Thread: A DIY project I did a few years back

A few years back I found a mint Thorens TD 160 TT local to me so I decided to re-build it.....I went went Rosewood for its plinth with a Carbon Fiber insert up front, the arm board is constrained layers of Carbon Fiber and Phenolic which is a super dense wood material (a saw blade killer). I totally went through its mechanical operation along with damping crytical areas. I had built this table for a heavily modified Rega 250 arm which I used for awhile but ended up selling it.....I currently have an Origin Live Illustrious MK III but its a smidge too heavy......Thinking of picking up SME 3009 vintage arm but will have to redu the arm board. A project for a rainy day.

newroom251.jpg td160originlive.jpg

That is a terrific looking turntable. A new line of business perhaps? Whitlock Turntables has a nice ring to it. First model: The JW5000.

Originally Posted by Mike

That is a terrific looking turntable. A new line of business perhaps? Whitlock Turntables has a nice ring to it. First model: The JW5000.

Funning you mention that......maybe more on that later

I want to buy the first one!

Great looking 'table Jeff. Do you get any static build-up with the Carbon Fiber?

Originally Posted by dlb2

Great looking 'table Jeff. Do you get any static build-up with the Carbon Fiber?

No issues there.....

Looks great, Jeff! Makes me want to go analog!

Originally Posted by socfan12

Looks great, Jeff! Makes me want to go analog!

+1 I'm with you there!

Very nice!

That is a real beauty Jeff!! Really nice job!!!

Originally Posted by Audiophilehi

That is a real beauty Jeff!! Really nice job!!!

+2

What an eye for beauty you have Jeff

Originally Posted by Bill13

What an eye for beauty you have Jeff

Thank you from friend #1

I could see that in a black lacquer finish with the CF accents and an arm similar to an EMT 997. Whether or not that would work, I dunno, but it would look cool.

Originally Posted by dlb2

I could see that in a black lacquer finish with the CF accents and an arm similar to an EMT 997. Whether or not that would work, I dunno, but it would look cool.

No room for 12" arms but maybe the 929

Amazing...probably one of the most beautiful Thorens I have ever seen...and the quality of the Thorens coupled with the museum piece beauty ? Stunned...

Originally Posted by ohbythebay

Amazing...probably one of the most beautiful Thorens I have ever seen...and the quality of the Thorens coupled with the museum piece beauty ? Stunned...

Thanks ohbythebay....

Jeff...stunning! As everyone said, just stunning! Question: when you said that the Origin Live Illustrious MK III was a smidge heavy, can you explain that a little bit more? Heavy how and how does that manifest itself in terms of sonic outcome? Thx

Hey Cyril......heavy meaning a tad too much weight, it compresses the suspension a bit more than I like. There is a certain bounce you look for with tuning, sort of like shocks on a car. I may drop my SME 3009 on it but will need to re-drill the arm board.

Originally Posted by A/V Solutions

Hey Cyril......heavy meaning a tad too much weight, it compresses the suspension a bit more than I like. There is a certain bounce you look for with tuning, sort of like shocks on a car. I may drop my SME 3009 on it but will need to re-drill the arm board.

Jeff...now I get it. Thanks for the response

Originally Posted by heavenlysound

I had a TD-160, but it did not look like that. Fantastic!

heavenlysound......thanks so much and welcome!

Originally Posted by bzr

The force is strong on the dark side.Lovely job Jeff, just great......I am not getting a tt,I am not getting a tt,I am not getting a tt....

Ha!

Jeff, It may be a bit premature to ask, but if you were to make these available to the general public what kind of price are we looking at?

Good question Doug. Also, Jeff, I am wondering how does the sound of these vintage tables (once properly restored) hold up or compare to more modern table designs? I know that is a very big general question and it depends on how the vintage direct drive table is restored vs. which modern belt-driven table, etc...and maybe it's just a DD vs. belt-drive question in the end, but I was wondering if there are any generalities in terms of sonic performace one can make in describing one camp vs. the other?

Originally Posted by dlb2

Ha!

Jeff, It may be a bit premature to ask, but if you were to make these available to the general public what kind of price are we looking at?

Really not sure....depends on the condition of the table your starting with, arm, materials, etc. 1K -1.5K on average and if you did it your self about half.

Originally Posted by cmalak

Good question Doug. Also, Jeff, I am wondering how does the sound of these vintage tables (once properly restored) hold up or compare to more modern table designs? I know that is a very big general question and it depends on how the vintage direct drive table is restored vs. which modern belt-driven table, etc...and maybe it's just a DD vs. belt-drive question in the end, but I was wondering if there are any generalities in terms of sonic performace one can make in describing one camp vs. the other?

Please don't mind if I jump in here ? Just to add some flavor to that question and perhaps a good answer?

