Thorens TD160 suspension removal
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timmy.timmy
Well-Known Member
The world of strange people's preferences for muffled down playback rendition... All I can say more "objectively" is that while tweaking on my 160 I tried different sets of springs and that only proved dramatic with to tight springs the 'depth', wider freq spectrum or 'air' in my playback sound was gone. My Thorens was then sounding as bad as a Techie 1200 or the likes.
Yet some either prefer that, are used to that or can't hear any better apparently. It was hyped about in the seventies UK to swap for Linn's springs, was that nationalism from small wallets ? Anyhow I tried that and unwind instantly. I've even read that fewer took off the springs and coupled the sub-chassis to the chassis with bolts and have find it an improvement in playback.
Converted to that humble turntable after a trial home. All was there for me to hear. Once I got the tweak 'itch' and manage to take it to it's better version of itself I stopped contemplating any other turntable. Along the way I managed to convert few who seeked better playback without hype. The initial function to deal with air and solid borne vibrations is secondary for my use.
And FWIW the Lenco L75 is merely a suspended chassis design which doesn't work the same as the Thorens 150, 16x & 14x... which is a 3 points suspended sub-chassis coupling the tonearm and platter. Platter that which is belt driven instead of idler driven like the L75 that is not known for it's 'airy' or 'open' sonic signature like the afore mentioned Thorens for example.
The suspension is really all its got going for it. If you defeat that its just an unremarkable belt drive table.
If yours has the transit screws you can use those to lock it down just to see what it sounds like without actually modding anything. Seems like not all of them have this.
In this pic the transit screws are in the two wood blocks along the edge. My stock bottom plate had cutouts for this. Push down on the sub platter and push up on the screws to get them to catch. This will cause the springs to compress and solid couple the sub-chassis to the plinth.
If yours has the transit screws you can use those to lock it down just to see what it sounds like without actually modding anything. Seems like not all of them have this.
In this pic the transit screws are in the two wood blocks along the edge. My stock bottom plate had cutouts for this. Push down on the sub platter and push up on the screws to get them to catch. This will cause the springs to compress and solid couple the sub-chassis to the plinth.
BillWojo
Addicted Member
A couple of contact points isn't enough especially if the chassis is thin sheet metal. You need to couple the chassis very well to a high mass structure. Look at the high end idlers, a lot of those plinths start at 30 lbs and go up and up. When done right the noise floor is below the noise in the vinyl. But the chassis needs to be coupled to the plinth.
BillWojo
BillWojo
Seems to be correct. I have tried to tighten both screws fully, but not satisfied with that change.
timmy.timmy
Well-Known Member
Care to share your disatisfaction with us and elaborate as to what, how or why in subjctive and/or objective terms you did not like that momentum conversion ?
p.robustini
Active Member
I don’t see why one should remove the suspensions from any suspended turntable. It’s what is making them so good even today!
Just shortly, and only subjective. The overall music presentation became duller, less spatious, less lively, less engaging. It would need much more space and time to be very specific, but fort short time examination, it was enough for me to say, this is probably not the way to modify this Thorens that way.
I am returning to vinyl after about 5 or more years. Before that I found, that I prefer non suspended decks more. Now I am walking the same road, comparisons and comparisons, and it seems it will end up the same way like before, just personal preference.
What is interesting, that recently I bought cheap VinylPlay deck, seems to be copy of Rega RP1. It sounded good with original parts, cheap Audio Technica (probably AT3600) cartridge.
It has in-built phonostage, probably based on Rega Fono Mini. Then I bought SH aluminium subplatter and acrylic platter. Changed the cartridge for Hana EH, and it sings so well and so much above the Thorens. The cost of all parts except cartridge was about £120.
Well, the background noise is a lot more evident then with Thorens, but that’s it.
I still don’t know, still have such a feeling, that spring suspension brings some “specific sound additions”, some people prefer that, some don’t.
This is personal preference, dependent on whole system too..
As example, my humble system is matched to my liking for digital audio playback as first. Then the turntable as source could be chosen either to enhance a music playback into so called analogue experience, or allow to enjoy the vinyl regardless some pleasing, but at the same time a bit artificial additions of the first case..
timmy.timmy
Well-Known Member
You heard too what I heard. And prefere to keep that 'sonic signature' through all the tweaks and improvements I did on my Thorens.
Here too I use to have my mind made up (without trials in comparison though) with my preference fot direct drive and sturdy (non suspended) turntables (like the Techie 1200 MK II) for too long. But after I got my arm 'twisted' and letted down my prejudgemental conceptions of what should be the turntable that really I need or merely favor I agreed to face a direct trial in comparison at my place. And although I had to admit that I was in the "wrong" for more than 3 decades I took that conversion to 'old' belt drive on suspended chassis like a holistic revelation toward freedom (open & airy) and rediscovered all my records with grat pleasure. And even more so after through all of my tweaks and upgrades up to this day.
The 'calibration' both for the components or parts of every elements is always crucial. Just like the matching compatibility between them. Then the same down all along the whole phono chain. Having experienced few times exactly the same as you to my great surprise. Only to a point where one (like me) has an expection point where anything 'under' that or not as 'convenient' will not be considered an option. But the gap in money investment is indeed that big that most (like me prior) can't afford that or don't find such investment to be a priority. But I totally understand your statement as I help others with little budget to gather, build and fix their phono set-ups with all that in consideration for an optimum playback result.
