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$75 Thorens vs. $2K+ Michell...is this possible?

Hi all,

I've had my first turntable ever (a Michell Tecnodec purchased used with a Benz Glider medium ouput purchased new) for a couple of months now, and although it has sounded good at times and sometimes even great, overall it hasn't been what I've expected based upon the reputation that vinyl has over digital. Sometimes my table sounds smothered or rolled off in the highs, and sometimes I hear what I can best describe as noise/static/distortion on vocals when they get loud. Things have gotten a bit better with what I assume is break-in of the cartridge and some minor tweaking of VTA.

Yesterday, I purchased a well used Thorens TD 160 with an Audio Technica AT125LC. The cartridge is riding so low (I assume from use) that at times the body rubs on the record surface. I haven't had the time to do extensive direct comparisons, but the essence of what I expected from vinyl is here with the Thorens. An overall smooth, natural coherence that is emminently enjoyable to listen to. Natural, airy highs. Solid, but not overdone firm bass.

Again, I have not done direct comparisons, but I don't hear any of the downsided I heard with my Michell. There may not be quite the detail or soundstage width, but I feel like it's an overall more enjoyable listening experience.

I'd love input from the more experienced here to help me understand what's happening here.

Thanks much,
Paul
pj234
dean_man
90 posts
 
I normally lurk here but can't help myself from posting on this one. I would imagine that a head to head comparison might be fun and even illuminating, so long as the same cartridge and vinyl are used for both. If it were me I'd be willing to buy a pair of cheap-but-well-regarded cartridges for the experiment.

First I think it would be necessary to confirm that both tables are set up properly.

But to your question, I think that many folks who have a vintage table dispose of it pretty early in their quest, perhaps in some cases prematurely so.

My modest TD150 with the awkward looking TP13A arm sounds mighty good, and to my ears as good or better than a handful of newer "good" turntables that I've heard. It is worthy of a good phono stage (I have a Wright which I think most would concur is in the "good" range) but I would bet a lot of folks move on with the table before they move on to a good stage. I have not compared my TD to a tecnodec and in fact my primary table is an idler now, but I can't get rid of the Thorens. Especially through the Wright it presents music in a gentle and very musical way and I love it.

Jim
pj234 OP
3 posts
 
Thanks for all of the great replies...keep them coming!

To answer some of the questions above, I'm using a Monolithic phono stage which was a distinct improvement over the built-in stage of the MF preamp I had. The input resistance sounds best to me (with Glider) at 1K and high gain setting. I changed it to 47K and medium gain for the AT/Thorens combo.

I bought the Michell used, but bought the Glider new from a dealer because I wanted it set up professionally (again being new to vinyl, I wanted the best chance of initial success so that I would give the format a fair shake.) It is placed on a sand box type isolation platform, and the Thorens is temporarily perched on an adjacent bookshelf.

I've thought about swapping the cartridges to compare, but I'm not that confident in being able to set them up properly.

How much time does it realistically take to break in a new cartridge? Is it possible I haven't given the Benz enough time (I'm guesstimating 20-40 hours total so far?)

If I were to keep the Thorens and sell the Michell, would the Glider be a good match for the table? Is it possible that a high output MM cartridge sounds better to me because of it's higher signal to noise ratio?
schipo
1,268 posts
 
I have to say if a 75.00 TT and cartridge gives you great pleasure than your a step ahead of most. Please enjoy and think about how many just on audiogon that have five figure TT systems, and some are unhappy with them.
dean_man
90 posts
 
+++I've thought about swapping the cartridges to compare, but I'm not that confident in being able to set them up properly.+++

I'd say read the FAQs at Vinyl Asylum, download a good protractor from Vinyl Engine, and go at it slowly and carefully. Then follow the setup directions on the VDH site and you'll be good to go. Or first buy a $30 cartridge to practice on. Everybody has a first time.

+++If I were to keep the Thorens and sell the Michell, would the Glider be a good match for the table? +++

According to the tonearm database at the Vinyl Engine the TD160 came with three different factory arms, of differing effective mass, so it's going to be hard to say unless you know which arm it is. OR, unless you try it!

Jim
restock
831 posts
 
Paul, I owned both the Michell and Thorens and what you describe would indicate some problems with the cartridge mounting or phonostage settings. Where do you live? Possibly there are some friendly Agon members that could check the cartridge alignment etc. for you? It really is not that difficult to set up a table, but I have had bad experience with a dealer several years ago, who claimed you could just mount a cartridge without any alignment tools on a Rega arm, as one won't be able to tell the difference on a sub $1k table !!??

Knowing the Glider and Tecnodec, I would expect a very lean, fast, sometimes too detailed and unforgiving sound. The Thorens will be more balanced, but also with less resolution and detail. Noise/distortion should not be part of any analog sound and indicated alignment or other problems.
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