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Success !!: And revelation ! Thorens 160B Mark 2 - platter balance - three screws -

Thank you,
I have had my Thorens for 3 yrs and have had problems since using an external arm that mounted separatly - removing the original arm. This has caused many problems with balancing e.g. counter lead weights on the 'old arm' spot; stiff platter; belt problems.
I have constantly spent time trying the fix these problems especially during my holidays.

But yesterday I had a revelation. An epiphany. And then success with every problem being solved one after the other.
Platter bouncing nicely, level too and a breeze to adjust. All with no counter weight for old tonearm ! Belt riding correctly. The sound is amazing ! Singing and sweet. 3 dimensional. Free . Best yet.

The revelation I had was to replace two 50mm suspension screw studs with 65mm length. Same gauge - just longer. Didn't replace the one where the screw head is under the top facia. As it happens, its wasn't necessary. The 65mm studs seem to allow for increased scope with a slight capabilty that the 50mm stud screw did not give. This has increased the scope of the balancing adjustment which I found necessary if one is to remove the original tonearm from the equation. The only thing I was concerned about was the final sound. What would the effect of slightly less spring tension cause.

1. I tightened the left screw to raise the platter well above the small safety stud that is beside the motor. The other two sus. studs I lowered to a position that easily levelled the platter and compensated for the missing tonearm component. It was very bouncy and too much horizontal movement, although easy to level. Result: Sarah Vaughan sounded like she was in the bathroom and tired.

2. I incremently lowered the left screw to lower the platter closer to the safety stud but always maintaining adequate bounce. Then easily tightened and adjusted the other two springs to level.
Result: Sarah Vaughan gradually making her way to the perfect concert hall,

After four/five small adjustments. Wow! Everything gradually fell into place. Perfect bounces and steady and better horizontal control. Do I need to consider a horizontal spring for compensation? But focussed with all the imaging and staging I could ever have wished for. Sweet sound. Easy to balance. Belt correct. Level platter.

I have felt that I have really learnt something.
Thx for your comments.
Bob

"You have to leave something to your imagination"
"You have to leave something to your imagination"


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  • Success !!: And revelation ! Thorens 160B Mark 2 - platter balance - three screws - - Heifetz 09:17:45 01/15/15 (1)

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