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96.11.175.178
I've posted on this table before and I apologize for any offended that I am posting again. I guess I am proud of it and besides, I have modified it and now taken better photos of it since last time. This is my Thorens TD124 which I had restored by James Campbell (who can be contacted at Jec@afo.net No connection-I have never met the man but I can vouch that he does great work!). James built the solid birch ply plinth and the armboard. Actually, he has built about seven armboards for me. As you can see, I have a VPI 9T arm mounted on it. In order to accomplish proper VTA, I had to remove the thumbwheel VTA adjustor on the arm column and add a Herbies mat and recess the armboard where the bracket for the junction box sits as detailed in the lower photo. I originally set up this table with an SME3009 SII that I had rewired and rebuilt by Alfred Keyser of smetonearms.com up in Canada. I was not happy with the SME arm. I found it clunky and outdated, though I respect those that coax great sound from it. I like VPI arms for their relative simplicity and compatability with more modern MC cartridges (again, a subject of honest debate). I have a VPI Classic too and with Benz Glider LOs, the sound is very similar, but distinctly different. The Classic is a bit more neutral bordering ever so slightly on the sterile side IMO, whereas the same record played on the TD124 sounds a bit punchier, The Classic can coax more detail and deeper bass, but subjectively the TD124 sounds more bass heavy as it seems to emphasize the mid-bass a bit. Some would consider this a fault, but it is subjectively pleasant in my listening room. I had a lot of folks tell me "good luck" mating a VPI 9T to a TD124. I have to think there a few if any who have the same combination. Needless to say, I am very happy with it.
Follow Ups:
I see what you did there. I wonder if this is a recurring consideration with the TD124?
My SME3009III needs to be at about the very lowest possible setting for VTA (that is, the arm post fully descended) for the tonearm to properly track the record.
Nice 124 and nice plinth Fred! I also had Jim Campbell build me a plinth for my Garrard 401 and I'm very pleased.Super nice guy also.
Beautiful TD-124. Blond on blond!
And one more.
I am curious as to why you put the VPI Junction Box on the opposite side of where it was designed to go? I would think that would play in the Anti-skate of the tonearm wires...
Tuan
Good question. There is no way to go inboard the way VPI does it due to the cast iron top plate of the TD124 which rises above the already-too-high arm board so going outboard is the only practical option. As to anti-skate, if you think about it, the tonearm has no way of "knowing" the difference-wire twist is wire twist. According to my Fozgometer, the wire twist from the outboard orientation is doing it's job just fine.
Another pic
I was wondering, having the tonearm junction box on the opposite side of the arm, does that not make the JMW's tonearm wires used for anti-skate act differently?
I am of the opinion that it does not. It's counter-intuitive (pun) but the wire twist is not different in orientation. One could postulate that the arc of the wire is different, but there is nothing very scientific about the wire twist solution to anti skate anyway.
Did you leave the stock mat on? How does the Herbies matt effect the sound?
Thanks,
Dan
Thanks! Yes, the original mat is still there. I may be wrong, but IIRC, it is glued down to the thin "super-platter" that sits above the heavy sub-platter and carries out the clutch mechanism feature of the TD124. I know of no way to compare apples to apples since removing the Herbies Mat would make it impossible for me to accomplish proper VTA. Even if I simply forgot about VTA considerations for the sake of experimentation, if I removed the mat, I would have to re-set the tracking force each time and I don't care to do that. I have it dialed in exactly where I want it now and for all the nice features of VPI arms, setting VTF precisely is not one of them. At least, not without the clever device SoundSmith sells. I need to get and try one of those soon. So bottom line is "I don't know".
If it's as stock, you can remove it via the screws in the middle that hold the 45 rpm singles spindle--which is also useful for centering the mat.
Jim
Thanks but I see no reason to remove the original ringed rubber mat under the Herbies. Do you?
I still use the original mat, with nothing on top of it. Just letting you know.
Jim
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