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What TT upgrade from tweaked Thorens TD160

I have a tweaked Thorens TD160 - birch-ply base board with Black Diamond cone feet; Dynamat on subchassis, platter and wood plinth; Herbies TT mat; RCA outputs and upgraded interconnects - which makes the TD sound pretty good. The problem is that the suspended subchassis design makes it extremely vulnerable to vibration on my rack and so I must place it in a very inconvenient location resulting in my not using it very much any more. I'd like to go back to a non-suspended design - my former Music Hall MMF5 had no problems on my rack but the MMF5 was significantly outperformed by the TD160.
The question is:
How much am I going to have to spend - new or used - to beat the TD160 and what brands/models are recommended?? I'd like to keep the cost under $1000.
Ag insider logo xs@2xjgiacalo
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jgiacalo OP
446 posts
 
V,
I'd be willing to try defeating the springs; shouldn't be difficult and of course, reversable. Will that have a detrimental effect on the table's pperformance?
thommas
60 posts
 
Yes, I believe altering the suspension on a thorens will take the magic away. I have read that the springy suspension is integral in thorens turntables.
armstrod
613 posts
 
Here's a suspension alternative:

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

I did this to my TD 150 and it worked quite well. It eliminated the footfall problem and provided at least as much "magic" as the springs. It also made balancing my far heavier Rega RB 250 arm much easier.
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
FWIW, my suspension-less tables have far fewer footfall problems (viz., none) than my old suspended table, this on a springy wood floor. Bouncy floor + suspended table = problems.

If defeating the springs on the TD-160 is a fairly simple and reversible DIY, I'd certainly try that before shelling out dough to make what might be a lateral "upgrade"
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