Kofi Annan in: "Turntable Troubles"

[Kofi Annan]

OK-- so some time ago I asked for some advice on a new, inexpensive TT. The advice came back: Thorens TD-160, which I bought and I liked very much! Much better than my Music Hall MMF 2.1. Until....

Disaster 1:
It played a little fast, so I thought maybe the belt was bad or wrong. Got a new belt and it played EVEN FASTER. Asked on DIYAudio and response was: wrong spindle on motor.

Cost to get a new spindle: Between $30 used on Ebay (if you can find them) or $100 from a specialty shop.

Reaction: Yikes.

So, I thought I'd play with it anyway for a while. Then it started skipping when it got close to the center of the record. Thought maybe the anti-skate was bad and messed with that for a while. Then...

Disaster 2:
The anti-skate tension line / tonearm wire snapped. So did Kofi.

Reaction: Rrrrr... arrghhh... Blblblblblblblblblblbl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OK, OK, no big deal. Just need to rewire the whole thing as recommended by audio-kraut (that's his avatar name, folks) and get a new pulley or a new motor or, as recommended by Carondimonio, take the sander to the original pulley.

Reaction: Pop! Fizzzzzz..... <gurgle, gurgle, gurgle...>, (repeat until drunk).

So, here's the deal. Running low on patience and having built up some serious karma for the holidays, I'm thinking about buying another TD-160 off Ebay. I know, I'm a glutton for punishment. I may be able to bag one for around $125, and use this one for parts. I suspect that the tonearm on this one is shot, since even the removal of the wire did not fix the inner record skipping issue.

And now, the question:

Should I:
(a) stick with this one and try to fix it?
(b) buy a new-to-me TD-160 and use the old one for parts?
(c) buy a linear tracking TT (theres an HK linear on Ebay that looks neat)? OR
(d) make my own music by cupping my hand under my armpit and squeezing?

Please respond by selecting the correct letter and elaborating on the reasons for your choice. All answers will be reviewed by the Secretary General as a possible remedy to his dilemma. The winning response will receive a hearty "hey hey!" and perhaps some knitted mittens from Mrs. Annan.

Yours in frustration and ignorance,
Kofi

[chipco3434]

Yo Kof

Have you thought that this whole Thorens thing may just not be "in the stars" for you?

[HDTVman]

Why not just look for a different tone arm for that TT. I don't remember that as a great arm anyway. Try to file down the spindle only if you sure it's to big. Just take your time and do speed checks often. I would let the motor run and use fine sandpaper or a small file, but be careful. Once it's to small, well it's not good.

Later BZ

[Kofi Annan]

Chipco,

Allow me to repeat the instructions for the assignment:

Please respond by selecting the correct letter and elaborating on the reasons for your choice.

OK-- sorry I'm being a smartarse.

Yes, it crossed my mind that the Thorens line of turntables have something against me. If I do ultimately receive persuasive assistance that spurs me to buy another TD 160 and THAT one screws me too, then I will purge my Thorens collection in the all-cleansing fire.

I have a parting line all ready in case of this contingency:

"Hey TD 160s! when you get to Hell, tell 'em Kofi sent ya!"

Kofi

[Geek]

Originally posted by Kofi Annan
Should I:
(a) stick with this one and try to fix it?
(b) buy a new-to-me TD-160 and use the old one for parts?
(c) buy a linear tracking TT (theres an HK linear on Ebay that looks neat)? OR
(d) make my own music by cupping my hand under my armpit and squeezing?

a - will frustrate you
b - probably most logical
c - caveat emptor
d - can I hire you to play at my anniversary?

You did forget an "e"

- Kofi Annan should stick to CD's

[audio-kraut]

(d) make my own music by cupping my hand under my armpit and squeezing

whats wrong with kraut?

Anyway, since your technical abilities seem rather limited and the job stress seems to get to you, I would recommend D, especially after using deodorant so that concomittand (I like using fancy words, just trying if it fits here) with the sound a rather pleasant odour gets relaesed. Especially recommended before engaging in spousal engagements mafter a romantic dinner.

Seriously - why not consider the td 145 with the tp 16 arm? And it even lifts off the record at the "grooves end" - no, it does not return the arm to the start position.
But I said consider - not "I recommend". I am allergic to economic sanctions...

[Kofi Annan]

b - probably most logical

That's what I thought. I really liked the sound of the Thorens, but the, shall we say, "issues" I had with this one made it more of a frustrating endeavor than I would have liked.

d - can I hire you to play at my anniversary?

Doing a Bah Mitzvah in February and I got the D'Appolito wedding in May, otherwise I'm free and clear. Contact my agent.

Kofi Annan should stick to CD's

Sounds like my wife. Hey, you been talkin' to my wife? You stay away from her, or the last thing you hear will be the armpit rendition of "Taps", capish?

your technical abilities seem rather limited

Yep. My think-i-fying abilities ain't so good either. Public education, baby.

I can put together the audio (tube amps, mostly) and do a few things with the turntable (balancing, mounting carts, etc.), but once it got to the level of neutrinos and string theory, I raised the white flag. I think, AK, your last instructions to me were along the lines of:

... now take the electron microscope and set the first condenser lens aperture to Avogadro's Number...

Can I be blamed for trying to find an easier alternative? Don't answer this one.

Oh yeah: Antidisestablishmentarianism!. There. Fancy word and non-sequitur all in one. I may have made that one up, though.

The TP 145 sounds nice. Too nice. In fact, if the arm came up off the record automatically like that, I'd never get my fundament off the furniture.

I think I may try for another TD 160. They're readily available on Ebay and I liked what I heard. Besides, the Karmic balance of the universe simply would not allow for another debacle, right? I think that's string theory... is it string theory? Does Murphy's Law trump string theory?


Kofi

[Geek]

Originally posted by Kofi Annan
Sounds like my wife. Hey, you been talkin' to my wife? You stay away from her, or the last thing you hear will be the armpit rendition of "Taps", capish?

EEEEEEEP!

*quickly escapes from under bed*

[planet10]

e) get a new tonearm -- Grace 707/704/714, Mayware Formula 4, Linn Basik(?) would be nice, a rega RB250 might be overkill... the Thorens was not great.

f) build a 50 Hz motor controller...

dave

[Carondimonio]

Kofi,

definitely option a)!
Reasons:
a1) It will improve your skills and knowledge of TT technique
a2) If your attempts do not bring any result, you can always switch to option b) or c) (but NOT the linear tracking HK, please...)
a3) Do not let anybody say the Secretary General gives up so quickly on some tough tasks...

Cheers,

Bruno