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Thorens TD160 Super Heirloom Restoration

post #1 of 48
12/12/09 at 1:55pm
Thread Starter 
AudiogoN ForSale: Thorens TD160 Super







Talk about plastic surgery!
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post #2 of 48
12/12/09 at 2:06pm
DAAAYYYUUUMMMM. I didn't know they even did restorations like that.
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post #3 of 48
12/12/09 at 4:59pm
i thought the 160 super omitted the Thorens arm, so you could mount the arm of your choice-- i think that's a 160!

shiny beastie, isn;t it?
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post #4 of 48
12/12/09 at 5:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Redcarmoose View Post
AudiogoN ForSale: Thorens TD160 Super







Talk about plastic surgery!
It looks like very nice work. My personal preference would have been to finish the wood in marine spar varnish with boiled linseed oil on the top coats to give the wood an antique glow. Loose the TP16 tonearm and install something more modern.
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post #5 of 48
12/12/09 at 6:02pm
Wow. I am drooling a bit.
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post #6 of 48
12/12/09 at 9:47pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ssportclay View Post
It looks like very nice work. My personal preference would have been to finish the wood in marine spar varnish with boiled linseed oil on the top coats to give the wood an antique glow. Loose the TP16 tonearm and install something more modern.
TP16 MK I Tonearm was the arm I had on mine. A little more metal involved in it as I remember than this standard MK. Ya, this turntable sounds great. New arm would be the right thing it needs. I just thought it was Peeeerty. Even when it was new there were those SME arm upgrades, right?



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post #7 of 48
12/12/09 at 10:07pm
Chris Thornton from Indiana is the gentleman who did this tt...and many others also. I was going to pick this one up couple days ago, but have decided to send in my 125MKII to Chris to have him does the full restoration...and of course for the plinth, i get to throw in some of my ideas how i wanted to look in regards to the shape and wood color. Chris is currently restoring a Lenco L75, he is excited about it..so am i..cause i have a working L75 sitting in my garage..cant wait to see his L75 result..i might have to send mine in also. BTW, his FULL restoration fee is around from $950 - $1200. But of course, if youre on a budget..he will do whatever you ask for the amount that youre willing to spend.
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post #8 of 48
12/12/09 at 11:33pm
Thread Starter 
Thorens TD 160 classic turntable with Ortofon cartridge - eBay (item 130350427509 end time Dec-13-09 20:29:24 PST)

Original 1976 owner!
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post #9 of 48
12/13/09 at 10:51am
That one looks in very nice shape and exactly like mine. The hinge tabs seem to always fall out. Its just the way with those things and not a concern as long as they aren't lost.
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post #10 of 48
12/13/09 at 1:06pm
Thread Starter 
It is just like my old one too. I miss it a little. It will be fun to see what the final winning bid will be.
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post #11 of 48
12/13/09 at 3:51pm
I've been checking out these "Super Heirloom Restoration"s on Audiogon lately... These sure are gorgeous tables, but the price aint cheap...
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post #12 of 48
12/13/09 at 9:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mastertrash View Post
I've been checking out these "Super Heirloom Restoration"s on Audiogon lately... These sure are gorgeous tables, but the price aint cheap...
My general thoughts are that the TP16 tonearm isn't quite as good as the stock tonearm on the Technics 1200 MK2 which I am not a fan of either. When you can get a Technics for less than $500, it kind of makes it hard to justify a Thorens TD-160 for more than $1000 with the TP16 still on it. Stick a Denon DL-110 or DL-160 cartridge on the Technics and I am afraid the upgraded Thorens might have a hard time catching it. The TP16 is very colored and I remain skeptical that rewiring it at all is a good idea.
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post #13 of 48
12/14/09 at 3:20am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ssportclay View Post
My general thoughts are that the TP16 tonearm isn't quite as good as the stock tonearm on the Technics 1200 MK2 which I am not a fan of either. When you can get a Technics for less than $500, it kind of makes it hard to justify a Thorens TD-160 for more than $1000 with the TP16 still on it. Stick a Denon DL-110 or DL-160 cartridge on the Technics and I am afraid the upgraded Thorens might have a hard time catching it. The TP16 is very colored and I remain skeptical that rewiring it at all is a good idea.

Have you owned a Thorens TD-160 with a TP16 Tonearm? You say you own a TD 160 now? How would you not know beyond a shadow of a doubt how much better the Thorens are than a Technics 1200 MK2? Maybe the Thorens that you own is not set up right? The E-Bay Thorens posted above sold for $355.00. They do not sell for $1000.00 unless you have some Gucci restoration like the one this thread was about.






If you have both turntables then you must know the difference in sound?





http://www.theanalogdept.com/thorens_dept_.htm

Yes the Thorens have some color. All suspended tables will have a tendency for a little color. That is what is musical about the Thorens! I have owned two 1200s and moving up to a TD-160 was the best money I ever spent on audio. The sad part would be a beginner here who buys a Technics 1200 because they are everywhere but does not look for and find the sonic perfection of a TD 160.




What we are saying here is the Audiogon Auction turntable that this thread was about does need a better arm. Due to the money that the thing is running for and to match the level the rest of the turntable is.
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post #14 of 48
12/14/09 at 4:24am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by fzman View Post
i thought the 160 super omitted the Thorens arm, so you could mount the arm of your choice-- i think that's a 160!

shiny beastie, isn;t it?
Ya it is not a super. Henk
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post #15 of 48
12/14/09 at 11:24am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Redcarmoose View Post
Have you owned a Thorens TD-160 with a TP16 Tonearm? You say you own a TD 160 now? How would you not know beyond a shadow of a doubt how much better the Thorens are than a Technics 1200 MK2? Maybe the Thorens that you own is not set up right? The E-Bay Thorens posted above sold for $355.00. They do not sell for $1000.00 unless you have some Gucci restoration like the one this thread was about.






If you have both turntables then you must know the difference in sound?





Thorens Dept.

Yes the Thorens have some color. All suspended tables will have a tendency for a little color. That is what is musical about the Thorens! I have owned two 1200s and moving up to a TD-160 was the best money I ever spent on audio. The sad part would be a beginner here who buys a Technics 1200 because they are everywhere but does not look for and find the sonic perfection of a TD 160.




What we are saying here is the Audiogon Auction turntable that this thread was about does need a better arm. Due to the money that the thing is running for and to match the level the rest of the turntable is.
I bought a new Thorens TD-160 in the mid-70s just like the one in the picture and still have it. I also bought a new Technics 1200 MK2 about 5 years ago and still have it. The Thorens is still original and like new but the Technics has an Origin Live Silver tonearm, KAB power supply, and strobe disabler. They are both very nice turntables. The Thorens is a better turntable just like you say but I preferred the stock Technics because it sounds better. The TP16 tonearm coloration has a boomy juke box quality to it. The modified Technics now sounds a great deal better than much higher quality Thorens.
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