dave’s spring kit, complete with new rubber grommets. Not too expensive, might as well buy it while it’s still available.
 
Coolhandjjl said:
After some consideration, I decided to grab Dave’s spring kit, complete with new rubber grommets. Not too expensive, might as well buy it while it’s still available.
Click to expand...

I installed Dave's springs on one of my Thorens tables years ago, my 166 MKII. Glad I did. Wonderful.

I also found a, 7mm spindle, zinc-alloy inner platter to replace the stock resin platter of the 166 models. Similar to my TD 160 10mm zinc platter. The new springs and zinc platter served to be most drastic improvements I've done.

Zinc inner platters go for silly money these days. Along with everything else Thorens, unfortunately.

(I saved the original springs and resin inner platter, because I like stock, and the history. Will I ever put them back on? Probably not. I do run the resin inner platter from time to time. It just reminds me of how much of an improvement the zinc-alloy is.)
 
Coolhandjjl said:
Mine is a 7mm. Only one I saw was on marktplaats.nl. Hard for someone in the US to register and buy.
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I looked at the platter on the site you linked. Yes, that's it. Not an absurd price, but not great either. However, it looks like someone took an abrasive brush to it.. ouch. (Brasso and a cotton t-shirt rag would have served better.)

To note: I don't believe the 166 ever came with a zinc inner platter. I believe the 7mm zinc platter was originally on some 165's and perhaps some 320/520's.

I will say, it is an absolute match, without issue, when installed on a 166. And quite, quite an upgrade. I've sent a few emails out to friends of mine in-the-know, if you are interested in one. Having the orig. model may help narrow the search. As, I'd like a second one myself. I'll give you first dibs if I find another for a decent price.

(Further.... maybe someone here knows of a zinc 7mm platter?)

And, to the OP, @Timothy Flath, thanks for the videos. :beerchug:
 
Well folks, here is part 4. Will be stalled for a little while awaiting a new part I had to order as explained at the end of this video. Not a show stopper, just a mere setback I discovered. I will follow this with a video how I solved a similar problem on my other TD-160.

 
This is the solution I will be executing once the arm tube arrives from Switzerland. The good news is it won't take quite as long as it did in this video now that I know how to do the replacement. It likely won't require pulling the whole arm from the table so will film the shortcut method for anyone interested...

 
Timothy Flath said:
Well folks, here is part 4. Will be stalled for a little while awaiting a new part I had to order as explained at the end of this video. Not a show stopper, just a mere setback I discovered. I will follow this with a video how I solved a similar problem on my other TD-160.

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Just what I’m looking for. Thanks!
 
Toblerone said:
I installed Dave's springs on one of my Thorens tables years ago, my 166 MKII. Glad I did. Wonderful.

I also found a, 7mm spindle, zinc-alloy inner platter to replace the stock resin platter of the 166 models. Similar to my TD 160 10mm zinc platter. The new springs and zinc platter served to be most drastic improvements I've done.

Zinc inner platters go for silly money these days. Along with everything else Thorens, unfortunately.

(I saved the original springs and resin inner platter, because I like stock, and the history. Will I ever put them back on? Probably not. I do run the resin inner platter from time to time. It just reminds me of how much of an improvement the zinc-alloy is.)
Click to expand...

Having setup many TD-16x turntables now, I have never yet had to resort to buying after-market springs. Not to say it is never required but I have never actually run across a circumstance where I have needed to resort to doing so. Also among my current stable of Thorens tables are 2 X TD-165 tables with 10mm bearings and resin inner platters. When properly tuned and all else being equal (especially cart) I cannot really hear a difference from my TD-160. I have heard some folks say that the resin rings less than an all metal inner and outer combo platter like on my 2 X TD-160s (plus others I have setup for folks). Food for thought...
This is TD-160 number 1
 
(Update)

It was intention to include pictures in this update. Perhaps in a later post.

Briefly on springs. I've observed wear out on some tables. Some became too stiff, and others misshapen. Rare occasions, minor rust. Thus new springs necessary.

On the cast metal inner platter. Stability improvements. Noticeable. (I will try to get these results up too.)

The resin inner platter is not terrible. However personally, I greatly prefer the zinc and the added mass.
 
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Coolhandjjl said:
Regarding the platter mat, what seems to be more popular- original or the 3mm Funk Firm Achromat?
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Just like fancy speaker wires, not a firm believer that platter mats make a huge difference. Like others, I have tried cork, felt and other funky derivatives all to be convinced it is mostly psychosomatic IMHO. I do have some cool mats just for show on some of my theme Thorens tables. If the rubber is in great shape I simply fly with that these days. I tend to go with what works best for anti-static properties...

 
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I got some improvements out of the Herbie's platter mat on mine, but this is all quite subjective. Definitely wouldn't call it a "huge improvement" but there was a difference. When I had my Herbie's mat cut, I ordered it to match the stock thickness and with a cutout in the middle to retain the 45 adapter in the stock location.

I remember a few years ago a group of us sat and listened to platter mats. I forget how many exactly but it was around 10 if I recall. They definitely sounded different but we didn't control for VTA changes either so there may have been a few factors in play there. People that aren't audio dorks will look at you like you have 5 heads if you tell them you spent an afternoon listening to turntable mats, but thats the sort of insanity we live with.
 
gadget73 said:
I got some improvements out of the Herbie's platter mat on mine, but this is all quite subjective. Definitely wouldn't call it a "huge improvement" but there was a difference. When I had my Herbie's mat cut, I ordered it to match the stock thickness and with a cutout in the middle to retain the 45 adapter in the stock location.

I remember a few years ago a group of us sat and listened to platter mats. I forget how many exactly but it was around 10 if I recall. They definitely sounded different but we didn't control for VTA changes either so there may have been a few factors in play there. People that aren't audio dorks will look at you like you have 5 heads if you tell them you spent an afternoon listening to turntable mats, but thats the sort of insanity we live with.
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Have an open minded read of the science behind VTA (more accurately SRA) here and see if you are still a believer? I am not but then again I am more scientifically minded than most:
https://www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/vta_e.html
 
VTA/SRA is one of those things I've never really fooled with. I do have my cartridges set up with a repro Thorens alignment gauge and they specify some range of depth from stylus tip to bottom of the gauge as their method of setting it. I did that and so far as I know the arm has never been moved at the back. In theory that makes it all correct per the factory design. I've never put any further effort into tweaking it though.

I think I'd be a lot more inclined to fool with it if I had an arm that allowed on the fly adjustment by simply turning a knob while it played so I could easily listen for any changes. Beyond that requires more effort than I care to invest.
 
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