There have been armed camps of DD vs Belt drive on OTHeR forums. Not here. Lets dispel that myth early on. There are good/great/quiet in both, and there are bad/offspeed/noisey for both. Its up to the table to speak for itself.

As to old vs new..wow...the gamut is so wide. I am going to go out on a limb and make a general statement that a there are alot more legacy tables that would be superior for less money than todays tables of equal stature. Note what I said, not what someone thinks I said (lol)

I didn't say all legacy tables were better than new, I said there are a greater QUANTITY that would MEET the SPECS of the HIGH END MODERN Tables for less money.

I would have to say that like old TUBES, since the market was 100 times larger back in the 60's, 70's and early 80's, there were some pretty fine tables built - By fine I mean very low to almost non-existant wow and flutter, no rumble, great arms...in hundreds of shapes and designs.

Today there are some great tables but dollar wise, until you start paying well over $1200 , you cant compare the quality of what you find in a $250 to $500 legacy table. Plus, inmany cases, you are really stuck with modern design looks and dont have that vintage look option.

anyway, just my thoughts. If anyone wants samples, I can post models ..of tables that is...lol

Bay...Jump in by all means. I appreciate your feedback and point of view as you have clearly restored many a vintage table. I think your argument makes perfect sense. I knew the question was too broad and not easily answerable and as to the logic of getting a vintage table from the heyday of analog playback when a lot of companies were plowing R&D dolalrs to make that playback the best it can be, also makes a lot of sense. But for those of us who do not have the mechanical chops or the patience to personally restore a beaten up vintage player, my guess is you will quickly come up to that $1,200+ level in getting a restored vintage table. Many threads on the net on restorations of various Thorens, Lenco and Garrard tables but once you start seeing the restoration fees, the nice custom plinths, and new tonearms placed on these tables, you are quickly in $3-5K teritory, easy. Which then begs the question, spend $3-5K on a very nicely restored vintage tt or get a current table from VPI, Clearaudio, etc...Again, there is probably no answer to the question and it really depends on each individual table and what you are comparing it to.

Thanks for your thoughts

Originally Posted by cmalak

Bay...Jump in by all means. I appreciate your feedback and point of view as you have clearly restored many a vintage table. I think your argument makes perfect sense. I knew the question was too broad and not easily answerable and as to the logic of getting a vintage table from the heyday of analog playback when a lot of companies were plowing R&D dolalrs to make that playback the best it can be, also makes a lot of sense. But for those of us who do not have the mechanical chops or the patience to personally restore a beaten up vintage player, my guess is you will quickly come up to that $1,200+ level in getting a restored vintage table. Many threads on the net on restorations of various Thorens, Lenco and Garrard tables but once you start seeing the restoration fees, the nice custom plinths, and new tonearms placed on these tables, you are quickly in $3-5K teritory, easy. Which then begs the question, spend $3-5K on a very nicely restored vintage tt or get a current table from VPI, Clearaudio, etc...Again, there is probably no answer to the question and it really depends on each individual table and what you are comparing it to.

Thanks for your thoughts

Ahh...I respectfully disagree (lol...is this the first Shark debate)

You don't have to pay anywhere near that amount to purchase MINT condition legacy tables. I hear you 100% that many do not want to futz with a table - They want it to arrive like it came from the factory and just plug and play.

There are some that are THAT ready, mint, perfect for $500 or less. Even in the case of a Thorens or Linn, etc. Now ,will that have Plinths like the one in this thread (custom) ..No.. But stock machines that look factory fresh ? Easy...

Look ..a friendly debate...LOL

Bay...I ask because I don't know the answer as I have not gone down this path and only report what I have seen on threads of vintage restorations on various audio sites. Thanks for the clarification. No debate here. Just curious and seeking answers. Thanks for providing them

Originally Posted by A/V Solutions

Really not sure....depends on the condition of the table your starting with, arm, materials, etc. 1K -1.5K on average and if you did it your self about half.

Hmmm...that's right around my price point.

Originally Posted by dlb2

Hmmm...that's right around my price point.

No problem Cyril...I love when people can get what they want...and squeeze a penny too..LOL

Besides, I think I have a TT obsession..ya think ? LOL

Originally Posted by dlb2

Hmmm...that's right around my price point.

I just heard chiching sound of Jeff wringing the cash register

Originally Posted by cmalak

I just heard chiching sound of Jeff wringing the cash register

LOL.....I'm not sure I would ever sell it, I'm really looking to get the Origin Live Illustrious arm off that table and put a different arm on it.

Originally Posted by ohbythebay

No problem Cyril...I love when people can get what they want...and squeeze a penny too..LOL

Besides, I think I have a TT obsession..ya think ? LOL

Bay... I think you like your very much and it's all about

PS: When my use of these damn smileys I found on this website starts aggravating people, please let me know...

LOL...The smileys didnt show..But thanks anyway,..I think ..lol