Thorens td166

[nicoch58]

An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.

I have the same old model , I start to think a return to analogue source , worth to try (I need prephono and pickup)????


Thanks

 

[analog_sa]

worth to try

Depends on your expectations. The 166 is kinda ok but certainly not amazing. The arm is horrible. It was worth having if you were a teenager in the eighties, but today?

 

[nicoch58]

HI analog_sa

not at my home now...this tone arm is interchangeable ?

I forgot the analogic sound and I want to test the ground and yes I have 42 year ...😀 I need if not the best ,the good


I have unused good diy tube pre-300b any decent-simply diy phono stage?

denon dl 103r for start ? (stanton in place?)


PS this thorens made me music lover😎

 

[analog_sa]

You can change it but it's not so easy. The armboard is very small. I have had a very similar TD160 with SME3009 and another with a Helios and both worked well.

Don't think the Thorens arm is a good match for the 103 - it's too resonant.

 

[nicoch58]

Don't think the Thorens arm is a good match for the 103 - it's too resonant.

Thanks !

suggestion 100-130€ ?

Ok standard Thorens for start , tube or Pass for phono stage

 

[nicoch58]

Any suggestion for MM 150€ max ?

 

[kevinkr]

Cartridge, possibly one of the Grados like the Grado Red which should be a reasonable choice, and inexpensive or step up to the Silver. Also consider a Shelter 201..

I had a TD-166MKII which I used a Grado 8MR (predecessor to the Gold) on for a short period of time as I started restoring my TD-125... Seemed to work well enough.

Use as is, and upgrade to a TD-125 MKII or similar when funds permit.
It's an ok TT, but not worth investing a lot of money in.

 

[nicoch58]

thanks !

 

[nicoch58]

my idea would be to buy a good cartridge ,can be used in future on a good TT 😉


grado gold 127€ only 30€ fron red ....

 

[kevinkr]

my idea would be to buy a good cartridge ,can be used in future on a good TT 😉


grado gold 127€ only 30€ fron red ....

I had the 8MR which is a predecessor to the Gold. Currently I am using a Grado Reference Platinum on an SME 3009 Series II arm on my TD-125..

 

[nicoch58]

found

SME 3009-TD-125 at 520€ ...??

monitor audio et 500 for free from friends
(tone arm dont look cheeps ,esternal psu,but direct drive) not much info on google

 

[Pjotr]

This TT is not bad at all and a good strarting point if you are returning to vinyl, although the TD 160 is a better choice.

The Denon DL103 is a good match with this TT but has lo output voltage and needs a good MC pre-amp. The Denon DL160 is also a good match with higher output.

At first, what you need to do is put a new drive belt on it an clean the platter bearing from clogged oil an put new oil in it. Further carefully re-adjust all the bearings of the tone-arm for minimum play without blocking them. This can be a quite tricky and cumbersome job if you are not familiar with fine mechanics.

😉

 

[nicoch58]

HI

I play with automatic watches 😉

 

[RCruz]

At first, what you need to do is put a new drive belt on it an clean the platter bearing from clogged oil an put new oil in it. Further carefully re-adjust all the bearings of the tone-arm for minimum play without blocking them. This can be a quite tricky and cumbersome job if you are not familiar with fine mechanics.

😉

Hi

I am starting to refurbish my TT and already replaced the stock belt with good results.

Now is time for oil replacement but can not find any indication of what type of oil to use.

Can you please advise ?

Best regards

Ricardo

 

[nicoch58]

HI
there is e man on ebay that have all you need for your thorens ,you can find on lenco lovers forum or you can order nice kit from audio origami (in my nottingham)or use mobil 1.....or good oil for mechanics tool

at last from thorens !

 

[RCruz]

HI
there is e man on ebay that have all you need for your thorens ,you can find on lenco lovers forum or you can order nice kit from audio origami (in my nottingham)or use mobil 1.....or good oil for mechanics tool

at last from thorens !

Thank you for the input.... 😉

I have been reading a lot and the options are 5w30 to 0w50 syntethic motor oil.... Singer sewing machine oil.... eBay sourced Linn Black oil......Marklin HO train oil....must decide myself... too much variables.....
😕

I need something not too sticky (the bearing is very tight fitting) that does not deteriorate/oxidate with time.

Regards

Ricardo

 

[Pjotr]

Sewing machine oil is a possibility but a bit too thin, regular motor oil is for sure too thick. I have good results with compressor oil, available from most tool/machine shops.

😉

 

[RCruz]

Sewing machine oil is a possibility but a bit too thin, regular motor oil is for sure too thick. I have good results with compressor oil, available from most tool/machine shops.

😉

Thank you... I will look for that particular type of oil.

Regards

Ricardo

 

[taskerc]

I really like my TD166 .....

I found my 166 last year - in it's native form it needs help - I did three primary tweaks to make it happy:
1) remove the crappy bottom board of the plinth - very bad
2) damped the sub chassis (the floating plate on which the main bearing is mounted) using Dynamat
3) did the maintenace so often mentioned - spring foam removal, adjust springs, adjust bounce etc. Clean and oil bearing.

After this is performs very well. The arm you have (TP-11) is like my original and seems to have weaknesses. Over time I have had a Rega RB250, and Audio Technica AT-1100 and a Thorens TP16MK111. The arm change is not so big a problem for the rega (you can buy a rega-ready arm board on eB@y), but was an issue for the AT-1100 arm - I sacrificed the rega arm board 🙂 But for now the best is still the TP16MK111 arm - don't know why but the range is wide, the bass goes deep an natural and the top end is well handled - this through my Ortofon 540MK11 Cartridge. The Denon 103 cartridge was also well received in this setup. I have been doing some Lenco restoration work and have a nice, replinthed Bogen/Lenco B52 up and running - it is nice and has some very nice advantages, but I keep coming back to the TD166 - it just seems so right ....

Of course, just one man's opinion ...

taskerc

 

[planet10]

You can change it but it's not so easy.

Essentially the same effort as TD160/165/145/ Not too hard... i've put lots of Grace 707, not as many Mayware F4, and a couple Hadcocks, a black widow, Grace 740 (the wood unipivot), and likely a few oddballs.

dave